Traveling, Airlines, Firearms

Search results for the phrase "Flying with Firearms" appears here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/search.php?searchid=13132337

I had a response typed, but THR went down for a few seconds while typing it, and I was unable to recover it.

MedWheeler, search results like that don't last for very long so you get a "sorry no results" message when you click the link you posted. Gotta link to an individual thread.

Having said that, this had been covered here a lot. Plenty of us have flown with guns an do so often. NO big deal.

The airlines all have a section on how to do it on their web sites, and it is a good idea to print that out and have it with you. ... though all but the newest hires at the bag check counter are going to be very familiar with it.

As Sam said, no big deal at all. Biggest thing is just make sure whatever you're bringing is legal on both ends!

As a side note- My experience has been I had an easier time of flying out of and back into Bradley in CT (Pre-Sandy Hook) than I did flying into and out of Tampa International down in Florida. TSA just seemed more familiar with protocol up here, oddly enough!

Go by what the airline says, not the TSA. Most TSA agents don't even know what the rules are. I think they actually do have a rule book somewhere but no one has ever seen it. Final discretion is up to the company that owns, operates and insures the aircraft and the pilot in command of that aircraft. Definitely print and carry the airline regs with you. About half of the airline employees don't know their own rules either. And they can vary from carrier to carrier. One issue to watch for is to be sure that when you "declare" your unloaded firearm the airline employee does not assume you are law enforcement. It has happened to me and it can be a real hassle if you don't catch it immediately and continue on your journey while "impersonating a police officer". Do not use a TSA lock on the gun case. Do not give the key or combination to anyone else and let them walk away with it. Federal law requires you to have the key solely in your possession at all times. The TSA may try to tell you otherwise. If your flight is diverted due to weather to another city and you do not know all of their firearm laws DO NOT claim your bags. You can be arrested and jailed if found in possession of a handgun where it is prohibited.

Check the individual airlines web site - and follow their directions. We followed TSA guidelines and SW wouldn't take the firearms. Next trip we went to the SW site, followed their requirements and all was good.

We did buy a hard sided long gun case for the rifle and 2 pistols. Kept the box it came in and after packing and securing with multiple locks, we put the case back in the box - and thats how we transported it via airline. No one would have any idea what was in the box as it didn't scream "gun case".

Very good advice by Drail and ejfalvo. Go with the airline, not TSA. My son, who works
security for a major airline, has told me this more than once!

After making it through security, I was called back by TSA to 'reinspect" the contents of my locked gun case. TSA guy then dropped my rifle upside down onto the edge of the metal gun case, putting a big ole dent in the Leopold scope body.... needless to say, i was quite upset....

I haven't been flying to a hunt lately, but next time i do the rifle will go UPS or Fedex.

Praxidike:

One quirk I've heard about, but not run into: If you're using a hard pistol case, for example, and it has holes for more than one lock, put a lock in each hole....

It makes sense, in a way, but the whole thing is nonsense, IMHO.

IAC, if you're carrying a handgun or two in their own box(es), and want to put those inside some other luggage, you need a TSA lock on the outer "suitcase" if you're going to put a lock there at all. The gun case(s) themselves must have TSA locks. Theoretically, the TSA folks can cut off the other locks or otherwise break into the outer case. YOU should be the only one who has/handles the keys to your locks on the gun cases, and they're not supposed to open the cases without your presence. (That seems to wander off in some cases.)

I've had problems twice - both in TX - of a very minor nature. First problem the countergal had no idea what that certification card was for, or where to find them. She didn't want to let me use the one I'd signed to get the gun to TX.... Second one was a supervisor who didn't quite understand why I wanted to have a gun with me in TX at all... A TSA guy at CLE was polite, but kinda bored. "Are you going to tell me the combination to your TSA lock, or do I have to go find my key?" Nothing else wrong, though.

(A counterguy at CLE - can't think of what airline was fishing for a range invite, but it's a bit of a ride.... Very polite & friendly.)

I think the counterstaff deciding you're an LEO has to be hilarious, but it could be a problem if you don't kill it. The form is totally different, at least.

A buddy of mine, who was an LEO, and actually was carrying on-the-job to go get a prisoner, was escorted to the aircraft in a way that pretty much painted a target on his back, too. (He once got a gun through the detectors at the Reno NV airport. Ankle carry, and the detectors - pre 09/11 - just didn't cover that close to the ground. He was on-duty, and legal, but just "there" for some reason unrelated to flying.)

After umpteen years, the airlines and their staffs should have a good idea about how this works, but.... IAC, I think they've all got everything you need up on their web sites, and the TSA has one, too.

Enjoy the trip!

Regards,

The TSA will hire ANY WARM BODY. The airlines require a brain. If you get a confused counter agent who is clueless ask for a Supervisor. Politely. Arrive real early and plan on standing around.

Stu, technically -- legally -- it really CAN'T be a TSA lock.

Code of Federal Regulations said:

Title 49: Transportation, Part 1540 – Civil Aviation Security: General Rules, Subpart B – Responsibilities of Passengers and Other Individuals and Persons, 1540.111 (c) (iv) - The container in which it is carried is locked, and only the passenger retains the key or combination.

Title 49: Transportation, Part 1544 – Aircraft Operator Security: Air Carriers and Commercial Operators, Subpart C – Operations, 1544.203 (f) (iii) The container in which it is carried is locked, and only the individual checking the baggage retains the key or combination;

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Never heard of anyone actually charged or prosecuted for violating that, but there's the law on it, pretty plain.

I just happened to have flown out of VA to IN and back with a pistol in the last week.

I carried it in one of these with the cable secured to the frame of my luggage:

Had a factory box of ammo and holster stored elsewhere in luggage.

Go to the check-in counter, flag down a living, breathing person to check in. Tell them you have a firearm to declare, open locked box, close box, sign orange tag, close suitcase, check the bag, have a good flight.

Coincidentally, the two flights were the only times I've ever seen my bag come off the conveyor first...

PM....

I sent the forum member a PM but I'll post a few things here....
A few good points have been made so far. Good tips include; get to the airport early or be ready for delays, lines, etc. To be in a rush, upset or angry will just make your travel/check in worse. Print out or keep a copy or 2 of the airline/TSA regulations.
Speak slowly & clearly too. Don't use humor, sarcasm or profanity.
When I used air travel, I left my handguns unloaded & purchased new ammunition later. In 2014 there shouldn't be a big problem finding handgun rounds. In 11/2013, it was a serious pain.
Handgunlaw.us is a good resource too.

Rusty

Sam1911:

I didn't realize that the law spelled out what I was saying about using your own lock, or else, on the gun box .... Everybody's got the TSA keys, and the idea is that nobody but you can open the box.

I'd forgotten about combination locks - DO NOT use a combination lock on that gun box. You may have to supply it to the TSA folks, and as you know, once two people know a secret, it's not a secret anymore. Think about that in a busy airline terminal ....

pdsmith:

+1 to that box. I've got one, and have used it very frequently. It works better than a plastic gun box, and while you could still lose the key, it's harder to lose the lock ....

Rusty:

'Bout the only place I go is in TX, and if my seriously anti-2A sister picks me up at the airport, "can we stop at a gun store for some ammunition?" isn't going to cut it .... However, not the worst idea if you're driving a rental, or using a cab. 'Course, finding ammunition can be interesting these days. (My little sister is also anti.... You should have seen her face when I told her that I was reloading.... )

IMHO, not taking the ammunition along probably isn't necessary. (The counterguy I mentioned earlier told me that they'd about given up on us showing them that a gun was unloaded. Seemed that practically nobody could tell anyway.) However, it's generally recognized that you should use a "Factory" box for the ammunition, or one of those plastic reloader's boxes. A cardboard box similar to the Factory boxes is acceptable, too. Just don't toss 'em loose into a plastic bag.

You guessed it - I have a story: The paper box I chose to use once was a little flimsy. I rubber-banded it closed, and put the whole thing in a Zip-Loc. Coming back from TX, I found a note indicating that TSA had decided to paw through my undies, and found that they'd taken the rubber bands off the ammunition box and basically tossed the results into the bag. How do you prove who did what? I'm glad that the examiner was honest enough to not try to hoist me up on that one. (Where? DFW....)

And finally.... Don't take any gun along that you'd not want to just find a check from the airline, hopefully after the return trip. If you find it missing when you get to your non-home destination, you just about can't buy a handgun legally. Stupid law....

Regards,

Packing ammunition....

I'm not down with packing 100s of rounds of handgun rounds with my declared(label-screened) firearm.
To me it's like saying; here crooks, here's my Glock & a holster oh & 250rd of JHP.
My metro area had a huge scandal where a network of airline workers, security & cargo workers had a circuit going from CONUS to PR & back. They stole 100s of firearms & high value items.
Last week, before Thanksgiving my friend & his co-worker had approx $5000.00 of film-TV gear stolen from JFK airport in New York City.
They put labels & tags on the items. They think this may have been a tip off for the airport crooks.


Rusty
PS; if you travel often, Id get firearm insurance. Id also take a few cell pics/email DV of the weapons so you can quickly document the ownership/descriptions to security or LE if they are stolen/mis-placed.

Rusty, regulations prohibit anything put on the outside of your bag indicating its a firearm. I've flown out of dozens of airports since I retired with no issues. The tag goes in the bag and I imagine it has some type of metallic ink show it shows up on xray the firearm is declared. Those airports include Newark, JFK, O'Hare, and airports in other gun unfriendly cities.

250 rds of ammo seems like a lot unless you're going to war. I remember some type of limit on ammo, 8 or 11 lbs. I can't remember exactly as I only take a box or two.

I use a hard pistol case with keyed locks and a Haliburton suitcase with a combo lock that is locked. TSA has never had an issue with this. If you are taking a long gun the tag still goes inside but the gun case is a giveaway.

You're right!....

That's why I suggest buying ammunition at your final destination.
Grizz's post is correct. The last I checked for air travel(Nov/2013) it was 12lb.

Id add that different airlines might have different SOPs.
You can travel with declared guns it just takes plans & being patient in the airports.

Rusty

If you're traveling to shoot at a competition requiring more ammo than allowed just UPS your ammo ahead of time to wherever you're staying.

I travel quite frequently and carry.
So far I have had no trouble recently (in the past two years) flying with guns. Adding to Stu's wisdom, I use one of the Operation Childsafe cable locks on my hard pistol case, and I loop the cable through both lock holes on the case. Because you totally can't bust open a plastic gun case, once it's double locked but it makes the people happy.

My last trip out of CMH the ticket agent asked me if I was a LEO (nope, CCW) and then said "Cool, so am I, what do you carry? I carry a J-frame everywhere EXCEPT to work."

They prefer mags to be unloaded or, if not, they have to be contained in such a way that the cartridges are not exposed. Think PMAG style mag cap. I just unload my mags and put the ammo in a factory type ammo box.

Five years ago it was sometimes a hassle but lately everybody has gotten a lot cooler with guns it seems.

I MUST stress that one needs to be aware of where you are flying. Trips that pass through unfriendly territory COULD be diverted in case of weather or malfunction and then you wind up landing at (for example) NY-JFK and getting popped when you try to declare for resumption of travel. Sure, it SHOULD be FOPA but how many times do you see them on the news perp-walking some poor schlub who had the misfortune to get stuck there?

The gun case(s) themselves must have TSA locks.

Click to expand...

Incorrect - no one except you are supposed to be able to access the contents; the outer suitcase has TSa locks, the inner gun cases do not

The suggestion to cable lock your gun case to the frame of the suitcase is a very good one.

denton said:

The suggestion to cable lock your gun case to the frame of the suitcase is a very good one.

Click to expand...

This is what I did the last few times.

On my fisrt time out of SeaTac with a declared firearm, the TSA guy put a cable tie on my suitcase zippers to hold them closed- keeps prying eyes out as well. Since it isn't a lock, it's cool with TSA.

Soft air travel golf bag for rifle/shottie

I've flown several times over the recent years with rifles in rigid rifle cases. I had several instances where they kept them behind the baggage claim counter in some airports until you asked for them. Other times they just went down the baggage chute with the golf bags and got piled with the golf clubs at the end of the carousel.

So I picked up a heavy duty air-travel golf bag from Goodwill recently, and now fly with the rifle cases packed in the golf bag. Its a much nicer way for transporting cased rifles in and out of the airport, and I feel better about giving the rifles over to the baggage handling system in this configuration.

I do it all the time, ammo and all. last time was Southwest, I think ammo was limited to 11 pounds. I had 100 9mm and 100 .45, just to take the edge off the cost of range ammo. Must all be checked of course. Check your airlines web site for their particulars. 250 for war? I go through 350-450 at the range all the time...

Russellc

An actual shooter I see.