I received this email from our LH agent in Addis Ababa explaining why a trophy shipment was refused this morning. This after 23 years of shipping with them. We have other options but it is sad to see this come from the main airlines of a country with such a rich hunting heritage.


"..........Since 06.Dec.we have a TOTAL EMBARGO for hunting trophys, that means you cannot accept this shipments anymore.............."


Sign of the times?

Rich Elliott

For our members who live in Germany this is going to be a real pain. I suppose you've still got Alitalia and Ethiopian Airlines among others.

Sounds to me like they need a boycott from all hunters (including all businessmen and women who are hunters), etc., along with a strong letter writing campaign and some phone calls from influential people in the hunting and shooting industry to change their minds. Pressure like that will be the only way to wake them up to reality.

There are a lot of wealthy hunters in Germany. A boycott sounds appropriate.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Sounds to me like they need a boycott from all hunters (including all businessmen and women who are hunters), etc., along with a strong letter writing campaign and some phone calls from influential people in the hunting and shooting industry to change their minds. Pressure like that will be the only way to wake them up to reality.

Exactly.....I fully endorse this idea.

What's the address?

Also, for everyone out there, Lufthansa does A LOT of code sharing with other airlines, United being a big one.

SO, check your tickets! You may have bought a ticket through United Airlines, but the flight may actually be operated by Lufthansa!!!!!

We need to check with United Airlines and other members of the Star Alliance to see if the affects them.

Is this shipping restriction focused only on hunting trophies? Does it cover other countries besides Ethiopia?

Has any explanation been offered?

Rich:

Before my one and only trip to Africa in 1993, I contacted Lufthansa about flights to Africa. (I was headed for Zimbabwe) I will spare you the saga of my dealings with Lufthansa about transporting a rifle and ammo.I was 63 at the time and hung up the phone after one more frustrating phone conversation ( "You have to declare explosives and that's handled by another department"). I thought to myself: "I have lived to see Germans afraid of guns!"

Actually we have had pretty good luck with firearms transfers on Lufthansa in Frankfurt as long as it was from A Lufthansa flight from the USA to the Addis A flight.

The "total embargo" is just what it says. All hunting trophies, period. Evidently it's the brain storm of their international " product manager" Mr. Jens Fröhlich.

I suspect we'll be more inclined to schedule around Ethiopian Airline's direct flight (via Rome) from Washington/Dulles to Addis Ababa from this point fwd unless this situation gets reversed.

Rich Elliott

All hunters and shooters boycott the SOB's.
How many people are there these days that actually has anything going on between the ears?

Absolutely correct gents. I for one will vote with my dollars by no longer flying Lufthansa. I am surely going to let them know it too. I would suggest you get as many sportsmen and women to do so as well. This is the only way to fight back with any effect. That also means I wont use them for buisness either.

This is too bad. Whenever I have flown with Lufthansa, their service has always been outstanding! Figures that they'd screw it up.

I suppouse this is only a way to gain popularity with some groups of people.

I have some other good ideas for Lufthansa to get more business; her is one

- Stop polution from cars!

No car parts will be allowed to be transported and only passengers who can sign a document that they wont rent a car will be allowed to buy a ticket. Lufthansa will place agents on the parking lots to spy on people who park their cars and of cours will these passengers not be allowed on their flights.

quote:

Before my one and only trip to Africa in 1993, I contacted Lufthansa about flights to Africa.

Lufthansa had transported my rifles many times without any problems, the last time this August from Frankfurt to Cape Town.

Maybe because I'm German

Rich,

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't BA fly to Addis?

Mark

Faxed the customer service with a copy of this thread and further informed them that I will do my best to spread the word further, and that my company and myself will do no business with them or owned affiliates, until policy changes.

I also cancelled a oversea's shipment, that they were going to be handling and the reason for it.

Hope this helps.

Mark,

Yes, BA flies in but we don't route many through London. There's also a KLM via Amsterdam/Khartoum. Alitalia comes in too but often people have trouble in Rome with Ammmo transfers or so I've been told. If it works for the client I reccommend Ethiopian Airlines direct flight service from Washington/Dulles to Addis Ababa via Rome. Ethiopian flies 3 times per week. It leaves in the evening now so there's usually enough time to get there from most anywhere in the States in time to catch that flight. If the rifles and luggage get on they are likely to make it since one doesn't change planes. Economy is around $1,500 round trip and their business class is less than $2,900 round trip... good service and a real bargain in my books. It's all Boeing 767's with some of those new 888's (?) on order.

None of the airlines have daily flights and it takes a bit of planning not to have to wait one or teo days in Addis Ababa after a safari.
Most flights leave late at night so one can leave for home the evening of the last day of the safari.

Of course there's Lufthansa 3 times a week and they have provided the bulk of of clients transport neeeds in the past. Since this "we won't transport hunting trophies" business came up we'll definitely be promoting other airlines.
Rich Elliott

I have a ton of Lufthansa miles. This really burns my ass.

We also need to ensure that every booking agent in the hunting business becomes aware of this, giving him the oportunity to take his business elsewhere. I will send the info to the 50 or so booking agents whose details I have. Other members with booking agents contact details, please do the same.

Brad

Ought to write our politicians about this. It would be good to see if Lufthansa Airlines were to lose their privileges of entering the airspace of many countries due to this asinine policy.

It is unfortunate that one idiot at the top can ruin it for so many people. Up to now they have been a great airline to fly and have handled all trophy shipments very well. I regret their decision. As it stands though I wont do buisness with them on principle because of it.