Firearm handling at OR Tambo Int. airport

[Gjermund Hansen]

Dear all

Be aware that the bolt on your rifle no longer should be within the checked in baggage, but with your firearm or in the ammo case.
Sunday 12 of June I departed and at check in no one informed me about the new changes made (guess they did not know it).
Just before boarding I was called upon and had to go the baggage handling and remove the bolt from my checked in baggage.
Firearm and ammo was already loaded in the plane and they did not want to fetch it so I could put the bolt in there.
Result is: I now have a firearm without a bolt, bolt is somewhere in Johannesburg ☹

Regards
Gjermund

 

[sierraone]

So help me as I am not clear....the bolt is NOT suppose to be in the rifle case?

 

[375Fox]

Sorry you don’t have your bolt, but Why would you ever want to put your bolt in checked luggage instead of gun case? I didn’t know anyone didn’t put the bolt in their rifle case.

 

[sierraone]

Sorry you don’t have your bolt, but Why would you ever want to put your bolt in checked luggage instead of gun case? I didn’t know anyone didn’t put the bolt in their rifle case.

Agree fully!

 

[Gjermund Hansen]

Airlines I have used always states that a vital part of your firearm must be removed and put in cheked in baggage. Been travelling with firearms since 2001 and still the same rules apply.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I saw someone handing in a rifle to the police at ORT the other day. The bolt was out of the rifle but in its own compartment in the same case. There were no problems.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

As an aside, when travelling with a double does it have to be in two pieces of can it be together?

 

[Gjermund Hansen]

No experience with such type of firearm, but guess there will be no issues due to the construction.

 

[375Fox]

Airlines I have used always states that a vital part of your firearm must be removed and put in cheked in baggage. Been travelling with firearms since 2001 and still the same rules apply.

Must be specific to certain European airlines. My first flight with firearms was 2002 and it’s always been same, bolt removed but inside gun case.

 

[Gjermund Hansen]

Not only European, South African Airways and Namibian airlines also had the same rules when they operated in Europe.
All airlines I have used in Europe has the same rules.

 

[Areaonereal]

Flying thru Frankfurt to SA or returning to the US thru Frankfurt I have never heard of anyone being required to have the bolt in checked baggage. Removing the bolt and placing it within the rifle case with the rifle is much appreciated by any inspector, thus assuring them no danger of a loaded firearm, but totally separating bolt and rifle into two different baggage is not prudent …checked bag lost, your rifle become a walking stick without a bolt.

 

[Fabnosh]

Everywhere I travel (Europe/Africa) the bolt is in the rifle case but not in the rifle. As for my double, that's in two pieces but that's more a function of the size of the case rather than because of any requirement.

FN

 

[MMAL]

I will go one further. The airlines require it to be unloaded. No where does it say (at least USA, Canada, and Africa) the bolt is removed. Most people remove so that it doesn’t put strain on the stock leading to a cracked stock. Never heard of putting it in checked luggage

 

[Flipper Dude]

7 safaris. Bolt stays in the rifle case. Always. Never heard of anyone doing it differently

 

[Red Leg]

Airlines I have used always states that a vital part of your firearm must be removed and put in cheked in baggage. Been travelling with firearms since 2001 and still the same rules apply.

Never ever heard of such a rule and I have been flying with firearms for longer than that. I have heard some people do that in the belief that the rifle is less likely to be stolen. That reason always seemed a bit silly to me (what thief is going to take the time to carefully inspect a firearm).

Not only European, South African Airways and Namibian airlines also had the same rules when they operated in Europe.
All airlines I have used in Europe has the same rules.

That is simply not the case in my experience. I have transited Frankfurt several times, flown South African and Namibian pre-Covid and was never required to separately pack the bolt.

 

[Mountaineer]

I have been flying with my rifles in North America and Africa. I have never flown my bolt outside my gun case.

 

[WAB]

I’ve been flying with firearms for longer than I care to remember, but it’s going on 40 years. USA, Canada, Europe, Africa. I have always flown with the bolt in the rifle case and have never had a problem.

 

[yhc]

Regardless of how and why it happened it is a bummer that your rifle is now missing its bolt. Hopefully you will find a replacement without too much trouble.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

As an aside, when travelling with a double does it have to be in two pieces of can it be together?

Kevin,
Double rifles can travel assembled no problem at all. I’ve done it all throughout Africa.

HH

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Thanks HH, I wanted to know because I am getting a fancy fitted case built and would prefer it to be assembled.