I'm traveling in June to RSA and have a flight booked with American Airlines, DFW to Heathrow, Heathrow to Johannesburg.

I had a buddy over for lunch the other day and he said that going through Heathrow will be an issue with a checked firearm. He said there's some special things, possibly including an escort, to get through Heathrow.

I'll contact AA for sure, to get their requirements, but I thought I'd ask the AR brain trust so I can make sure I'm asking/getting the correct information before I contact them.

What's the skinny? Most likely checking 1- 2 guns.

From everything that I've read, I believe that most on here would advise you to avoid any travel through Heathrow with firearms. If possible, I would rebook a different route, possibly through Frankfurt or Paris, etc. Just my two centavos worth of advice.

I’ve avoided flying this route with firearms because of the silly requirements at Heathrow, when I last inquired ( little over a month ago),an escort is required to “transfer” your rifle case between flights. I was also told that this escort must be scheduled and paid for beforehand, same story on return flight, too. American had some really attractive fares for biz class for June and September of this year but the firearms thing concerns me.

I hope that ticket from DFW to LHR is actually on BA metal. At one time AA would not transfer firearms at Heathrow, which is why Heathrow got a bad rap, when it should be AA. If it is AA to Heathrow, I would call and confirm they will make the transfer. If it’s BA metal from DFW, there is no problem other then cost. Make sure you have at least a 2 hour layover at Heathrow. Both those BA flights are T5. A T3 to T5 transfer need more than a two hour layover. At least it’s not a Gatwick to Heathrow transfer.

I would not fly BA if they gave free tickets.

And Heathrow is the absolutely shit hole of Europe!

Sounds like this is solidifying my thoughts of just using the outfitters rifle. Especially since we're traveling to Vic Falls afterward.

I've hunted RSA 2x before and this trip is mainly a get together with some others with spouses, kids, grandkids etc. No heavy hunt for me, other than maybe a sable. Impala or something for my girls, probably at a waterhole blind for them.

quote:

Originally posted by gsganzer:
Sounds like this is solidifying my thoughts of just using the outfitters rifle. Especially since we're traveling to Vic Falls afterward.

I've hunted RSA 2x before and this trip is mainly a get together with some others with spouses, kids, grandkids etc. No heavy hunt for me, other than maybe a sable. Impala or something for my girls, probably at a waterhole blind for them.

That may bring another problem with a gun. If your ticket has a stopover in the UK or EU and you are going to VF all one one ticket, you would have to have a separate ticket (JNB-VFA) and claim and recheck your gun in JNB, as the UK/EU has a ban of firearms to Zimbabwe.

Another reason to use a gun savvy travel agent. The UK with guns is not a problem if you jump thru the appropriate hoops. I've done it several times but you need to know about gun couriers and as written the UK ban on firearms to Zim.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Another reason to use a gun savvy travel agent. The UK with guns is not a problem if you jump thru the appropriate hoops. I've done it several times but you need to know about gun couriers and as written the UK ban on firearms to Zim.

Mark

Understood. I used "Travel with Guns" on previous trips and went other routes. This trip was made with AA frequent flier miles, so options were limited.

Ended up costing $1200 total for a family of 4, and that's with trip insurance on all 4 tickets

If you are transiting Heathrow and your gun(s) is checked all the way to your final destination then nothing special is required. You may or may not be on flights operated by AA from DFW to Heathrow -- lots of "AA" flights are actually on BA. I'm nearly certain your flight from Heathrow to JNB will be on BA. Anyway, the two airlines are supposed to operate seamlessly insofar as baggage is concerned.

If you are changing airlines at Heathrow and the two airlines don't have a baggage agreement, then you've made a mistake already.

I would find a different route or use the outfitters guns..

All a UK airport will do is piss you off and get the whole trip off to a bad start..

I would not fly BA or thru London even if I was given free 1st class tickets !!

quote:

Originally posted by gsganzer:
Sounds like this is solidifying my thoughts of just using the outfitters rifle. Especially since we're traveling to Vic Falls afterward.

I've hunted RSA 2x before and this trip is mainly a get together with some others with spouses, kids, grandkids etc. No heavy hunt for me, other than maybe a sable. Impala or something for my girls, probably at a waterhole blind for them.

If using AAdvantage miles, you could fly Qatar Airways, which is gun friendly and avoids BA and Heathrow entirely. Great airline and airport, best option to Africa when using AAdvantage miles. I’ve done this a couple times now and it’s the way to go, IMO.

Saeed, Great Britain maybe, but not of Europe anymore (sadly due to that trio of Cameron, May and Johnson)!

quote:

And Heathrow is the absolutely shit hole of Europe!

.

The only times I ever flew with guns was from
Co/Spgs to DFW, transfer to Jacksonville and return on AA.

I was to meet in JAX for a ten day fishing/hog hunt.

All four flights were on AA.

They "lost my gun case". Found out later they sent it to New York. Oh yeah, this on such a simple transfer between two AA planes! I feel that was on purpose.

We lost three days until they sent it by courier to the guys house at no cost to me other than the delay.

As it turned out, that gave us time for him to show me around the area I had never seen before. As a retired Navy officer, we toured the Navy yard seeing the big ships and other things of interest.

Staying at his home likely saved 3 days charge for the cabin we rented. though it cost us three days fishing the salt.

George