So in reviewing the Delta requirements for firearms travel in general I found the following statement in their Shooting Equipment section and this is a direct quote from their page "Maintain entry permits in your possession for the country or countries of destination or transit". So I'm only going to South Africa for this hunt and using a meet & greet when I arrive there and have been told by my meet & greet rep that mu South African gun permit has been approved and is ready for my arrival.

My question is, based on the Delta quote, do I need to get a copy of this S A gun permit before I go. Generally in my past experience the final sign off on the SA gun permit isn't done until the guns are checked @ the SAPS there. Any recent (like this year)Delta fliers run into any issues with Delta about this requirement of theirs??

You will get SAPS permit when you get there, and your meet and greet will take care of it. I've been putting a copy of my 4457 and SAPS application form inside my gun case while in transit though. Never had a problem.

quote:

Originally posted by JGRaider:
You will get SAPS permit when you get there, and your meet and greet will take care of it. I've been putting a copy of my 4457 and SAPS application form inside my gun case while in transit though. Never had a problem.

What JGR said but I would add the important thing is declaring to Delta well ahead of time that you will be traveling with a firearm.

In 7 trips I've never had them ask for a copy of the SAPS during check-in in the States or before departing ATL but it's always good to cover all the bases as JGR recommended.

Have a great trip and good luck!

Upon my last trip over on Delta (30 days ago, BQK-ATL-JNB), the agent checking my bags was aware that RSA wanted ammo in a separate container other than your gun case or your clothes bag/duffel.

Anticipating the same somewhat, at least on the next-day JNB to VFA flight, I had a hard case ammo box, about 16"x10"x12" with a TSA lock in my clothes suitcase. While the agent was tagging the small bag, I wondered out loud if, due to its size, it wouldn't get lost in the shuffle.

He explained that, at least on DL200, the firearms/ammo would be last to load in a special container for the convenience/security of the South Africa officials.

I monitored the loading of my guns using the Delta App and sure enough, my "regular" bags were loaded within minutes of my arrival in Atlanta and the TuffPak and the ammo case were loaded only minutes before doors closed on the 777. Another indicia that the agent knew of what he spoke is that, for the first time, my takedown TuffPak didn't arrive on the regular baggage carousel with my other luggage, but arrived promptly at SAPS.

BTW, if you have a written confirmation from you meet-and-greet folks, I'd have a copy to show the agent in the U.S. Can't hurt. I always have that kind of correspondence copied, along with a filled out SAPS form (the one I faxed or emailed to the meet-and-greet... it's just the application, but what the heck), certified copies of the 4457's... everything... in my carry-on.

^
Great advice!

BH63