Qatar airlines Question

[Alaskantracker]

Traveling on Qatar airlines on an American Airlines award ticket. All was well until I contacted Qatar today. I am being advised since the ticket was issued by another airline they will not accept firearms as baggage!
I have both chatted online with a rep and also called Qatar…same answer.
Has anyone else had this experience and how was it resolved ?

 

[BRICKBURN]

Damn,...

 

[Scott CWO]

Traveling on Qatar airlines on an American Airlines award ticket. All was well until I contacted Qatar today. I am being advised since the ticket was issued by another airline they will not accept firearms as baggage!
I have both chatted online with a rep and also called Qatar…same answer.
Has anyone else had this experience and how was it resolved ?

I would think QA would be fine with it if you claim your firearms after the AA flight (don’t let AA check your firearms all the way through) and recheck your firearms directly with QA. You need to get your firearm info to QA ahead of time and they usually will not accept firearms checked in by another airline.

These are the exact reasons it is best to use a hunting travel agent for your hunting travel such as Gracy Travel or Travel Express.

 

[Alaskantracker]

Can’t use an agent for award tickets, getting insane..trying to find a work around.
‘Qatar agents were no help

 

[dchum]

No but I am connecting to Qatar in Dallas Via AA in May

I had no issues so far and am Using Jennifer @TRAVEL EXPRESS
She has spoken to Qatar on my behalf and says I just re check rifle bag in Dallas at Qatar desk

 

[Alaskantracker]

On an award ticket from another airline ?

 

[dchum]

On an award ticket from another airline ?

no sorry

 

[Namagiqa]

If you were using miles, do you have a sufficient airline status to get some help? I see you're from the best state in the country so I would presume you are using Alaska airlines miles. Are you a Gold MVP or Gold 75 or 100K MVP? If so, it might help to call the Alaska Air MVP desk and advise of your situation. While they aren't Qatar, they could potentially reach out to QA on your behalf.

 

[Scott CWO]

Can’t use an agent for award tickets, getting insane..trying to find a work around.
‘Qatar agents were no help

Yes I know. Good luck.

 

[Alaskantracker]

my status is executive platinum, American Airlines does not understand the problem..they keep telling me to keep calling until I get an agent who will help

 

[SFRanger7GP]

I have used AA miles for Qatar flights twice and had no issues. However, that was pre Covid. Unfortunately, Covid also killed customer service, work ethics and desire to work at an alarming rate.

Safe travels

 

[DLSJR]

AlaskanTracker, I flew Qatar with rifles on AAdvantage miles in Oct/Nov of ‘21. I booked it directly through American Airlines, then used Shawn Kennedy of Gracy Travel for my gun permits (I paid her a fee to get my rifle permit on QA) and everything went flawlessly. Gracy will book award travel for anyone, though they do charge a bit higher fee than normal to do so.

IMO, a good travel agent, like Shawn Kennedy, is worth their weight in gold when a problem comes up. I’ve had it happen and she saved my ass with a good solution, even though I called her at about 5:30 AM Texas time.

 

[Manny R]

This is what I would do... I would send an email to Qatar to declare my guns . As a ticket holder you have to do that in advance with your flight number, date of travel etc. Hopefully they will send you back an email saying your guns were approved. Save that email when you go to check in. I feel if they approved your guns you are in the clear.

 

[DLSJR]

This is what I would do... I would send an email to Qatar to declare my guns . As a ticket holder you have to do that in advance with your flight number, date of travel etc. Hopefully they will send you back an email saying your guns were approved. Save that email when you go to check in. I feel if they approved your guns you are in the clear.

Qatar has a process and unless you receive confirmation ahead of time that they’ve approved your guns to fly, you likely will not be allowed to check them. This is not something I’d take the slightest chance on. Do it the right way, get your emailed approval and check-in worry free.

 

[Scott CWO]

my status is executive platinum, American Airlines does not understand the problem..they keep telling me to keep calling until I get an agent who will help

You will have to pay Gracy or Travel Express to help you because they have a more direct line to Qatar and all airlines. They can get Qatar to approve your firearms.

 

[Alaskantracker]

I would think QA would be fine with it if you claim your firearms after the AA flight (don’t let AA check your firearms all the way through) and recheck your firearms directly with QA. You need to get your firearm info to QA ahead of time and they usually will not accept firearms checked in by another airline.

These are the exact reasons it is best to use a hunting travel agent for your hunting travel such as Gracy Travel or Travel Express.

I am using a travel express company, they have never encountered this. We plan on sending Qatar the required paperwork and hope for approval

 

[Alaskantracker]

Qatar has a process and unless you receive confirmation ahead of time that they’ve approved your guns to fly, you likely will not be allowed to check them. This is not something I’d take the slightest chance on. Do it the right way, get your emailed approval and check-in worry free.

You cannot send them the paperwork for approval more than 72 hours before departure

 

[SFRanger7GP]

I have always sent Qatar the paperwork about 30 days out and have always been approved a couple days later.

safe travels

 

[Alaskantracker]

They said no more than 72 hours but I am sending today as per American and we will see what happens

 

[bashaw]

I sent my email asking for Rifle permission to Qatar back in January, resent 3 weeks ago and then found out this weekend they probably won't even look at it until we're within 30 days before departure