Thread: ammunition on national flights

Hiya.

I recently flew to Christchurch for a hunt, I had about 15x rounds inside a standard pouch with the elastic fitted holes which you put your bullets inside. On the flight from AKLD I had no issues with security however when I checked in my bag to the flight from Christchurch to AKLD the security person said there are new rules that all ammunition has to be stored in the 'original' packaging... I had all of my rem mag AMAX rounds confiscated... My pouch wasn't acceptable.

With these new said rules, how would I go about transporting them the next time? Would one of those green hardlid cases be acceptable?

They told me that at CHCH about 2 years ago, but there is no rule about original packaging. I eventually got Air NZ to send a taxi 50k to my house pick up my rifle and ammo that I had sent back with my wife and they put it on a later flight for me.

Just go buy a pack and empty it, thy aren't going to know the difference, they might go as far as looking at the headstand though

This is what it says on the Air NZ website https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/dangerous-goods

"Airline safety requirements

Ammunition must be securely packed in division 1.4S (UN0012 or UN0014) and must not exceed 5kg gross weight."

No mention of original packaging.

I rang and had a long discussion with Air NZ at the time and the person agreed there was no requirement that it had to be in the original packaging, just secure. I was also able to tell them that when I booked and told them I was travelling with a firearm I was told the ammunition had to be separate, but no mention was made of it having to be in original packaging.

Cost them a few hundred dollars to get right.

I've just sent an email to CAA, so hopefully will get a reply about this soon.

When travelling with handgun ammo the plastic storage boxes were fine.
Can't see why it would be any different with rifle ammo.
Last time I went north the kiosk attendant made me pull out my hard case which was at the bottom of my bag to show her it was locked. No one else I travelled with had to do it.

Sending ammo up prior to a match is the done thing now as guys using .40 would go over the 5kgs limit anyway.

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Originally Posted by R93

Last time I went north the kiosk attendant made me pull out my hard case which was at the bottom of my bag to show her it was locked. No one else I travelled with had to do it.


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Being a Coaster she was probably curious as to how you could open it without thumbs

Originally Posted by Ryan

Being a Coaster she was probably curious as to how you could open it without thumbs

Ha. Probably. Certainly wasn't my charm.
Having to pull my PJs and teddy bear out in front of everyone waiting was a bit on the nose.

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Originally Posted by R93

Ha. Probably. Certainly wasn't my charm.
Having to pull my PJs and teddy bear out in front of everyone waiting was a bit on the nose.

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PJ's or one'se?

Originally Posted by madjon_

PJ's or one'se?

PJs for me and Boo bear has a onesie😆

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Originally Posted by hotsoup

Hiya.

I recently flew to Christchurch for a hunt, I had about 15x rounds inside a standard pouch with the elastic fitted holes which you put your bullets inside. On the flight from AKLD I had no issues with security however when I checked in my bag to the flight from Christchurch to AKLD the security person said there are new rules that all ammunition has to be stored in the 'original' packaging... I had all of my rem mag AMAX rounds confiscated... My pouch wasn't acceptable.

With these new said rules, how would I go about transporting them the next time? Would one of those green hardlid cases be acceptable?

I had the same problem at Christchurch any round that wasn't in a plastic storage box that keeps the rounds separate was distroyed.
And I had phoned Auckland information twice to ask the rules and there was no mention of it.
So when I got back and after a few emails to them they reimbursed me for the rounds they took and they said that there call center was wrong and all ammo must be in an approved container that keeps all rounds separate.

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Himm I'm flying from uk just going through all the rigmarole with Emirates.
I also have a stop over in Dubai.
I'll let you all know how we get on.

CAA were no use, they basically said the airlines can impose their own conditions and talk to the airline.

That's correct, as the NZCAA Rules only set out the minimum standards that are to be complied with. Individual operators must specify in their exposition how they intend to comply with those requirements and in practise often exceed the basic requirements. There are also differences in the standards for different levels of organisations; VFR operations such as those that you would fly into the bush with, commuter airlines that have aircraft without segregated baggage compartments, transport aircraft above 5700 kg maximum take-off weight - Air NZ/Jetstar domestic, and then again for international operators. So, like the CAA said check with your airline first. incidentally I had several rounds of 7mm wsm ammunition removed (and destroyed) from my baggage by aviation security in QN when returning north in late March, reason given was that the rounds were just secured by a rubber band so potentially could rub together, and also an empty aluminium fuel bottle in another bag. Weary after 10 days in the bush and a tight schedule. Unfortunately you will receive different information from individual staff members within Air NZ (and likely other large airlines), probably due to unfamiliarity so best to talk to them early in the piece.

@38 South that is the issue. Air NZ gives mixed messages. When you book and tell them you have a firearm all you are told is the ammuntion must be in a separate bag. On their website with info about dangerous goods there is no mention of having to be in original packaging or any other sort of container. Then at check in you are surprised by someone saying it must be in an original container. You have booked the trip 6 months ago and paind over $1000 for your hunting, and cannot take your ammo, and cannot buy any one the way as you are flying in to he block on the Sunday. Plus you are sighted in for handloads, not commercial ammo.
Air NZ needs to get their act together and state clearly the requirements on their website and train their call centre staff properly.