I am about to leave my house in the next few minutes when I got a call from British airways agent

Your weapon is banned !

What!

"Yes sir the new 11mm rule"

http://www.britishairways.com/...bagrest/public/en_gb

I am going to the airport anyway but once again folks we have to tread softly and watch our back against these hitlers

Useless tossers.

Living in England I guess you don't have much choice but to fly BA. They stuck it to me once on a connecting flight and I'll never fly that airline again. Just too many folks have had problems with them and firearms so when traveling from the US I always fly with another airline.

Thats too bad. Denver to London, London to Joburg broke the flight up nicely. I personally am going ti email British Airways and explain why I won't be flying with them any more, or recomend them to anyone else. A flood of emails might at least tell other airlines there are plenty of traveling hunters buying airlin tickets.

Had to look it up. Correct me if I'm wrong. 11mm equals .433

That means my 450 NE is too big eh?

My co-worker is in Bots for Ele and due to fly back British Air and I believe he took his 500 NE. Man, I hope they are grandfathering those already traveling.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
Had to look it up. Correct me if I'm wrong. 11mm equals .433

That means my 450 NE is too big eh?

Even the .425 WR has a .435" diameter bullet...

Aside from telling them they will lose customers, why not add a "technical approach" to debate the new rule. Point out that 11 mm is confusing to their customers because hunting guns are not typically measured that way and that there are no known 11 mm rifles. And that there's a need to be precise here and the guns you want to take are not in fact even covered by their rule, since ours are measured by caliber in inches.

So the rule needs re-writing regardless to make it where the average hunter can understand it.

In any event, this sounds a lot like the .450 being arbitrarily and capriciously banned a hundred years ago in India and the Sudan. And that's something that if it were in the U.S. could lead to a legal challenge.

It looks like the 450/400 NE may get a lot more popular. They say it's adequate for ele if you can make the shot.

I'm flying them from Joberg to Vic falls next week, thank goodness I'm only bringing my squirrel rifle, 416 Rigby.

SG Olds - Better check with your travel agent and BA directly. BA has had a policy of not flying firearms/ammo into Zimbabwe. From what I've read, that policy is still in force.

I got the shaft from them several years ago on that same flight. My flight leaving Atlanta was delayed and I knew I would miss my connection with SAA. I called my travel agent who got me on a flight with BA that same day. When I questioned the BA agents in Joberg about flying my guns and bag (containing ammo) they assured me it would be OK and stated that my gun and bag had been loaded on the flight. Checked again with their agent at the boarding gate. Same story - don't worry your gun and bag is on the plane.

I'm sure you can guess what happened - when I arrived in Vic Falls no gun or bag. The gun arrived the next day on an SAA flight but I had no ammo since my bag didn't show up. My bag arrived two days later with a gift I had brought for the PH's daughter missing. Luckily that was the only thing stolen. That was my first and last experience with BA.

So even the 458 Win Mag is not allowed. Whankers!

12mm is 0.47244 inches, if you going to make a stupid rule, why not use that?

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:
SG Olds - Better check with your travel agent and BA directly. BA has had a policy of not flying firearms/ammo into Zimbabwe. From what I've read, that policy is still in force.

I got the shaft from them several years ago on that same flight. My flight leaving Atlanta was delayed and I knew I would miss my connection with SAA. I called my travel agent who got me on a flight with BA that same day. When I questioned the BA agents in Joberg about flying my guns and bag (containing ammo) they assured me it would be OK and stated that my gun and bag had been loaded on the flight. Checked again with their agent at the boarding gate. Same story - don't worry your gun and bag is on the plane.

I'm sure you can guess what happened - when I arrived in Vic Falls no gun or bag. The gun arrived the next day on an SAA flight but I had no ammo since my bag didn't show up. My bag arrived two days later with a gift I had brought for the PH's daughter missing. Luckily that was the only thing stolen. That was my first and last experience with BA.

FWIW, The actual ban on firearms to Zim is an EU wide ban & only applies to flights from the EU to Zim.

The probable reason you firearms & bag didn't travel with you from JNB - HRE would be utter stupidity or because some light fingered SOB wanted time to look through your belongings.

That said, it might be a good idea to have the airline confirm in writing they'll still take the firearm just in case.

Also a good idea to use the term exact term 'sporting firearm' at all times.

May be BA thinks that .375 H&H is enough gun.

quote:

Originally posted by SG Olds:
thank goodness I'm only bringing my squirrel rifle, 416 Rigby.

Personally I prefer a 4 bore for squirrel. Hmmmm.........you must use solids.....

Brett

Well folks

I got through without being banned !

To right since when when an airline dictates what caliber we hunt with

Basically it total luck who you get at the check in counter

I had a bitch on the phone who does the Pre flight checks

And had a gentleman at the counter who joked with us all the way About big game hunting

Bottom line is avoid BA at all cost

They are out to screw us hunters

There are 21 rifles cases on this flight so it should be interesting at the lounge

I can spot the vegetarian hunters a mile away

Will post more when i am back

BTW. Got screwed for £100 for carryring one firearm and 20 rounds

Now where is that conversion chart

11mm equals .........

11mm = 0.4330709 of an inch

So no ex military calibres & nothing over 0.4330709 of an inch, no firearms to Zim & a ban suspended by a waiver on all ammo.

Give it a few years & everyone will be hiring firearms from the outfitter.

Last post before we take off

Just spoke to a few other hunters on the same flight

Some idiots are now interpreting bore diameter and does not distinguish between rifle and shotguns

That's mean nothing over 410...

Perhaps they are with WWF ?,?

Probably too late but please try to get the names of hunters who had problems & then let me have those plus flight details & names of staff involved etc.

BA is an absolute hunter unfriendly company. I try to avoid them on business flights whenever possible as some kind of reaction.

AIR FRANCE>BRITISH AIRWAYS

Yes, Air France is ridiculous too but it is easy to avoid them ( except CAR...).

Frankly, I am really happy with our good old Lufthansa.

OK guys, a while back, I asked about all the problems I have heard of from hunters traveling to Africa on BA.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...651071671#6651071671


All I got back were glowing recommendations for traveling BA. Now this thread is more in line with what I had heard before. Can some who advocated BA in my thread post here on this issue?

Todd

You'll find all the info on our site at www.shakariconnection.com but a brief summary is:

A lot depends on what check in agent etc you come across.

They often stick closely to the law of no firearm of a calibre that has previously been adopted by any military force anywhere in the world.

Hard rifle case.

Ammo in a separate lockable box with every round kept separated from every other round.

UKP50 per firearm or ammo case.

Oh & now no calibre over 11 mm........ whether they'd know if a .458 is larger than 11 mm is a different matter.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Todd

You'll find all the info on our site at www.shakariconnection.com but a brief summary is:

A lot depends on what check in agent etc you come across.

They often stick closely to the law of no firearm of a calibre that has previously been adopted by any military force anywhere in the world.

Hard rifle case.

Ammo in a separate lockable box with every round kept separated from every other round.

UKP50 per firearm or ammo case.

Oh & now no calibre over 11 mm........ whether they'd know if a .458 is larger than 11 mm is a different matter.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Thanks Steve. As always with airlines, there is confusing info and probably more than anything else, your statement about "it depends on the agent you get" says it all.

I'd like to try the BA route sometime to avoid JNB but I still hear enough negatives against BA that I'm not ready to leave the hassle I know for a hassle I'm not familiar with.

I forgot to mention all of the EU have a firearms embargo to Zim.

Some countries & airlines enforce it more than others but the UK & especially BA enforce it rigorously.

Oh & FWIW, the EU issued a ban on the transport of all ammo on all commercial flights into and out of the EU..... a few days later they issued a waiver for sporting ammo but it should be noted that they didn't withdraw the original ban and the only ammo they are allowed to carry is sporting ammo.

That to me indicates that at some time in the future, they'll withdraw the waiver and enforce the ammo ban...... & I'd guess they'll do it without any notice just like the 11 mm ban.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
So even the 458 Win Mag is not allowed. Whankers!

12mm is 0.47244 inches, if you going to make a stupid rule, why not use that?

Because I have a 500 Jeffery, that's why!

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:
OK guys, a while back, I asked about all the problems I have heard of from hunters traveling to Africa on BA.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...651071671#6651071671


All I got back were glowing recommendations for traveling BA. Now this thread is more in line with what I had heard before. Can some who advocated BA in my thread post here on this issue?

Sure I'll post. Never had a problem with BA and my stuff arrived where it was supposed to and was hand deliverered there until I picked it up. I paid a fee for that just like others who fly BA with "sporting arms".

Now some butthead has added this silly 11 mm rule.

I will be sending BA a message about the foolishness of this rule and I would recommend outfits like Gracy, Steve Turner, and all the other travel folks do the same.

Perhaps someone above the butthead making this decision will see the light.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
Perhaps someone above the butthead making this decision will see the light.

Don't hold your breath on that.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:
OK guys, a while back, I asked about all the problems I have heard of from hunters traveling to Africa on BA.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...651071671#6651071671


All I got back were glowing recommendations for traveling BA. Now this thread is more in line with what I had heard before. Can some who advocated BA in my thread post here on this issue?

Sure I'll post. Never had a problem with BA and my stuff arrived where it was supposed to and was hand deliverered there until I picked it up. I paid a fee for that just like others who fly BA with "sporting arms".

Now some butthead has added this silly 11 mm rule.

I will be sending BA a message about the foolishness of this rule and I would recommend outfits like Gracy, Steve Turner, and all the other travel folks do the same.

Perhaps someone above the butthead making this decision will see the light.

Let's hope so.

quote:

Originally posted by jaegerfrank:
BA is an absolute hunter unfriendly company. I try to avoid them on business flights whenever possible as some kind of reaction.

Can you provide a bit more info and flesh out this statement. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:
OK guys, a while back, I asked about all the problems I have heard of from hunters traveling to Africa on BA.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...651071671#6651071671


All I got back were glowing recommendations for traveling BA. Now this thread is more in line with what I had heard before. Can some who advocated BA in my thread post here on this issue?

Sure I'll post. Never had a problem with BA and my stuff arrived where it was supposed to and was hand deliverered there until I picked it up. I paid a fee for that just like others who fly BA with "sporting arms".

Now some butthead has added this silly 11 mm rule.

I will be sending BA a message about the foolishness of this rule and I would recommend outfits like Gracy, Steve Turner, and all the other travel folks do the same.

Perhaps someone above the butthead making this decision will see the light.

Let's hope so.

If they don't and I choose to hunt Ele with my 450 NE then BA will lose my business and I explained that in plain English (American version) in my complaint.

I don't understand the comments about which agent you get. Doesn't BA have written rules you can download?

Yes they do but most don't bother reading them and a large part of the UK is virulently anti hunting so they don't exactly go out of their way to accommodate hunters.

I'm not exaggerating at all when I say that a paedophile is often more popular in the UK than a hunter is.

quote:

Originally posted by Indy:
I don't understand the comments about which agent you get. Doesn't BA have written rules you can download?

Indy, you can't be serious. If you've dealt with airlines at all, you know the power agents have over the success of your trip.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about. You check in with your guns and ammo and declare them correctly per the instructions. Then, at a connecting airport, your bags run into someone of an "anti" persuasion. That agent decides that he / she is not absolutely convinced the upline agent that checked your bags in, properly tagged everything. So that agent pulls your bags while everything is checked to his / her satisfaction. Meanwhile, your plane departs and you arrive without your guns / ammo.

Doesn't matter what the rules are. There are always enough ambiguities that someone with the desire to, can cause problems.

Here is another. The SAA website says that "firearms cannot be carried as checked luggage". It then goes on to say that firearms must be carried in a lockable hardsided case by itself, etc. Do you think there is enough ambiguity in the first sentence to give an activist agent room to raise a few questions?

That's why I run a corporate account with Virgin , and insist my guys fly with them wherever possible.

K

all this shit is why my guns stay home- life is too short to spend it sweating the details. i want to hunt, not worry about whether or not my gun arrives.

Makes me ashamed to be British

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
all this shit is why my guns stay home- life is too short to spend it sweating the details. i want to hunt, not worry about whether or not my gun arrives.

Sorry man, I'm not going without my guns. If they don't make it, I'll use camp guns until they arrive but I have absolutely NO desire to hunt anything anywhere without using my own guns and my own ammo that I've spent considerable time loading and tweaking the load to my rifle. It all goes together as a package deal to me.

You and I have had this conversation before but the rifle in my hands, brings back the memories for me as much as taxidermy or pictures. I have a M700 ADL 7mm Rem Mag that I mowed yards to earn the money for when I was 14 years old. Every time I hold that gun in my hands, I remember, among other things, a very cold morning on November 14, 1976, sitting on a stand made of two boards nailed across the fork in a tree, during an unusually early ice storm in Central Texas. When that small 8 pointer stepped out, I took the shot. I remember watching it run off and the dejection I felt thinking I had missed. My dad heard the shot and drove up about 15 minutes later. We looked for the deer together and he showed my how to track it. We spotted the downed deer prior to finding a blood trail. I went from the lowest of lows thinking I had blown it to the highest of highs. That was my first deer. I'm sure glad I didn't shoot it with a camp gun.

why use camp guns if you have NO desire to hunt anything other than with your own rifle?? just wait it out and hope for the best. NO MEANS NO, RIGHT???