Flying to IPSC match with Air Canada HUGE PROBLEM

svergas

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Hello Folks
I am flying with air canada to an IPSC match in South America and have a problem.
They do not want to take 1 shotgun 1 22 rifle and 2 handguns on board. Apparently I can take 1 case with 5 handguns, 1 case with 2 rifles, or 2 cases with 1 shotgun in each BUT not shotgun, rifle and 2 handguns combined. Idiot i spoke to said it is for security reasons and that it is Air Canada policy and also government policy as well (total BS).

I am looking here for the feedback from people that flew with multiple firearms with Air Canada and also any other advice on the issue.

Thanx
 
If you're close to the border, fly out of the states with AA. I'm done with Air Canada, and have been for years. They do not have any idea of what customer service is. The next time they come looking for a bailout from the Gov't I'll be screaming no from the highest mountain top.
 
Just flew to Texas and back with all of my three guns in one case with Westjet. Flew on points as well.
 
Agreed, Air Canada policies are antiquated at best. Maximum of two firearms lol, I try and avoid Air Canada for many reasons but the firearm restrictions is second to thier over-booking of seats. I had three longarms in one case last year with AC and had to take a taxi home, unpack one while the taxi is waiting and then head back to the airport. None too pleased.

That being said I booked a flight in Canada with aeroplan points since they were slated to expire and I will be travelling with two firearms and only two now I just have to hope they do not bump me and send them to my destination without me.

Regards,

Izzit
 
Update.

After calling Air Canada for the 3rd time got taking to a rep that acknowledged that their web site does not match with the "company policy".
Since this is a direct flight and I am traveling with my little girl I will not change plans. It is kind a sad that i managed to work through 2 different governments and sorted all my paper work and at the end idiots at the Air Canada says that they will not take firearms on the plane even after I pointed out that I did follow all of their on line instructions.

Here is the plan. Take 2 non-restricted and pack them in 1 case, take 2 restricted and pack them in second case and take all to the airport(got my friend with PAL to drive me) Try to check in everything and if they refuse point to the on line instructions and if they still refuse run all the way up the ranks to the top at the airport. If still get stuck hand over my non-restricted to the friend that drove me and take my restricted to the plane.

Now did I say how much Air Canada sucks and that it is company run by idiots. Will never fly Air Canada if I can avoid in any way possible.

Do not fly Air Canada!!!!!!!!!
 
Update.

After calling Air Canada for the 3rd time got taking to a rep that acknowledged that their web site does not match with the "company policy".
Since this is a direct flight and I am traveling with my little girl I will not change plans. It is kind a sad that i managed to work through 2 different governments and sorted all my paper work and at the end idiots at the Air Canada says that they will not take firearms on the plane even after I pointed out that I did follow all of their on line instructions.

Here is the plan. Take 2 non-restricted and pack them in 1 case, take 2 restricted and pack them in second case and take all to the airport(got my friend with PAL to drive me) Try to check in everything and if they refuse point to the on line instructions and if they still refuse run all the way up the ranks to the top at the airport. If still get stuck hand over my non-restricted to the friend that drove me and take my restricted to the plane.

Now did I say how much Air Canada sucks and that it is company run by idiots. Will never fly Air Canada if I can avoid in any way possible.

Do not fly Air Canada!!!!!!!!!

Just print out the paperwork and have it in your hand print out the forms have them filled in then just walk up there and go duh... I don't know this is what they gave me from your head office show the paperwork ask them do I have to show you or someone else? They will go I have no idea in it goes...

I've taken a few things that aren't supposed to go on a plane before and got them past securety and checks even after they found them 1 was live ammo was kind of funny when they dropped it back into my bag and said have a nice flight. I went wow that was easy. All I asked was do you have a PAL because I can't give you live ammo or I would be breaking the law. Can't throw it away that's unsafe you can give it to a police officer who said I don't want that just give it back to him (He knew it was ammo just didn't want to do the paperwork to get ride of it) So I went back on 2 flights with live ammo. Now it was a 22lr round that got stuck on the bottom of my bag that I use to take firearms to the range didn't know it was in there it was stuck on the bottom.

You can get anything through if you can out talk them and they think you know what your talking about showing a PAL and being confedent when you speak to them and sounding like you know the drill ok I have to check this here is the paperwork ect they will just wave it through.
 
This probably won't help you any, but I flew Air Canada (Calgary to Halifax) in 2009 to the IPSC 3-Gun Nationals. My gun case held 2 handguns, 1 rifle, 1 shotgun. Paid the $50 for the "gun handling"; not the $50/gun. Their policy may have changed since then and that was not an international flight, but I did get 4 firearms in one case and traveled to and from Halifax on Air Canada.

As others have said, avoid Air Canada if at all possible just because of their aggravation. I only flew Air Canada that trip as I wanted to use up my Aeroplan points. I now try to avoid Air Canada even if the alternate flight may cost a little more.
 
i must apologize in advance is this sounds really dumb, but can you mail or courier some or all the guns to your destination ? I did this a couple times within Canada just to avoid the hassle of having to take my guns out of the case and having a ticket clerk wave them around to see if they were loaded in a very busy Vancouver international.
 
Update:
Showed up at the airport with 2 cases that had guns in them. Payed for 2 additional pieces of luggage and was on my way.
That was it. Nothing else.
 
AC sucks. Service sucks. Flew few times with AC specifically trans-pacific, will avoid AC as much as possible. They don't even give you a hotel if their flight is delayed and just tell you to wait for the next flight available in the next 12 hrs. You have to argue with every shortcoming they caused.

Do not fly Air Canada!!!!!!!!! if possible.
 
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