Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Airlines checked baggage charges?

Just got off the phone with Delta and looks like they charge $175.00 for a two gun case.
Kinda feel like I need to go take a shower!
What have you been paying?

Dang, that's high! Last time I had oversized luggage was about a year ago, cost me $60, which I thought was highway robbery at the time. Shipping a 2-rifle case there and back again will run you close to $175, though, as I found this past June, so I guess I'd bite the bullet and pay Delta their pound of flesh.

one was included last time i flew to MS with a rifle. I heard it was $50.00 now but $175.00? I'd ship it before i left

ML

Shop different carriers maybe?

If oversize is a problem, costs more, etc. then it might be time to start breaking them down into action/stock, and reassemble on the other end. If no one makes such cases yet, well, there's a market niche. The case could include moldings for necessary reassembly tools, etc. If not too inconvenient, I try to ship or carry one critical part - like the bolt- seperately just to fk up a thief.

And they are out there.. My wife shipped 8 max-sized boxes of household stuff back in June, regular parcel post, un-insured. Foolish girl. We have received 7, but the one with her $300 mixer, and a couple other fairly expensive items didn't show up.

In moving to Kotzebue, I broke down the long guns to fit in a shipped ahead maximum-sized postal shipping box, packed in with other items - clothes, etc.. (Priority, over-insured). Had them in 3 to 5 days.

The '06 reassembled with same point of aim, as it always does. Two check- rounds and I was good to go. I index my receiver screws to the same place every time- or you can use a torque wrench.

The last time that I did an offshore tuna trip, I shipped my rods on UPS two weeks early and made sure that they arrived at the outfitter before flying to CA.

That don�t sound right. You might need to check on that charge. Was it over 50lbs? I think its 25 for the first bag then 35 for the second. Keep us posted!

Ouch! $175 is nuts!

When Chris and I flew to Southeast for a deer hunt, our Rough-Tote went along simply as a checked bag. No "extra" fee what-so-ever.

LOL well just tell them they are break down and you want permission to put them in your carry on.

Fly another airline if they fly where you're going, then write delta a letter telling them why. The only way this stuff will stop is if they realize it's costing them more money than it's making them. If you have no other choice then ship the rifles to yourself care of someone at the place you're going. It's legal as long as you take open the box at the other end.

Airlines are in full on larceny mode with their add-on fees. They've realized that they can get away with it because most people don't read the fine print before booking, and after they have bought the ticket they have little recourse. Do your homework before booking and fly southwest if they go where you're traveling, they're generally pretty fair with the baggage.

The oversize limit is 62" or 50lbs. The problem is the most gun cases, especially two-gun cases, exceed the 62" oversize limit. I think most airlines let slightly-oversize cases (like gun cases and golf cases) slide by as long as they are under the 50lbs limit.

It is nuts! My two bags take up more room and weigh twice as much and cost $125.00 less!

Over the 62" limit is what they are charging for. I'm hoping but not expecting they won't measure measure it and just go by weight.
On the up side our return trip will start with Alaska Air and they only have a $50.00 oversize charge.

Several of us have flown Delta many times with the two gun SKB's and never had a problem, but they are not 62" long.

Wow, I had no idea it was getting so spendy to travel with rifles. 'Guess the next time I go out east for deer I'll ship my rifle to my brother ahead of time. Maybe ship some clothes out too. These baggage fees are just nuts.

USPS insured, and tracked will set ya back a fraction of that, roughly $20.00. NO HANDGUNS though.

I made the assumption it's a US destination.

Yup, I either ship my luggage in advance, or buy some duds (if it's a short stay), it's much cheaper.

ship your handguns, in seperate boxes.
ie: cylinders or magazines or slides etc

Then label them tool PARTS.

Same with rifles, ship them w/o bolts or stocks.
Then they are less likely to ..go lost

I'm not shipping handguns USPS and wouldn't recommend it in any form.

Agree with mako. Don't try to get too clever. Remember that no matter what, the "part" with the serial number is legally a firearm, even if it's disassembled.

Of course, you can only get caught at it once - because after that, you'll no longer own any guns, ever.

I flew Delta from DSM to PHX last November. A 52" long double rifle (Pelican 1750) case. No extra charges. No hassle. No problem. But that as last November