I will be leaving on SAA out of JFK to J'burg and on to Harare in September. I will will probably be coming in the day before through LGA and taking a cab to a hotel nearby JFK. (only one flight to JFK through DFW on AA and I want to get there a day ahead of time; I am an AA pilot and that portion of trip is free) I understand that I can have a rifle in NYC in transit for 24 hours. Any other pitfalls that I must navigate to avoid a trip "downtown"? It is a pretty sad state of affairs that I am not the least concerned with going to Zimbabwe or hunting Cape Buffalo, but traveling through my own country with firearms gives me the willies!. I have already bought tickets so one way or another I will be traveling through JFK.

Give yourself some extra time. I traveled thru JFK last year about this time. On way out, the bags were transfered from plane to plane without an issue. I can't help on the day's transit on the way out. On the return, we cleared customs at JFK and the Delta agent acted like I had a bag of rattlesnakes. TSA doesn't handle firearms, but port authority police who came over to check my case. They had to set the Delta agent straight about how to clear my rifle.

I hope others can help on the procedure for the day layover, but based on my experience it's good for you to be checking ahead of time. Might be useful to have printed info with you to give to the clerks, if my experience is typical.

Bob

If you have your rifles in a Tuffpak no one will know looks like a golf bag, till you clear it at checkin and ask for a TSA rep to inspect and you then lock your case or they will inspect and then lock case and hand back the keys...

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by bobc:
Give yourself some extra time.
Bob

This is good advice for international travel, with or without firearms, especially when flying out of JFK where the international terminal is a long way from the domestic terminals.

I always leave a minimum of three hours (sometimes more) between such connections. There's always a first time, but I've made the trip to Africa many times and have never arrived without my guns or baggage.

Bill Quimby

Just give yourself enought time, all will be well. NY is not that bad, many of us fly in and out of JFK with guns without a problem. Of course you can always find an arse in any place!