This afternoon I was contacted by phone by the head of Air New Zealands Customer Services Department and informed that this morning the airline backed down on the firearms fee/tax totally. Due to concerns expressed by a variety of people in the last few days, apparently

So pat yourselves on the back , global travellers, it looks like a minor victory for the little guy this time . Well done.

That indeed is a major turnaround and most welcome too!

Well done to all who contacted Air NZ. A very good out come.

Well done Muzza & everyone who made the effort

No problems guys. I dont often travel internationally with a rifle these days but its the principle of it that pissed me off.

I think everyone who sent an email or made a phone call is just as important as those of us who posted information on here.

I wonder if Air New Zealand will still honour my Airmiles after all this ;-)

I'd like to thank everyone who made the effort to contact Air New Zealand about the firearms handling tax, it took every ones effort to achieve the outcome we got.

Just to let everyone know Air New Zealand have offered to refund the $120 they charged me for handling the firearm on my flight to Sydney in January.

I urge everyone that got charged this fee to contact customer support and request a refund..........if you want more details PM me.

Dear Mr XXXX

Thank you for your response to Sara in regards to the firearm charges you paid on your recent trip with us. I called to discuss this issue with you and have left a message on your home phone.


This is not a charge that has been levied on firearms because they are used for sport but rather to cover the additional administration costs that carrying a firearm internationally involves. In fact, we have not introduced a firearms charge for domestic travel as it does not need the same level of clearance and administration requirements as international travel and our ground handling on our domestic network is managed in house and is not contracted to other companies or airline – therefore no additional contract handling costs.

Your concerns, in relation to the firearms charge, are valid and I have raised this with the wider Contact Centre Management team to ensure that the information we are providing in this regard is accurate.

Further I have been advised by our management team the firearms charge is currently being reviewed and your comments have been passed back to the area concerned so they can be taken into account during this review process. Should there be any change to this current charge, I will be happy to come back to you with an update.

Mr XXXX, in the mean time could you please forward to me directly your receipt for payment along with your bank account details so I may action a refund for you.

Regards

Kathryn

If you are all holding your breath waiting for Air New Zealand to make a big public announcement - this is a c&p from our delightfull discussion on their Facebook page ; " Hi M***** - As you are aware effectively immediately AirNZ will no longer be charging a handling fee for the carriage of firearms. Thanks for your feedback."

So there it is in writing ...

A big thank you to Muzza, "my Man," for bringing this to the fore, and also a big thank you to all those who stood up for the little guy.

Great result!

Good to see that sometimes they listen to thier customers................

Now, next on the list........... Qantas

Yes, Thank you very much Muzza, and all others who worked to get that outrageous fee removed. As Clint Eastwood would say, "You made my day!"

Well, done Kiwishooter2, Muzza and everyone who leaned on Air NZ!

As one about to buy a ticket towards another tahr trip, I was 'set to be quite jaded'. Now I might have some choice.

Well done to everyone - this is a great result!!

We are running a similar campaign in Australia against a major hardware chain (Bunnings) - who have are refusing hunting clubs from being involved in their community fundraising programmes. This chain uses these community programmes to help them get development approval for establishing the stores in regional areas. At first it was a boycott against shooting and hunting but then when we started protesting they dropped the shooting and now it is only 'people who kill things'... they dont seem to see the irony that they have fundraising BBQ's for clubs... but meat-gathering clubs are not allowed!! The fight continues...

Anyhow - it goes to show what can be achieved with the right pressure.

Let us not forget to thank Highlander and the NZPHGA.

Ever little bit counted from all quarters guys. The smoke first went up on this forum and quickly developed as it spread to the commercial sectors.
So a combination of attack on all fronts won the day BUT the real dealer in this was Esplanade Tours in the US,thanks Kit,Jackie and Bill, as well as New Zealand Tourism Industry Association and yes I accept on behalf of the NZ Professional hunting guides a pat on the back for the efforts of our members and associates in SCI NZ and SCI International.
Muzza and Kiwishooter buy yourselves a beer.
And thank you ANZ for acknowledging your error and correcting it. Great result.

Good work GT!!

Bulltahr,
You have to get the Government to recognize hunting before you could get any concession from Quantas on firearms, and Quantas operates like a Government Department themselves.

bulltahr

What is wrong with Qantas ?

Never had a problem with them.

quote:

Originally posted by jhaney:
Bulltahr,
You have to get the Government to recognize hunting before you could get any consession from Quantas on firearms, and Quantas operates like a Government Department themselves.

Qantas is fine with firearms. I know you had a bad experience with them and Customs j ... but that could happen anywhere in the world. Doesn't mean it is endemic. I fly on Qantas multiple times every year with guns and rarely have an issue that cant be solved with the piece of paper that Qantas issues to smooth things over.

Some governments in Australia recognise hunting and some do not. Australia is a very large country, with diverse attitudes - much like the USA.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:
... I fly on Qantas multiple times every year with guns and rarely have an issue that cant be solved with the piece of paper that Qantas issues to smooth things over.

Do we still need that permission-to-carry- firearms letter? I thought I read the other day that they had gone less formal, the way Air NZ used to be before the recent ugliness.

No I hadnt heard that... less formal would be a mistake in this case IMO - that letter saved my arse a few times.

The letter was really only for ammo anyhow, not firearms.

My letter is firearm specific

quote:

Originally posted by gryphon1:
My letter is firearm specific

Perhaps and that will smooth the way for sure but the intention of the letter really is a dangerous goods permit for ammunition. Mine just covers me for 12 months and is not firearm specific or flight specific. They will issue you with whatever you ask for !!!

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:
... less formal would be a mistake in this case IMO - that letter saved my arse a few times.

I agree, I like the way Qantas does it,
no weird interpretations from check in
staff.

Wish all airlines made it so simple.

GOODONYA MUZZA

Great news guys & thanks for taking the trouble to chase this!

So I can now fly to the South Island with my rifle!

Does this now fit into the sporting item category like before?

You could have flown with your rifle before - the tax only applied to international flights and I dont believe the South Island has declared independence yet - but who could blame it if it did ;-)

I think it now becomes a part of your 23kg luggage allowance on international flights, but you could try them on the sporting goods deal .