Just got off the phone with a Qantas representative and now I'm a little confused. Flying from LAX to Brisban, change of planes, then on to Christchurc. Their website says, under section 7.3 Firearms, "applications for the carriage of firearms and ammunition for hunting or sporting purposes must be submitted at least 2 working days prior to your anticipated departure date."
(1) Website doesn't say and I can't guess to whom these are to be sumitted.
(2) Qantas chap said to call the Aussie consulate in Los Angeles, where we'll fly out of. Also to call the New Zealand embassy in Washington. Said to apply to both for permission to fly with a rifle.

Anybody out there have any better information on this? Thanks!

Email Laurie Willoughby
>> Manager Safety Standards & Dangerous Goods Compliance
>>
>> Qantas Airways Limited
>> Group Safety
>> QCD/1
>> 203 Coward St Mascot
>> NSW 2020 Australia
>> Tel: (61 2) 9691 1061
>> Fax: (61 2) 9691 1070
>> Mobile: 61 419 204 670
>> Email:lwilloughby@qantas.com.au

To get a letter of approval to carry dangerous goods on a Qantas flight.

New Zealand police firearms import permit
http://www.police.govt.nz/service/firearms/#resources

quote:

Originally posted by H T:
(1) Website doesn't say and I can't guess to whom these are to be sumitted.

Yes their website is very "helpful" isn't it???

TrackersNZ has given you the good info.

HT

The Qantas permit is easy to get from Laurie as suggested above. Dont try to call any embassies - not unless youwant to be even more confused!!

How long between flights at Brisbane? I would be checking to see your guns can be checked through in Brisbane OK.. otherwise you may have problems if you have to bring your rifles into Australia without a permit. Just a thought

MG

OK, here's the skinny.

Bottom line - don't try flying to Australia with a firearm these days.

Since I will (fortunately) be "in transit" - flying into and out of the international terminal - I will not be officially "in Australia". If I were, or had to change to a domestic terminal, I would have been SOL.

Talked to the consulate in LA and the embassy in D.C. Very helpful and nice people. But, if I had to claim my bags, clear customs and recheck them, I would need a permit for the firearm. And they are not giving permits for such reasons as sport hunting these days.

Tough deal for Aussie hunters and sportmen. You must have an overwhelming reason to have a weapon instead of the other way around. Truly our right to bear arms in the U.S. is the only thing keeping us from that fate. Sure came clear to me today.

quote:

Originally posted by H T:
Since I will (fortunately) be "in transit" - flying into and out of the international terminal - I will not be officially "in Australia". If I were, or had to change to a domestic terminal, I would have been SOL.

...

Truly our right to bear arms in the U.S. is the only thing keeping us from that fate. Sure came clear to me today.

Rubbish. Especially the USA "holier than thou" sentence at the end (see no. 5 below).

quote:

And they are not giving permits for such reasons as sport hunting these days.

Double rubbish!

How do you think all these US hunters are coming to hunt in Australia that you see on these forums?

1. If you fly into Australia and your luggage is forwarded to an onwards international flight, there is no need for any Aussie permits.

2. If you fly into Australia and you enter the country you CAN obtain the relevant permits.

But just like EVERYWHERE else in the world you need to make sure there is sufficient connection time for immigration, processing etc.

This is not the country's problem it is the passengers to make sure they leave enough time. It takes a LONG time for a foreignor to enter the USA these days too you know.

3. Why would you need to use an international flight to fly to Australia, and then use a domestic flight to get to New Zealand?

Surely it would be cheaper to fly direct to Auckland, than fly USA - Brisbane, Brisbane to Sydney, Sydney to Auckland? Also did you know a lot of international flights actually carry on to the next city and are still "international flights"?

And why bother using a domestic flight anyway when you can fly to NZ direct from Brisbane from the international terminal where you already are???

4. Why are you talking to Embassies? As said here previously what a waste of time. People here can give you the real people to talk to. You have just seen the sort of idiotic crap any Embassy gives you.

5. If an Aussie wanted to go to Canada hunting, and uses a US international airport, it is IMPOSSIBLE to check luggage with firearms through to Canada and it is IMPOSSIBLE to get documentation without lying or providing evidence you intend to use the firearms in the USA at an organised shoot or hunt. Pretty difficult if you never plan to actually enter the USA but just pass through in an international airport!


But NZ will prove very handy in the future when Air NZ has direct flights to Canada. Aussies will fly to NZ and then direct to Canada giving the USA a big miss as well. It is ridiculous that with the USA's claimed protection of individual rights, a foreignor can not pass through a USA international airport and never actually legally enter the USA, with a legally checked through firearm in luggage, checked through to another foreign country.

If you want decent information, ask here and people will point you in the right direction.

Why not fly from LAX to Auckland New Zealand??
This would save any problems with permits for Australia.

It is no problem taking firearms into Australia as long as you have the right paperwork,i did July last year.

quote:

Originally posted by H T:
Bottom line - don't try flying to Australia with a firearm these days.

Since I will (fortunately) be "in transit" - flying into and out of the international terminal - I will not be officially "in Australia". If I were, or had to change to a domestic terminal, I would have been SOL.
...
Tough deal for Aussie hunters and sportmen. You must have an overwhelming reason to have a weapon instead of the other way around. Truly our right to bear arms in the U.S. is the only thing keeping us from that fate. Sure came clear to me today.

HT, do you realize, that it is not even possible for non-US resident sportsmen to fly through a US airport in TRANSIT with firearms?? I.e. no passing of immigration or customs, luggage simply moved from one international flight to the next....

Well,, I'm afraid that is the way it is in these post-9-11 days.

I salute your country, the undying celebration of freedom (in particular in the form of the 2nd Amendment), and of the great work organizations such as NRA does for RKBA, not only in the US but worldwide. However, do not get the impression other countries are the only places in the World where bureaucratic SNAFUs plague travelling sportsmen.

- mike

quote:

Originally posted by H T:
Just got off the phone with a Qantas representative and now I'm a little confused. Flying from LAX to Brisban, change of planes, then on to Christchurc. Their website says, under section 7.3 Firearms, "applications for the carriage of firearms and ammunition for hunting or sporting purposes must be submitted at least 2 working days prior to your anticipated departure date."
(1) Website doesn't say and I can't guess to whom these are to be sumitted.
(2) Qantas chap said to call the Aussie consulate in Los Angeles, where we'll fly out of. Also to call the New Zealand embassy in Washington. Said to apply to both for permission to fly with a rifle.

Anybody out there have any better information on this? Thanks!

i am a little confused. why go to christchurch by way of brisbane? qantas flies to auckland direct from L.A. and then you could change to a domestic flight onward.

Hello Guys

I think the "red bits" on maps still confuse some of our republican friends - they simply don't realise that NZ and Aust are separate sovereign states, or that Aust could have a federal system that is not the same as theirs. I am continually surprised by the insularity of many folk from the USA, maybe their education system just doesn't impart much knowledge about Counties and political systems other than their own.

By the way this is not meant as an insult, just an observation based on what one sees on the net, and from talking with visitors.

Cheers - Foster

Tentman,
This confirms what you say...

http://s75.photobucket.com/albums/i312/snapbox/?action=...our-brightest1-1.flv

Have to be selective of the Yanks you mix with, but that applies to Australians, Englishmen, nZealanders etc, also.

Hey don't be too tough!

Personally I just get annoyed when the complaints come about how difficult OUR laws are, when the situation is EVEN worse the other way round.

Since we were going to hunt in both Australia and New Zealand we used our mates guns and didn't travel with our rifles or shotguns. I had no trouble bringing 2 rifles into Australia
on my first trip there 6 years ago.
Hawkeye47