Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Which is the most hunter friendly airline?

I almost always fly out of Atlanta on international flights and ATL is a hub for Delta. Which airlines are the best with regard to hassle-free travel for hunters? Conversely, which ones are the worst?

Landrum

Knock on wood, but I've had no trouble with any of the following airlines that I've used getting to and from hunting destinations: American, Delta, US Airways, United, and South African Airways.

Qantas is good too.

SAA

Landrum,

I'm only familiar personally with BA, KLM and Air France. BA stands out above all the rest as just offering a better overall expereince. SAA carries more hunters probably than all the rest put together but the reports I get are not glowing and that 17 hour flight is just brutal.

I don't know if one is more hunter friendly than the other but a poorly trained counter person upon checking in can get your trip of to a poor start regardless of who they work for.

Mark

I haven't really had serious issues with any airlines about taking firearms as baggage. A call before you go to the airport always helps. Things have changed. I recall my first trip to Alaska-- many years ago and a completly different political world-- I carried my rifle to the plane, gave it to the steward and they put it in a gun case at the front of the passenger compartment. It was handed back to me when I deplaned with a good luck comment. Now-a-days I always check this page before going anywhere http://www.tsa.gov/index.shtm

I would say United Arab Emirates, probably because the major stockholder is a well known hunter.

I was told that Emirates Air only allows Saeed to fly with firearms? Or is that just bunk?

For me it was a bit of a mixed blessing. the lady at the Air Canada check in counter was the most pleasant airline employee I have ever dealt with...right up until she realized that the big black gun case was fileld with...you guessed it...guns! Then she turned into a complete (bad word). sh epu tmy mother and I across the plan from each other rather than next to each other as we had asked.

The upside was that she was so busy being ignorant that she forgot to charge me the $50 fee for flying with a firearm which the airline did end up charging to the other guys in my group that checked in before us.

Remember their motto: Air Canada - We're not happy until you're not happy!

I'd say Delta, but not Delta Paris. None of the flunkies at the baggage counter have a clue. It seems I always need a supervisor to come and sort things out there.


"Remember their motto: Air Canada - We're not happy until you're not happy!"

Truth in advertising.

I and my hunters have had good luck and service from SAA, but I am going Delta in a few weeks and I will report back. Never had a BIT of trouble with Alaska Airlines but they, alas, do not go to Africa!

California hunter, your right thats just bunk. A nice route to dar es salaam is via UAE..

Which is the most hunter friendly airline?

Hooters?

As long as you stay away from British airways and Ryanair, it should be ok. And if it is possible, stay away from London/Heathrow when travelling with rifles. London means trouble when you are travelling with guns in your luggage.

I just got back from flying with Delta and they were great. Other hunters on the flight said their experiences were also good. The next time over they will get my business.

Kathy the travel agent on AR reports BA has the best record for not losing rifles of any airline that services RSA.

As I understand from the incidents involving BA and Heathrow is not that they loose rifles. The problem is that they confiscate weapons without any reason. A group of danish hunters experienced to arrive in Argentina because theur rifles had been held back in London. The excuse was that calibers over 7 mm is intended for war, and therefor they had to do extra checks wich lasted 4 days. It has been several similar incidents lately, so the local safariclub recomends all members to go with another airline and avoid London. It`s pretty irritating to arrive at your destination withot your rifle.

I am not saying that BA is all trouble, but if your BA flight is going trough London, there has been to many incidents with delayed weapons. Flights directly from US/Canada to Africa might work out better.

The issue form Canada is you can't fly through the US with rifles even as checked baggage. Silly US dept of commerce law.

Which leaves Frankfurt as one of the better options for Canadians.