Flying Ethiopian Airlines with a Rifle

[MarkB]

Sitting in Dulles after returning from 3 weeks in Zim. Flew Ethiopian through Addis Ababa. Going was called out by nice Ethiopian Airlines lady in green jacket just as reaching que to enter airport for transfer and taken to lower level of baggage transfer for flights. No special room, just out on floor with baggage conveyors. Lots of panicky hunters(around 8), but had my 4457 form dated 1992 with copies for their use. Just calmly waited and they got itall handled and done and we were on our way with time to spare with 1 hr and 20 min between flights to Harare.

Return from Zim was a little strange. We immediately asked as we entering Addis airport off plane that we needed to have guns checked. No problem said three different folks, so we proceeded to flight and even boarded. Then the guy comes up to us as we are chilled on plane and specifically ask us to come check guns. 10 minutes before departure time. I complained but remained calm and we were again passed of to green jacket lady and escorted to lower level, checked guns, and then nice friendly gal in green Ethiopian Airlines jacket assured us we would be back on flight and bags would make it. She escorted us up through back way, bypassed security, and took us with same blue police guy who inspected guns through secure door on jetway and back onto plane. We made it, bags made it, guns made it. Apparently from my dialogue with her there was a breakdown with the team that was responsible for gun exams on our specific Harare flight, hence the last minute theatrics. But they did exactly what they said they would do and everything worked with just patience and smiles. So all this to say, I would have no hesitations whatsoever flying Ethiopian and through Addis again, and really the time between flights becomes irrelevant because they do not want your guns left at the airport any more than you want them left.

Dulles was a bigger pain in the ass than Addis or Harare!

Mort you are the man. Again some great recent experience that helps me. Changed my upcoming long Addis layover on the way over to SA to the short one after posts on here pacified me that I will make connection. Calm, cool and polite always seams to work, looking forward to meeting these gals in green jackets. I also have a Transcend Mini inbound because of your mention in a previous night critter hunt report. No snoring in blind for me now, small night critters in trouble. I do hope this hunt report is as awesome as the last. I need some reading in next 2 months before wheels up.

Thanks

MB

 

[Tra3]

Sitting in Dulles after returning from 3 weeks in Zim. Flew Ethiopian through Addis Ababa. Going was called out by nice Ethiopian Airlines lady in green jacket just as reaching que to enter airport for transfer and taken to lower level of baggage transfer for flights. No special room, just out on floor with baggage conveyors. Lots of panicky hunters(around 8), but had my 4457 form dated 1992 with copies for their use. Just calmly waited and they got itall handled and done and we were on our way with time to spare with 1 hr and 20 min between flights to Harare.

Return from Zim was a little strange. We immediately asked as we entering Addis airport off plane that we needed to have guns checked. No problem said three different folks, so we proceeded to flight and even boarded. Then the guy comes up to us as we are chilled on plane and specifically ask us to come check guns. 10 minutes before departure time. I complained but remained calm and we were again passed of to green jacket lady and escorted to lower level, checked guns, and then nice friendly gal in green Ethiopian Airlines jacket assured us we would be back on flight and bags would make it. She escorted us up through back way, bypassed security, and took us with same blue police guy who inspected guns through secure door on jetway and back onto plane. We made it, bags made it, guns made it. Apparently from my dialogue with her there was a breakdown with the team that was responsible for gun exams on our specific Harare flight, hence the last minute theatrics. But they did exactly what they said they would do and everything worked with just patience and smiles. So all this to say, I would have no hesitations whatsoever flying Ethiopian and through Addis again, and really the time between flights becomes irrelevant because they do not want your guns left at the airport any more than you want them left.

Dulles was a bigger pain in the ass than Addis or Harare!

Thanks for the info. I fly out of Dulles next Saturday on Ethiopian. How was Dulles a pain? Any tips there?
And yes, we are looking forward to a hunt report.

 

[mikecatt13]

Thanks for the info. I fly out of Dulles next Saturday on Ethiopian. How was Dulles a pain? Any tips there?
And yes, we are looking forward to a hunt report.

Was just going to ask the exact same thing lol

 

[Mort Hill]

So the process at Dulles is a little confusing, but just because they do not communicate well.

Summary: Arrive at Ethiopian counter with your normal travel docs. Indicate you are traveling with guns. You will need to have 3 copies of the Ethiopian Firearms Carriage Declaration Form. Agent will fill out, you will sign. Having (3) copies, X2 for going and coming will just save you time for them trying to find at counter. You can download at:

https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/files/firearm_declaration_form_et_final.pdf

You will get one copy. Just keep with you but nobody ever asked again to see.

They may or may not ask you to open case, weigh ammo. One did, the other did not. Having additional copies(xerox copies fine) of Form 4457 is nice to be able to just give to folks and forget rather than trying to keep up with only one or two copies.

The agent will then load your non-gun case luggage on conveyor once tagged, then they will call a baggage steward over who will take your gun case to TSA for scanning. You follow him, he loads or gives to TSA to run through scanner, then TSA gives back to guy. I did not have to open case at any point past ticketing, but TSA may require you to open after scan, just fyi. At this point, the you are done with guns. I gave guy $5 and he took the gun cases to baggage. All went well leaving after that and guns arrived Addis fine.

On return to Dulles, you will tell customs you have rifle case. They will put all you passport and documents in little red plastic box, and tell you to follow red line to secondary screening. When you get to end of red line, you hand box to agent at desk, then he tells you to have seat in Section C, and you wait for Ethiopian to bring gun case to customs where you match guns to 4457 form. Keep your baggage tag receipts because if the do not bring your other bag, they will go get, or you can leave gun case in customs, go get your bag, and then go to transfers.

Note, they will not transfer your rifle case through to your final destination. So you will have the Ethiopian baggage guy with you to take gun case back up to ticketing area with you where you go through the whole rifle check in process for a domestic flight as explained above, less the need for the Ethiopian Carriage Form. Just whatever the domestic airline requires. Then back to TSA screen of guns, tip, and head through security for flight home.

Hope this helps.

 

[MarkB]

Dam I just received a text from Ethiopian. Seams they have cancelled all our flights 30 July from Toronto to SA thru Addis Ababa, they have changed departure to next day, delayed arrival day by one and now Dublin is the layover City. Now have hotels in Joberg booked and paid and will not even be in Africa. Travel agent will not be happy when she gets in office. These flights are a stopper. Not arriving on first day of hunt. Maybe earlier flights?? Or issues somewhere?

MB

 

[Mort Hill]

Dam I just received a text from Ethiopian. Seams they have cancelled all our flights 30 July from Toronto to SA thru Addis Ababa, they have changed departure to next day, delayed arrival day by one and now Dublin is the layover City. Now have hotels in Joberg booked and paid and will not even be in Africa. Travel agent will not be happy when she gets in office. These flights are a stopper. Not arriving on first day of hunt. Maybe earlier flights?? Or issues somewhere?

MB

In the famous words of Monica Lewinsky “That Sux!”

 

[Buck51]

Is a 55 minute layover in Addis Ababa enough time to make a connecting flight with firearms??

I don't have many flight options. Scrambling to make new flight arrangements to avoid permit issue with SA and Mozambique

 

[kstrain]

It will be my 20th year traveling to and from Namibia, from the west coast. Lufthansa has flights from most major U.S. cities, to Frankfurt. They have taken over the old time slot from Frankfurt to Windhoek, from Air Namibia.
The layover from SFO or DFW is 8-10 hours, on the outbound flight. The return flights are much shorter.
I do not travel with rifles any longer to Namibia (They are all in country), but when I have flown with firearms, I was always able to check them to my final destination. I would look into Lufthansa as an alternative.

 

[MarkB]

Dam I just received a text from Ethiopian. Seams they have cancelled all our flights 30 July from Toronto to SA thru Addis Ababa, they have changed departure to next day, delayed arrival day by one and now Dublin is the layover City. Now have hotels in Joberg booked and paid and will not even be in Africa. Travel agent will not be happy when she gets in office. These flights are a stopper. Not arriving on first day of hunt. Maybe earlier flights?? Or issues somewhere?

MB

Well so far disaster averted. From agent seems like Ethiopian has decided to reduce flights from Toronto To SA thru Addis. So now I get an extra day before hunt in SA same flights home. Lets hope that was last and only flight change until we go. Still waiting for our dictator to stop hotel jail upon return. For non vaccinated Canadians.

MB

 

[JimP]

Hotel jail would be enough to get the vaccine.

I got it and really enjoy the radio reception that I get, but then it could be the dental implant that I have or it could be a combination of both.

 

[MarkB]

Just an update on an Ethiopian issue I am currently experiencing, I have a credit from 2019 for twice delayed 2020 hunt that I am trying to use against trip in 5 weeks. For the last 6 weeks my agent has sent an email to Ethiopian trying to use voucher to pay for this flight. So far crickets, silence, Ethiopian keeps saying "issue was sent to head office" as voucher is out for refund. Yes they did state that a payout fee of $1400 Cnd would be deducted from voucher total of $2400 Cnd. WTH?

Seams most people are OK with stewardess, food, flights and connections but I am NOT Ok with their communications and I have not even flown with them yet.

Drop dead payment day is this Tuesday so if no answer/voucher use or response I will pay for a new complete flight. Must say flights are $600 less for complete round trip this time but silence from Ethiopian is very frustrating. Here's hoping for a Mon response and voucher cash in.

MB

 

[mikecatt13]

Anyone who has flown Ethiopian, did they actually weigh your carry on luggage?

Also, from what I'm understanding they dont give a "personal item" like US domestic airlines, is that correct?

 

[Mort Hill]

Anyone who has flown Ethiopian, did they actually weigh your carry on luggage?

Also, from what I'm understanding they dont give a "personal item" like US domestic airlines, is that correct?

Luggage was weighed, yes. Baggage and gun case. Carry-on bag was not.

Lots of folks carrying multiple items on plane, as to how, not sure. No announcement was made about that and we had carry-on bag, plus several duty free bags on way over. Not a peep.

 

[Roller]

F]ying Ethiopian with rifle back to US from Windhoek, they likely will not be waiting for you with a nifty sign to recheck your firearm (down in the bowels of the Addis airport). Make certain to grab a rep immediately after deplaning and inform them that you need to do so and make sure they notify the gate to hold your flight (regardless of when it departs). It's a bit of a rodeo, but it went fine for me ( despite the near freakouts of some of my fellow travelers) . Apparently this security theatre is the result of a dysfunctional relationship between Ethiopian govt officials and the US (i.e. not predominately an airport/airline policy driven thing ...could be wrong but that is what I heard). Regardless, being polite and patient with the Ethiopian personnel will help you more than being an ass (like I witnessed some folks being on my last trip). They are really quite helpful (better than all major US airlines I have flown). Make sure you have copies of your passport and Form 4457 as you will need them coming and going.

 

[MarkB]

F]ying Ethiopian with rifle back to US from Windhoek, they likely will not be waiting for you with a nifty sign to recheck your firearm (down in the bowels of the Addis airport). Make certain to grab a rep immediately after deplaning and inform them that you need to do so and make sure they notify the gate to hold your flight (regardless of when it departs). It's a bit of a rodeo, but it went fine for me ( despite the near freakouts of some of my fellow travelers) . Apparently this security theatre is the result of a dysfunctional relationship between Ethiopian govt officials and the US (i.e. not predominately an airport/airline policy driven thing ...could be wrong but that is what I heard). Regardless, being polite and patient with the Ethiopian personnel will help you more than being an ass (like I witnessed some folks being on my last trip). They are really quite helpful (better than all major US airlines I have flown). Make sure you have copies of your passport and Form 4457 as you will need them coming and going.

Do the copies of docs need to be certified as true? Or just regular copies?

MB

 

[Roller]

Do the copies of docs need to be certified as true? Or just regular copies?

MB

Just regular copies . They’ll make them for you too but it’s a lot easier and less stressful if you have your own vice handing over your passport to a stranger that disappears for 15 minutes .

 

[MarkB]

Just regular copies . They’ll make them for you too but it’s a lot easier and less stressful if you have your own vice handing over your passport to a stranger that disappears for 15 minutes .

Thanks Was hoping normal will be OK. Don't like lawyers, notaries. Made some copies today. Retired now so no "military Officer" to sign for me.

MB

 

[Mountaineer]

I flew IAD to ADD last week on Ethiopian Airlines. I had copies for them. Super nice people but it is a rodeo and they did hold the plane. Make sure you are able to run through the airport, my agent must be a marathon runner by night. I was dripping in sweat by the time I boarded my flight.

 

[Mort Hill]

I flew IAD to ADD last week on Ethiopian Airlines. I had copies for them. Super nice people but it is a rodeo and they did hold the plane. Make sure you are able to run through the airport, my agent must be a marathon runner by night. I was dripping in sweat by the time I boarded my flight.

Now that’s funny, because I had to do the same sprint, and was sweatin’ worse than a whore in church. I asked Big Mike my hunting buddy if he thought I might have some kind of thyroid issue I was sweating so profusely. He said just fat.

 

[MarkB]

Sounding like I may have a worrying sprint to complete also.

MB