Air New Zealand traveling with ammunition

Me and a friend are going to Australia to hunt I'm flying Quantas he's flying Air New Zealand on Air New Zealands website it's not very clear about the protocall about traveling with ammo Quantas was straight forward. Has anybody flown Air New Zealand and understand there policy about ammo?

A lot of Aussies hunters fly with Air New Zealand (myself included) and it's not a problem. New Zealand is a bit of a rarity in the hunting world, it's a hunter friendly country.

I haven't looked at Air NZ's website, but I'm confident you won't have any problems.

I'm flying over there in three weeks to shoot a Red Stag, with Air NZ. They certainly are very firearms and hunter friendly. I have been asked to have the bolt out of the rifle and ammunition locked in my suitcase. I will be locking it in a small metal tin, inside my suitcase.

You have to notify them that you are flying with firearms which you can do by 'phone and quoteing your booking number. They will ask what type/brand of rifle it is.

Have a great hunt. Where are you off to and with whom ?

so they never hassled you about the ammunition you were carrying in your luggage. there website said that he would need there permission but I wasn't sure if that just meant declaring the ammo when he was declaring his rifle

When I get back in mid April I'll let you know how it went and post a hunt report here.

Code4 we must of been replying at the same time in my last post I was Replying to johnfox, but thanks for the information I will be looking forward to hearing about your trip.We are heading out the middle of May spend a few days in Cairns Port Douglas area then to Darwin to Hunt with Andrew Mackay for Water Buffalo, Scrub Bull and other animals and fish for Baramundi

Straight shooting. I hope to read your report as well. Can't let the povo (stir) on here from Southern Africa have all the fun

Originally Posted by Code4

Straight shooting. I hope to read your report as well. Can't let the povo (stir) on here from Southern Africa have all the fun

John...

A friend of mine is off to Zimbabwe this morning he travels with his guns at least 6 times a year, He's on first name basis with the TSA people at our local airport. The TSA told him you now need at least two locking latches on your guncases, and they did not want TSA style locks anymore because there are too many people with the master key. They told him this is a new rule within the last couple of days and let him go this time. Has anybody else heard of this new rule or is somebody at the local TSA mixed up?

Just got back from NZ two days ago. I flew Air New Zealand there and back.

You have to ring Air New Zealand before you leave and let them know you will be carrying a Firearm. They will ask:
1) How long is the gun case and is it locked ( as it is oversize freight).
2) Will you have more than 5kg of ammunition and is it seperate to the rifle
3) Will the bolt be out of the rifle (just put it next to the rifle in the case).
4) Your flight booking number.
5) The type of rifle it is and the action type eg Remington, bolt action.
6) Magazine capacity

Sporting goods on Air New Zealand attract half excess baggage fees so make sure you state they are sporting goods. NZ is very shooter friendly.

When I checked in, NZ check in staff asked if the ammo was in factory packaging ? (regulations state that the individual rounds must not contact each other) I use factory ammo boxes anyway so that there is no confusion. I also have a small lockable tin carry box in which I put the ammo, patches, scope mounting allen keys, collapsable cleaning rod etc.

You will need quite a bit of Australian Issued paperwork from customs to take your rifle and excess ammo home with you so make sure that is done. Australian Customs have always asked me to remove the bolt from the rifle while travelling.

Originally Posted by bashaw

so they never hassled you about the ammunition you were carrying in your luggage. there website said that he would need there permission but I wasn't sure if that just meant declaring the ammo when he was declaring his rifle

Ammo must go in your (locked) booked through luggage seperate from the rifle. Permission is granted when you notify them before you leave that you have a rifle with you.