Which airlines are "Firearm Friendly"? And which airlines are not?

[Houston Bill]

I have flown Turkish airlines out of Houston to JNB and they were fine with guns, no problem.

 

[IA1865]

Have flown with American a few times domestically and they're good about getting your case to you on the ground but the check-in agents don't really know the rules and you have to be firm with them. Flying Qatar to JNB via Doha from Dallas soon, booked the whole way on Qatar and am hoping it goes smoothly.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

Jet Blue was one airline that Lori at Travel Express told me to stay completely away from when I was looking at booking my own flights to South Africa. I had her take over and flew Delta to NY to connect with SAA. The return trip was SAA and then United.

If you are flying to South Africa your choices are fairly limited if you want a direct flight. Just United and Delta fly there from the US. Qutar flies through Doha before heading to Joberg. Last year I flew American then onto Qutar, the trip home was Qutar and then American.

The easiest way to do it is to just get in touch with Jennifer with Travel Express and let her do it for you, it is well worth the little money that you pay them.

SAA will not carry guns you have to use Airlink (no problems) and Jennifer will handle the notification with for you. she is great

 

[Bert the Turtle]

As others have said, use a specialist travel agent. Things change. And there are the actual rules, and the ground truth. The ground truth is what matters. If you are in Germany, you can feel confident that the employee both knows and follows the rules. If you are in the US, you can’t take either for granted. Yes, things will eventually get sorted, but believe me, a check-in girl with a bad attitude can play dumb and make it take hours if she feels like it. The travel agents know where those people are and can usually help you avoid them

 

[JimP]

SAA will not carry guns you have to use Airlink (no problems) and Jennifer will handle the notification with for you. she is great

SAA was a totally different airline when I flew with them in 2015 than what they are today. Bankruptcy and reorganization will do that to a airline

 

[Ontario Hunter]

SAA will not carry guns you have to use Airlink (no problems) and Jennifer will handle the notification with for you. she is great

South African Airlines went boobs up during COVID. Still defunct when I was there last month. It appears Safair snapped up many of their jets. SAA hauled my guns to Europe in 2019. Safair will carry guns. Also Lufthansa and Swiss Air into and out of Joberg. The British Airways affiliate there did not carry guns. However I believe British Airways proper is flying guns again but their fee is outrageous.

 

[roverandbrew]

In the last year I have flown United, Delta, American Airlines, and Qatar Airlines with a firearm and have not had a single issue. Everyone was friendly and no lost gun cases.

 

[matt vejar]

Virgin Atlantic!!!!!! $100 bucks each way to Jo’berg if you fly economy - otherwise free with Premium economy upwards. Used many times never lost!!! Hopefully the same next Friday- huntin Natal Midlands and Otavi Mountains for 20 days.

 

[VertigoBE]

For those that have flown with Turkish Airlines, did you need to take any extra steps apart from booking the “sporting equipment - Firearms” ? Any other kind of notice or documentation to be given? I had called them and they said no, but I’m not so sure…

How is the process in Istanbul? We have to reopen the gun cases?

Thanks!

 

[DLSJR]

VertigoBE, I’m flying Turkish in a few months, from the west coast to Doula, Cameroon. The safari operator advised me to please book with Turkish Airlines as she has had excellent service from them for her hunters. She also advised that they’ve had numerous problems with Air France in the last year or so and to avoid them if possible.

Turkish biz class, with a 48 hour layover to sightsee in Istanbul, sounded like a nice way to break up the trip. Home leg will have a 20 hour layover to enjoy a bit more sightseeing.

To answer your question about guns in Istanbul, Shawn Kennedy of Gracy Travel advised me that you have to claim your guns for any layover longer than 12 hours, so she is arranging an agent to meet me, collect my guns and hold them for me while I play tourist. She said this is ‘the way to go’ with guns in Istanbul.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

For those that have flown with Turkish Airlines, did you need to take any extra steps apart from booking the “sporting equipment - Firearms” ? Any other kind of notice or documentation to be given? I had called them and they said no, but I’m not so sure…

How is the process in Istanbul? We have to reopen the gun cases?

Thanks!

Just book with the sporting equipment/firearms selected. The gate agent takes your information at the airport for the forms and that’s it. You will retrieve your rifle in Johannesburg. No opening of rifles in Istanbul.

I flew them last August and they were excellent.

HH

 

[Houston Bill]

For those that have flown with Turkish Airlines, did you need to take any extra steps apart from booking the “sporting equipment - Firearms” ? Any other kind of notice or documentation to be given? I had called them and they said no, but I’m not so sure…

How is the process in Istanbul? We have to reopen the gun cases?

Thanks!

Turkish is generally great with firearms, when I flew them recently I just informed them before the trip I had firearms and ammo and there was no opening of firearms in Istanbul. Good luck with your trip.

 

[matt vejar]

This is the new protocol out of SFO with Virgin Atlantic. It’s as full proof as it gets for getting your gun to Jo’berg. You checkin gun at Virgin counter. They go with you to TSA. TSA puts on their stuff. Virgin person brings it back to Virgin Counter. They place remaining stuff on it. You fill out a Virgin gun transit paper they give you copy. You repeat the same transit paper in Heathrow at boarding gate right before flight leaves. It assures gun is on plane. Form is Basically model, caliber, ammo amount, and type of gun case (cabelas lockable hard molded case). One minute form!!!
This assures gun is on flight. Repeat in Jo’berg on return and at Heathrow. It’s full proof!!
I asked TSA guy in Frisco why? To many guns left behind at Airport. Responsibility given to airline carrier. Perfect!!!

 

[Yukontom]

Yep, I know exactly where they inspected my luggage. It is still transmitting two weeks later, probably in a crevice or box. I may need to go back and try to find the AirTag.LOL

View attachment 558544View attachment 558547

Does anybody know if the air tags work in an aluminum gun case?

 

[Hyde Hunter]

I have not used them but have read others say they are iffy in aluminum gun cases

 

[Doubleplay]

Does anybody know if the air tags work in an aluminum gun case?

They do.

 

[Challer]

Does anybody know if the air tags work in an aluminum gun case?

The aluminum case is a faraday cage and blocks most signals. Ironically, Pelican makes a first rate AirTag carrier that adheres/screws to any surface that protects the AirTag, and I have screwed these onto my aluminum cases.

 

[Doubleplay]

The aluminum case is a faraday cage and blocks most signals. Ironically, Pelican makes a first rate AirTag carrier that adheres/screws to any surface that protects the AirTag, and I have screwed these onto my aluminum cases.

I flew with both my aluminum rifle and suitcase case with air tags in it and they both worked.
There's talk about reduced signal effectiveness but I did't realize any difference.
Thsi should be simple to check at home anyways..

 

[Philip Glass]

This is the new protocol out of SFO with Virgin Atlantic. It’s as full proof as it gets for getting your gun to Jo’berg. You checkin gun at Virgin counter. They go with you to TSA. TSA puts on their stuff. Virgin person brings it back to Virgin Counter. They place remaining stuff on it. You fill out a Virgin gun transit paper they give you copy. You repeat the same transit paper in Heathrow at boarding gate right before flight leaves. It assures gun is on plane. Form is Basically model, caliber, ammo amount, and type of gun case (cabelas lockable hard molded case). One minute form!!!
This assures gun is on flight. Repeat in Jo’berg on return and at Heathrow. It’s full proof!!
I asked TSA guy in Frisco why? To many guns left behind at Airport. Responsibility given to airline carrier. Perfect!!!

It is always good to know there are other airlines with a workable system. I would like you to clarify the departure procedure from JNB. It seems you are saying airline staff go with you to the security (gun) office and take your gun case after the inspection and paperwork?
The reason I ask is because no other airlines do this.

 

[Philip Glass]

South African Airlines went boobs up during COVID. Still defunct when I was there last month. It appears Safair snapped up many of their jets. SAA hauled my guns to Europe in 2019. Safair will carry guns. Also Lufthansa and Swiss Air into and out of Joberg. The British Airways affiliate there did not carry guns. However I believe British Airways proper is flying guns again but their fee is outrageous.

SA is flying domestic and regional flights and they do carry firearms. Bad info here guys.