I'm heading to Zim in August with Qatar Airways. Per my discussion on a "chat" with one of their staff, I emailed appropriate documents to the email address of "pfcdoh@qatarairways.com.qa". One month later I still have no response. I did "chat" and was told a followup had been sent.

Any suggestions on how to help bring this process to fruition? Many thanks.

This is a great example of why, in my opinion, it makes sense to leaving the ticketing process to groups like TWG that deal with these issues and the airline personnel daily. Sure TWG and others charge a ticketing fee to provide such assistance but in the overall scheme of what a trip like this costs, the ticketing fee is peanuts when it comes to navigating issues like traveling with guns, changes in travel due to unexpected circumstances, etc. I realize I am not answering your question directly, but perhaps someone else that is considering booking directly may be reading this thread. Good luck sorting your issue out.

Frankly, I wouldn’t even attempt traveling with guns internationally, going through intermediate countries, with the assistance of a good travel agent who do these things for a living.

If something goes wrong in routing, delays etc, they will sort it out.

Well worth the money.

I am also going to Zim in August on Qatar and used TWG as my travel agent. Very organized and helpful, especially with the rifle. Gary

What others have said above... A Travel agent that specializes in overseas hunts with firearms is the only way to go and you can get in touch with them concerning any questions on a daily basis.

Mike jumped ahead of me but that's the first thing I thought of when I read this thread. Use a travel agent that specializes in International travel with guns. Saves a lot of angst.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
This is a great example of why, in my opinion, it makes sense to leaving the ticketing process to groups like TWG that deal with these issues and the airline personnel daily. Sure TWG and others charge a ticketing fee to provide such assistance but in the overall scheme of what a trip like this costs, the ticketing fee is peanuts when it comes to navigating issues like traveling with guns, changes in travel due to unexpected circumstances, etc. I realize I am not answering your question directly, but perhaps someone else that is considering booking directly may be reading this thread. Good luck sorting your issue out.

This is excellent perspective and advice which you’d be wise to heed.

I agree with all of the above. I have ALWAYS used a travel agency when traveling abroad, including 16 Safaris to Africa. Money more than well spent. Why put yourself in harm's way, or be involved in something that could royally screw up your safari or your overseas trip?

Unfortunately this is the same experience I and a friend recently had with Qatar from Norway to Namibia. We have been adviced by booking agent to send a bunch of documents to Qatar to a special email address for Qatar's Customer Service in Europe. We booked the flicht tickets ourselves. We in fact sent all the documents three times. I have been on the chat with Qatar three times, but never got any proper confirmation. We find the communication rather meaningless. Showing up at the airport in Oslo, we had to leave the rifles there. It became obvious that Qatar service center in Europe had not forwarded any documents to security office in Doha.

All the mess and lack of normal communication from Qatar leads to that we will not be a customer one more time and we advice every hunter to stay away.

Morten

quote:

Originally posted by The Norwegian:
Unfortunately this is the same experience I and a friend recently had with Qatar from Norway to Namibia. We have been adviced by booking agent to send a bunch of documents to Qatar to a special email address for Qatar's Customer Service in Europe. We booked the flicht tickets ourselves. We in fact sent all the documents three times. I have been on the chat with Qatar three times, but never got any proper confirmation. We find the communication rather meaningless. Showing up at the airport in Oslo, we had to leave the rifles there. It became obvious that Qatar service center in Europe had not forwarded any documents to security office in Doha.

All the mess and lack of normal communication from Qatar leads to that we will not be a customer one more time and we advice every hunter to stay away.

Morten

I had a roughly similar experience in 2021, EXCEPT THAT I CALLED SHAWN KENNEDY OF GRACY TRAVEL about 10 days before my departure since I wasn’t getting anywhere on my own. Shawn had me send everything to her and my gun permission from Qatar Airways was in hand about 36 hours later.

All this angst reminds me again why I don’t travel with a gun…..No fuss, no muss. Buy a ticket, get on board, relax.

You probably still have time to do so and should get help from an experienced travel agent.

We have never experienced any trouble with European airline companies, just Arab and African companies.

And yes - next time we will use a travelling agent no matter what even using an European airline company. More and more airline companies do not accept firearms even though the firearms in it's self is of no danger.


Morten

quote:

Shawn had me send everything to her and my gun permission from Qatar Airways was in hand about 36 hours later.

From the gist of the conversations it appears that if recognized channels are adopted, Qatar officials approve carriage of firearms without much delay.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

Shawn had me send everything to her and my gun permission from Qatar Airways was in hand about 36 hours later.

From the gist of the conversations it appears that if recognized channels are adopted, Qatar officials approve carriage of firearms without much delay.

Fulvio, Shawn informed me that they have a direct number, not publicly available, to the people who approve gun permits and they deal directly with those same people on a regular basis. Like in most businesses, it comes down to personal relationships that help get things done.

quote:

Shawn informed me that they have a direct number, not publicly available, to the people who approve gun permits

Those would be the recognized channels I am referring to, i.e. the Qataris will have a list of "bona-fide" operators/agents whom they have likely vetted and are the ones they trust when it comes to sensitive issues like firearms carriage.

I’ve used Qatar quite a few times and never had a problem carrying a firearm. I’ve sent the appropriate information well before departure and have always received an email reply saying they have notified their airport personnel, and list their requirements for carriage. Unlike Emirates, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a “permission” to carry firearms, just the email giving requirements and saying airport personnel would be aware. I guess that could be permission if one followed their rules.

I contacted Gio at Gracy Travel and he has already fixed this problem. Kudos to Gio and Gracy!

I had used a different travel agency for my 2018 and 2019 trips to Zim and was pleased. In 2021, perhaps due to COVID, responses were slower and the documentation much less thorough. It left me wondering if the fees for my wife and I were well spent.

The crux of the problem is that I am flying from Boise to Chicago, then Chicago-Doha-Harare, and similar on the return (although through Dallas). The flights were booked on Qatar and all QR codes. That seized things up.

Should one do this himself, the trick would be that you make independent, separate reservations for non-Qatar flights, even if code shares exists. THEN ask Qatar for permission for their flights. I suspect that is how Karl Evans succeeded. You must claim the luggage and re-check with Qatar (as I will do in Chicago and of course must do in Dallas after Customs).

I'm not impressed with Qatar, as they have changed my booking twice since the original February tickets, and it was a challenge to get my upgraded Economy seats transferred. They still assure me a $100 refund is coming, but not yet. Flying Emirates was simpler, but much more expensive when compared to Qatar in February.

I'm cheap and that sometimes makes things hard!