A domestic carrier is going to stick me with a $200 charge (each way) for a rifle case that exceeds 62 inches overall (length + width + depth).

Does anyone have any personal experience with a a one rifle case that comes in under these dimensions?

Really?! I always thought that sporting equipment were excluded. Imagine a surfboard or skis measuring less than 62in. Which airline?

Which airline?

Will: if I measured correctly my SKB single rifle case measures 61 1/2" overall.

Karl

I would be screwed with my Starlight case!

Pelican 1750

quote:

Posted 26 October 2012 21:26 Hide Post
Really?! I always thought that sporting equipment were excluded. Imagine a surfboard or skis measuring less than 62in.

me2 - i'd check the airlines regs before paying that - wouldn't be the 1st time an airlines employee screw up

American.

HSV - DFW - Durango, CO.

I've already checked the website and called AA. Same info both places.

I also thought there was an exception for oversized sporting equipment (firearms cases) but that was not the answer that I got from the website or the service rep today.

I've checked Pelican and TuffPak cases on more than 30 trips and never paid a dime. I might show up, get lucky, and not get charged, but I think I'll get a smaller case just to play it safe.

quote:

Originally posted by bigguy458:
Will: if I measured correctly my SKB single rifle case measures 61 1/2" overall.

Karl

Karl:

Got your PM. Thank you for the kind offer, but I'm making a plan on this end.

Will,
If you decide or want to, I live an hour away from Durango and will be more than happy to loan you a rifle. Sounds like and Elk hunt to me. Which caliber would you like to borrow?
Rick

I wouldn't accept the answers you've received from the airlines. Push the question higher. Acceptable firearms cases are mandated by federal standards in the US, not by individual airlines. They are simply wrong about the measurement issue. I suggest you also contact both SCI and NRA about this issue. They just got a firearms problem with U.S. Airways resolved in our favor.

I fly with a gun case most of the time and have never paid except when I had excess bags and then I was charged for sports equipment. I am in Dallas right now with a large SKB case and didn't pay a dime. Tomorrow I return to FLL. I mostly fly AA.

Gentlemen,

I believe the airlines can charge you for an oversized gun case if they want to. Also, the way I read the various baggage rules for different airlines on a recent trip, most airlines no longer give you a free pass for an oversized rifle case which is a change from just a few years ago. Additional charges can be significant and are for each leg on the flight (i.e., a separate charge coming and going). If you happen to be flying on a couple of different airlines, each airline will probably ding you.

The above case is a Pelican 1700 in which I was able to fit a rifle, a handgun, binoculars and some small tools and it all met the various airlines weight and size limits for checked baggage.

Yes, I know Blasers are expensive but start paying oversize baggage fees and the price doesn't look so bad.

By the way, I think American Airlines is the most rude and pitiful excuse there ever was for an airline. Unless I HAVE to be somewhere and HAVE to fly there, I will never fly with them.

Had the same problem. I built a gun case myself in the right size.

Dennis

American's parent corporation HQ is in Ft Worth and I believe that AA is on Stemmons in Dallas. Maybe the DSC can bring some influence to the discussion.

I have always flown AA from BWI to DFW 3-4 times a year but have been reconsidering someone else even if it means a layover instead of a direct flight. They are NOT customer friendly.

Thanks for the helpful input. Thanks very much for the generous offers. Within hours I was offered a rifle for loan as well as a compact rifle case. This the the best of AR. Thank you very much men.

I don't have time to make a federal case of this. An hour or hours on the phone with AA costs me alot of money. I'm content to purchase a smaller case, which is something I planned to do before going to CAR in January. I'd be better off sending someone to get me a case on Monday while I do what pays the bills.

Anyway, I'm off on Friday for the last rifle mule deer season. With a one way ticket and no return reservations, I'll come home when I shoot a jaws Mulie or the season ends, whichever first occurs.

Best and thanks!

Good luck Will.

It seems as if all the airlines are hiring idiots now as part of their down sizing programs. I was returning from DFW to FLL on AA yesterday and 3 different idiots wanted to charge me for my bags. I explained that my wife and I are flying first class and are executive platinum members and we do not get charged for bags (we only had 3 total). Then they wanted to bargain with me! "How about I just charge you $150, it's normally $200." I politely asked for them to go get someone with the skills and authority to use a computer, speak English and make decisions despite what "the computer say.." A manager arrived and immediately straghtened everything out. He did a great job managing the situation, but come on! Why should I know AA policy better than the people that work there?

I see a lot of "never use this airline" recommendations on here but the bottom line is they all have horrible customer service at times. This is a result of the spoiled, semi-educated, "me generation" being in the work force.

take the rifle apart and use a smaller case. i'vew been doing that with a americase for years. Then put it in a sports equipment bag. nobody knows you even have a rifle

SFRanger7GP - Unfortunately, very true.

SFRanger7GP- spot on

Unfortunately airlines have begun to look towards sporting equipment for revenue. What used to be exempt are being reevaluated. AA has a size requirement now but Delta does not. Unfortunately SFRanger is right switching airlines is much like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

butchloc: that is a great idea. I flew to the UK this month for a hunt. I used an Americase for my Merkel K3 and put the case in the bottom of a drop bottom duffle bag. Worked out great and I even got praise from the security at the Birmingham airport and our own TSA for the "low profile" baggage.

Will,

I spoke to Shawn with Gracy Travel this AM. She says there is no 62" regulation on size of sporting equipment that she is aware of. She also said that American of recent has been a problem with guns in general.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by SFRanger7GP:
butchloc: that is a great idea. I flew to the UK this month for a hunt. I used an Americase for my Merkel K3 and put the case in the bottom of a drop bottom duffle bag. Worked out great and I even got praise from the security at the Birmingham airport and our own TSA for the "low profile" baggage.

As long as you declare it as a firearm. On Delta every firearm gets tagged with a CAGPT sticker; I have never had a problem - they deliver it to me only in person.

As for the question about surfboards, I assume the guy who asked that has never checked a surfboard. I can assure you flying with a bike is not cheap either.

I'm flying KLM for my next trip and just checked their website. Yep, you are allowed an extra checked bag at no extra charge flying from the U.S. to Africa as long as it weighs 23 KG or less and is 62" (158cm) or less in total dimensions.

Will:

I live 10 miles north of Durango. I will be around town through the month. Glad to help any way I can. Rifle loan, place to stay on the way in or out of town, airport pickup. Dinner. Don't hesitate to ask. Sent you a PM with my contact info.

Tom

Delta only charged me the oversize fee, for the case one way. There were no additional charges for the return trip. It was this way in 2008 and 2011 when I flew into Jburg.

I'm really trying to do due diligence on my flight and I just called KLM (which is also Delta and Air France) and they said the 62" limit did NOT apply to sporting equipment and that firearms were considered sporting equipment, so I'd raise a stink if a counter agent wants to charge you extra.

But, be sure to let them know well ahead of time that you'll be carrying such item. There's a button on the KLM website for your flight for you to report items that require special handling such as sporting equipment. When I contacted them they wanted to know the weight of my ammunition, the weight of the rifle, and the weight of the case. There's an implication there that the ammo can be carried in the rifle case, but I didn't follow up on it as I already have a hard case for the ammo and stick it in my checked luggage bag.

postoak:

That's a good point. I flew with firearms and ammunition to the UK in October. United was pretty clear that I needed to notify them no more than 30 days out and no less than 48 hours prior. I did that and had no problems.

American in 2011 got me for oversize on my "bowcase" and my buddy as well when flying to Namibia out of Dallas to Frankfurt. No matter that I had the rules in my hand, "their rules" they werre not checking the bags unless we paid 400 dollars extra total,,,,, I am "platinum" with them as well, they negotiated it down to 300.00 dollars?? like they were doing me a real favor. It got to the point where I had no choice but to pay or miss my flight and safari....Now I just expect to pay some idiotic charge and as long as they get my equipment there I gues it is just part of the expense now....

Will, to exhibit true AR generosity, I'll save you the angst and just do the hunt for you :-)

Contact Ziegel Enginering 562-596-9481.I recently bought a case they call the "62 inch rule case". Seems well made,
Larry

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Will, to exhibit true AR generosity, I'll save you the angst and just do the hunt for you :-)

I wish I could send anyone other than me on the hunt I just returned from. It sucked.

Expecting CAR to be much better.

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:
I wish I could send anyone other than me on the hunt I just returned from. It sucked.

Hunt reports on unsuccessful trips sometimes are more important than the 'happy' ones, Will. Can we expect details?

Sorry for the disappointment (along with your entire college football season) and better wishes in CAR.

I just returned from an overseas trip where my two companions paid oversized and "extra fees for rifle cases" that nearly doubled their ticket price ! I used a new lightweight Negrini case inside my travel case and got by with no extra fees.

Here is the 6 1/2 # short case with the Luxus rifle I used as well as one of their longer cases



When I travel with a bolt rifle I use this one


It does't take long to save enough to pay for a number of these cases

quote:

lightweight Negrini case

Mr Shoemaker - How well do these thermo -plastic, "resin/fibreglass" type cases withstand airline luggage abuse in your experience?

I have two, very good aluminium full flight cases made by Case Craft Containers (or a name which sounds similar). They are very good, but they are heavy.

These cases, at less than 7lbs, compare very well (on weight) against my cases at circa 18 - 21lbs. But would they withstand more than one leg of the journey with the buggage gorillas?

Talk real sweet, tell the lady at the counter how gorgeous she is, blink your long eyelashes at her and hold your toe under the scale. It's worked for me -- not sure which.