It seems that the three major players that fly London-Jo’berg direct only allow “economy class” travelers 20kg (44lb) checked baggage allowance plus a further 7kg of hand luggage.

Excess baggage rates are charged at �8 per kilo ($6.50 per lb for our American friends) and this is charged each way so is best avoided.

Having sat down and done the math, I am guessing two scoped rifles, slings, slips, ammo plus a hard case to carry it all in is going to take up most of the 44lb allowance.

I am sure our American cousins don’t have these weight constraints, so is this another case of rip off Britain ? Besides traveling business class (out of the question!) is there anyway around this? I am just wondering how other British hunters have managed?

Regards,

Pete

Pete



It might be cheaper to fly U.K. to USA and then to Africa.

Americans can bring 2 bags each 32 kilos. Plus hand luggage. Most airlines has this limit for flight to USA, Latin America and Asia.



Some airlines will take a golf bag for a 25-40 $. Hunter carry a bit different clubs



I would look among the Central European or African airlines.



Cheers

/ JOHAN

When I flew Heathrow to Capetown BA mentioned that my bags were overweight at Heathrow (100lb) but didn't charge me. They never even said anything coming back.

You could look into shipping some of your gear. Allow at least a week for RSA & longer for anywhere else in Africa.

After a liitle research it seems the rules for luggage are fairly standard across all airlines.

Flights from/to America/Canada give the economy class traveler a two bag allowance with a total per per son of 66Kg! This allowance applies even even they transit through the UK ie changes at London to fly to Jo'berg...

Most other interantional routes including London-Jo'berg restrict their economy class passangers to 20Kg or 23kg in the case of BA.

Turtle71,

I am not sure if your flight originated at London or you just transited at London, and that is the important point it would seem. Be very glad BA never charged you as on their web site they quote a �29 per kilo excess charge rate on that route! And they could levy in both direction! I guess thats around $25 per lb if you're from that the other side of the pond!

Regards,

Pete

PETE!!!

Hold your horses! Generally, because it is classed as sports equipment - your rifle case weight is not added in when working out your baggage. Simple principles apply here - everything heavy or valuable into the rifle case!

I tend to hold onto the case - let the checkin sort out my holdbaggage tags - then ask them to call the airline's security handler to take my 'sporting firearm' through to the plane.

In the confusion that always follows notifying them you have a firearm - invariably they will run off a tag and attach that to the case.

Did four trips to Norway last year, think it was four to Italy as well as one to Canada. Didn't have to pay excess due to rifles on any of them.

Hope this brightens your day a tad!

Rgds Ian

I can agree with Ian on this one. Sporting equipment rarely incurs an extra charge, and if it does it is a one off �15 or so in the case of Skis for example. I took 5 guns to Scotland and didn't get charged, and when we have taken a Gun to Cyprus it never gets weighed. It's worth letting the airline know in advance, that you will be traveling with guns, and check their individual policy.

On the other hand the Sri Lankan jokers in Columbo tried to charge me US$980 for an extra 8kg I had in my bag last year... They let me off when I started "donating" dirty clothes to the woman behind the desk in an effort to reduce my weight!!!

FB

3 trips to Sweden,2 BA and 1SAS No charge. Note the code on your case and arrive early at the boarding lounge.Smile nicely at check in person and ask them to check on the puter that the case has been loaded - works for flight changes too.