More Bad / Confusing News traveling with weapons

[Ridge Runner]

I literally just got off the phone with my US booking agent asking for an update and itineraries.

09 March 2020 seems to be the new magic date as to what department of [ the US] government is going to control the import/export of hunters leaving and returning the US with weapons and what hunters traveling with weapons will need in addition to CBP Form 4457.

Has anyone on AH, recent personal experience or information as to what is or about to be required to exit/ enter the US with your weapon(s)?

Also:

Does anyone have experience or actually been rerouted from their original flight JNB to PE via SAA on SA Link and had to pay additional fees other than SAA weapon fees?

 

[mikecatt13]

Following for updates on this too.

 

[Graham Hunter]

We are booked for the 12th of June with Lufthansa all the way through to PE. Now they are trying to put us Mango for JNB to PE. Have tried several times to explain we need Airlink so we can take our guns. They tell that Mango is our only option as SAA partner and Airlink is not through Lufthansa. We can't even cancel the JNB to PE portion without canceling our complete ticket and rebooking at a significantly higher price to JNB only. So much for booking your tickets in one package.

 

[JimP]

Right now with what is going on with the airline industry in SA I would only use a travel agent that is familiar with what is happening. It would save a lot of aggravation.

 

[markm]

GRACEY TRAVEL is who we use they are top notch

Right now with what is going on with the airline industry in SA I would only use a travel agent that is familiar with what is happening. It would save a lot of aggravation.

 

[Graham Hunter]

We are using a travel agent. She always goes the extra mile. It's Lufthansa that are the problem.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Another vote for Gracy Travel. Airlink has one flight a day to Port Elizabeth which in my case, would require a 14 hour layover in Joburg both ways. Rebooked on SA SAFAIR mid day flight. As it now stands, they can not carry firearms but are in the process of obtaining authorization to do so. Fingers crossed they get it by May. Not many options as SA Express is a dead cat and Mango doesn't carry firearms.

 

[Philip Glass]

We are booked for the 12th of June with Lufthansa all the way through to PE. Now they are trying to put us Mango for JNB to PE. Have tried several times to explain we need Airlink so we can take our guns. They tell that Mango is our only option as SAA partner and Airlink is not through Lufthansa. We can't even cancel the JNB to PE portion without canceling our complete ticket and rebooking at a significantly higher price to JNB only. So much for booking your tickets in one package.

I would not worry too much about it. The Mango flight is a SAA codeshare which will carry some stipulations that they will have to abide by SAA rules. We will all be watching to see any updates.

 

[Philip Glass]

As for the Us import/export of firearms there is no new news yet. When I departed DFW for Mongolia in August a Customs officer met me at the gate to do the electronic gun entry system. I politely told him no one else was using it but I’d be glad for him to enter it. Upon arrival back at DFW of course all I needed was the 4457!

 

[TByrd]

As for the Us import/export of firearms there is no new news yet. When I departed DFW for Mongolia in August a Customs officer met me at the gate to do the electronic gun entry system. I politely told him no one else was using it but I’d be glad for him to enter it. Upon arrival back at DFW of course all I needed was the 4457!

@phillip Glass, can you add some color to this? They tracked you down at the gate to obtain this? I’m assuming you had the AES documentation to share with the officer?

 

[TByrd]

Oh, and pardon....did not mean to come across as demanding. A “please” would’ve been nice. So, thanks in advance for any further comments!

 

[Philip Glass]

@phillip Glass, can you add some color to this? They tracked you down at the gate to obtain this? I’m assuming you had the AES documentation to share with the officer?

No I did not. I just had 4457 and that’s all he wanted to see. He said he was going to enter it but who knows. The customs guys at DFW upon return were the nicest Govt guys I’ve dealt with in a long time. So nice and friendly. They simply asked to see 4457 as usual.
The departure agent was just a hot dog that was uninformed. Nice though.
There is no functioning AES system.
Philip

 

[TByrd]

Thanks Phillip.