30-06hunter Posted September 19, 2013 Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 Need some help guys I have booked my hunt trip to canada, Air Canada are fine with taking a firearm after some paper work a few days before. but just wondering if anyone has flown from heathrow ( to any where ) with a firearm, and how you went about notifying them ? many thanks JD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie-fox Posted September 19, 2013 Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 I have, to France.. When we checked in we informed them we were transporting firarms a bloke came out with airport security, took the rifles from us, checked the serial numbers and told us to ask for them again in Paris at a certain desk... Flew to Paris, went to the said desk..and after a quick check again we were given them back, really simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanl50 Posted September 19, 2013 Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 Its easy at checkin your firearm will be taken from you by security which when I did it was a man old enough to be my grandad if your taking ammunition make sure you comply with your carriers instructions usually wrapped secure in your checked in luggage, before loading they sometime times check them, dont as I did and put a snap cap in your gun it caused chaos they thought the gun was loaded and I mean chaos!!! and pick it up at your destination usually just go to item to declare area and pick up your firearm not sure about Canada. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30-06hunter Posted September 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 cheers guys.. i have a horrible thought of it going on the wrong plane or something. so if you hand over the rifle, what do you do about the locked case. ? if they take it away to check.. how do they get in without me present ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theshootist Posted September 19, 2013 Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 Flying to Croatia was amusing, we got there and found our guns going round the baggage carrousel with all the other luggage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mereside Posted September 19, 2013 Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 i flew from heathrow to nz easy experience 5 kilo ammo max ,boxed up rifle in a locked secure box ammo in seperate box in luggage what i did was i put all my hunting gear in the rifle case like bins knife and suchlike that way i had more room in my luggage for clothing. make sure you have sent them the info on the guns going by letter and also ring in advance i did this on a few occassions as i kept getting asked to confirm what i was taking. atb wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huffhuff Posted September 19, 2013 Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 It is quite a simple process. The only issue is if there are big shooting parties going through at the same time, it adds a good bit of time on the check-in experience. My experience has been... Turn up, notify check in. Either somebody comes out and takes the case or you take it to another location (this is after you have attached a big bright orange firearms tag to your normally inconspicuous looking flight case). I have always then been taken into a side room where I unlock case and show customs person the serial number, they check this on the FAC and log it on 'the system'. The other end is fairly similar but will vary I guess. Personally, this system is ok. But I can see potential for people taking advantage. But that's another story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dashman1 Posted September 19, 2013 Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 Flying to Croatia was amusing, we got there and found our guns going round the baggage carrousel with all the other luggage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30-06hunter Posted September 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 thanks guys its my third hunting trip to canada, usually i use friends rifles over there, but i want to take my own this year. sounds pretty straight foward.. i was expecting a london airport to be a ball ache to get a rifle through with all the security and ill informed staff of the hunting world. but again with the locked case guys, did you have to go to a room to open it to show them ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mereside Posted September 19, 2013 Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 with mine the chap on the front desk did all our paperwork he opened it up and checked it all a chap was called up to take us and our guns through the system and we then went on our way ,he even asked if we wanted an upgrade on the flight but the other chap had booked seperate to us and there was only two spots so we all stayed together i wish we hadnt as when we got to nz the other lad had mucky boots and gear and it all got whisked away for detox, ha ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanl50 Posted September 19, 2013 Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 (edited) thanks guys its my third hunting trip to canada, usually i use friends rifles over there, but i want to take my own this year. sounds pretty straight foward.. i was expecting a london airport to be a ball ache to get a rifle through with all the security and ill informed staff of the hunting world. but again with the locked case guys, did you have to go to a room to open it to show them ? Yes if they think there is something wrong after passport control your met by the security "ha ha" and lead into a secure area and you open it up in front of them and explain whats required I could see my case had been opened they told me they had x-rayed it and could see live ammo --- the snapcap, checked my FAC etc, case resecured on on my way lol I have been through a few times and once they got all confused and thought I was some big arms dealer and called head of security back to Heathrow to interview me and open my case to inspect my firearms, poor sod, he had gone home after a long shift and had to come back again lol, after all the confusion it was Ok. That one was a fews years ago! Alan Edited September 19, 2013 by Alanl50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 19, 2013 Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 I flew from Gatwick to Calgary a few years back. Gatwick was simple - stated that I had a firearm at check in and security came out and took me and the case into an office. The case was opened and the gun checked against my FAC. They took the gun and the next time I saw it I was in Canada. Canadian customs was the eye opener. Very stern and strict - I needed to sort out a form from a department that was unmanned, which was a bit of a drag. The staff weren't that friendly but I think it's because they had just had a barny with a local guy who had just flown home. Not sure what it was about but both sides were pretty wound up. Biggest caution I would give is on arrival back home my rifle was in the over sized baggage with a set of ski's - free to be picked up by anyone in the public area. Had I not asked about paperwork at the desk, I could have walked out with it with the rest of my luggage. Bit of a shambles really when you consider the fuss that the police make over security. On top of that the paperwork trail had failed - when I sold the gun there was no record of it coming back from Canada so it could be worth a call to your FEO on return to make sure all is well. Last of all, have fun. As you've been there before you will know that the scenery and hunting there is amazing. I'm a little jealous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted September 20, 2013 Report Share Posted September 20, 2013 Flown from most London airports to Belfast - never had an issue. You need to have a secure case - when I went the plastic beretta one is fine, I put a couple of bike locks around it for security and to stop the luggage handlers playing cowboys and indians. The other end it has been escorted to me PSNI who inspect certificate of approval and SGC. On the way back in London it has come out on the carousel a couple of times Probably worth slapping a fragile sticker or two on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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