Qatar Flight

[cmk]

I'm going with them from Stockholm to Windhoek via Doha. Only a 2hr stop, which is nice.

I have however some issues trying to contact them to get the approval for bringing a firearm. There is a form to fill out which should be "signed by a Qatar staff member", but there is no office in this country where one could go to get this done. After contacting the support I was given an email address for where to send my question, but no answer yet...

 

[Areaonereal]

Lori took care of Notifying Qatar Air for my trip last November. No issues at all when I checked in at Ohare. Met by a Qatar rep while in line when she noticed I was dragging a rifle case and taken to ticket counter past other passengers in line. Processed documents escorted to TSA, cleared, and rifle case was carried by Qatar rep to baggage, never touched the case after check in...when I returned back to Ohare a Qatar rep was at the carousel to secure the case and she carried it to customs clearance and remained until I left security. I offered to carry the case, but she declined...it was her responsibility to remain with me thru customs.

 

[Rimbaud]

Hi - Thinking of flying Qatar w my rifle, overnighting in Doha, and then heading to Vic Falls Airport to hunt Matetse and then into Namibia. Anyone have any experience w this itinerary? A little uneasy about overnighting in Doha w my rifle, and hopping around countries w my rifle. Thanks.

 

[Areaonereal]

Doubtful that you would be able to leave the airport in Doha with your rifle since you transiting thru.

 

[whitetail]

Just booked my trip with Lori thru Travel Express just a few minutes ago with itenerary I previously stated. So your checked luggage and checked rifle will remain checked- you won’t take them out of the airport.

 

[Philip Glass]

I'm going with them from Stockholm to Windhoek via Doha. Only a 2hr stop, which is nice.

I have however some issues trying to contact them to get the approval for bringing a firearm. There is a form to fill out which should be "signed by a Qatar staff member", but there is no office in this country where one could go to get this done. After contacting the support I was given an email address for where to send my question, but no answer yet...

Use a travel agent!

 

[Philip Glass]

I have looked at the Qatar routes from DFW to WDH. As tempting as it is I found it to be simply too long of flights and layovers. Delta is one 15 hour flight, Qatar is Two 10 hour flights with a 9 hour layover. Next time I’ll bypass DFW and drive to San Antonio so Delta all the way.(no AA BS!)
Maybe someday because I’d really like to fly their Business class. I’ve heard it’s second to none!
Philip

 

[wesheltonj]

. . . Next time I’ll bypass DFW and drive to San Antonio so Delta all the way.(no AA BS!)
Maybe someday because I’d really like to fly their Business class. I’ve heard it’s second to none!
Philip

Fly from Austin if using Delta. (1) Cheaper flights (2) Very nice Delta lounge.

 

[MMAL]

@MMAL who are you hunting with in caprivi? I’ll be up there in June with Jamy Traut safaris. We are taking the delta flight through Joberg, though.
I’m curious to follow this thread to find a more reasonable way to get there. My wife and kids are going to Amsterdam for 3 days, then will meet me in joberg. I’m glad to give them a bit of time to adjust to the time change.

I am hunting with Omujeve. Own use elephant, hippo , buffalo and whatever plains game but want to get a lechwe.

 

[MMAL]

I agree that the long layover is hard but you also have to overnight in joburg with the delta flight. Thus go through saps go to hotel then recheck in etc. I choose qatar this time because 1) business class seat was 1/2 the price of a bankrupt airline that is cutting routes. I normally fly saa from New York. No brainer for my wife and I. I land at 4pm Qatar time, gonna see the city and have a great dinner and then get back in to the plane for a 2:15am. SAA i love because it gets in at 8:05 am and bags are checked through. There is just no deals with them now and I don’t trust them for sept.

 

[IA diver]

I'm going with them from Stockholm to Windhoek via Doha. Only a 2hr stop, which is nice.

I have however some issues trying to contact them to get the approval for bringing a firearm. There is a form to fill out which should be "signed by a Qatar staff member", but there is no office in this country where one could go to get this done. After contacting the support I was given an email address for where to send my question, but no answer yet...

From my previous contact with QA the following information was provided. Perhaps this help.

From: specialservices@us.qatarairways.com
As a general rule, Qatar Airways will accept firearms and ammunition as checked baggage under the following conditions:

· Upon check in, you must present the documents accrediting the approval of the movement of the firearm from the States of origin, transit (if applicable) and destination.

· You will have to sign the Declaration of Surrender of Firearms upon check in; the weapon must be unloaded. If possible, the weapon should be dismantled and packed inside a suitcase or gun case

· The maximum gross weight of the ammunition must not exceed 5 kg per passenger. The ammunition must be securely packed in a sealed and strong wooden, metal, or fiberboard box and must be packed inside a suitcase with other contents. The suitcase containing the ammunition must not bear an “explosive” label. The weapon or ammunition must not be stowed in the cabin or in any area accessible during the flight

· No guarantee of confirmation or acceptance will be provided until the time of check in as physical inspection of the firearm by Qatar Airways staff at the airport.

 

[cmk]

Edit: the quote seems to have gotten lost

Thanks for the suggestion @Philip Glass , but there aren't many (if any) travel agents in my country that specializes in travelling with firearms.

Of course there are some companies that arrange hunting trips/group hunts - but then you are limited in their choices of destinations/farms. This was not an option this time.

 

[cmk]

From my previous contact with QA the following information was provided. Perhaps this help.

From: specialservices@us.qatarairways.com
As a general rule, Qatar Airways will accept firearms and ammunition as checked baggage under the following conditions:

· Upon check in, you must present the documents accrediting the approval of the movement of the firearm from the States of origin, transit (if applicable) and destination.

· You will have to sign the Declaration of Surrender of Firearms upon check in; the weapon must be unloaded. If possible, the weapon should be dismantled and packed inside a suitcase or gun case

· The maximum gross weight of the ammunition must not exceed 5 kg per passenger. The ammunition must be securely packed in a sealed and strong wooden, metal, or fiberboard box and must be packed inside a suitcase with other contents. The suitcase containing the ammunition must not bear an “explosive” label. The weapon or ammunition must not be stowed in the cabin or in any area accessible during the flight

· No guarantee of confirmation or acceptance will be provided until the time of check in as physical inspection of the firearm by Qatar Airways staff at the airport.

Thanks. That was actually a small piece of new info in that last paragraph. I will still try to get some written confirmation that it is OK to just show up at the airport without some form of pre-approval. EU rules may differ from the ones applicable in the US or elsewhere.

 

[Areaonereal]

A letter of invitation from your outfitter is needed for permission to your point of destination...4457 leaving USA....letter of invitation entering destination....keep those handy. Was requested upon my first leg at Chicago OHare by Qarar.... copies were made and forwarded to Doha and Jnb prior to my arrival.

 

[Philip Glass]

Fly from Austin if using Delta. (1) Cheaper flights (2) Very nice Delta lounge.

Thanks for the tip. For me it’s 3 hours to San Antonio and 4 to Austin. I’ll be sure to compare.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Well after some unexpected changes I am not on Qatar Flight anymore. Will be on Delta 200 on June 10th now looks like. Thanks to Jennifer at Travel Express for sorting all this out.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Well after some unexpected changes I am not on Qatar Flight anymore. Will be on Delta 200 on June 10th now looks like. Thanks to Jennifer at Travel Express for sorting all this out.

Was this due to a problem with Qatar?

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Phil sent you a pm

 

[Dee S]

I am booked on Qatar June 13 2020 flight Houston -Doha - Johannesburg
Just wondering if any other AHer’s may be on this flight.

My wife and I are heading to Jo'burg, same route, on May 10th heading over and returning May 19th. Anyone else traveling those dates? We'll probably do the lounge in Doha, which one, haven't decided yet. We have the short, four hour layover in Doha. Not enough time to go out in town and not worth the cost of the airport hotel, which is nice, but in my opinion not worth the additional cost.

 

[mikecatt13]

I flew Qatar just last November to Joberg. FYI...your checked baggage will accompany your firearm to SAPS pickup. Your luggage will not be on the carousel, that was the case for us. We looked around for our checked bags for an hour with no help from Qatar baggage, even when I asked them if it could be with our firearm in the SAPS office...oh no....was the answer. Finally we gave up and proceed to pickup our firearm..greeted by Mr X...where have you been...your luggage is with your firearm. Qatar Air beats the devil out of Delta....just that long layover in Doha..70 US dollars gets you into one of their lounges..first class lounge....rest area, food and drink, and showers....very meticulous environment. The airport is a sight to behold and a Qatar Air representative at every turn directing you or answering questions...very friendly and welcoming. I flew economy in November, much better than Deltas economy at less than 1/2 the Delta rate..will be flying Business QSuite this June to Windhoek for a few hundred more than Deltas Economy “Discomfort”
Any question on a firearm with Qatar, just pm with questions....they are very easy and helpful accommodating travel with a firearm if you have your docs in order and easily accessible for them to review at every boarding check in....your name is flagged that you have a firearm....you are treated VIP

Where did to you find qatar business tickets for so cheap? When I price them out they're like $3k to JNB or WAY more than that to WDH