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It looks like my itinerary from Zurich -> Lusaka will have me transit both London Heathrow as well as Johannesburg OR Tambo airports. Man, I must be out of my mind, attempting to transit two of the World's airports with the worst reputation for problems when travelling with firearms...  Sadly, it does not seem to be that easy to fly to Lusaka, and this itinerary at least on paper looked better than having to transit either Nairobi or Addis Abeba...So given that Zurich -> LHR -> Jo'burg -> Lusaka is my route, is there anything I can do to lessen the chance of my firearms disappearing along the way (or cause trouble in general?)??? I gather I have to report that I'll be travelling with "sporting firearms" to British Airways at least 72 hours in advance (no prob). According to schedule, I have more than 3 hours in LHR to catch my connecting flight to Jo'burg. I intend to check all my luggage all the way through to Lusaka, as I have no time to pick up the luggage (import firearms etc) and recheck in Jo'burg. Do British Airways require you to provide them with serial numbers etc for your firearms?? My caliber will be non-military, so that should not be an issue. The last times I travelled through Jo'burg (1x Windhoek, 1x Vic Falls), my luggage including firearms arrived safe and sound. So maybe I'm worrying too much?? - mike ********************* The rifle is a noble weapon... It entices its bearer into primeval forests, into mountains and deserts untenanted by man. - Horace Kephart | ||
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You seem to have got most of it sussed but I'd recommend you have your travel agent enter the statement that you'll be travelling with sporting firearms and ammunition (use that exact phrase) into the comments section of your booking and have them print that out for you so you can take that with you as proof that they can't give you any shit. | |||
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Why are you flying Heathrow to Johannesburg enroute to Lusaka? Not necessary. We hunted Zambia in July, 2010 and flew Houston to Heathrow on BA, then BA directly to Lusaka. That last leg is a 10 hr flight on a BA 767. You are flying further, Heathrow to Jo'berg, and then retracing your route back north to Lusaka. BA gave all of us zero problems with our guns and ammo. A good travel agent would avoid this for you. You do not have to fly through Johannesburg on your trip. | |||
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be sure to notify ba that you are traveling with firearms at least a week in advance or you're in for grief. also they are going to charge you $50 xtra | |||
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blanco, He's Swiss!!!!!!!!! Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
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Thanks for your comments and help guys. To Mark and butchloc: The extra charge for transporting firearms seems to have become an unfortunate reality with European airlines these days.  Over here we desperately miss a powerful pro-firearms organization like the NRA to stop the bastards from playing such tricks on us. Lacking that, I guess I'll pay my extra dues mumbling through gritted teeth (Swiss or not)...Steve and butchloc, thanks for the notes on airline notification. I'll make a note of this. Sadly, I have long since given up on booking flights via travel agents - it is all Internet booking these days. But I normally persevere to get my "travelling with firearms" notifications done via personal contact to the airline. blanco County: I know of the direct flights LHR -> Lusaka, in fact I'm on one of those flights for my return trip. Sadly my Internet booking engine did not offer that option for the trip to Lusaka, and I got stuck with the LHR -> Jo'burg -> Lusaka option. Not ideal but at least the airfare was reasonable. Thanks again guys. - mike ********************* The rifle is a noble weapon... It entices its bearer into primeval forests, into mountains and deserts untenanted by man. - Horace Kephart | |||
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Ah, I also found the following on the BA website: http://www.britishairways.com/...agsport/public/en_gb
- mike ********************* The rifle is a noble weapon... It entices its bearer into primeval forests, into mountains and deserts untenanted by man. - Horace Kephart | |||
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Go direct Heathrow then Lusaka and stay in transit. If your itnerary involves London Gatwick to Heathrow transfer you will need a bonded firearms agent to transport your sporting firearms between airports. I used PDQ freight. You must prereport your weapons. BA is a good carrier but you must realize that the clerk you will deal with will not know the procedures for firearms. Ask for the supervisor as soon as you get that look of terror on declaration of your firearms in your baggage.It helps to take a copy of BA firearms policy with you; I would also have a copy of the written prenotification of intent to travel with sporting weapons in my possession.Good luck. | |||
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I would include the calibers of rifle and serial numbers on the prenotification. The clerk I dealt with was concerned that a 416 Rigby might be a prohibited caliber. I explained patiently with a forced smile that no, it was a non military sporting caliber that was BRITISH is origin! As Shakari says use that exact phrase in correspondence and verbal declaration. | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting Travel Forum Transit Through Heathrow & Jo'burg Enroute to Lusaka
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