How Many Guns can I Fly With?

In regards to the headline it depends on how fast you flap your wings. =]

He beat me to it. lol

I've yet to fly with guns, i've lost luggage a couple times and would be scared to lose them.

http://deviating.net/firearms/packing/ this guy goes everywhere with guns in his luggage for one reason: to protect his more expensive electronics and lockpicking gear. He also goes over how some airlines have arbitrary rules. Try sending him an email, he should be pretty approachable about it.

Call which ever airline (s) your traveling with. They will have the definitive answer.

I flew to Nevada last summer with 11 firearms in one case (double sided rifle case) via Delta - Honestly though, I have to recommend against it - When I got to my destination, my gun case (one of two checked bags) was missing, and it took two days for the airline to find it. When they finally did find it I received it with the handle broken off, two of the latches missing and one hinge broken. The case had tool marks that showed that somebody had attempted to get into the case. Fortunately everything inside the case was intact and unmolested.

On discussing the issue with Delta, I was given a $25 voucher for my next flight which I ripped to shreds and handed back to the executive politely. I canceled my return ticket with Delta and flew home via American Airlines and had no problems.

tarosean said:

Call which ever airline (s) your traveling with. They will have the definitive answer.

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WADR, in my experience (140+ flights/yr) definitive answers are rarely...if ever, the case over the phone.....

I have taken two rifles and two handguns in one case without any problems on Delta. Spirit Air limits you to one rifle or pistol.

From Delta site:

Pistols

You can bring pistols and accessories as checked baggage as long as they are included in one pistol case and contain:
Pistol telescopes
Noise suppressers
A small pistol tool case
No more than 11 lbs. (5 kg) of ammunition
Please read important information regarding packaging and presenting/declaring firearms at check-in.

Rifles and Shotguns

Delta will accept firearms and shooting equipment packaged as follows:
One gun case containing rifles or shotguns, plus shooting materials, and tools
One gun case containing handguns, one scope, and tools
One bow and quiver of arrows and maintenance kit enclosed in a case or container of sufficient strength to protect the bow and quiver from accidental damage
An excess baggage fee will apply if checking more than one gun case. Ammunition is limited to 11 lbs. (5 kg).
Please read important information regarding packaging and presenting/declaring firearms at check-in.

There are a number of potential hiccups, so it's wise to uncover the policies of:

- TSA
- Your airline(s)
- Your originating airport
- Your destination airport (you'll be originating there for your return trip, right?)

Airport and airline personnel will often give conflicting or vague answers to these questions, so you are wise to plan ahead. Record the name and contact information for the persons who provided the answers, and note the time and date of the conversations. Get those answers in writing (printouts of policy pages from their website are quite useful) so you can present paper when someone on scene tries to reverse the decision or reinterpret the policy.

Great info, thanks. Am flying to Alaska spring of 13, boat to Wash., rental car to Sou. Cal. Hear the boat regs are the most stringent. Any experience with them?

I would never fly with guns because I don't trust the employees of the airlines, don't want the hassles of the way you are treated when trying to check the guns in and a half dozen other reasons.

Please listen

You are much better off sending your guns next day delivery to your destination addressed to yourself. It is 100% legal for you to take delivery of your guns at the destination but no one else can legally receive them. It's so much safer and there's no hassle involves!!!

Good luck...

Just make sure your flight does not have any scheduled (or unscheduled!) stops in guns-prohibited areas, such as New York (City), New Jersey, or Illinois. Although extremely rare, there have been cases of people being arrested when they came into manual possession of their firearms due to an unexpected layover. Have a good trip.

Unless it is a private boat, You may have more problems with the sea leg of your trip than with the plane.

I flew recently on American Airlines with two rifles and a pistol in a single case. Neither the airline nor TSA even wanted to look inside the case - they just had me a sign a "not loaded" waiver and slide it inside.

How many you can check and declare is totally up to the individual carrier and their insurance company. Ask the airline. Ask several different people at the airline because half of them won't have a clue but will tell you some number just so you go away. This information SHOULD be on their website. And as stated make sure you know the laws in every city you may land in. Many people have learned this the hard way. If weather forces you to land in say, New York you will have a problem if you retrieve your baggage. I would leave any bags with guns in them in possession of the airline until you get to your destination, even if they may lose it or send it to Terra Del Fuego. I used to fly years ago with guns and never had a problem (except for stupid people who worked for the airlines). I will never fly commercial again though just because of the way the TSA treats people.

My wife flew with 4 guns using Delta and they didn't even bat an eyelash. Just make sure its a hard sided case that locks on both ends. I don't think they have a limit per se. Most guidelines I have used for airlines are the pistols have to be locked in a hard case in checked baggage. But that would be something to call the airline ahead of time to make sure they don't have a limit. And you will have to show up at the airport earlier to go through and declare firearms. Depending on the airport that could mean 1-3 hours before your flight time.

I flew Delta with 5 pistols in one case and 2 rifles in another. I was charged accordingly, but not scrutinized. I was afraid to go over their arbitrary quantities.

This is a good post, I'm mulling this over right now. I have a scheduled flight out of Sonoma County to LAX on Alaska Airlines and I would like to bring my .45 auto carry gun with me. I'll be renting a car and driving from LAX to Laguna Beach, would rather not do so unarmed (I have a LTC).

I've never flown with firearms before so I'm a bit nervous. Not necessarily due to the processes and procedures, just that my suitcase may end up "disappearing". I can replace the gun (although I do not like the idea of it ending up in the wrong hands) but the suitcase will also be filled with irreplaceable family photo albums that go back 50 years and more (I'm travelling to a reunion). These are irreplaceable. I don't really want to travel with two suitcases just for this.

Quandary.

Dan

^ I would pack the photos in a carry on.. I fly over 100,000 miles a year and have never had my baggage or articles lost or stolen. Delayed a day or two, or end up in the wrong country a few times is about it.. However, they have been damaged in all sorts of ways imaginable.

Little airports are a breeze with guns, it's the big ones that can be a pain...

Trouble is the photo albums are taking up 2/3 of a large hard sided suitcase. I'm only staying for one night at my friend's house so my clothing can be taken with me in a carry-on bag (beach house so shorts and T-shirts).

Maybe I could ship the albums UPS, I have time to do this. I don't know, still scratching my head over this.

I've never lost any luggage really except for one bag that arrived on the next flight from SFO to LaGuardia. But with guns, who will know and who can be trusted? Especially with LAX, that place isn't the paragon of all things lawful or trustworthy.

Dan

But with guns, who will know and who can be trusted? Especially with LAX, that place isn't the paragon of all things lawful or trustworthy.

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Don't use TSA locks and Lock the gun case to the rails of the suitcase. They will either have to steal the entire thing, or spend a lot of time attempting.

tarosean said:

Don't use TSA locks and Lock the gun case to the rails of the suitcase. They will either have to steal the entire thing, or spend a lot of time attempting.

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Yep, that is what I plan to do. I have a huge pile of gun locks that came with my gun purchases over the years (California) and I have a good solid lock-down method that is just what you describe.

I'll see how it goes, I fly out on the 27th.

Dan

I have a huge pile of gun locks that came with my gun purchases over the years.

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I'm not sure there is much difference between using those and the TSA locks, really.

Jorg said:

I'm not sure there is much difference between using those and the TSA locks, really.

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I may end up with hardware store Master locks. I do want to lock the internal hard case to a part of the internal structure. I am a Mechanical Engineer by profession and my Dad was a clever inventor of locks so I think I have some pretty good ideas as to how to proceed.

Right now I'm shopping for a good, durable, hard side travel luggage suitcase. All of the name brands (Samsonite, etc.) have reasonable cases but they all zip closed and only a few have the so-called "TSA Combo Lock" that looks like it would take my 30 seconds with a Leatherman to pop.

I'm checking out Pelican cases with hard latches and stainless steel lock plates that accommodate padlocks.

Dan