Jetstar Firearms check in

I'm flying to Auckland Monday with several firearms on Jetstar and still haven't been given specific check in information

Anyone flown Jetstar Domestic with firearms recently ?

I have booked over weight and over size CHCH to Auckland and return
I have spoken to a customer service person ( who frankly couldn't tell me the process and was no help at all ) and was given the email address to register the firearms for book in
I have not received any additional information on the book in process after 3 days.

The firearms are all disassembled and in a single large locked case and I will not be taking any ammunition with them.

Any recent experiences and tips on how things went with Jetstar and firearms appreciated

Frankly with the cost of dealer to dealer transfers, with multiple rifles to move in both directions and a friendly forum member to pick up, loan of vehicle and accommodation its just cheaper and easier to fly and catch up with a few collectors.
Put a face to a few forum names.
Redistribute some finished projects to guys who will appreciate them.
Bring home some new projects for this winter

Cheers

I stopped flying Dick Star no matter how cheap they are because every time you check in with firearms they make you feel like a criminal. No one seems to know what's going on. They wrap tape around you bags if they have any ammo in them leaving a sticky residue. It's always such a drama. Good luck.

I do it all the time. A heads up as you have done, rock up, they will wrap some yellow tape around the case, make sure it’s locked and then they chuck through the oversize scanner.

Don’t be a smart ass at the counter, only tell them the bare minimum and in a language they understand, they don’t need a lesson in firearm operation or how things dissemble etc. Sorry for sounding like a dick but some people are so arrogant and think all people should understand the difference between a semi auto shotgun and an under and over.

Auckland is a bit of a cluster, sometimes comes out at the Jetstar desk, sometimes at the door beside luggage belt or sometimes in between.

Overall piece of piss if you have a ounce of patience

I have not done so recently, but I am interested to hear a report on your experience to see if there is any changes since last time I flew.

I imagine there will be some differences. Sometime around mid 2000’s I attempted to check in a locked guitar case with my m14 in it. I was told by the nice Air NZ lady that it will be cheaper to put the firearm into my other bag so I don’t have to pay for additional luggage. There wasn’t much time left to check in and I explained I would have to disassemble the firearm to fit it in my bag, and I asked if there is somewhere I could go and do that. She told me it was ok to do it at the counter. So there I was, stripping down my M14 and stuffing the parts into my clothes at the check in counter of Palmerston North airport, and no one batted an eyelid! Those were days.

Sounds stupid but they are part of qantas so u need to follow this
https://www.qantas.com/nz/en/travel-...-firearms.html

Download form , apply online , show firearms licence , and the dangerous goods form u downloaded though it states ammo u still need it , don't ask why

So FAL and their ( qantas) form
Be prepared to wait on that side for about 25 mins ( it's goes to oversize luggage , or it gets brought out to u , next to baggage carousel, depends on the day
Done it 4 times in last 6 months ,leave plenty time o. Your schedule for check in , more for collection. Chc is worse for collection. U will need to have firearms separated. Eg bolt can go in check in , rest in locked container , though it does stay ammo , take that form with u. Seriously that's what they wanna see
https://www.qantas.com/nz/en/travel-...tml#ammunition

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sharki

Sounds stupid but they are part of qantas so u need to follow this
https://www.qantas.com/nz/en/travel-...-firearms.html

Download form , apply online , show firearms licence , and the dangerous goods form u downloaded though it states ammo u still need it , don't ask why

So FAL and their ( qantas) form
Be prepared to wait on that side for about 25 mins ( it's goes to oversize luggage , or it gets brought out to u , next to baggage carousel, depends on the day
Done it 4 times in last 6 months ,leave plenty time o. Your schedule for check in , more for collection. Chc is worse for collection. U will need to have firearms separated. Eg bolt can go in check in , rest in locked container , though it does stay ammo , take that form with u. Seriously that's what they wanna see
https://www.qantas.com/nz/en/travel-...tml#ammunition

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That's helpful

There is no firearms tab on their websites
Pretty bloody confusing
I guess it's the ammo that's the dangerous part for the airlines

Never done or been asked for a form, but I don’t take ammo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by akaroa1

That's helpful

There is no firearms tab on their websites
Pretty bloody confusing
I guess it's the ammo that's the dangerous part for the airlines

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Yes, the ammunition is dangerous goods so there are acceptance, storage and separation issues for them, the firearm is just luggage with some precautions and awareness.


Jetstar are the devil.

Part of the dangerous goods is that u have done the online bit for firearm
Just do it for paperwork bit , even though u don't take ammo , ots their proof u read and got permission
Oh and a heads up, when u booked extra luggage u got the free mea package and seat choice , if u didn't see there was a drop down menu on food, if u didn't select it , u gonna end up with the most horrible gluten free banana cake go change it if u havent selected something, the other options are still shitty , but 5 x better ,

With Jetstar yiu pay fir what you get but often don't get what you pay for. I refuse to fly with them now and for several years.

Only early morning chc - auckland sadly
Or was when I needed it , only reason to fly them

I'm simply not interested in food or coffe on flights

I'm a coffee snob and have world class coffee every day at home
Likewise a decent breakfast pre flight and a nice cafe lunch in Auckland with my forum member chauffeur.
Much more civilised

I'm there for 3 full days so plenty of time to do the business

Well sent two requests through the on line portal and we live in hope that it works on the day

A lot depends on the competancy of the person you deal with. I have had amazing dealings and abysmal dealings - although with Air NZ and at smaller airports

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jhon

With Jetstar yiu pay fir what you get but often don't get what you pay for. I refuse to fly with them now and for several years.

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Same here. Back in the day tried them a few times only to be disappointed each time. Finally gave up and never went back. Never regretted it.

Only ever had good experiences with checking in firearms with Air NZ staff in Southland. Had one bad one in Wellington where I felt a wee bit disrespected but all others mostly fine. Telling the staff the bare minimum is a good point. With the bad experience when I said the ammo was in a purpose built container (MTM 50 rnd case), the customer service staffer was upset because it wasn't in factory packaging. I had to explain that I reloaded the ammo and there was no factory packaging. She could not fathom that you can make your own ammo. I should've just said yes to it being in factory packaging, although I would almost consider that fibbing which doesn't look good later on if something goes wrong.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Floundering Around

Only ever had good experiences with checking in firearms with Air NZ staff in Southland. Had one bad one in Wellington where I felt a wee bit disrespected but all others mostly fine. Telling the staff the bare minimum is a good point. With the bad experience when I said the ammo was in a purpose built container (MTM 50 rnd case), the customer service staffer was upset because it wasn't in factory packaging. I had to explain that I reloaded the ammo and there was no factory packaging. She could not fathom that you can make your own ammo. I should've just said yes to it being in factory packaging, although I would almost consider that fibbing which doesn't look good later on if something goes wrong.

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The factory packaging question has come up with me when checking in three or four times. I'm honest and say so if ammo isn't in a factory pack when asked. Each time the concern was allayed when I said the reason I put ammo into different packaging ( lockable plastic ammo container ) was to make airline handling and carriage safer than it would be in factory packaging. Only one time an airline check in person wasn't convinced and a supervisor was summoned who demanded I open my bag and prove it. Once she saw the ammo box she was immediately satisfied and complimented me on my safety attitude.
Really helps if you maintain a friendly and cooperative attitude throughout. The thought of "ammo" is scary to some people. Not many airline employees it seems are told in training that ammo is actually a relatively safe item.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Floundering Around

Only ever had good experiences with checking in firearms with Air NZ staff in Southland. Had one bad one in Wellington where I felt a wee bit disrespected but all others mostly fine. Telling the staff the bare minimum is a good point. With the bad experience when I said the ammo was in a purpose built container (MTM 50 rnd case), the customer service staffer was upset because it wasn't in factory packaging. I had to explain that I reloaded the ammo and there was no factory packaging. She could not fathom that you can make your own ammo. I should've just said yes to it being in factory packaging, although I would almost consider that fibbing which doesn't look good later on if something goes wrong.

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Invercargill were awesome when my son and I came out of Fiordland. The lady couldn’t have given a shit about the guns or ammunition. Just where we went and what we got.
Same experience in Napier.

B

Air Chathams and Air NZ were both easy as when ever I've traveled
Chch
Auckland
Wellington
Queenstown
Chats

I took 6 guns up a few weeks ago via Jetstar. 3 in one case, 2 in another and 1 on its own. No issues at all. The good thing with Jetstar is if you pay for 40kg of luggage you can take as many bags as you want as long as the total weight is 40kg which makes it great for travelling with sports gear etc

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 30.06king

The factory packaging question has come up with me when checking in three or four times. I'm honest and say so if ammo isn't in a factory pack when asked. Each time the concern was allayed when I said the reason I put ammo into different packaging ( lockable plastic ammo container ) was to make airline handling and carriage safer than it would be in factory packaging. Only one time an airline check in person wasn't convinced and a supervisor was summoned who demanded I open my bag and prove it. Once she saw the ammo box she was immediately satisfied and complimented me on my safety attitude.
Really helps if you maintain a friendly and cooperative attitude throughout. The thought of "ammo" is scary to some people. Not many airline employees it seems are told in training that ammo is actually a relatively safe item.

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Sometimes you have to repack the ammo to comply - the rounds must be separated and cannot be touching so they tell me. A good example of this is the Sako 50 round bulk pack, it's a plain but tough box with no separation in it. In that case the fact that the factory packaging doesn't comply should be enough to appease the check in gatekeepers...

I took two case, 38kg, 6 rifle CHCH to Auckland Jetstar last Friday

Return Monday

Two cases, 7 rifles, 40kg Jetstar

Absolutely no drama
But I wasn't carrying any ammo or brass

8kgs unprimed brass I just sent by courier

I flew from Queenstown to Auckland last month with ammo and a rifle. The Jetstar staff were great, no dramas and no fuss. I think in these situations some manners and patience will go a long way.

I always get the Dangerous Goods Permit despite not carrying ammo because the rifles are vintage and to and from collections where they don't get shot

Over delivering on that point and the gun case security is worth the effort.

Also I tell them the guns are completely dissasembled.
Which is often true too be able too pack 3 big rifles in each gun case

Just a thumbs up bump on this 2024 thread - The info re the Jestar dangerous goods form (ammo) and the firearm check in (remove bolt, but in standard check in luggage - FA into a separate locked carry case) was excellent. Will test it out next month at Auckland airport and will report back with any issues.

Have always found South Island Airport staff go through the firearms check-in process with little or no fuss. Auckland airport not so much.

Despite travelling home to the South Island frequently with a firearm Auckland Airport seems to struggle with the concept of a firearm at the time of check-in. Get there early, be aware of Avsec screening requirements at the O/Sized x-ray machine, tell them the bare minimum but also be knowledgable of their own airlines requirements for carriage - as often the ground staff aren't.

Best bit of advice - make sure that whatever bag is carrying your ammunition is also screened at O/sized as if they find ammo on the "normal bag" conveyor they will pull your bag . Trust me I know, then they couldn't find my bag for 5 hours, I was trying to get into the back country in Canterbury - my pack with all my gear was "somewhere" between AKL-CHC. I had the clothes I stood in and a rifle case, waiting in CHC airport till they found my bag. Needles to say Avsec and the NZP were continually checking on my need to be in the airport with a rifle case.

Had a bad experience in New Plymouth with two empty gun cases taped together to make one , size-compliant baggage item.

The "lady" at check-in refused to accept the cases were empty without opening both , threatened to boot me off my flight if I argued , and was generally a stand-in for Hitlers sister.

I walked away and left the missus to sort it as she has infinite patience with morons - she lives with me - and the matter was resolved -two cases still taped together to make one empty , compliant case.

One departure from Nelson a few days later , the now full cases were presented to the check-in lady who didnt want to see inside , and on being regaled with the story of the NP experience said " I know exactly who you dealt with and she is always a bitch".

So I guess the moral of this ramble is - it all comes down to the type of person you encounter at check-in.

jetstar, jeez i flew with them chch to auckland in january, plane was late. cabin was filthy. the menu actually had teeth marks on it like a baby was chewing on it.
never ever again.