Air travel with a gun

[TomJ]

We're making vacation plans, and will most likely be traveling from Wisconsin to the Outer Banks, NC. I'm debating whether we should fly or drive and checked the TSA's website in regards to transporting a gun. For those who have done so I'm wondering if it complicates the travel in any way or if it's not an issue, assuming all regulations are followed.

 

[Mark_Mark]

We're making vacation plans, and will most likely be traveling from Wisconsin to the Outer Banks, NC. I'm debating whether we should fly or drive and checked the TSA's website in regards to transporting a gun. For those who have done so I'm wondering if it complicates the travel in any way or if it's not an issue, assuming all regulations are followed.

I air travel all the time with guns. add 15-30 minutes to your time

rules:

Unloaded, keep ammo in original packaging
Hard case with 2 lock holes
You are the only one with keys to the locks
DO NOT USE A TSA LOCK

process:
Go to the ticket counter and ask for a weapon declaration form, then follow there direction

FYI, they only thing you have to worry about in the OBX is Ghost and straight lights in the sky. And frankly, a pistol will only make them laugh! HAVE FUN

 

[DesertFox]

Very straightforward. Have done it many times. Seem to get preferential treatment too, although wearing a suit may also have something to do with it. Your locked case will be inside your suitcase. Some places I've had to go to baggage claim counter while other places the bag ended up on with all other checked baggage.

 

[Mike OTDP]

Mark_Mark is right. I also recommend buying a cheap trigger lock and putting it on the gun.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Mark_Mark is right. I also recommend buying a cheap trigger lock and putting it on the gun.

No Kidding! there is Zero Treat in The Outer Banks especially in Oakacroke. I was camping out there once and was so scared of the crazy noises and strange Ghost Crabs. That I when drove back to the main docks and slept in my car.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Very straightforward. Have done it many times. Seem to get preferential treatment too, although wearing a suit may also have something to do with it. Your locked case will be inside your suitcase. Some places I've had to go to baggage claim counter while other places the bag ended up on with all other checked baggage.

here’s a strange one. About 20% of the time, my gun baggage is at the general luggage carousel. I wire lock my gun case to my suitcase, for that reason. Thinking about putting a blue tooth trackers on it too

 

[herrwalther]

The tip I give everyone about flying with a firearm, is print out the TSA and airline regulations from their prospective websites. Every now and then I run into some employee that doesn't know the policy or law about flying with firearms. A few times I have had to whip out those papers and ask "Are these rules no longer accurate?" That usually gets things moving smoother.

Always, calmly and quietly say to the airline check in desk "I have a firearm to declare." Every airline has a different policy. Some will have you open the case in front of them to verify unloaded. Some will just Xray it with a TSA officer. Never ever use a TSA compliant lock or let anyone have access to the key or combination. This is in the TSA rules. Another reason to have them printed out. Whole process only adds 5-10 minutes to the check in process for a regular flight.

 

[Mark_Mark]

The tip I give everyone about flying with a firearm, is print out the TSA and airline regulations from their prospective websites. Every now and then I run into some employee that doesn't know the policy or law about flying with firearms. A few times I have had to whip out those papers and ask "Are these rules no longer accurate?" That usually gets things moving smoother.

Always, calmly and quietly say to the airline check in desk "I have a firearm to declare." Every airline has a different policy. Some will have you open the case in front of them to verify unloaded. Some will just Xray it with a TSA officer. Never ever use a TSA compliant lock or let anyone have access to the key or combination. This is in the TSA rules. Another reason to have them printed out. Whole process only adds 5-10 minutes to the check in process for a regular flight.

your case is also important, someone should not to able to finger pry your case, especially with the lock on.

Go with a good Pelican or copy of case! well worth it!

 

[FL-NC]

I air travel all the time with guns. add 15-30 minutes to your time

rules:

Unloaded, keep ammo in original packaging
Hard case with 2 lock holes
You are the only one with keys to the locks
DO NOT USE A TSA LOCK

process:
Go to the ticket counter and ask for a weapon declaration form, then follow there direction

FYI, they only thing you have to worry about in the OBX is Ghost and straight lights in the sky. And frankly, a pistol will only make them laugh! HAVE FUN

I do everything like this, plus I bring a fresh printed copy of the TSA rules and any that may apply to that airline. I have had to provide it to employees to help them do their job. I quietly and discreetly ask the employee at the counter for the required forms. you will be required to place a document inside of your gun container, and supposedly the gun is subject to inspection to check that it is unloaded, but I have never experienced this. A TSA agent may become directly involved. If I am carrying a handgun only, I keep the pistol in a small pelican case, double locked. Inside of the case is the handgun and empty magazines and a box of ammunition in the original container, with the end flaps scotch taped down, as well as any knives making the trip. The small pelican is placed in a piece of checked baggage. Holsters, mag pouch, soft long gun cases, etc. can be placed in the larger piece of checked-in luggage- just make sure there is no other mags or live ammo floating around. I have had employees at Raleigh, NC become agitated/stressful and immediately call security to deal with me at check-in, and once when checking in at Bangor, Maine during hunting season there and I had a large pelican (with all kinds of stuff in it- rifle, handgun, ammo, mags, knives, laser range finder) the counter people saw me in line, asked if I had guns (loud enough for everyone in the area to hear and look at me), and allowed me to cut the line and get serviced immediately. I have had my luggage end up on the carousel with everyone else's, and I have had it turned into the office for me to retrieve (after the carousel thing was done and I went to the office to report it lost). Once when my luggage didn't make it onto the plane I was on but arrived at the destination airport later, I was informed that I had to go to the airport and personally retrieve it on my own (no delivery to my home, as is the normal procedure due to the pistol being in it - Fayetteville, NC.). The point of the stories is that you should make sure you are doing everything in compliance, get there earlier to plan for "setbacks", and be prepared to be patient, because you may end up playing employee/airport "roulette".

 

[TarDevil]

Important: If the gun case goes in the suitcase, the declaration goes on top of the gun case, not inside. Some airline agents have insisted on putting the declaration inside my gun case and I've had to summon a TSA agent to correct them.

 

[unclenunzie]

One recommendation I can make is to cable lock the locked gun case to the frame inside the luggage (rolling handle types). Makes it much harder to steal without taking the entire checked luggage piece. A real lock secures the gun case to which only you have the key, a TSA lock on the outer luggage.

I forget what it's called, but I also used a nifty pistol lock that inserts into the barrel with a "cartridge" in the chamber that makes it impossible to be loaded or the slide to open. End of barrel has a high visibility coated red keyhole. I like these because they allow the pistols to lay flat in the case and it's obvious unloaded.

 

[psyopspec]

No issues after several dozen trips. I'm actually traveling right now with a gun.

As others have said, most of the time it only adds a few minutes. There are some airports where it can take longer: PHX, DEN, and SFO are the ones where I add 30 minutes. DEN is the worst; after the declaration at the baggage counter, you wait for a porter to come and put your luggage on a cart. They slowly walk several hundred yards to a central TSA station for inspection. Then you wait in line if there are others. After the inspection you get cut loose.

 

[obiwan1]

I agree with Herrwalther however I print out a copy of the LAW (CFR 49 - 1540.111) and hi lite the important parts. I also have it bookmarked in my phone. I've had to show a TSA supervisor this law (in Raleigh) to get compliance (he wanted the key to the gun box).
If you're a LEO or retired LEO then print out a copy of LEOSA to show the local cops if necessary. Especially in those "blue" cities. I've never needed it - yet.
Those cable locks that come with new guns come in handy. I use one to secure my sturdy gun case (NON TSA locks) to the frame of my suitcase. Anything to make it more difficult for the bad guys.
I usually use the phrase "I need a firearms declaration card" to the airline rep and have never had any problems. Once in a while I get one that is "extremely thorough" (American Airlines Miami) but have never had any other issues.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Important: If the gun case goes in the suitcase, the declaration goes on top of the gun case, not inside. Some airline agents have insisted on putting the declaration inside my gun case and I've had to summon a TSA agent to correct them.

I’ve had that happen, they put it in the case, then take it to TSA check and the agent ask were the orange card was??? I was like the baggage person put it in the case. TSA agent… AGAIN!

 

[hso]

Print the airline rules as well as the TSA rules in triplicate. A copy goes inside the check bag where it would be seen if the bag is opened. A copy is taped to the hard gun case in the check bag. A copy goes in your check bag to show any poorly trained personnel. Follow not only the TSA, but the airline rules (they may be more restrictive and do not consider a magazine to qualify for ammunition storage). With tracker discs commonly available now I would add one to the gun case.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Print the airline rules as well as the TSA rules in triplicate. A copy goes inside the check bag where it would be seen if the bag is opened. A copy is taped to the hard gun case in the check bag. A copy goes in your check bag to show any poorly trained personnel. Follow not only the TSA, but the airline rules (they may be more restrictive and do not consider a magazine to qualify for ammunition storage). With tracker discs commonly available now I would add one to the gun case.

TSA should put a tracker on the case/baggage. Airport safety is their responsibility.

 

[alfsauve]

The smaller airports are the most fun. At Portland Me, after you check your case then they text the TSA agent. If the agent doesn't show within 10 minutes, then the bag goes with all the others on the conveyor belt. I used the time to call the family.

 

[Mark_Mark]

The smaller airports are the most fun. At Portland Me, after you check your case then they text the TSA agent. If the agent doesn't show within 10 minutes, then the bag goes with all the others on the conveyor belt. I used the time to call the family.

They airport is a chaotic place

 

[TomJ]

Thanks for the responses. We had a change in plans in that we found a deal we can't pass up to go to Hawaii. I can't carry there so I won't be bringing a gun.

 

[jeepnik]

Just one other suggestion. I have a Taurus 85 as my “travel” gun. This way if it is stolen I’m not out an expensive handgun.

The last time I flew was just before the pandemic. I went to Texas. Nice folks in Texas accepted my California permit. Also, no even looked twice when I checked in for my return flight.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Thanks for the responses. We had a change in plans in that we found a deal we can't pass up to go to Hawaii. I can't carry there so I won't be bringing a gun.

Hawaii is NICE! but I would keep a small stubby with me, not carry but at-lease have one. Hawaii is a very safe place! enjoy the Food!

 

[Pew-Pew]

I've flown with firearms before and will be doing it in a couple of weeks once again. I take my carry pistol with me when I go to the states that allow me to carry it. As long as it's in a locked hard case unloaded, and obviously announced when you go to check your bank then you should be good to go. They'll want you to hang around for a little bit in case they want you to open it. Otherwise, I've never had an issue. One time they brought me back because they wanted to open it fine here's the key. They went in the room a couple minutes came out and do me my key back and I was on my way

 

[TomJ]

Hawaii is NICE! but I would keep a small stubby with me, not carry but at-lease have one. Hawaii is a very safe place! enjoy the Food!

Unfortunately that's not an option as Hawaii doesn't honor Wisconsin permits or Arizona non-resident permits, which are the two I have.

 

[JohnKSa]

For those who have done so I'm wondering if it complicates the travel in any way or if it's not an issue, assuming all regulations are followed.

Good answers so far. It adds a step. You will need to get to the airport earlier.

1. Be sure to read and have a printed copy of the applicable regulations as well as the policy of the airline you will be using. Or at least know how to pull it up on your phone quickly. It's not terribly unusual to have to deal with people who don't know the actual rules and getting that straightened out can take a lot of time.

2. Be sure what the laws are at your destination point AND at any layover points. If you end up stranded at a layover point, you don't want to end up picking up your gun/ammo and then finding out that you can't legally possess it at that location. Similarly, you don't want to take a gun or ammo to a destination where it's not legal for you to possess it.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Good answers so far. It adds a step. You will need to get to the airport earlier.

1. Be sure to read and have a printed copy of the applicable regulations as well as the policy of the airline you will be using. Or at least know how to pull it up on your phone quickly. It's not terribly unusual to have to deal with people who don't know the actual rules and getting that straightened out can take a lot of time.

2. Be sure what the laws are at your destination point AND at any layover points. If you end up stranded at a layover point, you don't want to end up picking up your gun/ammo and then finding out that you can't legally possess it at that location. Similarly, you don't want to take a gun or ammo to a destination where it's not legal for you to possess it.

#2 is very important, there has some horrible situations with not knowing the gun law of the destination