I see in the SAA and Delta baggage regs. that they will charge an excess fee for any checked luggage that exceeds 62" (LxWxH). Some of the rolling duffels discussed in the thread exceed 62". Has anybody been nicked for excess baggage fees using these oversize duffels. Those fees are pretty expensive. Do they charge these fees both ways on a round trip and charge again to fly Jburg to Polokwane?

By the way, that Mr Filson must be a smart guy, as he designed that #284 rolling duffel to be EXACTLY 62" (34 1/2 x 13 3/4 x 13 3/4)
He's so proud of it that he charges $424 plus shipping!

I've e-mailed both Delta and SAA to ask if I could pack 2 rifles and one shotgun in a single tuffpak. Neither airline would give me a simple yes/no answer. They just recited their regs again. If there's one thing I hate, it's lousy ignorant customer service. Now if I use a locked take-down shotgun case and put it inside a rolling duffel, is the airline gonna give any grief over that. (considering I also have two rifles in a tuffpak)

What a pain in the ass!

Elmo

Airlines generally allow an exemption to the 62" rule for a single "sporting goods" case. Whether it's a surfboard, bike or guncase. Most airlines allow only 2 guns per case, but I've never seen this written down.

If you travel with "sporting" equipment, sooner or later you will get either a PETA freak or a minion with the IQ of fat lighter. Having the printed regs with you usually works.... but I've had the police called on me more than once because I insisted on them following their own regs and not charging more... Amazinginly, each time, when the police decline to arrest me, my bags go on at the posted rate.

What really, really chaps me is when you fly somewhere and you get no grief outbound, and some idiot won't let you return with the same darn stuff you left with. You can decide not to go somewhere because you are getting screwed, but you gotta get home!

For instance, a fishing pole and a tackle box are considered one (1) piece of luggage, allowing you also a "main" bag. Try to explain that to a $8 @ hour part-time moron in JAX at 5:00 a.m. It make you want to strangle sometimes... I've always won, but it sure does put a palor on the flight. My fall back solution is to carry some straps in my carry-on with which I can lash all that crap together, and by the time I pull that out, the ticket agent gives up.... Duct Tape will do it too, but now, none is allowed in carry-on because it could be used to tie up hostages or something???

I still get tickled thinking about the agent who wouldn't let Joe Foss (at 84 years old) get aboard a plane with his Medal of Honor in his pocket because the sharp edges of the star could be used as a weapon. A state governor, the CMH, Commissioner of the AFL, five-and-a-half times an ace against the Japanese and finally, in his dotterage, a suspected terrorist.

When a Medal of Honor winner starts hi-jacking airplanes, I'm walking.

Delta is pretty clear:

One item of shooting equipment is accepted as part of a customer's free checked baggage allowance.

When checking a firearm, you must:
declare to the Delta representative that you are checking a firearm (If a Security Checkpoint is prior to the Delta ticket counter, you must declare the existence of a firearm to security personnel.)
present firearm(s) unloaded and sign a "Firearms Unloaded" declaration
lock the firearm(s) in a hard-sided, crush-proof container and retain the key or combination
maintain entry permits in your possession for the country or countries of destination or transit
ensure small arms ammunition is packed in the manufacturer's original package or securely packed in fiber, wood or metal boxes
Firearms transported to the United Kingdom as checked baggage require a permit from the United Kingdom. The passenger must contact the United Kingdom for more information regarding this permit.

Ammunition in excess of 11 lbs. per passenger or that contains incendiary projectiles is prohibited.

Delta Gun Cases may be purchased as most airports.
Rifles
One rifle case containing:
two or fewer rifles (with or without scopes)
one shooting mat
one small pistol tool kit
noise suppressers
11 lbs. (approx. 5kgs) of ammunition
Cases containing more than two rifles will be assessed an excess baggage charge.

SAA is also clear:

Sporting firearms consisting of not more than:

o One rifle case containing not more than two rifles, 5 Kg (10 LB) of ammunition, one shooting mat, noise suppressers and small rifle tools;
o Two shotguns and two shotgun cases, or
o One pistol case containing not more than five pistols, 5 Kg (10 LB) of ammunition, noise suppressers, one pistol telescope and small pistol tools.

Regards,

Terry

Yep.
We got nailed by the excess weight thing last year. We flew from Joburg to Windhoek, no problem, International flight.
Returning from Windhoek to Joburg,and Joburg to Pretoria, Pretoria to Joburg, each leg was $100 per traveler. We had one gun case and one check in each. We argued, but lost. Read the fine print on the ticket.

You need to have Walter along.

One year in Vic Falls, we could see the check in people were giving everyone a hard time about excess luggage.

Walter, the genius he is, deviced a plan to teach them a lesson. He went outside the terminal, and came back with a small stone he got from the flower beds by the door!?

They had one of those old scales, that sit on the floor with a large circular indicator.

As the last person in the party ahead of us took his cases off the scale, Walter pretended to open his hand luggage right next to the scale.

What he really did was stick the stone under the scale, to stop it going any further down!

He then put his own case on the scale, and read the weight - turning to Horst and saying "remember we have a bet. All the case will be the same weight, and you will have to buy us all dinner tonight. If not I will buy the dinner."

He proceeded to weigh each case, his laughter getting louder by the minute, as each case was exactly the same weight!

After the last case was weighed, he said to the check in man, pointing to Horst, "I am German, and he is from Austria. He cannot accept that us Germans are more intelligent than Austrians. By the way, did you know that Austrian as related to ostriches? Hey Horsty, stupidity costs money. Get your credit card ready for dinner!"

I wonder how long it took the check in people to realized they have been duped!

Walter obviously is a man of many talents! That was a great story!
- mike

Saeed,

Great story! Walter does seem to be a gem.

All,

How do Airlines handle a bolt rifle and a double rifle with two sets of barrels (one rifle, one shotgun gauge). Does this fit "two rifles" limit?

thanks,

You could always try putting your rifles in a golf bag (taking out the dividers). I don't know if it is still in effect, but for many years the airline regulations did not count golf bags in the weight allowances, it seems that just too many of the airline staff themselves were golfers and it was written into the regulations. This is outrageously discriminatory but that's the way it is.

Yep! I flew to Cote d'Ivoire around the middle of April and had to pay $135.00 in excess baggage weight to Continental. Upon inquiry, I was told that this would cover all of my connecting flights to and from the Ivory Coast. HAH!! When I was leaving Abidjan on Tuesday for an Air France flight, I had to pay 168,000 CI or about $330.00 US for the same baggage that I went with. What are you going to do? I was more than ready to leave that place and they probably knew that. By the way, I was 4.6kg over the specified limit stated by the Airline. I have been to Algeria on five different occasions and eight other countries and have never seen the open corruption that is prevelant in Cote d'Ivoire. In talking with some of the guys working with me, apparently most of the Central Afica countries all operate about the same. I didn't mean to stray off topic here, but you have to be prepared to pay extra even when you should not have to.

I use an SKB Standard Golf Travel Case (sorry Harry) 4812 as my gun case. Packing my rifle in a hardside Kolpin gun sleeve inside that travel case surronded by clothes. I also carry 1 other bag a med. sized duffle on wheels. SAA an Air Namibia have never charged extra when the flight originates from ATL nor returning flights when leaving from Windhoek. "Knock on wood" hope my luck keeps holding out.Wyn

How about the wheeled duffels? I'm looking at a Cabelas Catalog right now. My issue is that I need a bag at least 34" long to put my hard sided take down shotgun case in. Weight won't be a problem but the 62" thing concerns me.

AK Guide model 36 1/2 x 16 x 18 = 70 1/2 @ $160
Premier model 36 x 16 1/2 x 17 = 69 1/2 @ $200
Outback model 36 x 16 x 17 = 69 @$200

Filson #284 34 1/2 x 13 3/4 x 13 3/4 = 62" @ $424

Have they been measuring duffels lately.

The sporting goods exemption nulifies the 62" rule. It would be best to have that section printed out from their web site and with your paperwork.