Good Afternoon,
Anyone had issue connecting through Heathrow with guns? I would assume they will be checked all the way through and I wouldn't see/touch them? Route is Jo-Burg - Heathrow - Atlanta - Houston on Delta.

btw, just learned Jo-burg to Heathrow and Heathrow to ATL are operated by Virgin (all booked through Delta)

Thanks in advance

Better check with your travel agent if you used one or the individual airlines. You're just asking for trouble traveling through England with firearms. I also remember reading that Virgin wouldn't fly firearms but that was years ago.

If I were you, I'd get the direct flight from Joberg to Atlanta on Delta.

From what I understand the issue lies with flying in to England on one airline and departing on another. And the two don't have a baggage transfer agreement, so now you have to claim your baggage and check it in to the next flight. Which is a problem if you have guns. So make sure that the two airlines have a baggage transfer agreement (or whatever the technical term is).

AR

Spoke with Delta (via their text app so have it in writing). They said the bags would be checked all the way through and their would be no problem, we will see and I will report back. The direct flight from JoBurg to Atlanta returning was $5k more (2 people), was having a hard time swallowing that one, the straight airfare was painful enough.

Here is a link to Virgins requirements for firearms generally and RSA specifically for anyone interested. A couple of prohibited airports in UK for flying out of or into (LHR is not one) are listed as well for anyone interested:

Virgin Atlantic Firearms

Delta’s and United’s prices beggar belief for direct flights.

The airfare is approaching 30% more than the entire hunt, takes much of the enjoyment out for me. Momma wants to go for our 20th anniversary and she deserves more than that, so I have my game face on…..

I did it once but it was 20 years ago. I went though a travel agent back then. I traveled from Zim to Spain. They airport security pulled me aside and made me watch my gun cases transfer from one plane to the other. Made me nervous at the time but worked out Ok. I used Gracy Travel and they new all the pitfalls with traveling with guns. I would probably explore booking with them again just to be safe.

Id rather not, and there are options..problems keep popping up there, and have for at least 40 years to my knowledge..

No way in hell would I go thru the UK with guns.. I even avoid it on business travel!

quote:

Originally posted by Scott Powell:
No way in hell would I go thru the UK with guns.. I even avoid it on business travel!

Funny you say that.

Haven’t been through Heathrow for many years.

And had to a few years ago to fly BA to Vancouver, because the Canadians don’t allow Emirates to fly there.

Only to Toronto.

Anyway, what an eye opener!

The BA First Class lounge was like a 2 start hotel coffee shop in Dubai.

The flight was great, no complaints.

But the menu offered in First was nowhere near as good as Emirates.

Or the menu on offer in Canadian Airlines Business.

505

Arjun gave you the biggest reason people have had issues with guns through the UK. If you use a safari savvy agent you'll have no issues with your guns. British security wants to know exactly where your guns are at all times. I've traveled through London many times and laid over there with guns 3 times. If you jump through the appropriate hoops you'll have no issues.

Having said the above Heathrow during the pandemic and I believe still is difficult with long lines etc. You'll need patience.

Mark

Patience?

I have had friends spend 4-6 hours getting through.

Last week an English friend came through Heathrow.

His description was it was “a shithole!”

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Patience?

I have had friends spend 4-6 hours getting through.

Last week an English friend came through Heathrow.

His description was it was “a shithole!”

That is my biggest complaint! Their infrastructure is going to hell.. Couple crappy facilities with long lines and luggage issues, then add firearms into the mix - recipe for a disaster in my book...

I did just see United has teamed up with Emirates - thrilled to see that as fly United alot :-)

I brought 2 rifles and a shotgun ( on my British Firearms license) to Heathrow a couple of months ago to fly Emirates to Auckland. Emirates rules say that firearms must be in a locked guncase or suitcase and ammunition must be in a locked box in a seperate case. I had the rifles in a case and the shotgun in a suitcase. The security staff said that wasn't good enough and the shotgun had to be in a case on it's own without other luggage. Fortunately the 12g was a 6 1/2 pound English sidelock so it was slim enough when broken down to fit into the gaps between the rifles in the guncase and that satisfied them. The .375 ammo was in a locked steel box in another suitcase and they insisted it travelled out of the case as a seperate item. This all took about an hour to sort out.
At Auckland I had a NZ firearms license which was all you used to need to import guns. Now you need a permit to import in advance. The cop on duty had never dealt with firearms before but he took the guns and ammo away with the keys. After several weeks the Permit came through but when I went to collect the guns the police couldn't find the keys. Had to cut the locks and break the ammo box to access them before they were released. Other than that no problem! Don't assume that what was permissable in the past is still relevant today!