I'm headed across the pond in August and am looking at flights on SAA through JFK. Shawn at Gracy Travel told me that over the past year many of her customers have been hassled regarding their firearms as they are cleared through customs at JFK. Larry Sellers gave me a similar report.

There is a flight to Dulles with the stop in Dakar, but dang, it's almost 2.5hour more on that blasted airplane.....

I guess I'm just wondering if a bit of pain and suffering in JFK is worth not having to be on the flight that extra time.

Thoughts?

I know it's not recent but, in 2010 I travel through JFK with a firearm. I had no problems at all. Stayed overnight in NY and boarded the flight the next day. The only problem was dealing with a jerk of a TSA officer upon my return. The problem may arise if you are planning on a overnight in NY with a firearm but, it shouldn't be a problem if it's less than one night. My recent trip last year was with two crossbows in a SKB case. I had 5 people ask me at check-in if I had a firearm. They escorted me to the TSA large item/firearm check-in and watched the officer open the case and examine both crossbows. No problems what so ever. It may be who you are dealing with on that given day of travel.

Go through Dulles!!!

SAA or better yet Emirates out of Dulles - good flights and I have never been hassled by Customs or TSA there...

I refuse to fly out of any airport in New York state! I won't even buy fuel in that liberal cesspool!

My apologies to the upstate guys - I feel sorry for you...

quote:

Scott Powell: My apologies to the upstate guys - I feel sorry for you

Ditto, I won't even visit NY or CA anymore.

You can get a non-stop flight on Delta from Atlanta to Johannesburg.

It may not solve all the problems but it IS non-stop.

When traveling with firearms, my preference is through Dulles however. Atlanta has had it's own issues with re-entry through Customs there.

don't go thru new York it is the biggest pain I have had anywhere! Customs is not the problem ,it is the port aurthority who does a second check and if someone doesn't tell you about it they siege you gun and you have a hell of a time getting it.

Always did Atlanta to Joburg
So easy

Yes they were big time jerks in 2012 when I came back. Treated me like a criminal

quote:

Originally posted by LHowell:
You can get a non-stop flight on Delta from Atlanta to Johannesburg.

It may not solve all the problems but it IS non-stop.

When traveling with firearms, my preference is through Dulles however. Atlanta has had it's own issues with re-entry through Customs there.

Guys,
Thanks for all the input. I guess it's gonna be Dulles!
I too prefer the Atlanta flight, but I can save almost $300 by going Jetblue/SAA and get in so early compared to the Delta flight. I guess they all have their advantages/disadvantages.

Thx

Good Luck either way but if you get to JFK early with your act together you won't have a problem...I know since I live here.

Have your 4457, tickets, ID, your gun unloaded and padlocked in a case, and your ammo locked in a hard case and in your luggage.

Don't have an attitude and you'll be fine!

there is nothing "fine" about NYC. all you have to do is look at the current and previous mayor to realize that. shit rolls downhill and the biggest pile is at the top....

I've flown through there with firearms twice, obviously not by choice, but had absolutely zero problems. Would do it again. But I agree, have all your paperwork in order before you go.

The nice thing about the NY flights is that they arrive in Jo'berg at 8am, plenty of time to catch the flights out to the other locations...usually at 10-11 am. I book thru SAA, so I bypass SAPS as my guns are checked all the way thru to destination.

I went through in 2012 and other than asking me to remove the bolt I had no problems. I think they are Airport Police if I'm not mistaken.

On the way back customs was very helpful and got me through the line and on my way quickly.

Dutch

Flew thru JFK last October on SAA so we wouldn't do Western Africa and Ebola. No problems going out as guns were checked thru. Coming back the only problem was with US Air as they are totally incompetent. The one extra step on returning is you can't line check so its recheck your guns. Port authority cop must inspect your gun case but he wasn't the problem. US Air was a hold up as they are just plain stupid and you can't fix that. There wasn't a single person from that airline that we met that wasn't stupid. It was nice to shave hours off the flight. I will never stop in Dakar again.

I am doing it in May. My sources tell me it will be fine.

DFW to JFK, overnight in hotel near airport, JFK to J'berg, J'berg to Vic Falls.

I live upstate in the adirondacks . I'm flying out of albany to alanta, NYC is to much of a crap shoot,

I returned through JFK in Oct of last year, coming back from Tanzania. I was traveling with 2 rifles in a Tuffpak and a suitcase.

Absolutely no problem with customs. The agent was very polite, and helped me with my suitcase while we lugged everything to the back room for the rifle inspection.

The "problem" started with the recheck process for my final flight home. You exit the customs area and proceed a short way to a baggage counter to recheck the bags on your connection. They took my suitcase, no problem, but then told me the Tuffpak was "over sized" so it had to go "up to the 4th floor." A few back and forth Q and A's regarding "what does that mean" coupled with some authentic New Yorker worker Asshat attitude, and I figured out I needed to take an elevator at the end of the hall to the fourth floor where apparently all would suddenly become clear.

So up to the 4th floor I go, Tuffpak in tow. Turns out the 4th floor is the arrivals area, normal ticketing and passenger check in. I spot a Delta agent and tell her I was sent up here to recheck "this" since it was oversized according to her colleague downstairs. Not a problem, just head right over there to that window and TSA will take it.

Stroll over to the window, two of TSA's finest are sitting there protecting our homeland while scanning their smartphones. I explain I was sent up here to recheck "this" case since it is oversized. They take it through their window and tell me to have a nice day. I start to walk away. I'm about 30 feet away when they call me back. "Sir, what's in this thing?"

I calmly reply, "Two rifles, unloaded, no ammo."

Panic mars their otherwise dull expressions. "You can't carry this up here alone! You need to call Port Authority! Here take this back!"

So I'm now standing by the arrivals ticket counter with my gun case and apparently no ability to go anywhere with it. I flag down the friendly delta agent I met at the top of the elevator. I explain to her what the TSA just said. As I gesture back at the window I see the two TSA agents peeking through the opening like they are about to dive for cover when SWAT comes sliding down the ropes from the ceiling.

She calmly gets on her radio, says a few words, and then tells me the Port Authority will be here shortly. About 5 mins later I see two cops moving through the people in my direction. They walk up, stop and stare... not a word.

"Good morning," I offer.

"So whatta ya got?" one replies.

"Two rifles, unloaded, no ammo... bolts removed."

"ID"

I hand him my passport. My vitals get entered into the little black book.

"Let's see what ya got."

"Right here?" I have to ask, since there are several dozen people walking all around us to and from the ticketing counter.

<Grunt> I'm not kidding... an honest Port Authority PD grunt.

Sooooo... I lay down the Tuffpak, unlock/unstrap, open it up, pull out the duffel, unzip, pull out one soft case, and ask again, "You want them out.. right here?"

Cop #2 says, "lemme just see".

So I kneel down, unzip the soft case and spread it open, obvious the bolts are removed. #2 bends down and looks up the barrel, obviously concerned there could be a live round in there. Repeat for the other case.

"All good?" I ask, since they made no attempt to communicate.

"Close it up"

Everything back together, I stand back up. They are still just standing there, looking at me. "We all set?"

"Yeah."

"I'll need my passport back". It gets handed over.

"I'm going to give this case to TSA now."

"Fine"

Back to the window, TSA guys take it from me, and I ask them, "You good?"

"Yep".

I thank the nice Delta lady and suggest they have the agents downstairs modify their procedure a bit. Other than that, transiting JFK with guns... no big deal.

I have always enjoyed my interaction with the port authority police.

I think I have flown thru NYC 4 times with firearms. Twice to Africa and twice domestic.

2 out of 4 times the 2 port authority officers checking the firearm had no clue how a bolt action rifle worked. I was shocked anyone with a pistol on his/her hip had no idea what a bolt action rifle was. I have little faith in those officers ability with the pistol on their hip.

Mike

My only experience with JFK was back in 08. Customs was no issue at all.

The port authority people when I went through were a bit of an issue. I had to calmly ask about 3-4 times for a supervisor, all the while the line cops were all but ready to throw me in Rikers. When I got the LT down there, he was PO'd at the line guys for not knowing what to do (and for me taking him away from his break...) read them the riot act and told them to make sure I got on my plane.

My 2 cents is that if you know the rules and stay calm (and ask for the supervisor) JFK is not a major hassle.

If you don't educate yourself, or start running your mouth, I am sure it can be a major f-up.

I flew out of JFK in 2012 and again in 2013. No problems at all. I drive to the airport so JFK is both my departing location and final destination on the return flight.

When you arrive at the JFK with firearms a NY Port Authority police officer is called. They check your guns to make sure they are unloaded and walk with you to TSA where your guns are checked in for the flight. On the way back you just go through the normal US customs stuff. On both trips, I found the police to be helpful and courteous. As mentioned, JFK was my final destination so I can't speak to matters with connecting flights.

If you're making a connection to another country in Joberg, NYC is the only way to go in my opinion. You arrive early in the AM so you can make your connections without an overnight in RSA and avoid the SAPS hassle and expense of an overnight stay in Joberg.

My worst experience upon returning to the US was on Delta to Atlanta. I had to wait for hours for the Customs folks to clear me and my guns in Atlanta. They took their good old time and couldn't have cared less if you had to make a connecting flight. Good thing I had 3 hours between my arrival in Atlanta and my connecting flight to Philadelphia. I barely made my flight to Phila. due to the delays at customs.

I see Emirates in my future. Although the ladies at Delta in Stl. were super it seems everyone is having hassles in Atlanta as well.

Dutch

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
there is nothing "fine" about NYC. all you have to do is look at the current and previous mayor to realize that. shit rolls downhill and the biggest pile is at the top....

The OP is asking advice regarding traveling through JFK with firearms, not the political situation in NYC.

DeBlasio, Cuomo, and every liberal POS that voted for them are at fault for the situation here in NYC. There ARE MILLIONS of Conservatives here in NY State but due to the huge population of freaks in NYC we are badly out numbered.

Being from California you should know that more than anyone.

Back to the original topic.

NO problem in 2013. Easy and everybody that we spoke to was cool with guns and hunters.

Just a side note. Not a problem going out through JFK, Jet Blue from Albuquerque, connecting with SAA to JoBerg. Guns checked straight through. The PROBLEM is coming "back through JFK with guns then a connecting flight, it's an absolute nightmare. Treated like a criminal by Customs, baggage transfer people would not take guncase for transfer, had to haul it over a mile myself to connecting flight. The absolute worst people I have ever dealt with during air travel.

Larry Sellers
SCI(International)Life Member
R8 Blaser
Sabatti "trash" Double Shooter

The first time that I came back through NY 2006 customs checked my gun the customs officer was an retired NYPD guy. He was OK joked around with me . Could not recheck guns direct from there and like Larry had to take the tram to the other side of the AP and recheck them at the connecting airline . Gal at he counter was great . When I declaimed firearms she had 2 port authority cops escorted me the 100 feet to TSA they were polite and professional .
interesting that I came all the way across the AP with my gun with 40 rounds of amo unescorted and went the last 100 feet from check in to the TSA escorted by 2 Cops

Last time i went through I think it was in 2012 they had a TSA counter at customs so I was able to check my firearms straight through I lot easier and not having to endure the potential embarrassment of why I was carrying a 375 with amo on the tram to some brainless authority figure

My experiences match Larry Sellers'. I returned from Zimbabwe many years ago via JFK for a connecting flight back to Alaska. All was smooth until I was asked for my Alaska permit to carry firearms. They would not give me my gun case without said permit. Trying to convince someone from New York that I lived in a state that didn't (and still does not) require a permit was impossible. I had a long layover and a supervisor was able to look up on computer or make a call to AK to confirm what I was telling them. I was able to proceed but the rude people kept me from ever going through NY again. When one is faced with such a situation, even when 100% right, is the underlaying fear of confiscation and time and expense fighting the system.
Cal

In and out of JFK with guns a couple of times the last few years no problem..
In 2012 flew JFK - JBN on SAA spent the night in JFK prior to departure got to the airport early and whistled right through last time got a Port Authority police that was a hunter ..

Cal, Vermont like Alaska does not require "GUN Permits" never had anyone ask...
I guess it comes down to "luck of the draw" which is a hell of a thing to have to plan on.

Ropati,

Enough negative personal experiences here to avoid NY for me but I think if Shawn at Gracy had told me to avoid NY I would have. I have found Shawn over the years to be the most knowledgeable person in the business when you are traveling with guns.

Mark

Zephyr:
I guess it depends on two variables: the attitude and the knowledge of whom one is doing business with.
If you live in VT, we are blessed with our state's view of the second amendment. I moved to AK from VT over 30 years ago. I would not have departed from VT for anyplace but AK. It is beautiful, nice climate and mild winters, and quaint hills referred to as mountains. I do miss VT and visit there often.
Cal

I have flown with guns 3 times from Kennedy in the last couple of years and have had no issues except for the last time, a year ago. I drove to the airport and there had been a big snow right before so I could no park where I usually do. I had a hard time finding a place to park so I finally got to the ticket counter about two hours before my flight. Turkish air was very pleasant but they need to call Port Authority cops to check your gun. They made the call and we wait 1/2 hour. They call again. We wait another 1/2 hour. Now they are apologizing. It is not there fault but they were getting worried I would make my flight. They call again and finally this young cop with an attitude shows up. I ask very politely if there is any way to speed this up so I make my flight and he goes off! Told me I should have allowed 4 hours and proceeds to rant and rave. I think we probably woke him up. I kept my mouth shut and let him go. Finally his supervisor shows up and he was pretty good. The young guy is still obviously pissed off but the supervisor checks everything, ask's where I am hunting and for what and all is good and the airlines takes my gun. Well by this time I have had enough of this kid and contrary to good judgement I tell Him exactly what I thought and that everyone in my family is in law enforcement and I hope they never treat anyone like he treated me. He gets all twisted but can't really say much with the supervisor there and turns and stomps off. The supervisor smiled at me and all he said was "sometimes you just need to tell these kids what you think. Have a nice trip"

That was the only issue. There is someone with the same name as me and same birthday and year who is on the no fly list so I always have a problem clearing customs. Not really a problem because I know it is coming and once they check me out I am good, just a little holdup. The Customs people have always been very pleasant and actually very helpful. I would not hesitate to fly through JFK just allow enough time.

I go through JFK with guns about every 6-8 weeks. No problems. Simple steps to follow:

- tell your airline you're doing it more than 2 weeks before flight. If possible, get a screen print of their system authorizing it.

- get there 2+ hours before. If possible upgrade to Business. Class, males a difference.

- first thing to do, is tell the person at counter that you have a preauthorizied gun to check in, and they need to call Port Aauhtority / NYPD. They will ask for Pistol Permit or such, if you have one. If not, Drivers License is ok. Just be patient and nice to them.

- they will take you to TSA, who will swab the case and even the gun. Don't worry. Just be cool

That's it. You're done!

Every so often yo u come on an asshole, having a bad day. No worries, just grit teeth and wait for it to end. No big deal.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
I am doing it in May. My sources tell me it will be fine.

DFW to JFK, overnight in hotel near airport, JFK to J'berg, J'berg to Vic Falls.

I did this very same flight last year with the wife and we had no issues at all.

It is nice to get into J'berg early and have time to continue on.

quote:

Originally posted by gsganzer:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
I am doing it in May. My sources tell me it will be fine.

DFW to JFK, overnight in hotel near airport, JFK to J'berg, J'berg to Vic Falls.

I did this very same flight last year with the wife and we had no issues at all.

It is nice to get into J'berg early and have time to continue on.

Thanks for the many replies. I've heard very few negatives about transiting through JFK outbound as I'll be doing.
Most negatives have had to do with re-entering through JFK then connecting to a diff flight.

Yes if you are going to have a problem inbound will be where it is likely to occur

quote:

Originally posted by Ropati:
Thanks for the many replies. I've heard very few negatives about transiting through JFK outbound as I'll be doing.
Most negatives have had to do with re-entering through JFK then connecting to a diff flight.

I went to zim last year through JFK to Joberg with my family, two rifles in case. No problem, get to Joberg at 6 AM, stay in transit, catch the flight to Bullawayo. Avoid, extra night in JOberg and clearing rifles there. on return no issues at all. My family and I do have global entry which may help a little. The JFk flight is so convenient

What needs to happen is SAA changes all flights to nonstop with early arrivals in Joberg. No one really wants to stop in Dakar and no one wants to overnight in Joberg.

Agree, the JFK flight is great and shaves times off not having to overnight in Joberg.

I have flown out of JFK 4 times and never had a hassle either leaving or entering back in. Customs and Port Authority have been helpful and always wondering what I am going over to hunt.

Doesn't hurt to wear a Yankees ball cap either.

Yes that is why I take Air Emirates

quote:

Originally posted by gunny:
What needs to happen is SAA changes all flights to nonstop with early arrivals in Joberg. No one really wants to stop in Dakar and no one wants to overnight in Joberg.