Declaring your firearms with Delta Airlines

[Rare Breed]

Finally have the tickets booked for our first trip to SA and our honeymoon. I know I have to declare to the airlines that I am traveling with firearms at some point. My questions are
1. How far in advance do I need to do it
2. Is this in writing


The Delta website says we must declare it to the ticketing agent at check in but that seems late in the game to do it. Anyone have any first hand experience on this.

No worries. no advance notice needed unlike say Airlink in JNB or if you are going through Amsterdam. Just plan on showing up at least three hours early I do four hours. They will weigh your ammo ask you to open your rifle case then they place their review card in your rifle case and tell you to place your ammo case in your checked luggage. They then escort you to TSA who checks your rifle. TSA then takes your rifle to luggage for loading not you and you are done. In all my trips zero problem with Delta and TSA out of Atlanta

 

[TERMINATOR]

That's an important piece of information relevant to your trip. You will need to find an agent in the country to "hold" your rifle and ammunition while you travel around. Not hard to do, but necessary. They treat firearms differently "over there". Happy Honeymoon!

100 percent.
It is not the best idea to tour the country lugging your guns everywhere for multiple reasons.
riflepermits.com can store your firearms before/after the hunt as long as you come back through JNB airport. Which is the main hub for the whole country

 

[JimP]

As mentioned your big question mark right now would be just where are you going to do your touring?
If in the Eastern Cape talk to your outfitter about firearm storage. If flying back to Joberg then Henry should be able to take care of you. If anywhere else then you might want to consider renting a rifle from your outfitter, then you won't have to worry about them this trip.

I was lucky on my first trip to the Eastern Cape and while we did a week long tour of the coast and into Lesotho and back to Port Elizabeth one of our PH's took care of our firearms and returned them to us on the morning of our flights out.

 

[swashington]

Hunting with KMG and will most likely arrange for them to store them for a few days. We are going to Port Alfred to check out some real estate. Looking at the possibility of retiring down there. Want to find out if the little town is as beautiful as it looks and how the quality of life is. Real estate looks very good for the prices.

 

[shootist~]

I assume you have arranged one of many services in RSA to help with the paperwork upon arrival? It is money well spent.

This. At least 6 weeks in advance if taking a rifle.

 

[Arctic97]

Last two trips to East Cape I have used Airlink. They are gun friendly (as long as you let them know about the guns ahead of time) and have been very reliable time wise. Like Clockwork. As soon as you book you will get an email confirmation. On that confirmation will be an email address for baggage stuff. Send an email to that address with your flight itinerary and Ticket Reference number and let them know how many firearms you want to bring and verify that you have their permission to transport.

It is pretty much a rubber stamp but it always pays to be polite and "request permission" verse "tell them". They will will soon reply confirming that you will be transporting a firearm or firearms.
Print that email out and BRING IT WITH YOU when you check in for the flight to East Cape....just some CYA. I do that as soon as I buy the tickets to East Cape. I then sent another email about two weeks out saying "I just wanted to confirm that you have already given me permission to fly with my firearm" They will confirm (again). I then bring BOTH of those emails printed out.

I do the same with any hotel reservations....book as soon as I book airfares. Then confirm a couple weeks prior. And print out the confirmation emails and bring them with.

Seems kind of OCD but like the old saying goes "Better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them"

TERMINATOR did a great job of laying out how to do this. Below is my recent email to them showing their address and how I worded my "request". I just start the email by forwarding back the e-ticket receipt email from them and then changing the address to one I show below. By doing this they will have the flight confirmation code and your name in the subject line, along with the attachment of the flight receipt.

You will have a wonderful safari/honeymoon.

To:e-ticketing@flyairlink.com

Please note that I am requesting permission to travel with one sporting firearm case, containing two sporting firearms, and ammunition on this flight.
I will have all the necessary SAPS firearm permits as required.
Please reply to this email so I know that I am cleared for this.

Best regards,
xxx


Also from the Airlink site that is worth reading -

Sporting Equipment​

Individual sportspersons or sports groups will be permitted, sporting equipment (subject to SPEQ items listed in 4.4 of the 4Z baggage policy) packed as one-piece, maximum 15kg on top of the free checked baggage allowance allocated on the ticket.

Should the overall baggage allowance weight exceed the free allowance, excess baggage rates will apply. The maximum overall allowance that can be carried free of charge varies according to the class and destination.

Example of the overall free baggage allowance is 20kg permitted on an Economy class ticket and an additional 15kg permitted for a golf bag which means the total free baggage allowance is 35kg before excess baggage charges will apply.


Exceptions – Hunting rifles: Example - The overall free baggage allowance is 20kg permitted on an Economy class ticket and an additional 15kg permitted for the hunting rifle plus an additional 5 kg for the ammunition which means the total free baggage allowance is 40kg before excess baggage charges will apply.
Only Hunting Rifles, Hunting Handguns (used for the hunting of game), Hunting Shotguns and Sport Firearms will be transported as Checked baggage.

Firearms & Ammunition – subject to correct transportation/safety procedure being followed) maximum 15 kg.

Ammunition – up to 5 kg when packed separately from the firearm, as per regulations (See 4.13). These will be accepted free of charge. See exception 4.4 (d)


​

​

​

 

[Arctic97]

Oh and here is the response I got back within the hour....

Shiba Mokgehle
From:smokgehle@flyairlink.com
To:
Cc:E-ticketing

Good day Thank you for your email The sporting firearms are booked, please advise if we can assist any further. Kind regards,

Shiba Mokgehle Reservations Support Agent Tel: +27 11 451 7300 Mobile: Department: Inventory & Revenue Control Company: Airlink (Pty) Limited Website: www.flyairlink.com

 

[TERMINATOR]

This. At least 6 weeks in advance if taking a rifle.

A person will need

1) Passport Picture Page Scan (both pages when you open it to the picture page)
2) Letter of Invitation from your Outfitter stating you will be hunting with them, where you will be based and the dates
3) Scan of your US Customs for 4457 which needs to be signed and stamped at the customs office for the rifle(s) you will be taking

4) Your rifle permit firm will need the things above plus a filled out SAPS 520 form

These are what you need to get to your firm doing the pre-approved rifle permits There are multiple firms that will do this with you. I can attest that Henry and Adel @ riflepermits.com will do a flawless job for you and help you breeze though the process by having the rifle permit pre approved.

If you choose to do it yourself, bring the things above (your physical passport, your original signed Customs 4457 form, a printed copy of the Letter of Invitation and your filled out SAPS 520 form) to the SAPS office after you collect your luggage. The SAPS will then go through all your paperwork and make sure it matches your rifle and will eventually approve your permit assuming everything is in order.

 

[TERMINATOR]

Oh and here is the response I got back within the hour....

Shiba Mokgehle
From:smokgehle@flyairlink.com
To:
Cc:E-ticketing

​

Good day Thank you for your email The sporting firearms are booked, please advise if we can assist any further. Kind regards,

Shiba Mokgehle Reservations Support Agent Tel: +27 11 451 7300 Mobile: Department: Inventory & Revenue Control Company: Airlink (Pty) Limited Website: www.flyairlink.com

Perfect! THAT is how it is done!

 

[Hyde Hunter]

Last two trips to East Cape I have used Airlink. They are gun friendly (as long as you let them know about the guns ahead of time) and have been very reliable time wise. Like Clockwork. As soon as you book you will get an email confirmation. On that confirmation will be an email address for baggage stuff. Send an email to that address with your flight itinerary and Ticket Reference number and let them know how many firearms you want to bring and verify that you have their permission to transport.

It is pretty much a rubber stamp but it always pays to be polite and "request permission" verse "tell them". They will will soon reply confirming that you will be transporting a firearm or firearms.
Print that email out and BRING IT WITH YOU when you check in for the flight to East Cape....just some CYA. I do that as soon as I buy the tickets to East Cape. I then sent another email about two weeks out saying "I just wanted to confirm that you have already given me permission to fly with my firearm" They will confirm (again). I then bring BOTH of those emails printed out.

I do the same with any hotel reservations....book as soon as I book airfares. Then confirm a couple weeks prior. And print out the confirmation emails and bring them with.

Seems kind of OCD but like the old saying goes "Better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them"

Henry at riflepermits.com can not only help you with the permits, but if you are going to tour after the hunt, you will most likely be returning back through the major hub JNB to go on to the sightseeing. They can arrange storage for you while you tour and bring the rifles back to you when you return to JNB to fly home. I much prefer to tour WITHOUT lugging the guns everywhere in RSA.

All just words of advice from someone with 4 hunts to RSA under my belt and over 3 Million Miles flying around the world for business. I leave NOTHING to chance because if there is any way for airlines and hotels and tour operators to screw up.....they seem to find they way.

Enjoy your honeymoon and hunt

I booked my Airlink tickets yesterday and email the letter asking for permission to bring firearms and had an approval 2 hours later and my trip is not until next April, I thought she would say contact us closer to the date but did not. worked out great

 

[wesheltonj]

Better take those email confirmations with you. Mine were confirmed, and at the airports, nothing showed booked. Showed them the email with their logo and all was taken care of. And do nit forget you have to pay your gun fee at the business office at JNB and your return airport. The check-in counter can’t take your money. You will also need some extra cash for the guy walking your gun to the gun check-in. And hopefully, the clerk is not in the office or you’ll need some more tip money.

 

[BC Tal]

Just book with Jennifer at Travel Express and enjoy your trip

What he said, just do it.

 

[jlb1036]

Simply got up to the ticket counter and check your luggage and then you tell them your checking a firearm thye will have you fill out a simply unloaded firearm form that goes inside the case and then will be checked by TSA and taken to the proper flight and distination .

 

[jlb1036]

Don't forget to get your form 4457 and place the original one in the rifle case and keep with you carry on copies of the 4457

 

[markm]

A person will need

1) Passport Picture Page Scan (both pages when you open it to the picture page)
2) Letter of Invitation from your Outfitter stating you will be hunting with them, where you will be based and the dates
3) Scan of your US Customs for 4457 which needs to be signed and stamped at the customs office for the rifle(s) you will be taking

4) Your rifle permit firm will need the things above plus a filled out SAPS 520 form

These are what you need to get to your firm doing the pre-approved rifle permits There are multiple firms that will do this with you. I can attest that Henry and Adel @ riflepermits.com will do a flawless job for you and help you breeze though the process by having the rifle permit pre approved.

If you choose to do it yourself, bring the things above (your physical passport, your original signed Customs 4457 form, a printed copy of the Letter of Invitation and your filled out SAPS 520 form) to the SAPS office after you collect your luggage. The SAPS will then go through all your paperwork and make sure it matches your rifle and will eventually approve your permit assuming everything is in order.

Best thing anyone can do is let someone like Gracey travel or Travel express do all you leg work it is totally worth every dime have used Gracey for the last 10 trips never ever any problems