Any feedback comparing British Airways vs Qatar travelling to SA with firearm?

[Paul G]

Delta requires way more FF miles for free or discounted tickets.

Yep this is the answer! 65k to 100K OW vs 500K with Delta.

 

[Paul G]

I'm very much invested in the OneWorld alliance. For this trip, flying on BA I can earn a large amount of miles when flying in premium cabins. For Qatar, their Q Suite product is a great miles redemption value.

You might enjoy this website, you seem like someone who gets it.

Where to Credit | How Many Miles | Every Frequent Flyer Program

Find the best frequent flyer program for every flight. Where to Credit shows you the number of miles you earn on any frequent flyer program!

www.wheretocredit.com

Yep Q-Suite is one of the best ways to go, when you get some UR, take the Singapore route sometime. best option is if Etihad gets the A380 going again and a decent redemption in the apartment again.

 

[Paul G]

After thinking it all over, and talking to the outfitter some more, including their warnings about dealing with JNB airport staff, the questions around firearms handling is all moot now. I've decided with this being my first Africa trip to just rent a rifle and make it easier. If I like the Africa experience then I'll consider dealing with taking my own rifle hassles on future trips.

Good rifle agent and it is NOT a hassle at all. Make sure the outfitter has decent rifles and optics before you 100% decide on that.

 

[xbr897]

You might enjoy this website, you seem like someone who gets it.

Where to Credit | How Many Miles | Every Frequent Flyer Program

Find the best frequent flyer program for every flight. Where to Credit shows you the number of miles you earn on any frequent flyer program!

www.wheretocredit.com

Yep Q-Suite is one of the best ways to go, when you get some UR, take the Singapore route sometime. best option is if Etihad gets the A380 going again and a decent redemption in the apartment again.

Oh yeah, I had 12+ years of AA EXP with well over 100k miles year. Very familiar with the game. Used miles a little while back to take family on RTW trip including Etihad Apartments from London to Abu Dhabi to Australia and then Qantas First on the A380 from Sydney to LA.

 

[xbr897]

Good rifle agent and it is NOT a hassle at all. Make sure the outfitter has decent rifles and optics before you 100% decide on that.

Yes, I confirmed the rental rifle & optics options before I made the choice to rent. With the above mention of BA actually charging for ammo separately, that really went against taking my own. At 125GBP x 2 each way, I'd be looking at over $650 in fees with BA and then another $150 for rifle permitting. Also not looking forward to dealing with a rifle check in at LAX.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

I have two options to get me to JNB for my hunt. I can do British Airways going SEA-LHR-JNB in BA's First class (though LHR-JNB was 'downgraded' to business class) or I can go on Qatar SEA-DOH-JNB in Business (Q suite only on SEA-DOH). I have read Qatar is great with firearms handling, and that BA is not as good. But, how bad really is BA? As I understand it, I'll have to pay BA a 125GBP firearm inspection fee at check-in both in Seattle for outbound and JNB for return, so that's about $340 added on to trip cost. That is ~$125 more than rifle rental but has me using my own gun I'm comfortable with as well as my own ammo vs buying ammo at outfitters costs.

I'm trying to judge if BA is going to be a major pain to deal with. Due to them downgrading me on LHR-JNB & back, and the EC261 rules, the cost of flying R/T on BA is about the same as what it cost for just my return flight on Qatar. So, I'm financially inclined to go with BA. Just want to know if I'm going to regret it or it will cause me headaches dealing with them.

Stay away from BA with weapons
Esp through heathrow
Had 2 incidents with clients weapons one the stock was broken in half case damaged on pirpose
Other time weapons never showed up
Lots of antis working at heathrow i reckon

No issues on quatar through doha

 

[Paul G]

Oh yeah, I had 12+ years of AA EXP with well over 100k miles year. Very familiar with the game. Used miles a little while back to take family on RTW trip including Etihad Apartments from London to Abu Dhabi to Australia and then Qantas First on the A380 from Sydney to LA.

Nice! Been in the apt a few times. I hope it gets flying again!!!!! I used to burn through a few million miles a year traveling before Covid. The apartment is by far the best way to get to Africa.

 

[Qc_BearHunter]

If you go with BA, just make sure you don't have to switch airports between flights. Like landing in Heathrow and leaving from Gatwick.

 

[Philip Glass]

Why are those your only 2 options? i'm flying Delta, Seattle to Atlanta to JNB

Business class unaffordable.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Nice! Been in the apt a few times. I hope it gets flying again!!!!! I used to burn through a few million miles a year traveling before Covid. The apartment is by far the best way to get to Africa.

View attachment 461859

Your awfully young to be flying by yourself aren't you?

 

[Philip Glass]

After thinking it all over, and talking to the outfitter some more, including their warnings about dealing with JNB airport staff, the questions around firearms handling is all moot now. I've decided with this being my first Africa trip to just rent a rifle and make it easier. If I like the Africa experience then I'll consider dealing with taking my own rifle hassles on future trips.

That’s sad to me. It is not the same as hunting with your own gun. You should use an agent and a gun friendly airline like Qatar and go on safari! It is basically a little hassle in the airport but you are stuck there normally on long layovers anyway. Sorry but the handwringing over BA and their charges is frustrating. Plus unless it is brand new their business class is widely regarded as the worst whereas Qatar is regarded as the best.
All JNB staff are slow, poorly trained, and generally have no idea what they are doing regardless of the airline!
best of luck,
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

Stay away from BA with weapons
Esp through heathrow
Had 2 incidents with clients weapons one the stock was broken in half case damaged on pirpose
Other time weapons never showed up
Lots of antis working at heathrow i reckon

No issues on quatar through doha

Yes it happens. Not the best choice of airlines.

 

[xbr897]

That’s sad to me. It is not the same as hunting with your own gun. You should use an agent and a gun friendly airline like Qatar and go on safari! It is basically a little hassle in the airport but you are stuck there normally on long layovers anyway. Sorry but the handwringing over BA and their charges is frustrating. Plus unless it is brand new their business class is widely regarded as the worst whereas Qatar is regarded as the best.
All JNB staff are slow, poorly trained, and generally have no idea what they are doing regardless of the airline!
best of luck,
Philip

Agree on your statements in general. If I had a choice up front and all things were close to equal, I would have just booked on Qatar with miles.

However, the Qatar round trip was ~$5600 in cost for Business class while on BA with First class on all segments the cost was$4200. And the BA flights had a much higher multiple for earning miles & status on Alaska Airlines. Now, with me being downgraded by BA to Business on LHR-JNB-LHR, and their commitment to a cash refund of 75% of the fare for those segments, I should end up in the high $2xxx end cost for the flights. The flights and their booking class bonuses will earn me 115k+ award miles and get me most of the way back to Alaska's MVP Gold status, that is a lot of value of under $3k and being able to knock it out in one trip.

Oh, and the BA business class I have from LHR-JNB-LHR is showing as their new Club Suites product on the A350, so shouldn't be all that bad. LAX-LHR and then LHR-LAX will be in their First class product.

In terms of taking my own rifle and the enjoyment of that, I'm OK with doing that in the future. If I enjoy this trip I expect I will return every 1-3 years for more hunts (and better plan my flights on firearms friendly airlines). If the trip doesn't live up to my expectations, I doubt that will be due to not having my own rifle with me.

 

[wesheltonj]

https://www.britishairways.com/en-us/information/baggage-essentials/liquids-and-restrictions#firearms

​

​

Limits and charges​

• There is a limit of 5kg (11lb) of ammunition (cartridges for weapons) per person (IATA Division 1.4S; UN numbers 0012 and 0014). This is for that person’s own use only and excludes ammunition with explosive or incendiary projectiles.
• Each bag or case containing firearms or ammunition is subject to a £125 charge each way, payable at check-in, plus applicable local service fees to cover the cost of our specialist firearms and ammunition handling partner.
• If you take more or heavier bags than your checked baggage allowance, you will need to pay an extra charge.

How to pack your firearms and ammunition​

• Pack your firearms and ammunition in an appropriate carriage case, or if this is not possible, securely inside your checked bag with your personal belongings (except to/from South Africa and Italy, and from Romania – see next point).
• If you're travelling to/from South Africa or Italy, or from Romania, check in your firearms and ammunition in separate locked cases, aside from the checked bag with your personal belongings. In this instance, you will not be charged an extra baggage fee for the separate ammunition case, if you exceed your free baggage allowance.
• If you're travelling to/from the US, visit the TSA website for full details on transporting firearms and ammunition.
• You cannot combine ammunition allowances for more than one person into one or more bags.
• Ammunition needs to be in either its original packaging or a suitable container that prevents movement between shells or cartridges (loose ammunition is not permitted).
• Make sure that firearms are unloaded and each firearm is accompanied by the appropriate certificate.
• Do not use 'explosives' labels on bags with ammunition.

 

[xbr897]

I read that as the £125 charge each way is for inspection, not related to the extra baggage fee part. The extra baggage fee would just mean if you're only allowed 2 checked bags but need to have 3 to have your ammo separate than you'd not be charged the 3rd bag fee. But you're still on the hook for the £125 per bag for the "cost of our specialist firearms and ammunition handling partner."

 

[wesheltonj]

I have flown BA. You simply put your ammo box in your check bag in front of the check-in agent. No third bag charge. You have to worry about weight with any bag. The charge is each way not each segment. Their was no other charges.

 

[xbr897]

Agreed charge is not per segment. When did you travel? Recently? Did you get charged only £125 each direction (counting rifle+ammo bags as just one charge)? or were you charged £250 each direction (1 rifle + 1 ammo bag)

 

[Philip Glass]

Agree on your statements in general. If I had a choice up front and all things were close to equal, I would have just booked on Qatar with miles.

However, the Qatar round trip was ~$5600 in cost for Business class while on BA with First class on all segments the cost was$4200. And the BA flights had a much higher multiple for earning miles & status on Alaska Airlines. Now, with me being downgraded by BA to Business on LHR-JNB-LHR, and their commitment to a cash refund of 75% of the fare for those segments, I should end up in the high $2xxx end cost for the flights. The flights and their booking class bonuses will earn me 115k+ award miles and get me most of the way back to Alaska's MVP Gold status, that is a lot of value of under $3k and being able to knock it out in one trip.

Oh, and the BA business class I have from LHR-JNB-LHR is showing as their new Club Suites product on the A350, so shouldn't be all that bad. LAX-LHR and then LHR-LAX will be in their First class product.

In terms of taking my own rifle and the enjoyment of that, I'm OK with doing that in the future. If I enjoy this trip I expect I will return every 1-3 years for more hunts (and better plan my flights on firearms friendly airlines). If the trip doesn't live up to my expectations, I doubt that will be due to not having my own rifle with me.

It will be nice to read a trip report and even better when in the future you fly Qatar QSuite and give us a comparison. There is no doubt QSuite is better than BA First.
The whole points game is weird. Qatar is OneWorld so you would think it would be comparable.
I am glad you are already planning your next safari! Maybe our paths will cross and we will share a camp fire someday.
Philip

 

[lockingblock]

I'm just glad the business lounge is open in London. The airport isn't the best place to kill time without it.

 

[xbr897]

It will be nice to read a trip report and even better when in the future you fly Qatar QSuite and give us a comparison. There is no doubt QSuite is better than BA First.
The whole points game is weird. Qatar is OneWorld so you would think it would be comparable.
I am glad you are already planning your next safari! Maybe our paths will cross and we will share a camp fire someday.
Philip

I've flown QSuites already, just a bit before COVID started actually. I'm not expecting BA to match up to it for service. Just expecting to have only a small downgrade vs Q-Suite for a heck of a lot less net cost.

The points thing comes in due to Qatar being sold at Business while BA is sold as First. BA ends up with a 2.5x multiplier for First while Qatar is only 1.25x for Business. Paying less $$ on BA to end up with more miles is a big plus.