Ladies and Gentlemen,

Just got off the phone with American Airlines. We were getting an intinerary to Africa using Aadvantage miles.

Going to fly through London and spend a few days then on to Zimbabwe.

Did you know there are direct, non-stop, flights from London Heathrow (LHR) to Harare (HRE)? It's operated by British Airways.

LHR to HRE on Tues, Thurs and Sat. Depart LHR at 7:45PM arrive HRE at 6:50AM the following day.

HRE to LHR on Wed, Fri and Sat. Depart HRE at 9:10AM arrive LHR at 6:30PM on the same day.

Aircraft is a Boeing 777.

Arrival in LHR is too late to catch any American Airlines flights back to the States.


We are flying from LHR to HRE on the direct flight. We are returning via Johannesburg (JNB) on Comair Limited (British Airways associated carrier in South Africa). Comair Limited from HRE to JNB. I checked their website and they said that they may not allow firearms on all of their flights. Has anyone flown Comair with firearms?

Our return flight is via Zurich on Swiss Air. Anyone know if there are any special rules re: firearms on Swiss Air?

Regards,

Terry

Flew Comair in Nov /Dec. 2001 JNB Vic Falls and return. No hassle at all except for the 5 KG ammo limit. Since I had called to advise them in advance we were ready for that limit.

T.Carr

WARNING STOP DO NOT DO THIS!!!You can NOT check firearms London to anywhere in Zimbabwe. It is a British law. I am a booking agent who has been stung on this one before. Call BAA yourself and verify. If you are going to use BAA you have to list a country other than Zimbabwe as your destination then pick up your guns in (JNB) and recheck them to Harare. You also cannot go Harare to London with guns. making it a nightmare with double police registrations in Jo-Berg.

Trust me on this one, it's a PAIN IN THE ASS!!!

Terry

BA Comair allow guns/ammo no problem on the route Johannesburg to Livingstone Zambia.

Just as a side issue for any guests going to Zambia/Vic Falls region, we recommend ALL our hunter clients flying with rifles AVOID Zimbabwe and their Victoria Falls airport on the Zim side of the border and use the direct flight into Livingstone Zambia from where we operate of cource.

Nationwide Air also have DIRECT flights Johannesburg to Livingstone BUT they dont allow guns on their flights so it precludes alot of our hunters using that carrier

The joys of travelling with rifles to varoous Africa countries is becoming a mine field of does and donts (-:

Peter

Terry,

Don't know if they are related but I have flown tiwce from AVP where I live in NE Pa. to Atl with Comair, a share partner with Delta...No problems with firearms...

Mike

Thanks for the information.

Surestrike,

I just found this on the BA website:

Question
Suspension of Carriage of Firearms to Zimbabwe

Answer
Passengers are no longer permitted to carry sporting rifles or any other firearms to Zimbabwe, with immediate effect. British Airways will endeavour to contact any customers already booked to travel to the country to inform them of the new policy. Should you be booked to travel to Zimbabwe and now wish to change your travel arrangements as a result of this new policy, the follwoing Commercial Policy has been put in place to help you: * You can change your destination to a new one on British Airways flights. Note: If you make this type of change, you will be responsible for any resultant additional fare due for payment. * You can receive a full ticket refund, back to your original form of payment. The policy follows a requirement outlined from HM Customs & Excise restricting the transhipment of such items to this area.

Damn, back to the drawing board. Do you know how hard it is to get flights using miles?

Regards,

Terry

Terry- I have done three milage reward tickets in the last 5 years. Steve at Gracey was a huge help and charged a minimal fee. I had attempted it myself and it was both time consuming and frustrating.And my tickets were relativly simple, to RSA and Windhoek. Bob Butler.

Terry,

Glad I could help. I had a client get himself into this exact same situation last summer. Fortunatley I was able to salvage his trip at the last minute. He told me he was traveling through Amsterdam then changed to London at the last minute without telling me. He wound up paying an additional $5000.00USD to make all the last minute short notice changes.


Greg Allyn

Greg,

I'll bet that was a mess.

We were able to change the flight so that we arrive Johannesburg. Will overnight in JNB then on to Zimbabwe. We could continue from JNB on to Zim that day on British Airways (Comair) but I'm afraid they would see the connection. We will have to pay for the one-way flight to Zim, but it's worth it.

Regards,

Terry

Terry,

If I were you I'd contact Air2000 about helping you clear customs in JNB. I know that there's a bit of a controversy here about using a agent to assist you with clearing your guns. But, I used them last June and it was the best 70.00 I've spent. We were in and out in 15 minutes.


As you're going to be going into and out of RSA twice and just for a day or so, I'd sure think about it.

Here's the link to their site.

-Steve

We flew into RSA, did the local paperwork, then flew on to Mozambique the next. After a week there, we returned to RSA, showed the local customs agent (this was in Pietersburg) the SPS form from a week before and zipped on happily to JBG. Once you get the SPS form filled out for the length of your safair, wherever it takes you, you don't need to renew it anywhere in RSA. The first time arriving is a PITA but after that everything is smooth sailing . . . as of now.

Steve,

Thanks I'm going to use Air 200 or Optima Handling. Not going to stand in line anylonger than I have to.

We are overniting at Afton Guest House on arrival from London and then again on return from ZIM.

Regards,

Terry

Terry

Just a point which you may have missed !!!!

If you are staying @ Afton Guest House then the meet and greet and assistance with Forms/Rifle permits etc are all INCLUDED in the service provided by Louis & Annalise of Afton, you DONT need to spend the extra dollars for the good services of OPTIMA or Air 2000.

Dont get me wrong OPTIMA is great, but why reinvent the wheel ???

Regards, Peter

Peter,

I didn't realize that, haven't been to RSA since the new fireams law came in to affect.

When we stayed at Afton House in the past, Louie just met us in the terminal after we cleared SAPS and Customs ourselves.

Does Louie have clearence to meet you at the luggage claim? Or is Louie using Optima to handle this (I thought I read somewhere that Afton House was using Optima).

Anyway, I'll be sure and check with Louie on this when I make reservations after Dallas.

Regards,

Terry

Terry

One of my clients [ Butch ] used Louis in August to clear his blackpowder rifle and do all the neccessary red tape bulls..t for him and from my understanding there was NO EXTRA fee charged it was included as Butch was staying at Afton, he was also delivered back to the airport the following morning to catch the BA/Comair to Livingstone.

I would certainly recommend that you double check with Louis about any additional charges if applicable !!! I am sure other clients whom have used Afton since August will confirm one way or the other, I stand corrected if there is an additional charge BUT even if so it is well worth it

BRIEF REPORT ex: Butch

I had a WONDERFUL trip. The Afton House's representative was there when I got off the plane, got me to the head of the line to get thru SA customs. Thanks to you, the permit application was filled out correctly.

Others in line must have been there for hours!

Facilities at the Afton House are superb, was ferried out to dinner by their driver, along with several other hunters. This in itself is a plus since we all had hunting in common.

Ferried to the plane the next day by Afton House's driver to took me to the correct door at the terminal.

END of Report

Take care, Peter

quote:

---

Originally posted by surestrike:
T.Carr

WARNING STOP DO NOT DO THIS!!!You can NOT check firearms London to anywhere in Zimbabwe. It is a British law. I am a booking agent who has been stung on this one before. Call BAA yourself and verify. If you are going to use BAA you have to list a country other than Zimbabwe as your destination then pick up your guns in (JNB) and recheck them to Harare. You also cannot go Harare to London with guns. making it a nightmare with double police registrations in Jo-Berg.

Trust me on this one, it's a PAIN IN THE ASS!!!

---

Don't forgett the licensed "gun handler" if you have to change airports.

Terry,

Don't forget that BA require at least 3 days notice that a passenger is travelling with firearms. You need to ask your travel agent to put this fact in the comments section of your booking for all sectors of your BA travel. It's also advisable to get a hard copy of the booking to show any BA check in staff who get akward about it.

You need to use the term "sporting firearm(s)" and not just firearm(s).......