Transporting a shotgun or rifle in this country or to europe.

[The Heron]

As in the title has anyone done this and how do you go about it. Thanks in advance.

[The Heron]

Sorry should have put by air.

[grrclark]

It's really easy.  Check the airline policy for carrying firearms, for example Ryanair and Jet2 don't carry them, BA do, but charge a ridiculously high amount to do so.  Easy Jet do take firearms and most of the national carriers do too.  Lufthansa is my best experience, just the same cost as any item of hold luggage and very efficient.

If the airline is happy to take a gun then you either book it in as a firearm during the online booking, or more commonly, phone them to book it in as a special item.  It has to go in hold luggage.

When you get to the airport and check in the agent will normally direct you to outsize baggage and there the policy differs a little bit per airport.  Some will get the airport police come and check your gun and paperwork to make sure numbers match, others will do it slightly differently.  When you get to the far end you normally have to go to the baggage office to advise that you are waiting on a gun and they will do the corresponding checks.

The gun should be in a lockable and robust case.

If travelling to Europe then you must have an EU firearms pass that you get from your local police, phone the FEO to arrange it.  Some countries may have specific rules and require a permit in addition to the EU ticket, Ireland was like that but I have a notion that the rules changed recently.