I fly from Calgary on (KLM) through Amsterdam airport (AMS) with a rifle with a short layover and then fly to JNB. Returning from JNB on Air France though Paris (CDG) to Canada.

In the past I have always gone through Heathrow instead. It looks like the firearm process is a bit different going through Amsterdam and Paris. ( First time for me.)

I am checking with you hopping that I am getting everything done right. You advice is greatly appreciated.

Here is where I am at so far,

- I have all the usual Firearm export/import forms properly done in Canada and South Africa.
- Air Canada has "registered" my firearm transport with Amsterdam and Paris. ( That's new to me.)
- Amsterdam Custom Central Import and Export requires a "Dutch Permit" (Also new to me)
I am in the process of getting that and it seems to be going OK.

I am required by Air Canada, I think, that my Ammo be in a separate locked case, not in the gun case of course, and not in my luggage suitcase.(?) While it is separate from my gun case and my check in luggage, it will not be counted as an addition (third) piece of luggage (?) This is also new to me as I have always put my ammo in a locked box and placed it in my check in luggage case.

Also I am instruced to not put any personal items other than my rifle in my guncase. In the past I have always put a few hunting clothes and hunting items. knife, binoculars camera, etc. in the gun case with my Rifle and no one has ever said anything about it. Is that "no-no" too? (I don't think that anyone ever looked in my gun case until I got to South African customs.)

Can anyone please tell me if I am getting all this right and if I am missing anything.

Thanks again, I sure appreciate any comments/help that is offered. Brian

I would get one of the proven travel agents to get you organized. Especially going through Amsterdam. I use Gracy Travel, but there are others that I'm sure some here will recommend.

To you questions, I flew through Amsterdam coming and going to Tanzania from US last July. You have to have a transit permit for your rifle(s) and ammo. Once applied, I remember it being fairly quick getting it.
As far as traveling with the ammo. I have always had my knives, Leatherman, etc. packed in my Tuffpak and never had a problem. The ammo traveling by itself? I have always had it in my checked bag in it's locked container. I've heard in S.A. that flying in country they might make take it out and fly it separately.
Note: When I got to Amsterdam on Delta and changed to KLM to go to Arusha they left my bag with clothes and ammo and it took 6 days for me to get it in the bush. It might be worth your while to use a travel agency that specializes in this kind of travel. I use Gracy and Patrick at PWP. There are others on here that can talk about the other airlines you mentioned.

eny and RAR60, Thanks for the advice.
I always like to handle this stuff myself but this time I think that I will do what you suggest and contact Gracy. I am just getting too old to keep it all together especially if there is a snag on the way.

Rar600. you offered some detailed info/insight that is also very helpful. I have always done that same as you with packing the ammo etc.
Thanks again to both of you. Brian

PS. I will be hunting 6 more buffalo with my single shot 577NE. I am pretty excited about it and I don't want a "snafu" on the flight over. I will write a report when I get back May/June. b

Good luck and happy hunting!

Why are you using two different routes?

This actually increases the likelihood of a screw up.

any, Thanks so much! Brian

Amsterdam is real slow in providing your permit.

only a few days before you depart. Gracy and I kept in touch and it was a couple of day prior to my departure before it arrived.

Gracy, received it and they e mailed to me. I made copies as every one wanted one.

coming back through Amsterdam, going through check in for my flight, I was asked to verify which baggage claim ticket was for my gun case. I had put that information on the ticket when it was checked for the flight. They also wanted to know if I had any ammo and which case it was in and the claim ticket number, again I had marked it.

Bwana338, Thanks for the "heads up". Very helpful, Brian

I’ve flown with rifles through every place you mentioned and more.

Never had a problem.

The key is to use the services of a GOOD travel agent and follow their instructions to the letter.

Requirements can change and GOOD travel agents stay on top of things.

FWIW, for me anyway, London/Heathrow and Paris/CDG have always been the easiest places in Europe to transit with firearms.

Thanks Michael,
Helpful and encouraging. I am proceeding with a good trade agent.
brian

Ditto the issues noted with the Dutch customs form - I have done a few. Make sure they send it back on time - not too far distant in time and not less then two weeks prior.

If you are travelling Air France you need to complete their form (its not a customs form) and make sure this (the firearm) is recorded on your booking. It took several phone calls to get this done the last time...

I personally would never trust an agent to do this - processes change all of the time and they will not be there to get it fixed if and when it does.

Thanks Kuwinda,

While I have received kind advice from others, above, I have decided after all to do it myself. Finding the form and info on the web took some time but the actual forms are straight forward .`

Kuwinda, I have one question about the Air France issue please,
How do you get Air France to send confirmation of recording the form on my booking.

I can not get Air France or Air Canada to confirm that they have recorded my firearm form.

Air Canada who I am travelling with assures me that they have recorded it on my booking and everything is OK, but they will not send me any sort of written confirmation, I am still work on this.

Thanks for your help,

Brian

Brian, when collecting a rifle at Heathrow after a flight from Cameroon, I found the gun case badly bashed up and you could see the rifle. The guy at the desk remarked, "you must have flown with Air France ". He was right. Fair warning!

Pom, Thanks for the "heads up". (Yikes!) Brian

Hello Kuwinda,

I learned some more today talking to Air France about Transiting the Paris Airport with a firearm.

They told me that I don't require a license/permit in my possession when I arrive at the Paris airport because they have it in writing on my file in their records. So I guess that I am "good to go" with Air France.

The Dutch customs, are processing my application now and I will keep in contact with them at least weekly.

Does this all sound like it is going OK to you?

Thanks again for your help, Brian

Brian, I didn't see anyone mention the knife restrictions through Amsterdam. Please have a look at that. When i went June 2023 there were no folding knives allowed at all, period, and solid blades had a length restriction.

I didn't have to deal with Air Canada as i flew direct with KLM from Calgary to Amsterdam...

My Dutch permit came just in time... That was nerve racking! The SAPS permit is now the "easy" one... Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by Brian Canada:
Hello Kuwinda,

I learned some more today talking to Air France about Transiting the Paris Airport with a firearm.

They told me that I don't require a license/permit in my possession when I arrive at the Paris airport because they have it in writing on my file in their records. So I guess that I am "good to go" with Air France.

The Dutch customs, are processing my application now and I will keep in contact with them at least weekly.

Does this all sound like it is going OK to you?

Thanks again for your help, Brian

Brian,

If its recorded correctly you should be able to see this on your booking when you open this on a laptop - "manage my booking etc". I had them tell me it was OK then it never appeared on the booking - hence further phonecalls. Its called "special baggage - firearm" or some such.

As others have said Air France is quite "trying" - I would not choose them but sometimes there nothing else - going to Tunisia later this year for boar - no option!!

The Dutch form should be sent back stamped and signed - I have previously taken several copies of this and gaffer taped a copy to my gun case.

Noone will tell you this and the first time I blithly sent the form off and thought nothing more of it. How I got to Austria I have no idea (and the guncase was simply left sitting in a corridor for me to pick up and walk out the airport with....) but when leaving the agent said "wheres the form?" - ???? I got back but we should draw a veil over that.....

Kuwinda, Thanks, That helps a lot, I will keep a close eye on it. brian

Kuwinda,(PS)

I have a good mate who lives in Whitehorse, Yukon. He is a successful mountain moose hunter, he calls moose by "scraping" with a moose scapula bone. He is born in Canada but his family is from Harris Island. He and his wife are going there to visit for a couple of weeks in April.

Northern Scotland sounds like an amazing country. Brian

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Why are you using two different routes?

This actually increases the likelihood of a screw up.

I agree with Saeed - changing carriers is dangerous enough, changing routes is just asking for them to screw it all up...

Best of luck ...

You think ?

The flight plan was made by Avion Air Miles. Take what you get in order to save money. That is part of the program on my side of the tracks. brian

Kuwinda, Hurray! I found my firearms confirmation exactly where you said it would be in "manage my bookings". Super, thanks again for your help. Brian

Bryce, Thanks for telling me about the Amsterdam knife permit restriction. I didn't know about that.
Getting the dutch permit just in the nick of time would be hard on the shattered nerves. Brian

My experience with Amsterdam is that they have some sort of policy or regulation that they are unwilling to do the permit until relatively shortly be for your scheduled flight (I want to say like 2 weeks)- in my case it always came through, but it was always a bit nerve wracking to see the date getting closer and worrying it wouldn’t happen… to me, Gracy was worth every penny to make sure things happened.

The Dutch are not quite as rigorous with enforcing the rules as they might be. I took a folding knife for several years in my gun case. One year it didn’t arrive, but on my return it was placed back in the case. That was when I found out that folding knives were forbidden. Easy enough to follow the rule, but you need to know it. My stupidity- I figured if you have a gun, what issue would they have with a knife in checked luggage?

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
My experience with Amsterdam is that they have some sort of policy or regulation that they are unwilling to do the permit until relatively shortly be for your scheduled flight (I want to say like 2 weeks)- in my case it always came through, but it was always a bit nerve wracking to see the date getting closer and worrying it wouldn’t happen… to me, Gracy was worth every penny to make sure things happened.

The Dutch are not quite as rigorous with enforcing the rules as they might be. I took a folding knife for several years in my gun case. One year it didn’t arrive, but on my return it was placed back in the case. That was when I found out that folding knives were forbidden. Easy enough to follow the rule, but you need to know it. My stupidity- I figured if you have a gun, what issue would they have with a knife in checked luggage?

I don't understand that - the folding knives? I have been through Schipol four times in the last four months, each time with BOTH a folding knife and a Leatherman in checked luggage. but no guns, with no issue.

Yes - there is a "window" of something like not more than four but not less than one week in which you need to get the form processed.

crbutler,

Thanks for the helpful info. Weird rules about the knife.

I wrote them about taking a knife. They said that they did not deal with knives and that I would have to get an exemption from another agency, I forget who.

Do any of you ever put some clothes in your gun case? Brian

I have put a jacket and boots in it (tuffpack) as additional padding along with ammo belt and gun sling.

I try and minimize it after a TSA guy said that the more junk in there, the more likely they will need to open the case. That’s more a U.S. thing than overseas though.

crbutler. Thanks again.
The TSA guy made a good point. brian

To the Amsterdam permit, I remember getting mine via email a couple months out for trip to Tanzania last July.. Also, when I went through going and coming in my my Tuffpak I had a Puma sheath knife and folder plus a Leatherman along with slings and nothing said.
Not saying it doesn't happen but I didn't experience it.

I will only add that I avoid transiting European airports these days unless necessary.

Dubai and Doha are much better.

Michael, yes I would like to do that but I operate on Avion air miles and have to take what they give me. It is not perfect but it does get me to the African bush. Brian

This morning I received my firearm transit permit from Amsterdam. What a relief!

Thanks again to all you posters who helped me, greatly appreciated. In my old age , 80 years old, I have become a bit of a worry-wart with these things and your posts helped me keep my head.

Allow me to go off the topic for a moment here if you don't mind.

I have a heart connection with the Netherlands through my favourite uncle who was a sergeant in the Canadian army in WW11. He fought on foot through he whole campaign in the Netherlands from start to finish, and survived. This flight through AMS airport might be as close as I ever get to seeing Amsterdam. ( I have stronger feeling than some about the return to fascism in our present times.)

Thanks again, Brian

On my last trip to Bots I flew Delta to Amsterdam connected on KLM to Joberg. I was concerned about my rifle making the connection. I followed up with the gate agent multiple times. She ensured there was plenty of time for it to go through inspection and make the flight. Upon arrival in Joberg we were greeted by the team from Gracy Travel. We went to the front of every line and quickly made our way to retrieve my rifle. After much searching they confirmed with KLM that my rifle case was safe in Amsterdam. The team from Gracy took over. The wife and I walked across the street to the Intercontinental Hotel, took a shower and went to sleep. The following morning I met the Gracy team filed all the appropriate paperwork with KLM and Air Bots before we flew out to Maun. Upon arrival in Maun the local agents met me and we met with the local customs team. We explained the situation and provided a copy of all the luggage tags.
The next morning I took my first animal with a rented rifle. By dinner the Gracy team and the team from Bokomoso had secured my rifle and had it in camp waiting for me. The process to clear customs in Joberg is quite simple when all goes well. The added cost of a good travel agent and their ground team really pays for itself when it doesn’t go as planned. I tell all my friends the couple of bucks you pay a travel agent and their local team is minimal compared to all the time to plan, time off work, and the overall cost of the hunt. I always travel with an agent and pay for the ground team.

Thanks for the post, Brian