I always fly SAA when going to hunt in Africa.
Being on a tight schedule for this hunt I had no choice but to go with Lufthansa for my flight back home from Johannesburgh.When I went to check in I was told that my flight had been cancelled because of some strike.Lufthansa changed my ticket for one with British Airways and Air Canada.When I got to the crowded BA check in counter I got these little stupid and unwelcome remarks about my gun case.When I got to the counter they phoned a supervisor and I heard her over the intercom say"we need to be advised 72hrs before flight of a firearm,he is not going on this flight".Back to Lufthansa I went and this time they put me on a SAA flight and all went well.Thanks to Lufthansa and SAA.

British airways are notoriously anti gun!!!!
I have found SAA to be great,Qantas good and EMirates fine once paperwork is in order.
Lessons to be learnt from this for all hunters!!

Cheers

Nick

I love SAA.On the long flight back they had left trays of sandwiches,snacks and spring water in the rear of the plane,next to the wash rooms along with coffee.All that was free.I must have missed it on previous flights unless this is new.

quote:

Originally posted by nickh:
British airways are notoriously anti gun!!!!

Cheers

Nick

Never experienced that when I flew on them. They do have a 72 hour rule, if George didn't know that then he must not read AR much.

Their reason for the 72 hour rule is they have specific firearm handlers that hand carry your case to the plane and store it separately from other luggage. It ALWAYS arrives.

+1 on what Jim said. Just finished my 18th safari over 21 years and all but two times I flew BA. They are not anti gun at all but like any of the airlines they have certain rules and one of them is being notified 72 hours ahead if you are carrying guns. I think if any airline is at fault in George's story it would be Lufthansa for sending him to BA without knowing BA's policy.

I think BA's special handling of firearms is often interpreted as anti gun when in fact it is to make sure they track your guns throughout the flights and ultimately to make sure get your guns at your final destination. As long as BA handled the guns only I have never had the my guns or my clients guns not reach their destination. I can't say that about any other airline my clients have used.

Mark

Just like Jim and Mark, BA handled our flights including the rifles, like a gem.

Yes it is the BA policy for a 72 hour notification.

Everything was top notch on BA and no more gun issues than any other airline other than just paying them for their service. This is offset some by the fact that the case does not count as luggage, and further, it is offset a lot more in it arrives as scheduled without incident.

I will add that while our SAA Business Class flights were super too I will stay on BA for the long haul trips and use SAA from Joburg to the destinations.

I remember reading here on AR some horrible experiences with BA and the handling of there rifles-rifles damaged-cases mishandled.BA also has banned the transport of african trophies along with some other airlines.SAA has not.My rifles have always arrived with SAA even though there were times when there have been only one hour between my connecting flights.Also with SAA
I am always in a hunting environment-in
airports that are frequented by people going to hunt in Africa and by staff that are used to gun luggage.
The 72 hour thing may mean nothing to you but I see it as another obstacle for gun owners,one that will do nothing but encourage other airlines to introduce new obstacles.

George,

You'll find if you really look at the negative reports on BA that the incidences by a wide margin were created by the ignorance of the passengers.

Mark

Ignorant passengers? Surely that can't be true.

How do you give BA 72 hour notice if the only reason you are flying BA is your original carrier canceled your flight and booked you on BA for their convenience?

Exactly!!!
And the fact that Comair, the Affiliated BA airline has a "no gun policy" makes me avoid them altogether.

Nick