Flying with guns in BA question

Hi,

I have a flight from Houston to Johannesburg coming in September. I'm thinking on bringing my rifle this time.
I have found conflicting information on the web. What a surprise!
So, if you recently flight British Airway with guns, could you tell me the fees you had to pay?.
I know I have to have gun and ammo separately, according to BA website I shouldn't have to pay two fees, just one ($125 pounds). But some folks seem to had paid two fees. Second, if I have to pay second and third bag fee, in addition to the 125GBP. I though I didn't, but the BA agent I just contact it told me I do have to pay it!.

jomw10 said:

Hi,

I have a flight from Houston to Johannesburg coming in September. I'm thinking on bringing my rifle this time.
I have found conflicting information on the web. What a surprise!
So, if you recently flight British Airway with guns, could you tell me the fees you had to pay?.
I know I have to have gun and ammo separately, according to BA website I shouldn't have to pay two fees, just one ($125 pounds). But some folks seem to had paid two fees. Second, if I have to pay second and third bag fee, in addition to the 125GBP. I though I didn't, but the BA agent I just contact it told me I do have to pay it!.

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I had a friend fly British Airways from toronto to London a few years ago and they wouldn't even let him bring his rifle with him. They had said something to him that they have stopped allowing firearms on their flights. I would give BA a call to double check before you go through the same thing. Not sure if this was just something to do with the BA in Canada or what but was a big hassle and pain in the butt.

Matt8660 said:

I had a friend fly British Airways from toronto to London a few years ago and they wouldn't even let him bring his rifle with him. They had said something to him that they have stopped allowing firearms on their flights. I would give BA a call to double check before you go through the same thing. Not sure if this was just something to do with the BA in Canada or what but was a big hassle and pain in the butt.

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I just talked to them, they do carry guns for a fee. But I'm not sure what the fee really is.

There was just another thread on here with the same issue, but it was about flying BA through London Heathrow to Joburg.

I've had some experience with BA and firearms but not on the route you are flying.

There are 2 types of fee that BA typically applies (at least in London), the £125 charge is made for a rifle case that has a firearm (you cannot also have ammunition in that case) and you pay another £125 for an ammunition container that is either packed on its own or included in another piece of checked luggage. So you pay a total of £250 each way, this is a "Security Fee" for specialized approved ground personnel to handle firearms and ammunition.

The confusion is then about "Additional Baggage Fees". BA will charge per bag over your allowed bag limit, depends on class you are flying or member status of frequent flyer.

BA further states that "If you pay the £125 per bag "Security Fee" BA will waive any "Additional Baggage Fee" for that item / bag".

Example: If you check 1 rifle case and 2 checked bags (1 with ammo case inside), if your baggage allowance was 1 checked bag you will pay a total of £250 "Security fees", £125 for rifle case, £125 for checked bag with ammo case inside and the final checked bag would be free as its included in your allowance. You would not pay an "additional bag fees"

In London the checked bag without the ammo will be taken from you and disappear on the baggage conveyor at check in. Your rifle case and Checked bag with ammo will stay with you, eventually the approved security guy shows up and takes both items, you then have to go through security and meet the guy with your gun case and bag with ammo case in at a customs office that is on the air side of security, there Customs will inspect and log your items in their departure records.

As you are flying out of Houston they may have a different policy compared to London. In London UK there are a very limited number of approved security baggage personnel that are cleared to handle firearms and ammunition. In the US we have a totally different approach at our airports in terms of handling firearms.

As a Brit it is sure becoming difficult and expensive to travel with firearms to many parts of the world out of or through the UK. Flying a US carrier in and out of London Heathrow is thankfully easy and free although a little time consuming when checking in to leave the UK because you have to wait for the special approved security guy to take your firearms.

I have flown Atlanta direct to Joberg with Delta, ammo box went in a checked bag but had to come out for my local South Africa flight.

If I was in your position I would still take my rifle. My recommendation is to go to take your rifle case / rifle to your airport in advance of your trip to obtain a customs form 4457 for your firearm, scope, binos etc, stop at the BA counter and ask their staff to explain their policy. I typically do this 1 month before my trip as US Customs / TSA staff can also be in short supply, getting the Form 4457 stamped in advance will save time on the day of check in, you will still have to have someone from TSA inspect your rifle / gun case as part of the US check in process.

Good luck with your trip and hunt.

I had made a post a couple weeks ago about this. When I left the stated they charged me for my rifle case and ammo case at 125£ each. On the way back in Johannesburg they only charged me 125£ for my rifle case. I guess it all depends on who you are dealing with at the counter. Best of luck.

If BA want to charge £125 each way for your ammo you could what we have done and buy your ammo at on arrival in SA. Lots of gun shops and they have all the calibres you are likely to need.
Markcz

jomw10 said:

Hi,

I have a flight from Houston to Johannesburg coming in September. I'm thinking on bringing my rifle this time.
I have found conflicting information on the web. What a surprise!
So, if you recently flight British Airway with guns, could you tell me the fees you had to pay?.
I know I have to have gun and ammo separately, according to BA website I shouldn't have to pay two fees, just one ($125 pounds). But some folks seem to had paid two fees. Second, if I have to pay second and third bag fee, in addition to the 125GBP. I though I didn't, but the BA agent I just contact it told me I do have to pay it!.

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#1. Make 100% certain that you are flying on BA METAL the whole way and not AA to BA. If you mess this up you are screwed.
I would not try this for the first time without a travel agent who specializes in travel with firearms.
How much is this trip going to cost you? What is an extra $300 so it doesn't get messed up? @TRAVEL EXPRESS is our AH sponsor who can help you.
Please let us know how it goes.

jomw10 said:

Hi,

I have a flight from Houston to Johannesburg coming in September. I'm thinking on bringing my rifle this time.
I have found conflicting information on the web. What a surprise!
So, if you recently flight British Airway with guns, could you tell me the fees you had to pay?.
I know I have to have gun and ammo separately, according to BA website I shouldn't have to pay two fees, just one ($125 pounds). But some folks seem to had paid two fees. Second, if I have to pay second and third bag fee, in addition to the 125GBP. I though I didn't, but the BA agent I just contact it told me I do have to pay it!.

Click to expand...

I had to fly BA from JNB to Heathrow due to a delta Cancellation then delta from their back home to ATL. I had to pay one fee of $125 for two rifles and ammo. I also had to fill out a form from hell and then after I finally checked them through at the gate an attendant came up from the plane, asked for me then whispered if the form he was holding was my gun as if he said it too loudly it would cause a riot...lol!!! I will say however, the service and flight were wonderful...side note...I was placed in the middle seat in the back by the urinal until the flight attendants started talking to me and heard my southern drawl which of course charmed them...I not only got an exit seat they gave me free drinks and we laughed all the way to Heathrow!!!

good to hear, thanks for all the real time feedback.
It seems I should be only charged the one fee for both gun and bullets. But it could be double if the gate people don't know. But so far nobody has been asked to pay extra baggage as the BA agent told me!.

It actually says on their website that they will not charge you an extra bag fee for your ammo case. But the 125£ is hit or miss as far as I know.

For RSA it's one fee for both Gun and Ammo cases. It's right on their website. Print it out in case they try to charge you two fees.

That is in addition to any baggage fees charged.

Delta!!!!! Atlanta to J'berg

Heading out in July on BA. I think I will have their rules printed out just in case.

TnKen said:

Heading out in July on BA. I think I will have their rules printed out just in case.

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Good luck and report back. It seems the amount vary depending who and where you check!