We went to Gracey Travel's Steve Turner who dug up an answer. United Emirates will accept firearms and ammunition as checked baggage if the passenger obtains approval from the airline no less than three days prior to flight travel. Clearance from the Dubai Airport Police and Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) is also required, as flights will transit through Dubai. To get that, your agent must send an e-mail request for clearance to the security group confirming you have all the necessary documents/licenses to enter your final destination with a firearm. Again, that request must be submitted at least 72 hours prior to travel, keeping in mind that Thursday/Friday is the weekend in Dubai.
Once approved, your passenger record will be updated with the information. You will need to advise the agent at the check-in counter that you are checking a firearm and ammunition. The gun must be packed in a suitcase or standard gun case separately from your ammunition, which cannot exceed five kilos. Ammo must be packed in a sealed and strong box, which is then packed in a suitcase.
Will the airline pan out as a good one for hunters? Turner says there's no way to know for certain until a few hunters test it out. We will follow-up with Don to see how his flight goes. Anyone else with first-hand experience on this airline is urged to contact us. Send an e-mail directly to Editor Barbara Crown at bvcrown@bellsouth.net.
Still on the subject of alternate airlines to Africa, Turner tells us that Ethiopian Airlines is an excellent alternative for hunters flying Business Class.........(continued)
