Finally, a decent news article on how to fly with firearms

Don't count on the airline you fly or its employees to know or bother with their own rules for flying with firearms (I'm looking at YOU Southwest Air). Bring a paper copy of your Airline's regulations to avoid unacceptable delays and be prepared to be asked to sit on the Group "W" bench in the interim.

MutinousDoug said:

Don't count on the airline you fly or its employees to know or bother with their own rules for flying with firearms (I'm looking at YOU Southwest Air). Bring a paper copy of your Airline's regulations to avoid unacceptable delays and be prepared to be asked to sit on the Group "W" bench in the interim.

Click to expand...

This a thousand times. One of the times I flew with firearms, I had a receptionist tell me "Flying with firearms is illegal, I will have to notify the police." Which is why I keep a copy of the TSA and airline regulations in my hand with my ticket when flying with firearms. To speed the understanding along, I highlight the important stuff.

"When preparing your firearm for travel, the most important thing to keep in mind is that it is completely unloaded,"
As opposed to partially unloaded? Gee thanks for that one.

"For boxes that have multiple spots for locks, each location must have a lock."

WRONG. It only has to be sturdy enough to not be opened with conventional means. I flew with a rifle case that has 4 lock slots. I only used 2 locks. No problems at 3 airports.

"They will give you a declaration form."
Also wrong. I have never filled out any forms when traveling with handguns. And on 3 different airlines.

"If you check your firearm separately, you will pick up the box at the airlines’ baggage offices after your flight because it will not come out on the baggage carrousel."
Again, also wrong. I have recovered long rifle cases on the carosel. There is a reason why airlines request the cases be as non descript as possible.

herrwalther said:

"If you check your firearm separately, you will pick up the box at the airlines’ baggage offices after your flight because it will not come out on the baggage carrousel."

Again, also wrong. I have recovered long rifle cases on the carosel. There is a reason why airlines request the cases be as non descript as possible.

Click to expand...

I find this varies by carrier. Delta (if I recall) adds an exterior 'special handling' tag that routes it to the baggage office. This is probably a violation of the prohibition on external marking, but who are you going to complain too?

edwardware said:

I find this varies by carrier. Delta (if I recall) adds an exterior 'special handling' tag that routes it to the baggage office. This is probably a violation of the prohibition on external marking, but who are you going to complain too?

Click to expand...

I have flown with Delta so it may be a new policy if that is the airline. I would prefer to pick firearms up at a different counter after the flight. Would avoid the incident of "Hey that looks like a rifle case, its mine." Whenever I have flown with firearms I make a mad dash to the carousel so I am there when it starts churning out baggage. But like you said, anything that might be hit with a special tag might violate the external markings rule.

What happens if you checked a firearm in successfully and are comfortably sitting in your seat and are chosen to be evicted from the flight as a random choice to allow a more important person your position?

Do you get your baggage back or must you pick it up when you finally get to the destination? Does it hit the carousel and spin around until an airline employee removes it in wait for a claim?

According to FAA regulations, if one is removed from a flight, so to must his or her baggage be removed.

I've had it go both ways on Delta. Flew into Minneapolis one time and couldn't find my rifle (case) at the baggage carousel. Picked it up at the baggage office with my claim ticket. Flew on Delta to Minneapolis a second time and found the rifle (case) sliding down the baggage shoot onto the carousel. Different year, different crew, different procedure.

herrwalther said:

...
"They will give you a declaration form."
Also wrong. I have never filled out any forms when traveling with handguns. And on 3 different airlines...

Click to expand...

Um, even before 9/11 there has been a declaration tag that is to be filled out and taped to/placed in the handgun case (depending on the airline's agent) - To NOT declare the handgun is a violation of federal law.

Whenever I fly with a handgun, I always ask the TSA agent to stamp BOTH sides of my luggage tag so I don't have to worry about someone noticing that my suitcase is locked and deciding they need to look.

Almost every time I have flown with one, my bag and I go to a specific area and TSA inspects it, has ME lock the case, and they usually ask me if I want my suitcase locked.

Sam

SHOOT1SAM said:

Um, even before 9/11 there has been a declaration tag that is to be filled out and taped to/placed in the handgun case (depending on the airline's agent) - To NOT declare the handgun is a violation of federal law.

Whenever I fly with a handgun, I always ask the TSA agent to stamp BOTH sides of my luggage tag so I don't have to worry about someone noticing that my suitcase is locked and deciding they need to look.

Almost every time I have flown with one, my bag and I go to a specific area and TSA inspects it, has ME lock the case, and they usually ask me if I want my suitcase locked.

Click to expand...

In the half dozen or so times I have flown with a firearm, I have never filled out a form. I know the tag of which you speak of, and that was filled out by the agent for me.

herrwalther said:

In the half dozen or so times I have flown with a firearm, I have never filled out a form. I know the tag of which you speak of, and that was filled out by the agent for me.

Click to expand...

To be as specific as possible...yes the agent usually fills out your name & some flight/date info, but are you stating that you have never had to sign & date it, nor put it in with the handgun yourself?

Sam

American Airlines filled out the tag and placed it in the luggage. Frontier had me check appropriate boxes and sign and date the tag and had me place it on top of the gun case. Sometimes AA has me open the gun case to show them all is well sometimes they don't. Frontier never has. AA has me pick up my checked bag at a special offfice but Frontier has it come out with everyone else's baggage.

SHOOT1SAM said:

To be as specific as possible...yes the agent usually fills out your name & some flight/date info, but are you stating that you have never had to sign & date it, nor put it in with the handgun yourself?

Click to expand...

Sign/date yes. But flight info, airline, date, make and model of firearm or anything like that? No. In a couple instances I signed a form, put it in the case and sent it through Xray to verify it was unloaded. I guess the desk clerk didn't feel confident enough for either of us to do a visual inspection for ammo.

Or you could have my experience...

Went to the Colorado Springs airport well before my flight. I was the only person at the ticket counter or within 40 feet of it. Told the ticket agent I had a special item to be declared. Looked at me questioningly. Told her I had a handgun to check in my luggage. She got very, very nervous. I handed her the airline rules page...and the TSA rules. She ummed and awwed..and finally pulled out her manual. Pulled out the orange tag. She said "we have to take this to be inspected by TSA" which happened to be about 5 feet away from where we were standing. She walked the bag to the two guys behind the counter, I walked in front of the counter to where TSA was scanning checked bags. We were the only people there.

She handed the guy my suitcase and said "this needs to be inspected:. The guy threw it on the XRay machine - the guy running the machine never noticed anything. I said "I have a firearm in that bag that needs to be inspected" - the TSA guys said "Oh, too late - it's already gone". I said "my bag is unlocked...the hard case inside is unlocked..awaiting your MANUAL inspection...the tag is not on it" The ticket agent was standing there waving the ticket at them. The guy just said "sorry".

I worried about it the whole way back home, but it arrived safely. I wrote a letter to TSA...and they never responded back.

This one actually states that you cannot use TSA locks, which has been the rule forever.

Click to expand...

Been flying with my pistols for years. All I've ever used on my gun cases is TSA locks (since they first became available) - checking in at more airports than I can remember. Never a problem. Inquired TSA about TSA locks and their reply was TSA locks are acceptable.

I like Alaska Airlines - their tag is a pressure sensitive duplicate, the original goes inside my case/luggage, the copy they staple to my boarding pass sleeve.

jmace57 said:

She handed the guy my suitcase and said "this needs to be inspected:. The guy threw it on the XRay machine - the guy running the machine never noticed anything. I said "I have a firearm in that bag that needs to be inspected" - the TSA guys said "Oh, too late - it's already gone". I said "my bag is unlocked...the hard case inside is unlocked..awaiting your MANUAL inspection...the tag is not on it" The ticket agent was standing there waving the ticket at them. The guy just said "sorry".

Click to expand...

Two of my soldiers became TSA units after the military. The lack of training those guys receive would make you cry.

Admittedly I'm no frequent flyer but I've traveled many times from the Evergreen state of Washington to the Mount Rushmore state of South Dakota to help out with their pheasant problem

Because Seattle to Aberdeen is pretty much owned by Delta, that's the airline I'm familiar with. It's been the same as long as I remember; check in, declare shotgun, sign form stating gun not loaded, place in bag, head to TSA "oversize baggage" counter. Only once was my bag searched, and he was thorough, the rest of the time my bag was wiped with a rag of some sort, looking for something, I have no idea what. Lock bag with any lock, done.

I have noticed Aberdeen airport seems more security conscious over the years. Used to be there was a pile of bags, guns and dog crates set outside where anyone could pretty much pick up whatever met their fancy. Seems a bit tighter now, have to claim the guns.

bikemutt said:

my bag was wiped with a rag of some sort, looking for something, I have no idea what

Click to expand...

Explosive residue.

Had it happen when my unit and I flew to Germany. I was carrying the company and Battalion Guidons. This was an engineer Battalion. Needless to say, they wiped it, and it set off the machine. Of course, we were allowed to proceed, didn't really understand the point of wiping it to begin with if they were just gonna let us go anyways

herrwalther said:

Sign/date yes. But flight info, airline, date, make and model of firearm or anything like that? No. In a couple instances I signed a form, put it in the case and sent it through Xray to verify it was unloaded. I guess the desk clerk didn't feel confident enough for either of us to do a visual inspection for ammo.

Click to expand...

herr,

We're on the same page-I thought you were stating that you'd never signed, dated nor...declared anything. Make & model, no, but flight info, etc., like you said, is filled out by the ticket agent, signed & dated by the traveller & on to however the particular airport you're in handles things.

Sam

SHOOT1SAM said:

We're on the same page-I thought you were stating that you'd never signed, dated nor...declared anything. Make & model, no, but flight info, etc., like you said, is filled out by the ticket agent, signed & dated by the traveller & on to however the particular airport you're in handles things.

Click to expand...

I agree we are on the same page. Ironically the folks who are not are whoever work at check in counters, regardless of airline. One reason why I bring a copy of the TSA and airline regulations. Because even the people who work there often do not know how to do important parts of their job.

TrickyDick said:

Had it happen when my unit and I flew to Germany. I was carrying the company and Battalion Guidons. This was an engineer Battalion. Needless to say, they wiped it, and it set off the machine. Of course, we were allowed to proceed, didn't really understand the point of wiping it to begin with if they were just gonna let us go anyways

Click to expand...

I have been "randomly swabbed" with the residue machine as well. While in uniform going back to country from mid tour leave. With a bag I used to carry nearly every type of explosive we use in the military. I am fairly sure they do tests on uniformed personnel just to make sure their machine is still working. And they like to waste 20 minutes doing a thorough search in a side room.