Seems the carrier has agreed to let hunters in transit store their firearms and ammunition in KLM Security in Amsterdam. This is great news for hunters who want to stop over in that capital city either on their way to a hunt or on their way home. All you have to do is make sure the station of departure (for most US hunters that will be New York) sends a telex to the KLM Security Department in Amsterdam stating the following: Name of Passenger; Tag Numbers of the Firearms and Ammunition; Inbound Flight Number and Date; and Outbound Flight Number and Date. The departure station is also supposed to make sure that the firearms and ammunition to be held over in Amsterdam are loaded in "...the bulk compartment of the aircraft (Hold 4)."
Importantly, only ammunition and firearms will be stored by the carrier. Other baggage must be claimed on arrival and cleared through customs.
It is not the responsibility of the hunter to send the above-mentioned telex, of course, or to instruct ground agents on how to load the firearm and ammunition on the aircraft. However, on check-in, it is important that you say you will be stopping over in Amsterdam with a firearm and that you will need the airline to store the gun for you there. Should the counter agent not know what to do, simply tell him about the above requirements.
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