Qatar Airways

[Edster]

I had no issues with Qatar. I guess it is who you talk to. Houston was a breeze checking in luggage and firearms. 2 rifles in one Pelican case. I had submitted a few documents to the special services dept at Qatar. Will find out in a few more days how easy Tambo check in is when I leave

Add a bit of extra time at check in at Tambo. WHen I went thru in April, you had your normal check in person, then they have to get a supervisor involved. Took a good 15-20 minutes at check in counter, then off to SAP. We had used African Sky for permits, and Gilbert was there to get us thru it, Defenietly worth the $$, he grabbed us and we went to the head of the line.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Qatar update.
OR Tambo Johannesburg
Allow plenty of time for check in.
It took almost 1 1/2 hours to check in and get guns checked in. I was 3 rd person in line!
Tambo is only 1/2 open as of today June 28.
Most stores and shops closed.

No terminal A in use.
All departing flights check in in terminal B and then we had to go all the way back to SAPS office ( where you pick up guns) to check them in. Then back to terminal B for security and check in. After security walk back to Terminal A departure area.

All this since new Covid regulations went into effect today I was told by personnel.

Qatar actually opened ticket counter 5 hours before flight time.

 

[wlambert]

Qatar update.
OR Tambo Johannesburg
Allow plenty of time for check in.
It took almost 1 1/2 hours to check in and get guns checked in. I was 3 rd person in line!
Tambo is only 1/2 open as of today June 28.
Most stores and shops closed.

No terminal A in use.
All departing flights check in in terminal B and then we had to go all the way back to SAPS office ( where you pick up guns) to check them in. Then back to terminal B for security and check in. After security walk back to Terminal A departure area.

All this since new Covid regulations went into effect today I was told by personnel.

Qatar actually opened ticket counter 5 hours before flight time.

I also experienced a hefty extra baggage fee on the return flight Joberg-Doha-DFW for my rifle case.

 

[Beretta391]

I also experienced a hefty extra baggage fee on the return flight Joberg-Doha-DFW for my rifle case.

Was it for overweight or oversized??

 

[Areaonereal]

Is Qatar blocking the middle seats from Jnb Doha to US in economy...are they flying full capacity

 

[TNDave]

The flight I was on from Johannesburg to Doha was packed full…

 

[Hogpatrol]

Is Qatar blocking the middle seats from Jnb Doha to US in economy...are they flying full capacity

Flew two legs exit row in steerage, seat between us was empty. Remainder in front of us was packed.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

No extra baggage fees on my Pelican case.
I am in Business tho.

They do make you pull ammo case out and weigh it separate.

 

[Edster]

No extra baggage fees on my Pelican case.
I am in Business tho.

They do make you pull ammo case out and weigh it separate.

Interesting all the different procedures taking place.
When I flew in April. Left out of Boston, had all paperwork in order and was thanked by personnel for that. Took about 15-20 minutes to check in. Check in agent and supervisor. Weighed all bags, ammo case in checked bag, not asked to take out to weigh. Used Tuffpak gun case, weighed and sent down conveyor, No TSA check either. We were held at gate to make sure our rifles got on plane without issue. No extra fees.
Return was about the same, except at Philly, woman at check in for AA had a bird because TSA had not looked at gun case prior to it getting to Philly. Had a few words with her but I don’t argue with stupid people and I was pretty sure she wouldn’t understand if I pointed out that TSA does not exist in other countries.
No added fees on return trip either

 

[Hogpatrol]

Interesting all the different procedures taking place.
When I flew in April. Left out of Boston, had all paperwork in order and was thanked by personnel for that. Took about 15-20 minutes to check in. Check in agent and supervisor. Weighed all bags, ammo case in checked bag, not asked to take out to weigh. Used Tuffpak gun case, weighed and sent down conveyor, No TSA check either. We were held at gate to make sure our rifles got on plane without issue. No extra fees.
Return was about the same, except at Philly, woman at check in for AA had a bird because TSA had not looked at gun case prior to it getting to Philly. Had a few words with her but I don’t argue with stupid people and I was pretty sure she wouldn’t understand if I pointed out that TSA does not exist in other countries.
No added fees on return trip either

Your Tuffpak WAS inspected by TSA. You just didn't see it. All oversize bags are scrutinized. If you had any sort of TSA lock on the Tuffpak, and not the locking kind. It's be inspected.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I just returned June 29 on Doha to Houston leg.
US Customs and Qatar was easy as can be in Houston. Got off plane. Went to US Customs. They asked if I had weapons, I told them Yes and was sent Priority down another line. Escorted to get bags off carrousel, Qatar rep was there with rifle case and turned over to Customs. All Customs did was verify 4457 and serials. No bag inspections or screening and let me go.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

FYI for those flying Business Class on Qatar with Qsuite seating. I flew over in the forward facing seat. Came back in rearward facing seat.
I am a big guy and found the forward facing seat was more comfortable and had more room to me. I will choose the forward seats from now on.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I just returned June 29 on Doha to Houston leg.
US Customs and Qatar was easy as can be in Houston. Got off plane. Went to US Customs. They asked if I had weapons, I told them Yes and was sent Priority down another line. Escorted to get bags off carrousel, Qatar rep was there with rifle case and turned over to Customs. All Customs did was verify 4457 and serials. No bag inspections or screening and let me go.

Same deal at Philly. Didn't have the original 4457s handy so gave customs a one page copy of both rifle's forms. Thanks and have a nice day. Qatar rep escorted my guns on the cart to the exit.

 

[wlambert]

Was it for overweight or oversized??

Honestly I am not sure. I had a Pelican double rifle case and a small hard case for ammo. I think it was simply as extra bags - total of R7000-ish ($495 USD). It's the first time I have ever had to pay other than the "handling" fees on RSA in-country flights (think Airlink, Safair). Because my luggage checked from East London all the way to DFW I did not collect it in Joberg, so no opportunity to put my ammo case in it. That would have saved some $$ although I don't know how much. I flew Economy which I believe only included one bag.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Honestly I am not sure. I had a Pelican double rifle case and a small hard case for ammo. I think it was simply as extra bags - total of R7000-ish ($495 USD). It's the first time I have ever had to pay other than the "handling" fees on RSA in-country flights (think Airlink, Safair). Because my luggage checked from East London all the way to DFW I did not collect it in Joberg, so no opportunity to put my ammo case in it. That would have saved some $$ although I don't know how much. I flew Economy which I believe only included one bag.

Your rifles were checked all the way through Joberg without checking them out of the country?

 

[wlambert]

Your rifles were checked all the way through Joberg without checking them out of the country?

No, rifle case and ammo case was checked to and collected/rechecked in Joberg, but my suitcase (clothes/gear) was checked all the way to DFW so I did not take possession of it in Joberg - so no opportunity to put my ammo in my suitcase which I am guessing would have saved some on the extra baggage fee.

 

[wlambert]

No extra baggage fees on my Pelican case.
I am in Business tho.

They do make you pull ammo case out and weigh it separate.

Lesson learned for me. I paid extra for exit row seating in Economy. With the baggage fees I also paid I was probably close to paying for Business which is what I would do if repeating the trip.

 

[Edster]

Your Tuffpak WAS inspected by TSA. You just didn't see it. All oversize bags are scrutinized. If you had any sort of TSA lock on the Tuffpak, and not the locking kind. It's be inspected.

Please explain —- I didn’t realize that the US had TSA agents in Tambo and Doha
My bag came off carousel in Philly then went to Customs and when we took bag to AA to check in for final flight to BOS that’s when woman had the bird

 

[Hogpatrol]

Please explain —- I didn’t realize that the US had TSA agents in Tambo and Doha
My bag came off carousel in Philly then went to Customs and when we took bag to AA to check in for final flight to BOS that’s when woman had the bird

Agree no checks in Tambo or Doha. The way I read it, you had no TSA check in Boston. All oversize baggage gets scanned by TSA so yes, your tuffpak with the rifles was checked by TSA. You just may have not seen it.
There were three people with gun cases from Doha to Philly. None of us got our rifle cases off the carousel. Qatar rep brought them to Customs had the serial numbers checked and the cases were loaded back on the cart and Qatar took them with us following, to the exit.

 

[JimP]

If you flew anywhere in the US with a rifle it was checked by the TSA.

I also read it that it wasn't checked by TSA in Boston