Anyone who has flown Emirates....have you used a standard Tuffpak? I only ask because when reading the Emirates website about baggage I saw this...

Maximum dimensions (length + width + height) of each piece must not exceed 158cm (62 inches).

Check with the airline, of course, but I have never had any problem with over sized items that you check in separately. Besides guns in a TuffPak, I have flown all over Europe with ice hockey kit. My hockey bag is HUGE, heavy and comes with a another bag of sticks. I never once had it weighed or measured since I checked it in as "sporting gear" ahead of time online.

I personally would not worry about the size as you are checking your guns in as "sporting gear" and it is handled separately.

Of courses, my advice is worth exactly what you paid for it

Dick Murray of Murray Leather travels in one and on this airline...no problems that he ever told me about.

It is not a problem.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

Maximum dimensions (length + width + height) of each piece must not exceed 158cm (62 inches).

As far as I know that 62" limit has been in the regs of most international carriers for a long time. But almost all had an exception for "sporting equipment".

quote:

Originally posted by Harry:
Dick Murray of Murray Leather travels in one...

Dick's a big guy. He couldn't fit inside the TuffPak I have.

I've Flown 2 times with Emirates using a Tuffpak and never had an issue with it being over dimension. Just make sure you contact Emirates with firearm details ahead of time.

From their website:

Sporting weapons and ammunition

Firearms designed for sporting purposes, such as target pistols and rifles, air guns, safari rifles, hunting rifles, etc., may be carried as checked baggage on Emirates flights under the following conditions:

The firearm must be completely unloaded and, if possible, dismantled and packed inside a suitcase or standard gun case.

The carriage of any type of firearms, ammunition and explosives, including items containing explosives, must be approved by Emirates no less than three days before your flight. Please contact your nearest Emirates office to start the approval process. Please allow extra time for public holidays and weekends in your country of residence and the UAE.

Ammunition must be securely stored in a strong, sealed box packed inside a suitcase and surrounded by other contents. The suitcase must not bear an ‘Explosive’ label.

The maximum gross weight of the ammunition carried by any single passenger is 5kg (11lb). Passengers traveling in groups must carry ammunition in their own separate bags, with no single bag carrying more than the 5kg (11lb) limit.

The following special conditions apply to passengers wishing to carry firearms on flights into or through Dubai:

Passengers who wish to bring firearms and ammunition into the UAE must obtain prior clearance from UAE Customs and the UAE Ministry of Defence. To obtain this clearance, passengers must contact these government departments directly.

For transfer and transit passengers who are connecting to onward flights, prior clearance to travel with firearms and ammunition must be obtained from the Dubai Airport Police Department and the Department of Civil Aviation.

Only problem I had was flying through Dubai on a Friday (Holiday) and getting my gun case till Monday, but that was Dubai Airport Police and had nothing to do with Emirates.

Just checked in with Emirates in Seattle. No problem at all with my Tuff Pak. They did weigh my ammo and did have me take my guns out and verify serial numbers. Bull elephant hunt starts on May 10th.

quote:

Originally posted by Go Dawgs:
Just checked in with Emirates in Seattle. No problem at all with my Tuff Pak. They did weigh my ammo and did have me take my guns out and verify serial numbers. Bull elephant hunt starts on May 10th.

Any chance you are planning to stay in Dubai for a couple of days in either direction?

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck32:
Only problem I had was flying through Dubai on a Friday (Holiday) and getting my gun case till Monday, but that was Dubai Airport Police and had nothing to do with Emirates.

Did you plan on staying in Dubai that whole time?

What I've been trying to find is someone who stayed in Dubai by choice for sightseeing while transiting through to or from Africa with firearms.

Do the Airport Police store them?

Frostbit - we are on a 12 hour layover. We leave for Harare at 9:25 tomorrow morning. Sorry I can't be much help.

quote:

Originally posted by Go Dawgs:
Frostbit - we are on a 12 hour layover. We leave for Harare at 9:25 tomorrow morning. Sorry I can't be much help.

Good luck on the hunt and thanks for the reply.

This is not to be taken as rock solid advice for anyone reading this but...

I have emailed back and forth with an Emirates representative that is very articulate and appears to be well versed with the Firearms transport topic.

It appears a stopover is possible when traveling with firearms and those cases will be stored by the Dubai Airport Police and then escorted to your departing flight.

Sounds like it's worth a try and I'm stepping up to be the guinea pig since I can't find anyone else who has done it.

Joyce and I will spend five nights sightseeing incredible Dubai on the way over to Harare.

Frostbit, would it be worth doing your Dubai visit on the way back? That way if there are any issues that crop up they would not mess up your hunt.
My son and I are leaving for Zim next Sunday. We will be traveling Emirates but only have an overnight in Dubai. We will let you know how that goes.
Dave

quote:

Originally posted by Adamsdjr:
Frostbit, would it be worth doing your Dubai visit on the way back? That way if there are any issues that crop up they would not mess up your hunt.
My son and I are leaving for Zim next Sunday. We will be traveling Emirates but only have an overnight in Dubai. We will let you know how that goes.
Dave

We are using mileage and the itinerary worked out to do the stopover on the way over.