As with all of us flying to Africa, we are going to be on a number of flights that all run the risk of having charges for oversize or excess weight. I am not worried about my "luggage" as it is under the weight and size limits. My gun case is another story and I was wondering with South African Air what the fees have been for those of you that have had to pay?

Have flown twice on SAA with gun cases and have yet had to pay any charges.

I've had more problems with US Air than SAA going. Coming back was a different story. I was charged by SAA but don't remember the amount.

For what it is worth,my main suitcase weighed 24.2 kilos upon check-in at Hosea Kutako in Windhoek, but the gal didn't pay any attention. So it came all the way home without me being charged for overweight.

Just got back from RSA. We were on Delta from Phoenix to JNB. My gun case was over 60# but was not charged on the way or way back.

Just flew both SAA and Delta -- no charges from SAA but those knuckle heads at Delta dinged me for overweight -- 69 lb bag cost $25 --

Don't fly QANTAS! The economy limit is 20 kilos and I was 14 kilos overweight. $620Aus, excess fee!!!

Guns and their cases typically fall into a special baggage category with most U.S.-based airlines, much like golf clubs or skiing equipment.

For example, the Delta company rules (which are similar to most U.S. carriers) disregard the gun case being "over" their 62" rule (L+W+D) and over their 50 lb rule. So long as the gun case contains not more than two long guns, less than 11 pounds of ammunition, a shooting mat, and a SILENCER (yes, that's right), it may be of any weight up to 70 lbs. But even if it is less than 50 lbs, if it contains more than 2 long guns, then it is charged as overweight/sized baggage (don't ask me what genius thought that one up). Similarly, a pistol case may contain not more than 5 handguns and various shooting accessories. The rules don't speak to mixing long guns and handguns and I'm sure the check-in agent would go catatonic if you tried to mix the two. For that matter, the airline agent is likely to go either catatonic or ballistic when faced with checking firearms, so always print off both the TSA regulations and the carrier's rules from their respective websites and take them with you when you check in.

If you're a golfer, the same type rules apply, being limited to 14 clubs, a dozen balls, and a pair of shoes, I think.

So long as you don't exceed these limits with your guns or clubs, then you may take one article of "sports equipment" with you as one of your two free checked bags.

Typically, connecting non-U.S. carriers will honor the U.S. carrier's baggage policies IF the tickets were purchased in the United States. International agreements REQUIRE the foreign carrier to accept a minimum of two checked bags at no more than 50 pounds each as free baggage for U.S.-purchased tickets. For non-U.S. tickets, the foreign carrier checked baggage limit is often as little as 20 kilos (44 lbs) and 7 kilos of carry-on.

Link to Delta's sporting goods baggage rules:
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/special_...ting_goods/index.jsp

Link to TSA gun regs:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1666.shtm

Just to avoid any hassles I have decided to go for a set of takedown rifles...

quote:

Originally posted by Shikaribabu:
Just to avoid any hassles I have decided to go for a set of takedown rifles...

And how is it that that should avoid any hassles?

[QUOTE]
For example, the Delta company rules (which are similar to most U.S. carriers) disregard the gun case being "over" their 62" rule (L+W+D) and over their 50 lb rule. ]

I would hope this is really the "rule" but--------I think this issue is more the luck of the draw and dependent on the agent checking one in. Smile - be nice and good luck!

Here in Europe both Air France and Lufthansa regard rifle cases as special luggage and the L+W+D measurements does not apply.

Air France include your gun case in the allowed checked in luggage ( 20 kg economy class ). Lufthansa charge you a sertain extra sum for the gun case which then goes on top of your checked in luggage ( 20 kg + gun case )

Rules differ, one has to make sertain when booking it seems.

Just got back from Namibia and had no problems on Delta or Air Namibia. I'm not sure if it was because I purchased my tickets here in the states, but my gun case with 2 rifles was over Air Namibia's weight limit. Their regs state that a gun case cannot exceed 10 kilo's. My case was 36 pounds or 16.3 kilo's and they did not charge me. I was a bit worried about the over weight coming out of Namibia as an over weight charge would have been $40 per kilo for a grand total of about $250. Frankly I think that $40 a kilo is robbery and believe that if Air Namibia enforced the 10 kilo weight limit, Namibia would lose a lot of hunters. Maintaining 10 kilo's with two rifles and a good case like a Pelican or a TuffPac is impossible.

Devildawg: I'm also using Delta/Air Namibia this week. I'm pretty sure that under the international air transport agreement Air Namibia is not allowed to charge extra for up to two bags of up to 50 lbs each (for U.S.-purchased tickets), however they could stick you for oversize on your gun case if they chose to. Since hunting customers are a significant portion of their clients, I wouldn't think it would pay for them to do so. Glad to hear you had no difficulties either coming or going. Hope to be able to report the same!

Did everything go smoothly on your transition from Delta to A.N. in Frankfurt?

Just got back from South Africa. Flew Delta. My tuffpack was not weighed coming or going and was definately oversize and weight. No agent said a thing. Going baggage was not weighed either. Baggage was weighed in Johannesburg on departure.

Two hunting buddies and I are leaving July 19 on Delta bound for Zambia with an overnight in Jo-berg and then on to Lusaka on SSA. WE are flying business class

If I am reading things correctley Delta allows 2 checked baggage of 50# each and 1 carry on weighing 40#. My understanding is that SSA only allows a total of 65# of checked baggage and 17# of carry on.

My question is do I pack according to Delta regs or SAA regs?

H Kittle

We just returned and the International SAA folks were pretty good about things. Dulles to JoBerg and back were no problem. I had problems inside of South Africa with Security wanting tips to deliver your bag to the plane and one guy saying he needed $20US or it "would get lost". My guns didn't make it inside RSA to my final destination, but my PH got with some airline managers he knows and it was on the next flight.

Departing, the lady at the counter gave us grief since we had a 20KG limit per person for all bags - COME ON! My PH again stepped in and got everything handled and all the luggage made it. By the way my checked luggage was 16KG as was my wifes, carry on's were 12KG and then you had the gun case.

InterestinglyI was talking to British Airways yesterday letting them know I will be travelling with sporting rifles next week when I confirmed the two bags each thing maxed at 50 pounds. The women on the phone said the rule was 50 pounds but she said until September 30th they are allowing each bag to weigh 70 pounds without charge as a transition to clients.

I thought to myself...how unairline like to be so customer focused after all my domestic experience with air canada.

bottom line- it doesn't matter what the website says or what the travel agent tells you when you are returning- it is all up to the counter agent who checks you in. if he wants to give you a hard time there is not much you can do. you are in their country and at their mercy. even outbound if the check-in personel want to give you a hard time, they can and will. be polite and suck up to the bastards, no matter how much it galls you. otherwise be prepared for a long stay at the ticket counter.