I've been flying KLM to Amsterdam to either Dar or Arusha for years and they've been perfect on baggage handling until this year and they flubbed it on both ends.

First, a number of years ago they started requiring you to check your ammo box separate and outside your duffle. Well, they lost my wife's ammo box this year. Fortunately they found it and we were adding a PH during our hunt so we got the ammo box.

Then on the way home, the KLM rep at Kilimanjaro told me to put my ammo box in my duffle. Strange, but I did it and that didn't create any problem, but for some strange reason, they put a tag on my luggage, including my duffle (with the ammo case inside) and my rifle case, sending it from Kilimanjaro, to Dar, to Amsterdam, to Houston -- where I live -- and then, just for good measure, to Minneapolis. So when I arrived in Houston on Sunday, I had no checked baggage. I could have cared less about the duffle, used boots and clothes, my optics and cameras were in my carryon, but I was worried about the rifles. Anyway, they delivered the duffle to my house last night, but I had to go back to the airport to clear the rifles. What a pain in the ass, but I have everything now -- just wasted a half day doing it.

Lavaca:

IF it can be screwed up.
Someone will do so nearly every trip.

Back in '11 I flew Co/Spgs to DFW on AA, switched planes on to JAX.

No rifle case came out: unk missing report made. It had 3 revolvers and 4 rifles.
As we had planned a day of fun shooting at the range.

We lost three days while they found it in NYC unclaimed baggage area and brought it back. They delivered it to the house I was staying at. A full 60 miles from JAX airport.

Amazing sometimes isn't it?

George

In all my travels throughout the years, on so many airlines, KLM are the only airline that lost my bag.

They did find it later on.

Also, they have lost a friend's rifle.

Never to be seen again!

Last year KLM left my checked bag with ammo in Amsterdam That was on Sat. I was laying over in Arusha and not flying into bush till Mon AM. They don't fly that route on Sundays. So my bag got to Arusha Mon night, too late to go with me. I wasn't paying the $7,500.00 charter fee to get flown in by itself. So, I ended up waiting 6 days to get it to camp. I learned the hard way several years ago and in my carry on I have a bare bones kit to hold me over for crap like this. Also, the people that were leaving when I went in had ammo they graciously left which matched up good. That I replaced when I got mine. KLM also screwed my return ticket up and it cost me another $170.00 I had already paid. They also on return rerouted me instead of direct back to Atlanta they sent to Minneapolis then to Atlanta. Never flown with them before but they are NOT high on my list!

Got a message that last year they left two hunters rifles behind.

Arrived two days later in Dar.

I've flown KLM many, many times with no issue at all - including several times with firearms, no problem.

BUT late last year coming back from fishing in Mexico my bag failed to appear (had to overnight in Holland) and on looking at the Airtag it was clearly in the building and going nowhere - planked for later retreival? On making protestations to the baggage people that my bag was in fact under Victorias Secret and not "lost" they made some phone calls and guess what? It magically appeared....