Qatar Airways

[MWK]

Hello I am planning to travel via Doha, Qatar to hunt in South Africa. Anyone here has experience flying to JoBurg using Qatar Airways. I heard Qatar Airways has good rating. However, until now I can't have any answer from their Customer Service regarding my firearms. I sent them CBP 4457, SAPS 520, and Invitation Letter from the outfitter. Any input will be much appreciated. I am going in late June 2021.

 

[fourfive8]

Use a travel agent with Africa and firearms permitting experience.

 

[Red Leg]

Hello I am planning to travel via Doha, Qatar to hunt in South Africa. Anyone here has experience flying to JoBurg using Qatar Airways. I heard Qatar Airways has good rating. However, until now I can't have any answer from their Customer Service regarding my firearms. I sent them CBP 4457, SAPS 520, and Invitation Letter from the outfitter. Any input will be much appreciated. I am going in late June 2021.

Absolutely use a travel agent with specific expertise in our sort of travel. I never book an international trip where I am taking firearms without using one. Ever.

 

[Ridge Runner]

As soon as I can get in contact with my travel agent I'll let you know about what Qatar's requirements and regulations are in regards with traveling with weapons and Covid test.

I will hopefully be departing 02 May to Zimbabwe, then to SA.

So far all I have found out is Qatar charges $100.00USD per weapon, and their airfares have nearly doubled since I purchased my tickets 18 months ago. Due to covid and covid testing; If you had plans for a day trip around Doha, you will need to rethink and plan for a shorter layover in the airport.

 

[MWK]

Thank you fourfive8, Red Leg, and Ridge Runner. This coming June will be my third trip to South Africa but my first time using Qatar Airways. Mort Hill also provided good information about Special Services from Qatar.

 

[MWK]

I use Henry Durrheim from Rifle Permits for SA.

 

[MWK]

Cape Buffalo Hunt in South Africa with my son.

 

[Red Leg]

Thank you fourfive8, Red Leg, and Ridge Runner. This coming June will be my third trip to South Africa but my first time using Qatar Airways. Mort Hill also provided good information about Special Services from Qatar.

Wasn’t treating you as a “newby.” Firearm travel requirements of the various airlines change quickly. Throw in the evolving COVID requirements, and a small error could leave you or your firearm sitting at home or somewhere in between. Qatar has a pre-approval process. Shawn at Gracy Travel will work many of those with that airline in the coming months. I have been to Africa and a few other places a number of times as well, but when traveling with a firearm, my agent’s fee is a small price to pay for a sense of certainty. I should also add, she can usually get a better price than I can (saved me nearly a thousand on my August trip to Zambia) more than making up for her fee. Travel Express, a sponsor here, offers the same certainty.

Nice bull.

 

[MWK]

Thank you Red Leg. I have been using Debbie from Custom Travel. She has been routing me to South Africa Airways which is the cheapest way to go. As you know there is no short way going to South Africa. At my age now; I don't want to travel economy to South Africa. This is the reason I search around and found Qatar Airways which is a highly rated airline with a very good value Business Class. I found AfricaHunting.com after I book my trip.

Next time I will try Travel Express. I am planning to go again in 2022.

 

[Red Leg]

Thank you Red Leg. I have been using Debbie from Custom Travel. She has been routing me to South Africa Airways which is the cheapest way to go. As you know there is no short way going to South Africa. At my age now; I don't want to travel economy to South Africa. This is the reason I search around and found Qatar Airways which is a highly rated airline with a very good value Business Class. I found AfricaHunting.com after I book my trip.

Next time I will try Travel Express. I am planning to go again in 2022.

Qatar and Emirates will give you the nicest business class ride you have ever experienced. As I said, I would just as soon overnight onboard from Doha or Dubai to Jo'burg as stay at City Lodge. And the food, wine and service will be much better.

 

[wesheltonj]

I know Qatar has a new email address to send your document to. Let me see if I can find where I put that.

 

[MWK]

I know Qatar has a new email address to send your document to. Let me see if I can find where I put that.

Thank you Wes. I finally received my travel document with weapon confirmed. The email address is SpecialServices@us.qatarairways.com. Many thanks to Mort Hill who provided this information to us.

 

[MWK]

Qatar and Emirates will give you the nicest business class ride you have ever experienced. As I said, I would just as soon overnight onboard from Doha or Dubai to Jo'burg as stay at City Lodge. And the food, wine and service will be much better.

Red Leg, I am looking forward for this upcoming trip. The business class will definitely help LAX-DOHA is 15 1/2 hours non-stop. Qatar Airways confirmed my rifle and my revolver in the travel document and will send the travel document to all airport in my itinerary.

 

[Don Hinton]

depending on your layover time i recommend the the city tour if available. Use to be free but now cost a couple of dollars. Great way to spend 3 hours. Highly recommend

 

[Ed Lally]

After a number of emails sent to a number of addresses at Qatar, I received the following:

From: Ahlem Bensaid <abensaid@qatarairways.com.qa> On Behalf Of PFC DOH
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2021 5:39 PM
To:
Cc: PFC DOH <pfcdoh@qatarairways.com.qa>
Subject: RE: [External]FW: Firearms approval - MVZT8F Qatar Airways



Dear Mr. Edward

Thank you for writing to us

Kindly provide information about type, dimensions of the weapon`s case and total weight of the weapon along with the case , and total weight of the ammunition.

Notes:

• The passenger must sign the Declaration of Surrender of Firearms.
• The weapon must be unloaded and should be properly wrapped and packed in a hard-sided, lockable container. If possible, the weapon should be dismantled and packed inside a suitcase or gun case.
• The ammunition must be securely packed in a sealed, strong wooden, metal or fibreboard box or other packaging specially designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. This packaging shall be contained inside a hard-sided suitcase or in the hard-sided case containing the firearm. Only one package of ammunition intended for personal use and with gross weight not exceeding 5 kg, is allowed per passenger. If the gross weight exceeds 5 kg, the ammunition may be carried only as cargo.
• The ammunition shall not contain any explosive or incendiary projectiles, which are totally prohibited for carriage by air.
• The original documents should by carried by the passenger and presented at check-in.

Best Regards

Customer Contact Centre Qatar
Tel: +974 4023 0000

www.flyqatar.com/help

Going places together. qatarairways.com


If you PM me I will send the Declaration in WORD form so you can easily fill out for your trip over and your trip back.

Ed

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

After a number of emails sent to a number of addresses at Qatar, I received the following:

From: Ahlem Bensaid <abensaid@qatarairways.com.qa> On Behalf Of PFC DOH
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2021 5:39 PM
To:
Cc: PFC DOH <pfcdoh@qatarairways.com.qa>
Subject: RE: [External]FW: Firearms approval - MVZT8F Qatar Airways



Dear Mr. Edward

Thank you for writing to us

Kindly provide information about type, dimensions of the weapon`s case and total weight of the weapon along with the case , and total weight of the ammunition.

Notes:

• The passenger must sign the Declaration of Surrender of Firearms.
• The weapon must be unloaded and should be properly wrapped and packed in a hard-sided, lockable container. If possible, the weapon should be dismantled and packed inside a suitcase or gun case.
• The ammunition must be securely packed in a sealed, strong wooden, metal or fibreboard box or other packaging specially designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. This packaging shall be contained inside a hard-sided suitcase or in the hard-sided case containing the firearm. Only one package of ammunition intended for personal use and with gross weight not exceeding 5 kg, is allowed per passenger. If the gross weight exceeds 5 kg, the ammunition may be carried only as cargo.
• The ammunition shall not contain any explosive or incendiary projectiles, which are totally prohibited for carriage by air.
• The original documents should by carried by the passenger and presented at check-in.

Best Regards

Customer Contact Centre Qatar
Tel: +974 4023 0000

www.flyqatar.com/help

Going places together. qatarairways.com


If you PM me I will send the Declaration in WORD form so you can easily fill out for your trip over and your trip back.

Ed

Hi @Ed Lally, Your private information was removed from your post for privacy reasons. If you want to provide someone your personal information please do so in the Conversation/Private Message (PM) system, thank you.

As per our posting guidelines: It is not okay to post your own personal information or post links to your personal information, including but not limited to email addresses, telephone numbers, mailing addresses or identification numbers. If you want to provide someone else your personal information please do so in the Conversation/Private Message (PM) system.

 

[Rick HOlbert]

Hello I am planning to travel via Doha, Qatar to hunt in South Africa. Anyone here has experience flying to JoBurg using Qatar Airways. I heard Qatar Airways has good rating. However, until now I can't have any answer from their Customer Service regarding my firearms. I sent them CBP 4457, SAPS 520, and Invitation Letter from the outfitter. Any input will be much appreciated. I am going in late June 2021.

MWC, you'll also need to fill out what Qatar Airways calls a declaration of surrender for firearms and submit it to them within 5 days of departure. Like the other folks have said I highly recommend you use a travel agency. I've used TWG out of San Antonio, Tx. and they have been superb. Good luck on your hunt.

 

[Tracey Colson]

I just returned from RSA flying on Qatar through Doha with my rifles. I used Patrick at Travel with Guns to make my travel arrangements and had no troubles with Qatar. Flights are long but planes are nice and service is great.

My pieces of advice I will give are to make sure you check into your flight in plenty of time. Between them sorting out COVID-19 restrictions and the firearm check in process you will be a bit. Have patience, also do not sign the Qatar form until they tell you too. It must be signed in the presence of a Qatar representative.

They asked me both ways to weigh my ammo container apart from my checked bag, then had me put it back into my checked bag before weighing it as well.

You should be able to check your luggage clear through to Johannesburg when you leave the US then you don't have to worry about dealing with it in Doha.

All if the people that I dealt with were polite and helpful. If you need to go this route to get to Africa it is 100% worth it.

 

[Rick HOlbert]

Tracey you are so right. The folks at TWG went beyond the call of duty for my last trip and the trip I'm about to leave on this month. The couple of hundred extra you pay going through a travel agency is well worth the peace of mind.

 

[Hank2211]

I just returned from RSA flying on Qatar through Doha with my rifles. I used Patrick at Travel with Guns to make my travel arrangements and had no troubles with Qatar. Flights are long but planes are nice and service is great.

My pieces of advice I will give are to make sure you check into your flight in plenty of time. Between them sorting out COVID-19 restrictions and the firearm check in process you will be a bit. Have patience, also do not sign the Qatar form until they tell you too. It must be signed in the presence of a Qatar representative.

They asked me both ways to weigh my ammo container apart from my checked bag, then had me put it back into my checked bag before weighing it as well.

You should be able to check your luggage clear through to Johannesburg when you leave the US then you don't have to worry about dealing with it in Doha.

All if the people that I dealt with were polite and helpful. If you need to go this route to get to Africa it is 100% worth it.

I returned from Africa on April 30 on Qatar as well (JNB - Doha - Montreal), and I echo these comments.

It will take a bit of time, but if your travel agent has ensured that the firearm is mentioned under "Special Remarks" on your reservation, along with the weight of the firearms bag, and you have the "Firearm Surrender" form handy (available on their website) and filled out in advance (except for the signature - they need to see you do that), things will be pretty smooth.

You don't need to have the form in advance - they will have them - but it will just add to the time it takes to check in if you have to start from scratch . . . and in my experience, showing that you are aware of what the procedures are always gives the agent a bit of confidence - they aren't usually as familiar with travelling with firearms as you might expect.