Just recieved a bulletin from The Hunting Report. It is posted below;

"If you are planning a trip to Canada this hunting season, you should know that Air Canada has just announced that it plans to charge hunters and shooters a special "handling fee" for firearms effective June 1, 2006. The fee is a whopping $65 CAD (about $57 US) one way. That means it will cost you $114 extra this spring to fly round trip with a gun to Canada aboard this airline!

John Reber, spokesperson for Air Canada, tells us the charge reflects costs incurred for "special handing requirements." When asked what those requirements are, he declined to say for "security reasons." When asked if other sports equipment was subject to special handling fees, Reber indicated that bicycles and surfboards are. Indeed, we checked the Air Canada web site (http://www.aircanada.com/) and confirmed what he said about bicycles and surfboards. On the other hand, we found that golf clubs, skis, snowboards and other sports equipment are all treated as part of a passenger's free baggage option as long as they do not exceed weight and dimension limits (70 pounds or 115 inches x 80 inches).

Here at The Hunting Report, we have always felt that it was probably reasonable for airlines to charge extra for handling guns. In fact, we have considered proposing that to the airlines in return for the creation of a universal, guaranteed procedure for handling firearms - one that would help reduce the number of lost guns and stop the harassment hunters face at airline counters. But $114 in extra charges to fly to Canada and back? That's anti-gun bias in its rawest form.

We think the charge deserves a response from the hunting community and we plan to do all we can in coming days to demand a roll-back of this charge. Barring that, we think a boycott of this airline is in order. Note that we believe the boycott should be against this airline, Air Canada, not against our hunting outfitter friends in Canada, who are a larger victim than we are in this matter.

If you agree that the charge is unreasonable, please click on the hyperlink below and let us know. At this point, we have only a snail-mail address for the president of Air Canada and we think it is e-mails that will get his attention. So, send your thoughts about this charge to the e-mail address below and we will forward them later this week when we have determined which Air Canada e-mail is the best one to use. If you would like to write the President of Air Canada a letter, his address is: Montie Brewer, President and CEO, Air Canada, Centre 1235, PO Box 14000, Dorval, Quebec H4Y 1H4. More soon. "

The email address to send comments about this to in order for them to be forwarded to Air Canada is doncausey@msn.com

Personally I think this is outrageous and will be sending an email as well as boycotting Air Canada. I encourage you to do the same. If we let one airline get away with crap like this it wont be long before others do the same.

Also I hope you will let other forums and fellow sportsmen/women know about this.

He that's not the only extorsion that Air Canada is doing. They cancelled the Bereivment fares(death in family) about 2 years ago since their regular fares are so cheap( yeah right). I quite flying AC several years ago when their customer service started downhill, right about the time they bought Canadian Airlines. Westjet is a much better choice anyways.

Those new fees aren't the worst of it either. I can't name them but the new shipping regs from them are bulls**t. Just about what one would expect though from a Liberal organized Govt airline! derf

Does this fee include connecting flights that did not originate with Air Canada? United, NWA, etc..?

SCI - First For Hunters
In the Crosshairs -- e-news from SCI 's Washington Office
The latest and hottest news on federal, state, and international
political and conservation events
April 20, 2006


Air Canada To Charge for Gun Transport
Effective June 1, 2006, competitive shooters and hunters will now be charged a one-way handling fee of $65 to fly Air Canada with their firearms. Strict rules will continue to apply for all firearms and ammunition as before but the fee for these 'dangerous goods' will be enforced shortly. SCI feels that hunters are not being singled out snice the airline is raising fees for transporting other materials as well. For more information visit the Air Canada website at www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/baggage/dangerous.html#r2sl or simply www.aircanada.com.

Hardballer
Does this fee include connecting flights that did not originate with Air Canada? United, NWA, etc..?


++++++++++

If you are on a co-share flight (United or US Air, Star Alliance carrier)
You will pay when you check in with your firearms for your flight with that airline.

+++++++++++

All other carriers as of June 1st you will be on a seperate ticket for Air Canada. This means you will have to claim your bagage and re-check in with Air Canada.

And, from the website, "The firearm must be inhibited from being fired by using a secure, locking device mechanism on the weapon"

In other words, having it in a locked hard sided case isn't good enough; you need to have a trigger lock on it as well.

I do not know if it is/was their official position, but when I flew Air Canada last year for a caribou hunt, they made me remove the bolts from my rifles and store them in my checked luggage. They never actually viewed my firearms or ammunition but jut asked the question. In fact, when they asked how my ammunition was stored (factory box?) I replied that it was in a plastic cartridge holder and would the like to see it to ensure compliance. The representative immediately and loudly declined.

I really noticed their anti-hunting attitude when I was in Winnipeg returning from Nunavut with Horns and capes. Six different representatives told me that they would not carry the horns to Calgary as stored luggage and that I would have to send them special cargo at a considerable cost. This was completely different to what I had been told a few weeks earlier. The antlers were tied together and completely wrapped in cardboard, duct tape and heavy poly. There was absolutely no chance of leakage or penetration of the tips. After several hours, I was finally able to find an agent who agreed with me, much to the disgust of the previous six agents. I did have to sign a liability waiver, indemnifying Air Canada from an liability arising from damage to the antlers. In light of their very poor attitude towards hunters, I did have my concerns but all arrived safe and sound. In fact, in Calgary the pilots even came up to me to admire the antlers and congratulated me on the hunt.

I would like to know whats to stop them from uping the price again?

I just e mailed the varmints to express my complete disgust with them and this nasty $65 per gun each way .. And I guaranteed them that I would spend my gold each year on their competition !!!

Good for you scruffy, even though they won't care. derf

I'm sure that you're right on that, Derf .. But I had to do something or the venom would start draining from my nostrils and irritate and even startle the folks around me.

Can you blame them with the venomous "rich, wealthy, Americans" getting so much air time on these threads.

Sure it is a rip!

quote:

Originally posted by muygrande:
Can you blame them with the venomous "rich, wealthy, Americans" getting so much air time on these threads.

Sure it is a rip!

Yes I can. I no longer hunt or fish in Kanada! I used to go to Kanada a few times a year living only a couple hours drive from BC. Haven't been there since 2001 and have no plans to go back.

Who wrote about ... 'living lives of quiet desperation?' ???? If you love to fish and you refuse to go to the Queen Charlottes or maybe Terrace for those giant (what the Americans call King) salmon .. or coho .. or love to hunt big game and can afford it and not go to British Columbia to hunt Stones, or grizzly .. or a darn old moose up at Pink Mountain ... Amigo, with all due respect .. your mind ain't right ! Canada is a hell of a lot more impressive and bigger than the late friggin' stupid Liberal government !!!

Side it isn't Kanada, it's Kanuckistan! Too true about the hunting opportunities. Renton really isn't all that far south and if the Cons live up to their promises things might get a bit better for us, if the gas prices don't mess things up again! derf

I feel its just a start for their gun fee. Down the road they could raise that fee and before long no one could afford to fly with guns.

I agree Boycott Air Canada.
I just phoned them to voice my displeasure.
and when i finally got to talk to a living person, I got a bunch of attitiude, and a dont you know we charge for othe sporting good items like golf clubs, snow bords etc.
I then phoned WstJet, and they said no problem, they often wave oversize fees even on snow boards and larger items like kiyaks, and surf boards.
So my advice is starve Air Canada, into bankrupcy, since the are almost there any ways, and use the competition, who will accomidate hunters and shooters.

quote:

Originally posted by HARDBALLER:

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:
Hardballer
Does this fee include connecting flights that did not originate with Air Canada? United, NWA, etc.

++++++++++

If you are on a co-share flight (United or US Air, Star Alliance carrier)
You will pay when you check in with your firearms for your flight with that airline.

+++++++++++

All other carriers as of June 1st you will be on a seperate ticket for Air Canada. This means you will have to claim your bagage and re-check in with Air Canada.

Thanks Kathi. Sounds like a bad situation for us hunters. U.S. carriers aren't charging that.

This expatriate Canadian (in Florida) agrees with YOUSE guys. Air Canada has always offered rotten service....and arrogant attitudes. They are typical of Canada's governments from the past 40 years. And, as government employees, their staff WILL tell you to kiss-off, with unrelenting impunity. They are only ONE reason why "I" will never again hunt in Canada....and will instead go to Alaska as often as I can.

quote:

Originally posted by SouthpawDV:
I agree Boycott Air Canada.
I just phoned them to voice my displeasure.
and when i finally got to talk to a living person, I got a bunch of attitiude, and a dont you know we charge for othe sporting good items like golf clubs, snow bords etc.
I then phoned WstJet, and they said no problem, they often wave oversize fees even on snow boards and larger items like kiyaks, and surf boards.
So my advice is starve Air Canada, into bankrupcy, since the are almost there any ways, and use the competition, who will accomidate hunters and shooters.

Their rationale in regard to the charges on larger sporting good items such as bikes, kayaks, etc. is flawed. If you were able to take down your bike, surfboard or kayak and store it in legal size check-in luggage you would NOT be charged anything extra. In discussions with various airlines, extra freight/baggage charges generally relate to weight/volume issues.

The fact that a firearm can be safely stored in a compartment at the bottom of legal sized luggage or a duffle bag only further illustrates Air Canada's discriminatory attitude against hunters.

Kudos to those of you who have taken the time to write and/or discuss this piece of nonsense with Air Canada. I know that I will make every effort to find alternative airlines given the opportunity.

I plan on flying Air Canada into Gander, NL this fall for a moose hunt. I've always taken two rifles in one hard case in the past. Does anyone know if this "fee" is per rifle or per case? In other words, will I have to pay double to carry a spare?

Stoneybroke, as there seems to be a lot of conflicting information on the fee per firearm vs. per case, I would suggest that you call Air Canada. I have been told (not by AC) that the fee is per firearm, but I cannot believe that. There has been a pretty active letter writing campaign by hunters and shooters to AC over this latest charge. The replies thus far leave me little hope that they will reverse their prejudicial decision towards hunters and shooters. Good luck on your hunt!

quote:

Originally posted by conifer:
This expatriate Canadian (in Florida) agrees with YOUSE guys. Air Canada has always offered rotten service....and arrogant attitudes. They are typical of Canada's governments from the past 40 years. And, as government employees, their staff WILL tell you to kiss-off, with unrelenting impunity. They are only ONE reason why "I" will never again hunt in Canada....and will instead go to Alaska as often as I can.

Right on Conifer! That's one thing that I will never accept.People not being thankfull when I kindly leave them my money.That will be the last time they see of me.

quote:

Originally posted by bulldog563:
Air Canada has just announced that it plans to charge hunters and shooters a special "handling fee" for firearms effective June 1, 2006.

Rotten cocksuckers.

quote:

Originally posted by BBBruce:
Rotten cocksuckers.

I would have to disagree with you there Bruce as that would indicate that they are useful! derf

Air Canada is not the first at doing this. North West has been doing this for years. They have gotten me for $110 every trip for the last 6 years. "oversized bagage".
Longshot