This was in my SCI e-mail news letter today.

All Airlines to Charge for Gun Handling?
SCI has been advised by domestic airline representatives that on June 1st, 2006, airlines began strictly enforcing oversize baggage regulations and charging an extra fee for any case with combined dimensions (height plus length plus width) of more than 62 inches. Obviously, this policy will affect sportsmen traveling with cased long guns. This news follows the announcement earlier this year from Air Canada that they will now charge a $50 handling fee per long gun per flight. Responding to a complaint filed jointly by SCI and the NRA, Air Canada Customer Relations Manager Jocelyne Henry stated "Although firearms and particularly ammunition fall into the 'dangerous goods' category, the fee is based on the greater workload we bear to check a firearm and not on the fact that it is considered dangerous. The same fee is applied to both bicycles and surfboards when carried as checked baggage." At this time, SCI and The Federalist Group are developing a plan to contest the domestic application of this fee to firearm cases. To bolster this effort, it would be helpful to have examples from SCI members of encountering this fee, and the circumstances under which the fee was charged. Please let us know if you have been charged this fee, and how the charge was justified by airline staff. Please include details of your flight, carrier, and a detailed description of the firearm case for which the fee was levied.

Contact:

Comments can be emailed to
kschwartz@sci-dc.org.

"...charging an extra fee for any case with combined dimensions (height plus length plus width) of more than 62 inches...Although firearms and particularly ammunition fall into the 'dangerous goods' category, the fee is based on the greater workload we bear to check a firearm and not on the fact that it is considered dangerous. The same fee is applied to both bicycles and surfboards when carried as checked baggage."
So... if I carry a double in a break-down case the surcharge doesn't apply? It'd be interesting to see how they respond to that!

As much as I hate to admit, there is at times extra service for customers with guns. Most airlines hand deliver guns to and from the airplane and many times I have been required to claim them from the baggage office, rather than picking them off the baggage conveyor. Is it worth the extra charge??? not in my book but the airlines are looking for any way to charge a customer extra fees. Hell you have to pay extra for an aisle seat on some carriers. Where I get mad is looking at all the taxes and fees added onto any ticket....about 10%-15%. That combined with $40 per day parking is expensive!

I flew on SAA and Delta this past weekend with a large case containing two rifles and was charged no extra fees.

I also would like assurances that golf bag cases are charged extra, since they require additional space and are sometimes hand delivered.
Guess I'd have to agree that special handling and additional work are required for firearms, but it still is a kick in the teeth.

If they would also thorw in a guarantee delivery to me in person, it would be well worth it.

When will it end?

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
When will it end?

Has it EVER ended??????????????????????? NO! and it never will!

$50 per firearm isn't too bad. I am amazed they haven't charged in the past. With the new regulations, hand checking, carrying etc it isn't surprising eventually profit making businesses will want to charge.

Of course if one charges and another doesn't then the consumer has a choice.

Fair enough to charge me $50 to handle my weapon. BUT do I get to charge them $50 if my gun case is delayed or lost?

Do I get to charge them if I check no luggage at all?

My wife and I managed to pack everything into a few carry-on bags for our trip.

quote:

Originally posted by Cunningham:
This was in my SCI e-mail news letter today.

All Airlines to Charge for Gun Handling?
SCI has been advised by domestic airline representatives that on June 1st, 2006, airlines began strictly enforcing oversize baggage regulations and charging an extra fee for any case with combined dimensions (height plus length plus width) of more than 62 inches. Obviously, this policy will affect sportsmen traveling with cased long guns. This news follows the announcement earlier this year from Air Canada that they will now charge a $50 handling fee per long gun per flight.

It would appear there are two separate issues here:
1) certain (all?) US carriers having decided to enforce restrictions on oversize luggage - whether the luggage holds guns or not. Although this may apply to sportsmen travelling with long arms, it is not a gun related transportation fee per se. I.e. check your guns in a take-down case inside your (regularly sized) duffel, and no extra fee should apply to you. Or am I reading this incorrectly??

2) the additional fee Air Canada has instituted on GUN transportation - regardless of the size of checked luggage. Nobody knows what Air Canada intends to offer for the additional tansportation fee - e.g. guaranteed delivery at destination airport would be rather nice. So thus far, this particular fee looks like it is a way of gouging a (politically incorrect) subset of travellers, and a way to get customers to pay for Air Canadas selfimposed bureaucracy.

- mike