Transporting Kit When Playing Abroad

[Lovetone]

when we were at manchester we had to show the police our gear (ie they radio'd in the feds, who were cool as i might add) and it held the queue up about an hour. bit riduculous, and mrs. english 2nd language didnt help with her insistence on using the word GUN.

america was not a problem AT ALL.

 

[D7's]

We have travelled all over and never had any problems. Got to agree there is no problem with the word PAINTBALL just the word GUN.

 

[Magic_8ball]

Don't mean to drag up old threads, but has anyone had any particularly bad experiences with Ryan Air? I'm going over to Sweden in the Autumn and Ryanair is the only viable airline really, and I'd been hearing horror stories about them being really strict about markers/air systems (even separate regs/bottles). Just wondering if anyone had flown Ryanair recently on the way to Germany or Toulouse or HB or something?

 

[lemonadeX]

I know that Quake drove to the Germany Mill series and took all of Cynergy's markers+air tanks with them, because RyanAir *may* not have allowed them on the plane, and it wasn't worth the risk.

-Will

 

[Syd (NSPL)]

We went by Ryan Air to Germany and sent our kit over with those good peeps on Quake taking a roadtrip to Polland or somewhere. Thankfully, Quake found their way eventually and also kindly took our kit home with them too.

Now, I've never had any probs with airlines and paintball kit, so when I realised we had forgot to send a spare air system back with Quake, I wasn't too worried. I put it in my bag, reg on, and flew home. No problems.

Everyone makes too big of a deal about flying with paintball equipment. It isn't illegal... we are doing nothing wrong.

The only thing with Ryan Air is the stupidly low weight allowance on baggage. Pack light.

 

[Syd (NSPL)]

I know that Quake drove to the Germany Mill series and took all of Cynergy's markers+air tanks with them, because RyanAir wouldn't allow them on the plane.

Not because they wouldn't allow them. That's misleading. We never tried to take them to Germany via Ryan Air. Why? Mostly because of rumour, hearsay, scaremongers and nervous cynergy players.

 

[Magic_8ball]

Not because they wouldn't allow them. That's misleading. We never tried to take them to Germany via Ryan Air. Why? Mostly because of rumour, hearsay, scaremongers and nervous cynergy players.

Yeah, I think a lot of it is just scaremongering and nerves... I travelled to Toulouse on Easyjet, with the reg still on my air system (couldnt get it off) and all was well.

Just have my fingers and toes crossed I think

 

[rkid]

Just wanted to post up for any one traveling to Canada.

I have been Canada 2 times with my kit. The first time i was coming back with my first gun i had brought there and bottle. I told them at the desk i had a paintball marker, Which i repeated 3 times to them and had to say gun in the end, They did not now what a marker was. They checked me in sent me to a scanner at the end. They put my bag through and asked if i had a bottle, I said yes but i had the reg on because i could not get it off, They said its okay but in future please remove it. They put a sticker on saying checked and it was all okay.

When i went back out a month later with my kit from the uk, At the desk i said i had a paintball gun in my case they called one of the security guards over, He checked it said it was okay. Never had any problems with air Canada or British airways flying hope this helps.

 

[Timboy]

Seems like most of the obvious points that need to be made have been made.

On the way to and from Oklahoma DDay a fortnight ago all 15 of us were taking out kit. Delta Airlines wouldn't put our bags through the regular check-in desk but instead put them through the 'oversized' desk so that they could get a more thorough scan.

Everyone made sure that they had paintball mags, exploded drawings, game/event tickets, purchase receipt etc all packed with the guns to minimise any agro - all common sense stuff really.

Some people believe it's best to not mention paintball guns, we took the opposite view and had a letter faxed to us from the Delta Airline HQ specifically mentioning that markers were ok. This letter saved us a load of hassle at the check-in desks at both ends.

Enjoy your trip

 

[Hobo_Joe]

Old thread... blah blah blah...

But a few years ago on a flight to South Africa I mentioned it to the lovely lady at check-in, all kit was in my main luggage.

In the end it was checked through as a fire-arm. Had to sign a few papers and had my bag escorted to and from the plane by armed security.

South Africa was no issue they didnt under stand what the hell it was (talking to the police in the airport).

On my return voyage I was the first to start checking in and the last person to leave check in an attempt to either have the same check in or to just have the useless lump of skin to understand what a paintball gun was. SHe kept asking me if I had bullets.

Eventualy she stopped caring and sent it through where I had no issues.

Didnt think about the whole PGi mag idea... always next time