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American Airlines’ policy regarding firearms on flights to and from Europe and Asia has been revised three days after it went into effect.
Earlier in the week, this notice on the Fort Worth-based airline’s website could be found under the travel information section on restricted items: “Effective with tickets purchased on/after September 24, 2007, American Airlines will no longer accept firearms in checked baggage to/from any European or Asian destination (except for military/government personnel with proper documentation).�
The National Rifle Association and other advocates of hunting and the shooting sports were stirred up and moved to action.
Gray Thornton, executive director of the Dallas Safari Club, whose mission includes promoting the preservation of rights and interests of sportsmen and sportswomen worldwide, said: “This will have a huge impact.�
Thornton, whose group first heard of this impending change on Sept. 20th, added American Airlines’ policy could shut down hunting in Europe, especially if other airlines followed suit. By late Wednesday afternoon, however, the policy was (for the most part) grounded. In response to Lone Star Outdoor News’ request for an interview, American Airlines emailed this statement: “American Airlines recently implemented a policy, effective for tickets purchased on or after Sept. 24, 2007, that it would no longer allow the transportation of civilian firearms in checked luggage to Europe and Asia, as a result of onerous restrictions in the United Kingdom. After hearing from our customers and interested parties, including the National Rifle Association (NRA), American has determined that it can modify its policy to allow legally declared firearms to be transported on nonstop flights to other destinations in Europe outside of the UK, and to our Asian destinations. We regret that, at this time, as a result of UK policies we can not allow civilian transport of firearms into the UK. We look forward to working with the NRA and other industry groups in an attempt to resolve those issues in the hopes of allowing civilian firearms to be transported to the UK on American Airlines in the near future.�
Tim Wagner of American Airlines explained that last year after the terrorism scares in the United Kingdom, customs officials there stepped up the enforcement of existing rules.
“When we violate any single step of those rules – and it’s not frequent, but enough because they are so stringent – we not only are fined, but the UK has also come close to revoking our ability to carry all weapons. That would prevent us from carrying military personnel and their firearms, and we simply can not take that risk,� Wagner explained.
So as of Wednesday, international hunters who’ve yet to book their fall trips with American Airlines to Scotland (or any UK destination) for a bit of deer stalking or grouse hunting will not be allowed to check their firearms and must make alternate arrangements.
We are told by American Airlines’ reservations desk that ticketholders who booked (and paid for) their flights prior to Sept. 24 are exempt from this policy.
However, it is suggested that ticketholding hunters traveling to the UK check with the airline prior to departure to avoid any last-minute surprises.
Why? Because they recinded the policy after talking to the NRA?Arock wrote:One more reason NOT to fly American Airlines. Every trip on American is another dose of Aviation Aversion Therapy.
I took Arock's comment to be referring to American Airline's general imperial attitude which led to the prohibition in the first place.frankie_the_yankee wrote:Why? Because they recinded the policy after talking to the NRA?Arock wrote:One more reason NOT to fly American Airlines. Every trip on American is another dose of Aviation Aversion Therapy.
You must not fly with firearms.frankie_the_yankee wrote:Why? Because they recinded the policy after talking to the NRA?Arock wrote:One more reason NOT to fly American Airlines. Every trip on American is another dose of Aviation Aversion Therapy.
I have never flown international with firearns.Arock wrote:You must not fly with firearms.frankie_the_yankee wrote:Why? Because they recinded the policy after talking to the NRA?Arock wrote:One more reason NOT to fly American Airlines. Every trip on American is another dose of Aviation Aversion Therapy.
American Airlines has the WORST history of mistreating firearms owners and mis-handling firearms of any major domestic carrier.