Has anyone had experience yet with paying SAA for transport of firearms?

Originally I "heard" it was $100 per gun, yet in the latest Safari Times, the article says "per case"...

I tried looking on SAA.com for clarification, but it does not say.

anyone know for sure?

Thanks

Per gun, per flight segment. $100 domestic, $50 international.

That's what was quoted to us. So for our tickets, we were carrying 2 guns each, flying to JoBerg, continuing on to Harare. Since the flight to JoBerg has a stop in Dakar, that's a total of 3 segments going and 3 returning.

The firearms fees quoted to us were $600 each ticket. Two tickets so a total of $1,200 additional in firearms fees.


We went Emirates instead for a fraction of the cost with much better service. Highly recommended.

600 each ticket-holy shit.If that is the case I might have to look into Emirates also but then there is the hotel cost for two nights.

George, Emirates put me up in a Dubai hotel on the way over for free, and included a great buffet at the hotel. There was no hotel on the way back as my connection was only 3 hours returning. I suspect they will pick up a hotel on the way back as well though if required by your connection times.

It really is the way to go. There is a bit more flying time involved, but I found the experience well worth a few more hours in the air.

How many hours was your layover in Dubai?

Yep

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:
George, Emirates put me up in a Dubai hotel on the way over for free, and included a great buffet at the hotel. There was no hotel on the way back as my connection was only 3 hours returning. I suspect they will pick up a hotel on the way back as well though if required by your connection times.

It really is the way to go. There is a bit more flying time involved, but I found the experience well worth a few more hours in the air.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
How many hours was your layover in Dubai?

Going over 14 hours. That's why they gave me a hotel and dinner voucher. Nice hotel and great buffet BTW.

Coming back, only 3 hours connection time.

You don't have to clear your guns in Dubai so it's a real smooth operation. You get off the plane, go to passport control, then get on the bus to the hotel. The hotel runs you back to the airport the next day. No need to check back in as you already have your boarding pass. Just get off the bus and go to the gate and board. Everyone on the bus is flying Emirates so no multiple stops at the airport for different airlines.

Very easy. Very smooth.

On the way back, no clearing passport control. You stay in transit and just wait to board the next flight home.

I will fly Emirates 100% if they ever get a flight in and out of Alaska.
To pick up guns and gear and recheck in Seattle or where ever is a pain.
Saeed, you have some pull, get Emirates to land in Alaska.
Cal

Mark Young explained the new charges in this post:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...043/m/1261020252/p/1

A question I have is the flight from Dulles to Joberg, which stops in Dakar, considered one international flight or two? I wouldn't put it past those greedy bastards at SAA to try and say it's two flights and charge you double. These charges were the proverbial straw that broke the camels back for me. I've always flown SAA to Africa simply because it's the most convenient for me. This combined with the SAPS crap has caused me to swear off hunting in RSA.

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:
Mark Young explained the new charges in this post:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...043/m/1261020252/p/1

A question I have is the flight from Dulles to Joberg, which stops in Dakar, considered one international flight or two\? I wouldn't put it past those greedy bastards at SAA to try and say it's two flights and charge you double. These charges were the proverbial straw that broke the camels back for me. I've always flown SAA to Africa simply because it's the most convenient for me. This combined with the SAPS crap has caused me to swear off hunting in RSA.

They consider it two. See my post above when we tried to purchase tickets.

My flight to Zambia last year was a first with Emirates. A very pleasant experience, I will definitely choose them again. SAA firearm charges are ridiculous, I will avoid them whenever I can.

I did a small search on the Emirates web site for a flight from home.There are two 21hr layovers involved.That is nearly two whole extra days that I could spend in Africa.
That said I still enjoy flying SAA.All of my trips have gone well so far with them.I also get a VIP escort at the JNB airport
Last time at JNB there was a long line-up at customs.They needed someone who spoke french to translate for them.I raised my hand and they brought me all the way to the front of the line.There was a passenger from Nigeria whose passport would not scan.I was told to ask him why this was so.Then they thanked me and let me through without delay.

Shootaway - Check out Qatar airlines. I don't know if they fly out of Canada but worth an inquiry. Some of their flights from the US have long (around 9hrs.) layovers in Doha but that might be better than Emirates.

Todd did you fly Business to get a Hotel Comp in Dubai?

quote:

Originally posted by Slider:
Todd did you fly Business to get a Hotel Comp in Dubai?

No. Economy.

There were 2 hotels right next to each other. The economy folks like me, loaded onto a bus and went to one hotel and the Business and First folks got private limo's to the other hotel.

The economy hotel was perfectly fine. No complaints at all.

Everyone on the bus was an Emirates passenger so there weren't multiple stops loading the bus, then multiple stops at multiple hotels. Same thing the next morning. Everyone on the bus was an Emirates passenger so we all loaded on to the bus, and were all dropped off at the same departure gate for Emirates.

It was very smooth. I found going to a proper hotel, getting a shower, and a good night's sleep prior to continuing on was really nice as compared to sitting for 5 or 6 hours and arriving a few hours earlier with jet lag.

I just returned from SA Monday night, flew SAA in country and no mention was made of firearms charge. However; other hunters said they were charged.
May be a small silver lining to this cloud, now that there is a fee, other carriers in SA are considering resuming the carriage of firearms. Mango, for one.

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:

quote:

Originally posted by Slider:
Todd did you fly Business to get a Hotel Comp in Dubai?

No. Economy.

There were 2 hotels right next to each other. The economy folks like me, loaded onto a bus and went to one hotel and the Business and First folks got private limo's to the other hotel.

The economy hotel was perfectly fine. No complaints at all.

Everyone on the bus was an Emirates passenger so there weren't multiple stops loading the bus, then multiple stops at multiple hotels. Same thing the next morning. Everyone on the bus was an Emirates passenger so we all loaded on to the bus, and were all dropped off at the same departure gate for Emirates.

It was very smooth. I found going to a proper hotel, getting a shower, and a good night's sleep prior to continuing on was really nice as compared to sitting for 5 or 6 hours and arriving a few hours earlier with jet lag.

Here is my experience with LUFTHANSA in Munich and their transport system to your hotel.

Our flight was cancelled. It was supposed to take of around 9 in the evening, an hour later they announced it has been cancelled for technical reason.

I was given two vouchers, on for a taxi and one for the hotel. Luckily I was traveling alone.

Outside the airport, no taxis as the airport is closed!!

It was raining, and a taxi would turn up every few minutes.

I thought I would let families with kids go first, so I stood there watching this disastrous situation.

Families with 5 members got one voucher. Taxi refused to take them, as taxi is only carries 4!

Families with small children were refused carriage, as taxis are not equipped with child seat!

Fights erupted!

It was a most ridiculous situation.

That was my last flight on Lufthansa.

I used this route to get to Stockholm, as it was the easiest.

Then Qatar started flying to Stockholm from Doha, which was more convenient for me.

Now EMIRATES has direct flights from Dubai to Stockholm.

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:
Shootaway - Check out Qatar airlines. I don't know if they fly out of Canada but worth an inquiry. Some of their flights from the US have long (around 9hrs.) layovers in Doha but that might be better than Emirates.

I checked out there web site.I don't know much about them but they do fly out of MTL with a good price and not much layover.How are they with firearms? It is good to know there are other options besides SAA and european airlines.

I haven't flown on Qatar as yet but they do allow firearms. Their rules don't seem to bad. This is what they sent me when I enquired about flying with firearms.

Qatar Airways requires the following documents:-

· Copy of passport.
· If you go hunting, we need copy of invitation letter.
· Copy of documents accrediting the approval of the movement of the firearm from the States of origin, transit (if applicable) and destination.

Below please find full information to travel with fire arms.


Firearms, Ammunition and Sporting Weapons
General
Firearms & Ammunition and sporting weapon are not allowed to be carried on flight deck or in the cabin of an aircraft in the custody of the captain or any other crew member.
Firearms, ammunitions, and accessories, which fall under the term “war materials” are not accepted on a Qatar airways aircraft.
Only weapons designed for sporting purposes such as target pistols, air guns, safari rifles, hunting rifles, etc. can be accepted as accompanied baggage. The airline's security department may however, determine whether a weapon is for sporting purposes or not.
Acceptance as checked baggage
• Firearms and ammunition can be carried in checked baggage under the following conditions:
• Passengers must present documents accrediting the approval of the movement of the firearm from the States of origin, transit (if applicable) and destination.
• The passenger must sign the Declaration of Surrender of Firearms
• The weapon must be unloaded. If possible, the weapon should be dismantled and packed inside a suitcase or gun case
• The maximum gross weight of the ammunition must not exceed 5 kg per passenger. For more than one passenger, only 5 kg is permitted per suitcase. The ammunition must be securely packed in a sealed and strong wooden, metal, or fiberboard box and must be packed inside a suitcase with other contents.
• The suitcase containing the ammunition must not bear an “explosive” label. The weapon or ammunition must not be stowed in the cabin or in any area accessible during the flight
• There is no limit in the number of weapons per passenger


Kind regards,

Claire Gabriel
Customer Services Lead Agent, Contact Centre - The Americas
Tel : +877 777 2827
Fax : +877 387 0196

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Labman:
I haven't flown on Qatar as yet but they do allow firearms/QUOTE]

I returned from SA this week on Qatar, very good service on flights. Firearms were a different matter, I followed their rules completely but it took almost an hour to check firearms at DFW and over an hour and forty five minutes at Joburg. Retrieving firearm at DFE took almost 1 1/2 hour, a “porter” had to carry firearms to CBP and waited until all firearms were claimed. Porter also kept passport, I don’t like that.
We are going to Mozambique in Sept and flights are on Qatar, if I had known the hassle I’d have found another alternative.

Invite letters and temporary export permits should be of interest to custom officials and not the airlines.That is one of the reasons I like SAA.