Just read in my E-mail Extra from the Hunting Report that people are reporting lengthy delays in getting transit permits issued for firearms when connecting through Amsterdam on Delta/KLM. Has anyone here experienced this, and if so, have any tips for those of us taking this route this season?

The first time I ever booked travel without using Gracy and now I have to deal with this. . . .

http://www.huntingreport.com/w...te.cfm?articleid=654



Warning to Hunters Flying on Delta/KLM
Expect Hassles over Firearm Transit Permits From The Netherlands

(posted March 10, 2014)

Hunters planning to fly Delta/KLM through Amsterdam on a hunting trip should expect long delays in processing their firearm transit permits. The Hunting Report has learned of several hunters experiencing difficulties getting the transit permit issued to them by the Dutch Customs office (Netherlands Tax and Customs Administration). The permit is required to transit through the Netherlands with firearms, even though the bags are never claimed and are merely passed from one aircraft to the next. Continuing subscribers will recall that the Netherlands started this requirement in 2005 (see Article 1530 in our online database). It appears the Dutch Customs office is taking up to two months currently to process and issue the necessary transit permits and then only after continuous follow-up in the weeks prior to hunters' trips.

We learned of this emerging problem when several hunters reported that they had not gotten their permits and were only a week out from their travel dates. They filed the necessary paperwork with Dutch Customs two months in advance, as required, only to receive no word from them. When contacted, Customs officials replied that they had not received the requests for the permits, although fax transmittal reports show that fax transmittals of the documentation were successful. This is a pattern that began developing sometime during the 2013 safari season. The Hunting Report had received several reports late in the season of long delays in processing of permits. One hunter we spoke with said he called every day for a week before anyone would even answer the telephone there! Travel agents we checked with at that time said they were receiving their clients' permits within two weeks of travel. Now hunters say they or their agents must make multiple phone calls the week before their travel dates to receive the transport permit in time.

For the moment, we are issuing a heads-up warning that hunters may face real difficulties with this once the safari season gets under way in East Africa. We recommend that subscribers flying with Delta/KLM through Amsterdam for a summer safari allow at least two months to get their transit permit, and that they be prepared to go back and forth with Dutch Customs up to the last minute. It may be advisable to have a travel agent who specializes in hunt travel to deal with the hassle for you. If problems continue, hunters may want to use a different carrier and route to reach Africa or other hunting destinations serviced by KLM through Amsterdam.

We have attempted to contact Delta (KLM's partner in the US) for their input on this issue but have not yet received a reply. If you plan to use this carrier and route, be certain to ask pointed questions before booking your flight, and make it clear that only airlines and transit hubs friendly to hunters traveling with guns will be getting your business. - Justin Jones, Editorial Assistant

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Definitely recommend a good travel agent with experience in this area. With that, I've never had a problem. It's still rather nerve-racking waiting on the permits.

Kind of sad that this is happening, particularly now that there is a flight from Amsterdam to Harare which avoids SAPS stuff in Johannesburg.

Hey Fellas:
I've done this route a few times and it has been a pain. My take on the matter (but unsubstantiated) is anti hunters in the permit office. On my last trip I faxed SIX times to the office for my transit permit and was told with each followup the fax never arrived. Well, it did arrive according to the software of the sending fax. At the time I called a Mr. Trump, perhaps the man in charge, and he said he would look for the fax and I should send it immediately. I did and received the permit that day. I honestly feel jerks in the office were playing with me.
Now, I would fly Delta to SA and go north. SA may be crooked and demand tips, but at least they are firearm friendly.
Just my opinion.
Cal

Mr. Trump has been there forever; I always deal with him directly and never have any issues. He is a good man.

Definitely used a experienced agent. Annelise with Areva travel has booked me through Amsterdam several times and made arrangements for the dutch consent form. Always came through in plenty of time. Did learn one thing early on and that was to tape a copy of the form to the outside of the gun case.

A FedEx clear envelope works well for that.

I had my consent form in the clear Fed Ex label last year. That did not stop them from leaving my guns in Amsterdam for an extra day. All the other luggage made it just fine. Needless to say it certainly caused us some problems not the least of which was a lost hunting day. I will avoid Amsterdam from now on.

This was a terribly frustrating process. I would never do it again. I flew KLM in June/July 2013. I faxed my permit application through an international faxing company 8 weeks before my trip. It was confirmed by the faxing company. I called the Netherlands that alone was a mess, different phone numbers than the application, no one available, a Dutch message telling you what to push with no type of translation. When I finally got through over three days and many phone attempts, they do not confirm receipt but just issue the permit two weeks before your transfer arrival. I called about a month before departure and was told never received. Repeat process above...I called two weeks before departure... repeat process above. I called the Friday before my Monday departure after talking to the Dutch embassy in Washington for the second time, they called and interpreted for me.
I then convinced them to let me e-mail it (welcome to this century). I had my permit that day. It was the most stressful process in my 4 safaris to Africa. I then locked it in my case as they instructed and carried a copy on me. They never asked for it or opened my case on the way or back. I WILL NEVER fly through the Netherlands again. (Non-stop or Dubai as there process was so efficient)

Having a european rifle license, I do not need a transit permit.
However I flew that route recently and my rifle was left (on purpose?) in Amsterdam. Arrived the next day via Nairobi....

Guys
Dealing with SAPS in JBerg is a walk in tHe park compared to this nonsense!
I have done the JBerg route the last 2 years and it really is quite painless and simple.

Cheers

Nick