You can almost guess what I'm going to tell you. United was late, making me miss my connection in Washington to Joburg. The United agent there in Washington tried to be helpful by getting me on the next flight to London so I could still connect with my original flight from Joburg to Bulawayo. I told her that I've heard of problems with hunters and guns going through London in the past. She said she was not aware of any problem, but for safety sake she would check with all five of her supervisors. She checked with all five and got a green light from every one. Consequently I was London-bound with my gun.

On arrival at Heathrow I was summoned up to the front of the aircraft, there to be ushered into the company of local Customs agents. They took me aside and informed me that my gun was confiscated. They said that all European Union countries have an embargo against any guns going to Zimbabwe, a policy which is part of a larger package of sanctions against the Zim government. They said it would be no problem for me to get the gun back, but to do so I would have to be on a flight directly back to the U.S. I explained that United was unaware of this, and I had no intention to come here or to come back through later for that matter. They sympathized, but said sorry. I said to them that they have no sanctions against South Africa, so they could just let the gun go to Johannesburg without violating any sanctions. They said that this it true, but that they were well aware that it was my intention to go on to Zimbabwe, so that alone was sufficient reason to prevent the gun from going any further.

At this time I pulled out a document which I reasoned might pose a technicality to them and give me a better chance to plead my case to these officials. As it happens I had also planned a hunt in South Africa on this trip, so I had with me a letter of intent from the South African outfitter, confirming my hunt details. I told them that if they didn't let my gun go, then they were effectively sanctioning this South African outfitter, which might be overstepping their authority. They said this was a technicality which would be unlikely to make any difference, but to be certain of this they would check with their supervisors on the phone. Within a minute they turned back to inform me the gun would be allowed to continue to Africa and they wished me a good hunt. They said that this technicality got me off the hook.

This was a close call. It had a good outcome, but it could have easily gone the other way. Don't let it happen to you. Don't believe what you hear from United. Any Zim-bound hunter can't go to London unless you intend to use a local rifle in Zim. Cheers.

London and British Air are on my list to avoid as well. In 2004 my flight to Joberg was late and I missed a connection to Zim. The folks from SA put me on a British Air flight to Vic Falls. I questioned them about my guns but they assured me that it would not be a problem. Well I'm sure you know what happened. Neither my guns or baggage arrived. Guns arrived on a SA flight the next day, but my bag (which contained my ammo) didn't show up for another four days. I'll never fly BA again or go through London.

Guys,

Sorry you had a hassle but being unaware of EU sanctions is your fault. Nobody hassled you and the other airline people were blissfully ignorant.

Mark

Forgive my ignorance but why is this a British Airways problem? The original post referred to London and the EU. It may well be an EU problem, but why tarnish the airline. In cases mentioned here in the past. it seem to me that many of the baggage problems were due to the airport luggage handlers rather than the airline. Am I missing something? We hunters seem to be swinging wildly, lashing out at every single airline out there, so, what airline doesn't have such problems?
Peter.

GUYS,

GUYS, LISTEN UP, YOU CAN NOT TAKE GUNS INTO ZIMBABWE FROM ENGLAND ON ANY AIRLINE EVER ...PERIOD. IT IS A POLITICAL THING AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AIRLINES.

Does that clear thing up.

Back when I was working as a booking agent I had a client decide that he was going to do his own travel arraignments and against my advice tried to do this. NOT GOOD. He still hasn't gotten his rifles back.

Guys,

As a general rule and not necessarily related to the problems above please do use an African and gun savvy travel agent. Buying Internet tickets or dealing with the local travel agent is just false economy. A qualified travel agent will save you hassles and NO hassles is worth way more than saving a couple of bucks on your tickets. As for the UK and EU a travel agent can get you through there to ANY place in Africa.

On the subject of BA they have blips like any other airline but Gracy travel says BA has the best record of guns and baggage arriving with the passengers of any African carrier. Personally I'm making my 8th trip with them starting tomorrow and I expect nothing but good service and for my stuff to arrive JNB with me.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Forgive my ignorance but why is this a British Airways problem? The original post referred to London and the EU. It may well be an EU problem, but why tarnish the airline. In cases mentioned here in the past. it seem to me that many of the baggage problems were due to the airport luggage handlers rather than the airline. Am I missing something? We hunters seem to be swinging wildly, lashing out at every single airline out there, so, what airline doesn't have such problems?
Peter.

I have some news for you, sir the luggage handlers that handle the airline's bags, are airline employees, not airport employees! If you doubt my information, I retired from the largest airline in the world after working there for 31 years, and involved with all airlines the world over, running a baggage tracing office!

The problem, however, may have been the SA baggage handlers not making the connection from SA to BA in Joburg in time for the FIREARMS to be put on the manifest at BA.

What most people don't seem to understand is, a full 75% of lost, or damaged baggage, is placed at the doorstep of the passanger, for damage, and the preceding airline when connections are made, especially, when a re-route is involved,for lost bags, and all these things double when flying internationally!

Here's some good advice, know what the rules are in the countries where you will change planes,in regard to where you are going! The airline has to abide by the rules of the country where they land, and or change equipment. The passenger must do the same!

In this case the biggest problem is the employees of United, not knowing the rules, of the country they were re-routing him through. I find this to be the case often, when dealing with firearms rules. IMO every airline in the world should be party to a special website, run by someone like SABRE, for proper information on firearm rules in any country where you might go, or pass through with guns! This way all airlines, and booking agents, could subscribe, and have instant infromation, no matter what level airline employee needs the info. Then there would be no need to call a supervisor who knows less than the ticket agent, in most cases!