Airline baggage question

[westex]

Since I swore I'd never fly again after the goon squads took over our airports I haven't kept up to date about current regs. But I am going to be forced to take a short trip on Southwest in a couple of weeks.

I know about declaring the unloaded firearms, having them in a locked container and not allowing the combo or key to leave my possession and having ammo in an appropriate container (which can be carried with the firearms in the same piece of checked luggage). What I'm not up to date on is can the luggage that all this is carried in be locked or not. It really worries me to think of 3 of my babies being subjected to God knows how many baggage handlers who came from disfunctional families and have sticky fingers. Would I fly more calmed with insurance? Help appreciated.

 

[Open Carry]

I just flew from Phoenix to Ft. Lauderdale. In Phoenix, the x-ray machines are out on the floor in the terminal that I was in. The airline agent escorted me to the TSA agents and informed the agent of a firearm in my bag. I was instructed to go to the agents at the rear of the machine in case they would need me to open the locked case containing my pistol. After the bag came out from the machine, I was told that I would not have to open the case. At that point, I was offered the opportunity to put a lock on the bag before it was sent on it's way. Unfortunately, I did not have a lock and had to take my chances. Next time I will know better.

Ft. Lauderdale has the x-ray machines in the secure luggage area. I was told by the airline agent that I would be paged if TSA needed me to open the case. Fortunately, I was not paged, as I imagine that it consumes a great deal of time when that happens.

From the signs that I saw, it appears that the TSA no longer cuts locks off locked luggage. Hope this helps.

 

[0007]

Buy the extra insurance. It used to cost about $1.00/$100.00 value. Check to be certain that it covers firearms. When I was flying with insured firearms, the baggage came out separately from the regular baggage belt and was in a different area.