I often have things sent to me counter-to-counter via airlines freight services, and I have to pick them up in the baggage area at Denver airport. I just walk in, get my stuff, and walk out. Right past the baggage carousels. There's cops ALL OVER the driveway out front, so you won't park your car for 30 seconds, God Forbid. But there's never ANY inside near the baggage pickups.
Airline lost my firearm
- Thread starter Seminole
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From my experience in Europe, it appears that standard practice there is to have the baggage carousels in the secure area which means that only people with tickets have access to them. This at least eliminates the possibility of someone coming in off the street steeling bags. Unfortunately, the layout of most US airports would make this very difficult to implement here.
I must be to young, but I don't remember ever having to show claim checks for non-international flights.
I must be to young, but I don't remember ever having to show claim checks for non-international flights.
Keb, how did they know what bags had firearms in them?
The last few times I've flown with a gun, the damned TSA person made a mark on my baggage tag with a sharpie type marker right before going through the X-ray screening. The mark wasn't anything special, but it seemed a bit suspicious. Maybe they do that to all (guns and random) bags going through the TSA X-ray, but it's STILL a distinguishing mark and I thought they were NOT supposed to do that.
The last few times I've flown with a gun, the damned TSA person made a mark on my baggage tag with a sharpie type marker right before going through the X-ray screening. The mark wasn't anything special, but it seemed a bit suspicious. Maybe they do that to all (guns and random) bags going through the TSA X-ray, but it's STILL a distinguishing mark and I thought they were NOT supposed to do that.
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Seminole
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Well, I'm flying home today. Let's see if my suitcase and pistol make it.
It really is amazing how clueless some airline personnel are when it comes to declaring firearms. One time, the woman wanted me to unlock my bag. Okay, fine...I have to put the declaration tag inside anyway. She then proceeded to TRY to grab my unlocked bag and take it behind the counter without a tag!!! I promptly yanked it out of her hand because the last thing I wanted was my bag going through without a tag because, OF COURSE, they'd say I tried to check an undeclared firearm if it were discovered later. When she finally DID get the tag (after asking another employee), she didn't want to sign it or log it into their books and told me it wasn't required. Not sure about logging it, but they ALWAYS sign along with the owner of the bag/firearm. You'd think for such a "gun loving" state, things would have been better in Jacksonvile, FL.
Seminole, I'm glad you got your gun bag back.
I used to fly quite a bit with declared firearms, but in the last year that has fallen off quite a bit (the person I fly to see has moved from a gun friendly state to Kommunist Massachusetts). In all my travels, I've never had any problem with lost luggage - just delayed luggage. I will say this: I do not look forward to the day when they lose my stuff!
Just out of curiosity, what airport lost it?
I used to fly quite a bit with declared firearms, but in the last year that has fallen off quite a bit (the person I fly to see has moved from a gun friendly state to Kommunist Massachusetts). In all my travels, I've never had any problem with lost luggage - just delayed luggage. I will say this: I do not look forward to the day when they lose my stuff!
Just out of curiosity, what airport lost it?
now i'm all nervous about taking mine on vacation in the next couple months. let us know if you get back alright.
without hijiacking this thread, has anyone seen these 'TSA approved' combo locks for travel? is that a good idea, bad idea, or mandatory idea when it comes to my rifle case? Makes me nervous any TSA guy can unlock my bag, but if it gets it on my plane faster....
without hijiacking this thread, has anyone seen these 'TSA approved' combo locks for travel? is that a good idea, bad idea, or mandatory idea when it comes to my rifle case? Makes me nervous any TSA guy can unlock my bag, but if it gets it on my plane faster....
TSA locks may not even matter. I had TSA jacktards cut off a TWO TSA approved locks at Sky Harbor in Phoenix, AZ. I was bringing an SKS and shotgun back in a two rifle case. I waited FOREVER to get the "thumbs up" from the TSA guy at the front of the X-ray machine after the case went through. Well, he was busy screwing around with someone else, so I decided to walk as far around as the security posts would let me and when I peeked around? Two numbnuts had my case open and were finger phuking my gear. One was holding my SKS and talking the other guy about it. They got REAL quiet when I asked them what the hell they were doing, WHY they destroyed TSA locks and WHY did they not try to contact the owner of the bag AS THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO BEFORE opening it. That's why I wait locally until they say my bags are good to go. In case I do have to opened the damned thigns. Never did get an answer and thankfully, they "just happened" to have a "bin-O-locks" and gave me two replacements. One combo set to 1234 and the other to 0000. No time to figure out how to change the combos since we had to make our plane. Yeah...real professionals those guys.
You're not supposed to use TSA approved locks for firearms!!!!!!
Only you are supposed to have the key!
The entire point of the system is to keep unlocked firearms out of secure areas. You have the key, you're away from your checked bag, things are good.
I have seen airports that give me nightmares with firearms policies. In fact, I have written my congress critters about them. Nothing has been done. I am aware of an airport (the main one I've written about) that could see a firearm smuggled onto a flight so easily it would make your head spin. Thankfully I don't fly to that airport anymore, but I for those that do and for those who could be impacted by nefarious acts.
Only you are supposed to have the key!
The entire point of the system is to keep unlocked firearms out of secure areas. You have the key, you're away from your checked bag, things are good.
I have seen airports that give me nightmares with firearms policies. In fact, I have written my congress critters about them. Nothing has been done. I am aware of an airport (the main one I've written about) that could see a firearm smuggled onto a flight so easily it would make your head spin. Thankfully I don't fly to that airport anymore, but I for those that do and for those who could be impacted by nefarious acts.
I also wonder why you really have to declare firearms anymore. It has been years and years since I've physically had to show them clear. I just get asked if they are unloaded and then throw the red declaration tag in the bag. I think the requirement to show clear ended after 9/11 since they X-ray every bag now. Makes sense and I always hated having to handle firearms right there in line with people watching. I can only remember ONE time when I was taken to another room. Doesn't even matter if you're a criminal, convicted felon, etc or not. It's not like they do a background check. Even if you declare it and lie or "forget" about them being loaded, you're still going to get nailed anyway when the bag goes through the X-ray machine. Even though they don't, they should be X-raying every bag anyway...
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Seminole
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Well, my suitcase and firearm made it home fine. All's well that ends well, I guess.
There's no way that I would put anything of any value in a checked bag. Not since I got home from Vegas a couple of years ago and my suitcase had a bunch of dried grass in it. Like somebody had gone thru it OUTSIDE.
And does anybody remember a few years ago when they found a shotgun behind the Coke machine in the employees lounge at Hartsfield in Atlanta ? Hmmm, wonder how THAT got there ? Hint: Maybe an employee took it out of somebody's bag and was stashing it until he could figure out how to get it home ?
Anybody see that 60 minutes show several years ago about baggage handler theft on airlines ? Amazing. One guy sat on the plane and watched a baggage handler go thru his suitcase out on the tarmac, taking out his camcorder.
And does anybody remember a few years ago when they found a shotgun behind the Coke machine in the employees lounge at Hartsfield in Atlanta ? Hmmm, wonder how THAT got there ? Hint: Maybe an employee took it out of somebody's bag and was stashing it until he could figure out how to get it home ?
Anybody see that 60 minutes show several years ago about baggage handler theft on airlines ? Amazing. One guy sat on the plane and watched a baggage handler go thru his suitcase out on the tarmac, taking out his camcorder.
Guns and more
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Glad to hear it.
I think a bag with a gun is safer than the average bag, because they have acknowledged the contents.
It probably went to the wrong city for a while.
I once had a bag disappear for three days. When I went to the airport it was sitting in the bag office. They said it had been found on the sixth floor of the parking garage. Nothing was missing. Someone probably picked it up by mistake, then abandoned it when they realized it wasn't theirs, and it waited for an airline employee to find it. (By accident)
I think a bag with a gun is safer than the average bag, because they have acknowledged the contents.
It probably went to the wrong city for a while.
I once had a bag disappear for three days. When I went to the airport it was sitting in the bag office. They said it had been found on the sixth floor of the parking garage. Nothing was missing. Someone probably picked it up by mistake, then abandoned it when they realized it wasn't theirs, and it waited for an airline employee to find it. (By accident)
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