06 July 2018, 18:07
Jsinceanything new about traveling with a Tuff pak
It's been awhile since I last made the trip, planning on flying Delta from Atlanta to Jo-Berg in September. Has anything changed with the use of a Tuff Pak? Do they now want ammo w/ the gun or separate piece of checked luggage. Just trying to avoid any surprises (as best that I can )
Thanks
Jim
06 July 2018, 19:38
HogbreathLast year, the ammo had to be in a separate checked bag. And I took my Tuffpak
I used a bright yellow Pelican case for my ammunition and checked it as separate bag. Even though it's kind of small compared to suitcases, etc., this made it easy to spot and had my name in permanent marker on the outside. I use TSA locks, and not padlock that only I have the key to.
You don't need this for every leg of the flight, but for departing South Africa you do, and I found it easier to just do it this way.
As far as the Tuffpak, there's been no issues. Mine has the old style vending machine kind of lock, not TSA, and there's been no problems.
07 July 2018, 01:12
Russ GouldThe ammo has to be packed separately coming back from RSA, in a locked bag. Going over it can be packed with the firearm as far as JNB. Last time thru JNB they were not even looking at ammo.
I will add that tuffpaks are heavy and with the 50lb limit, you can't fully utilize the tuffpak and stay under that limit. In the past, the airlines have overlooked this. This year, Delta is charging excess weight.
Another strange thing ... no TSA. They just loaded my tuffpak on the belt along with the other bags after I put the orange tag inside. This was at DFW. My buddy originated at PDX and they made him do the secondary TSA search.
09 July 2018, 05:23
LittleJoeTook my Tuff Pak to Namibia and Botswana last year. Transit through South Africa coming and going. Zero questions, zero issues, zero concerns. So much better than a metal case IMO.
09 July 2018, 18:14
JsinceThank you for everyone's input. One last question, for locks on the TuffPak, I want to use traditional padlocks not TSA versions correct?
Thanks again
09 July 2018, 23:00
Use Enough GunCorrect. By the way, my last trip to Africa last year I packed two double rifles in their soft cases, -all in a Tuff Sak along with my fanny pack which included knives and other items that you cannot safely pack in your other carry on for fear of theft. All of it reained well under 50 lbs.
11 July 2018, 21:31
Jsincethanks again all and good hunting,
Jim