United from EWR-JNB no firearms as of today

[C.W. Richter]

The advice of hunting professionals (and experienced hunters alike) has always been along the M.O. of "Keep it simple, stupid!" No military-style (meaning looking) ANYTHING. And, as a result, no problemos, ever. I think it's more fair chase when that gun goes bang (and if the animal runs away, it truly had a fair chance.) But yeah, Delta seems to be the future answer to your immediate woes.

 

[C.W. Richter]

I'm going semi-retarded in '24. Perhaps a charter flight of interested AH members with John Travolta and Alex Lifeson as our pilots? We can use Rush's plane, as they're "retarded" too. Bring as many mufflers (and ARs, black plastic and military camo) as you need. The more black ops it looks, the more trouble you're going to encounter while traveling. Watching TV (MSM) ruins everything. I unfortunately have to deal with gov't. regulators in business, and I'd have to say that less than 1 in 10 actually know the regulations in and out (and that causes problemos-wasted time and expense-on Us). Better to fly under the radar...

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

So sorry to hear of your difficulties, hope everyone eventually gets to hunt soon. As others have said, leave suppressors, silencers, camo at home. These are sensitive times, don't push any unnecessary buttons.

 

[Sourdough]

.....How is that different from checking the rifles w suppressors on the first leg? Just curios

In an "International" Airport, once you are past security and in the concourses you are considered to no longer be in that country (and state obviously). That's why you can shop "Duty Free". So you board an airplane with a suppressor in a state that allows them, fly to an International Airport in a Communist state that doesn't, as long as you remain in the "Duty Free" concourses, that state's firearm laws don't apply. But if you all of a sudden had to stay overnight and you decided to leave the airport, now you are breaking that state's law.

Funny story. I was flying back from hunting in Serbia and Macedonia and as I was about to board the airplane in Macedonia the airline went out of business, caput. Fortunately my guide's brother-in-law ran that airport and he got me on a flight to Croatia the next day, with a connection to Frankfurt, but no further. Next day I fly to Croatia, then on to Frankfurt. I go to my gate agent and tell her I need a flight to DC, which was where I was supposed to go the day before. She told me there were no seats available on any flights, not until the following day. I told her I had a rifle. She immediately got on the phone talking in German and a minute or two later she had me on a flight to DC leaving in 30 minutes. Apparently she didn't want me in her country with my rifle, and I didn't want to really be there. We were both happy.

 

[davidg8480]

I'm flying out Aug 17 and back on 29th

Good luck with your flight and trip

 

[Hank2211]

In an "International" Airport, once you are past security and in the concourses you are considered to no longer be in that country (and state obviously). That's why you can shop "Duty Free". So you board an airplane with a suppressor in a state that allows them, fly to an International Airport in a Communist state that doesn't, as long as you remain in the "Duty Free" concourses, that state's firearm laws don't apply. But if you all of a sudden had to stay overnight and you decided to leave the airport, now you are breaking that state's law.

Funny story. I was flying back from hunting in Serbia and Macedonia and as I was about to board the airplane in Macedonia the airline went out of business, caput. Fortunately my guide's brother-in-law ran that airport and he got me on a flight to Croatia the next day, with a connection to Frankfurt, but no further. Next day I fly to Croatia, then on to Frankfurt. I go to my gate agent and tell her I need a flight to DC, which was where I was supposed to go the day before. She told me there were no seats available on any flights, not until the following day. I told her I had a rifle. She immediately got on the phone talking in German and a minute or two later she had me on a flight to DC leaving in 30 minutes. Apparently she didn't want me in her country with my rifle, and I didn't want to really be there. We were both happy.

@Sourdough, I'm not sure you're correct about the status of concourses in international airports, at least as a matter of law. Apologies in advance if I've misunderstood you.

For instance, here in Canada, you can check in for a flight to the US, go through security and then through US Customs and Border Protection in the same airport (the Americans station their own people here), and you are still subject to Canadian laws until your plane actually lands in the US. It's the same if you are transiting through, say, Vancouver, on your way to the UK from Asia. You will never enter Canada formally, but the airport is in Canada and everyone in it is subject to Canadian law so long as they are there.

The same rules govern in many (most - all?) other international airports I have visited. As other examples, you and your firearms are subject to the laws of the UK whether you are transitting the same international airport (LHR, say), or between international airports (Gatwick and LHR, say). The Germans and the Dutch impose their laws on people transmitting FRA and AMS, respectively - you need the correct paperwork for firearms or you cannot transit the country, even if you never formally enter the country.

If you would like to test this out, I suggest you try smoking a joint in an international concourse and see what happens (actually I don't suggest that, but you get my point).

I'm saying this not to be difficult, but I wouldn't want anyone to act on incorrect advice and find themselves in a potentially difficult situation.

 

[JimP]

@Sourdough,

If you would like to test this out, I suggest you try smoking a joint in an international concourse and see what happens (actually I don't suggest that, but you get my point).

Do you get the joint in the duty free shops? Asking for a friend.

The problem that you might have in Jersey is if you have to take possession of your firearm and suppressor and leave the airport. Then you are in violation of their laws. As long as you are in transit and your luggage is checked through to your destination where you never take possession then you are fine.

 

[Sourdough]

@Hank2211 in the U.S. that is how it works. Same with driving on an Interstate, although whether the LEOs are aware of that or not, only getting stopped would prove that out. And having to wait for a judge to let you go would suck as well. This is the same reason we can have Gambling Ships off the coasts of our states that don't allow gambling, along as they stay over 12 miles off shore (in the US) they are in International waters and the state can't stop the gambling.

Maybe it's just been too many years since I traveled Internationally with firearms, but I never had to provide any documentation to any country I was transiting, as long as I stayed "International". If that has changed world wide that is sad as well.

 

[Hank2211]

Do you get the joint in the duty free shops? Asking for a friend.

The problem that you might have in Jersey is if you have to take possession of your firearm and suppressor and leave the airport. Then you are in violation of their laws. As long as you are in transit and your luggage is checked through to your destination where you never take possession then you are fine.

For the joint, I suggest Schipol would be your friend's best bet!

As for luggage checked through to a final destination, again, I think that depends on local laws. Many have found, for example, that even though their luggage is checked through Doha to JNB, the Doha authorities sometimes take an overly keen interest in the firearms.

And, again, in Germany and Holland, if you don't have the proper paperwork to transit the country with your firearms, they will go into the luggage area and take them and then find you.

I have heard of people who entered the US on an inbound international flight and were connecting to an outbound international flight and thus never clearing US Customs being arrested for having contraband in their luggage or being otherwise inadmissible into the US. In these cases it has never been an argument that you were not intending to enter the US or your baggage wasn't going to stay in the US. You are on US soil and US laws apply to you regardless of how little you want to be there. I have very little doubt that a person who is not otherwise admissible into the US will not be allowed to transit the US, no matter how little time that transit takes.

Lastly, I note that if you are flying to Zimbabwe and have checked your firearms straight through to some airport in Zimbabwe, if you are transiting almost any airport in Canada or Europe to get there, you will have your firearms seized, regardless of of their being checked through, as they enforce a UN embargo on firearms to Zimbabwe.

The only safe assumption is that so long as you or any of your baggage is physically in a country (regardless of where in that country you may be, for what purpose or for how long), you and your baggage are subject to the laws of that country.

 

[R.M.C.]

Good luck with your flight and trip

Thanks man, you too

 

[autofire]

Delta flies from JFK to JHB 2x daily. No EWR. Use JFK like everyone else.

My mistake. Based upon my non Africa trips without rifles, JFK quite a pain to transfer to different terminals etc. But if everyone else wants to use JFK that's their choice.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Many have found, for example, that even though their luggage is checked through Doha to JNB, the Doha authorities sometimes take an overly keen interest in the firearms.

On the way home last year on QATAR, two of us, both with firearms and both just waiting to board our Doha to Philly flight, my buddy was asked to go with a Qatar employee. We both had been through the
Qatar clusterfuck check-in by committee at Joburg and everything was supposed to be in order. A half hour later, he returns and said he was taken to a security office where he was informed everything was OK. I agree QATAR is a pleasant ride but as far as transporting firearms, they're third world. At Tambo, there's not much pleasant said about their operation at check in. IMHO, it's a disaster.

 

[davidg8480]

Thanks man, you too

Oh Hell we're going to need it FN United air
BTW who you hunting with?

 

[Spartan5]

Great question. My guess it's all BS and a smoke and mirrors tactic from United. It's probably a United staffing shortage and/or baggage issue with their personnel and operations in JNB and CPT? Either way, I really feel for the affected hunters and hopefully the situation can get resolved quickly.

I have seen others posting about how baggage is all over the place from united flights and it is an absolute shitshow. Just another reason not to fly their airline. Best of luck to the hunters stuck in this nightmare.

 

[WAB]

Nope. Back in Dallas. Group of six. Flights are sold out and our outfitter only had two days extra on the backend. Hunt would be down to 4 days after getting to the ranch.

That sucks, very sorry to hear it.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Just curious as to the reason for using a foreign based travel agency.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I have seen others posting about how baggage is all over the place from united flights and it is an absolute shitshow. Just another reason not to fly their airline. Best of luck to the hunters stuck in this nightmare.

Delta's track record is even worse. Total chaos in Europe.

1,000 bags. Zero passengers. Delta flight from Heathrow latest sign of air travel hell

Delta Air Lines took what it called a "creative" step to solve a massive baggage problem for passengers flying through troubled Heathrow Airport. Others might call the move extreme: the airline flew a plane from London to its hub in Detroit packed with 1,000 lost bags and zero passengers.

www.cnn.com

 

[Mountaineer]

I am not using a travel agent. I fly using reward points so I’m on my own. Just spent 61 hours getting home from Namibia last week. About half of that might have been saved if I was using a travel agent. Unfortunately if I had to pay cash for tickets I would not have taken the trip. So I just read and learn from you folks. Thanks.

 

[R.M.C.]

Oh Hell we're going to need it FN United air
BTW who you hunting with?

It just adds to the adventure lol
I'm going with Moretla safari, how about you?

 

[JDMonson]

I have 8 days for them to get their S#!$ together so we can have an enjoyable second safari.