Need advice on United Airlines firearms rules

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Intrepid Dad

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I'm preparing for a trip on Christmas Eve (2012) to Florida. I've read the rules for traveling with a firearm at the United Airlines website. I've also searched the forum here for any related threads but could not find any.

According to United's website, I need to have my unloaded handgun in a hard-sided, lockable container. No problem. It then goes on to say the hard-sided lockable container must be placed in hard-sided, lockable luggage.

I called United's customer service number to ask if the standard 22" ballistic nylon rollerboard counted as hard-sided luggage. They said it did not. So it looks like I'm probably out of luck for bringing my firearm to Florida. However, I wanted to ask the group here if anyone has traveled on United recently and used a ballistic nylon bag and if they received any grief from the ticket agents.

Also, for the creative minded individuals here at THR, I have a hard-sided guitar case that would work perfectly except that I can't lock it.

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated. I am going to check Wal-mart today to see if they sell hard-sided luggage, but I don't think I've seen any of that for years.
 
get a cheap hard-sided suitcase from TJ Maxx.... I paid like $30 for mine and it's actually pretty sturdy. I had 5 handguns in my checked luggage when I flew with AA to Seattle... the handguns were in a hard-gun-case from Cabela's (Winchester brand) with TSA locks. The hard-gun-case was in a hard sided suit case.

The TSA agent inspected the guns when I handed the suitcase to him in a separate room. He then put a note in there and closed it.

Side note: make sure to get the proper insurance for your checked luggage with the gun. I do NOT trust baggage handlers a bit and so much stuff gets "lost"....
 
You're too late at this point if you don't have a hard sided bag to check.

Print their rules and put multiple copies in the bag with the firearm and your travel docs.

Go buy a cheap lockable hard side piece of luggage from the cheapest source you can find that will take padlocks and put your hard guncase in it. Keep your ammo in the box it came in and separate in another check bag.

Check off compliance with the printed requirements by initialing each requirement and provide it to the counter clerk when you tell them you need to declair a firearm.

Hard cases that can be padlocked are made by companies like Doscocil and can be found at big box sporting goods. OR you can go to Home Depot and get a lockable rolling toolcase.
 
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Thank you

Thanks to all for your quick replies. I scoured the stores around me since I was scrambling at the last minute (shame on me). I found a small foot locker at Walmart that's big enough to take my hard shell gun case. It isn't the ideal solution but I think it will do the trick.

On a side note, I looked at "hard side" luggage at several stores and what passes for hard side luggage these days isn't very hard. It flexed about as much as my ballistic nylon suitcase and had a zipper running down the middle. I wasn't very impressed.

I really like the idea of getting insurance and I'll be sure to ask them about it tomorrow. This is a learning experience for me so I hope everything goes well tomorrow. Otherwise I'll be running my gun back to the car in the airport parking lot. I really hope that doesn't happen.

I'm also going to take HSO's advice and print out the regulations and check each item I've complied with.

Again, thanks for all the responses. I appreciate your help.

Intrepid Dad
 
^^^

correct... that's why you need insurance and the gate agent needs to see how many guns are in there. that being said... when you arrive the luggage is on the belt (often long before you get there) and nobody is handing it over to you.

I really don't like the idea of flying with guns... there are so many hands this goes thru and I doubt that filing an airline claim is that easy...
 
The firearms have to be in their own hard side, locked case. The luggage that case is in does not matter. I flew from Alabama to Vermont with 4 handguns in a case I bought from Cheaperthandirt. Since some people don't like them right now use this link as an example of what is required.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/2-GG10402#

Oftentimes the clerk will "test" its suitability by trying to twist and contort the case while closed. If it doesn't move under pressure, you are good to go. They may or may not ask for you to open the case to show them unloaded, number of firearms etc. Some airlines will just send it through the scanner without looking at it twice. Others will hand check the weapons. Show up AT LEAST an hour early to let the clerk know you have firearms in the bag. Keep one key on your keychain and the other in your wallet. If they try to pressure you into handing a key to TSA or the airline, decline. You are not bound by any law or regulation to do so.
 
Good advice. I'm definitely leaving enough time. I plan to show up almost 2 hours early. Also, I bought a nice hard shell case from Sportsman's Warehouse with a double lock. TSA should be good with it. I do worry about it showing up on the luggage carousel before I show up but it will be hidden in a nondescript foot locker from Walmart. From the outside it doesn't look very valuable.
 
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You flying on United, leaving COS? Where are you changing planes. If it's ORD, I'd be tempted to leave it home in case you end up getting stuck there for a while. IAH or DEN you're probably covered should something happen and you end up with your checked bag back in your possession.
 
Here's how I travel with my handgun in baggage (and I've flown United within the past year):

1) I have a soft-sided suitcase. I'd double check the regulation, because that has NEVER been a problem for me in the past.
2) I place a cheap plastic gun case inside of that suitcase, on which I place a small luggage padlock
3) The gun is unloaded, the magazines are out of the gun, and the ammo is stored in an ammo box that I also place inside of the gun case.
4) Declare the gun at the counter when you go to get your boarding passes.
5) They'll have you fill out a form saying that your gun is unloaded.
6) You'll then follow whatever goofy TSA procedure is in place at that particular airport, which often involves some special search of the bag in which the firearm is located. Fortunately I think they do a better job of keeping track of those bags.


DO NOT fly with your gun unless you know the regs where you're going (I think you're okay in FL, but I can't say for sure since I haven't been there in 15 years). I'm a police officer, and I caught a ton of flak while flying out of LaGuardia with my gun in checked baggage (totally legal for me to CCW in any state/city in the country due to my job). The Port Authority cops there told me that I'd have been arrested and charged with a felony if I wasn't a cop, since apparently you can't under any circumstances possess a gun in NYC without their specific permit. It's total BS, but that's the way it is in a few select places.


EDITED TO ADD: Just noticed you're a Coloradan. You won't have any trouble at CO Spgs or DIA when flying with your gun. Lots of hunters come through our state, and the TSA is pretty accustomed to dealing with guns at both of those airports. I've flown through both airports (and particularly DIA) with checked guns.
 
TenDriver and ColoradoKevin,

Thanks for your comments. I am flying out of Colorado Springs and connecting through Houston. The regs definitely say the luggage should be hard sided, but good to hear that regular soft-sided luggage seems to be OK.

Intrepid Dad
 
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