[Therapydude]

I'm going to Thunder Ranch next summer and, after giving up the idea of driving that far (I live in Arkansas), I've decided to fly (only reason I was going to drive was to make transporting guns and ammo easier). Please forgive my ignorance of air travel, but I haven't flown since the third grade (I'm 31 now). I've decided to buy an SKB case for transport (I'll be taking an AR, shotgun, and two handguns). Ammo will be shipped separately to Thunder Ranch. I'd like to buy a 4 gun case and put all of the firearms in one side and use the remaining space for mags, cleaning equipment, holsters, etc. Any rules against packing various accessories along with the firearms? How about cleaning solvent or oil? I've read the TSA rules, but am not sure about this part. I assume if I have a lot of accessories, there is a chance of something getting misplaced when they inspect my case. After I check my case initially, do I have to do anything at each of my connecting flights or does the case simply switch planes once it's in the system? Is there any insurance provided or available with air travel? Any airlines that are easier (or harder) to deal with in regards to firearms and travel? Any additional rules with certain carriers? Again, excuse my ignorance as it has been a long time since I have flown. Thanks for any help you all can provide!

[Preacherman]

OK, lots of questions. Let's see how many I can answer.

1. Based on my own experience, you should not have any problems flying with firearms in a locked case. However, a lot seems to depend on the airports you use. At some airports, the TSA staff are relatively helpful and quite knowledgeable about the rules and regulations - at others, they don't know their backside from their elbow, and can give you a great deal of trouble. I'd suggest printing out the relevant regulations from both the TSA Web site and the airline's, and carrying them with you in case of argument.

2. I do NOT recommend carrying any liquid cleaning supplies with your guns or baggage. Too much risk of breakage, and too much risk that someone may "inspect" them and - oops, terribly sorry - leave the top off, or put it on loosely, thus ensuring that anything near the bottle(s) gets soaked. Not a good idea. I'd suggest shipping a couple of bottles to Thunder Ranch for collection when you get there, or buying something in Oregon on the way to TR.

3. The SKB case should be fine. However, I'd suggest putting your handguns into a small, locking case, inside one of your main (hard-sided) luggage items. This is because if anything happens to the gun case (e.g. it flies to Mexico while you end up in Oregon), you're SOL. If the guns are in two separate cases, at least you can shoot something at Thunder Ranch while waiting for the other case to turn up.

4. Your case should be transferred automatically between flights. However, it's a good idea to keep your checked-luggage tags with you, and ask the counter attendant at your boarding gate to please verify that her computer system shows these as having been loaded on your next flight. I do this religiously (well, what else? :D ), and have twice caught one or more of my bags not loaded before departure. Asking like this before departure gives the airline a chance to correct the mistake before it gets out of hand.

5. I'd suggest you purchase all-risks insurance on any and all expensive items you're travelling with. The airline insurance is often limited in value, and they quibble! Having your own insurance gives you peace of mind. (Remember to have proof of ownership and value, e.g. photographs, invoices, Blue Book figures, etc. safely stored somewhere in case you need to make a claim.)

Hope this helps. Have fun at Thunder Ranch - I haven't been to the new Oregon facility, but attended several times when they were down in Texas.

[GigaBuist]

Only done it once, and that was with Delta. Since you're not flying with ammo that takes care of one problem: Delta won't let you keep ammo in the gun case, although the TSA is OK with it. At least, that's what the TSA guys told me when the Delta guy told me I had to separate the two. 'Twas a small airport, so TSA was about 3 feet from me while checking in, and got interested when they realized I had firearms.

Not bad interested, just like this might be the most fun they had for a couple of hours.

According to federal regs, and I'm sure somebody here knows -exactly- where the TSA cannot require you to give them the combination or the keys to your gun case. They can certainly ask you to open it up, however, which you will have to do. However, they'll always just ask for the keys or combo in my experience. Your call on how much of a stickler you want to be about the rules.

If you can come across like a very personable guy without any problems at all while explaining that you wouldn't like your keys out of your hand to the weapons, nor would you like to let anybody else know the combo, go that route. Pretty rational reasoning behind it, if you ask me. If anybody was able to relay a combination to a bomb-placer in the back the gun case would be ideal as it'll likely set off explosive alarms.. when they see it's a firearm they'd let it pass, as they cannot unlock it.

Most of 'em don't know the laws. MAKE SURE THAT YOU SIGN A DECLARATION AND PLACE IT IN THE CASE WITH THE WEAPONS AT THE TICKET COUNTER! I had a clerk that didn't know I had to do that, so I informed him. TSA standing by me affirmed that I was correct, and he should do what I say. Rather odd, really.

I know Kitaria had an issue with her boyfriend flying out with multiple guns in a single case. I kept mine seperate for that reason, but I just had a SxS 12 gauge and a pistol. Rather easy to pick up two small cases for them.

[fisherman66]

I think I'd find out the cost to mail them to a gunshop near the ranch and forgo the headache. I took a bunch of fishing gear in a rifle case to the gulf and still had may luggage "rifled" through coming and going. All of my luggage, not just the case. Probably too expensive, but I think I'd at least consider it.

[treeprof]

Delta WILL in fact let your ammo and gun(s) be in the same locked case, and they have allowed this since about 2000 (info is on the website); I have done it dozens of times on Delta. However, I dealt with a major moron of a ticketing agent in Detroit on a return trip to Atlanta the other week who failed to understand this. On the up side, I got some freebies from Delta when I complained to the on-duty supervisor, and she promised to add this as a topic for the next training session and to speak with the moron at the counter.

Therapydude, DO read and print out the regs for your particular airline (some will limit # guns per case, for example) and take a copy of TSA's regs as well. I had an ignorant TSA goon also hassle me at Detroit, taking turns with the Delta guy blaming each other regs when I showed them on paper that they were violating both Delta and TSA policy. I worked my way up the food chain with TSA as well, and they too promised to add this to training AND I got a personal apology from the TSA employee who hassled me at the counter. The two TSA poohbahs with whom I spoke were very apologetic.