Airline recommendations - Australia to South Africa with rifles

A. Swan

A. Swan

AH member
Joined
Apr 18, 2025
Messages
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Location
Brisbane, Australia
Hunted
South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique
Good day team.
As an ex South African I left some of my rifles in RSA under my dads licence, so I never had to travel with any firearms when I went over to hunt from Australia.
Recently all my rifles have been imported to Australia, so from now on I will have to travel with them when i go hunting in RSA.
Looking for recommendations and tips for airlines to use (and avoid) from anyone experienced in traveling from Aus to RSA with rifles.
 
Late September 2024 my wife and I flew from Sydney direct to Johannesburg on Qantas.
Border force were great beforehand and at Sydney airport.
We travelled with a rifle each and ammo is limited to about 30 rounds per rifle (don't quote me on that) in a separate container as checked in luggage, rather than in personal luggage.
Any help we can provide, call the mob number in PM
Cheers,
Mal in Canberra.
 
Good luck with that! Australia would have to be one the worst places to try and travel with a Firearm, permits or not. Check with the airline, if you have purchased a full International flight to SA, then it should be checked through. If it was me, I'd be insuring it for a big sum, or using the guides rifle.
 
As Mal said, Qantas probably the best option, even though you probably need to overnight in SYD the evening prior to the SYD-JNB flight. Like Mal, I've found the ABF members helpful - but, in my experience the last few years - you'd want to leave yourself plenty of time to get through the process when departing. Also happy to answer any Qs via PM if needed.
 
Thanks for the replies.
We are in Bris, so our itinerary usually consists of leaving Bris at 6 or 7 AM, arriving at SYD with a 2.5 hour layover then the flight to JHB.
I wonder if checking the rifles in at Bris will expedite or delay the process.
I assume that unlike normal checked baggage, rifles will have to be collected at Syd on arrival and then re checked for the international leg
 
We watched a video by https://www.facebook.com/share/1EVhTGrpDz/ about his trip from Eastern Gippland to Melbourne airport to fly to Sydney, he was made to go through all the Firearms export process, flew to Sydney, then Border force made him go through the whole process again. Booking everything directly through to Johannesburg didn't happen.
Cheers, Mal.
 
Luger00 said:
Good luck with that! Australia would have to be one the worst places to try and travel with a Firearm, permits or not. Check with the airline, if you have purchased a full International flight to SA, then it should be checked through. If it was me, I'd be insuring it for a big sum, or using the guides rifle.
Click to expand...
I agree with this post. Nothing but useless paperwork and hassle from Aussie police and Qantas staff.
 
Unless things have changed, the basic options are to fly by Qantas from Sydney, or to fly by Virgin/South Africa Airlines from Perth. I've never heard of a possitive experience from anyone taking firearms through Perth - Lets just say things are diferent in Perth (think Police State) especially re firearms. Probably safer to fly Qantas via Sydney.

As a general rule firearms are Border cleared at the port of international departure ie where your trip leaves Australia. This is separate to the dangerous goods procedures and inspection done by the airlines. Qantas requires an approval to fly with firerms and ammo. You apply on line and its normally approved same day. Not sure about Virgin/SAA. Check the airline websites for info re baggae rules and weights.

ps as with all hunting arrangements, get everything sorted out well in advance.
 
A. Swan said:
Thanks for the replies.
We are in Bris, so our itinerary usually consists of leaving Bris at 6 or 7 AM, arriving at SYD with a 2.5 hour layover then the flight to JHB.
I wonder if checking the rifles in at Bris will expedite or delay the process.
I assume that unlike normal checked baggage, rifles will have to be collected at Syd on arrival and then re checked for the international leg
Click to expand...

I’ve never flown to SA from Brisbane. However, I’ve a few trips to North America and at least a dozen to NZ.

My only advice is make sure you overnight in Sydney before the flight. You must show your rifle to ABF at the point of departure. Allowing less than 6 hours is playing Russian roulette. It doesn’t take much to delay your domestic flight for a few hours.
 
Don't listen to the naysayers. Get a good TA that knows the rules, have plenty of time in Sydney to jump through the hoops, and go hunt with your guns! The more we fly with guns the easier it is for others.
 
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