America West--Thumbs Up

[HarryB]

Traveled from Phoenix to Houston this morning. First time I had traveled with a firearm. I checked in at the counter and declared the firearm. The clerk didn't miss a beat and asked to show unloaded. She then gave me the orange tag to sign put it inside the case. She then escorted me to the TSA screener and had me lock the suitcase. No delay, no complications. They sure made it easy. I hope returning home is the same!

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Well, at least AW seems to do ONE thing right.

 

[Curare]

Har har!!!

 

[Hypnogator]

I flew America West last February to my wife's grandfather's 100th birthday in California. Checked my Kel-Tec P-32 through with no hassle in Atlanta -- the counter person never even looked at it, had me lock it in its case, then lock the bag and take it through TSA security. Stood by as the bag went through, and they waived me on thru. Same with the return trip in Sacramento - Atlanta.

Only "incident" was that my large pelican case containing photo and computer equipment disappeared in Sacramento -- I saw it come off the plane (1st bag off), but it didn't show up on the carousel. ***?!? Just about the time I was going to head for the baggage claim rep, one approached me, and asked me if I was Mr. Griffiths. She then told me that my case was in their office, that it was their policy that bags containing firearms would be personally handled and delivered. That ain't a bad policy.

Only thing was, by the time she approached me, my P-32 was already snugly impersonating a billfold in my back pocket!

 

[SRYnidan]

The questin is how does she know what bags have firearms in them. They are not supposed to be identified?

 

[Bob F.]

That was probably the problem. She knew the passenger had declared a gun and the Pelican case looked like a gun case. Those aluminum cases do draw attention. Nice "bait & switch" Hypnogator!

 

[HarryB]

Returned from Houston to Phoenix without gun incident. Flight was delayed an hour...grr....

In Houston the clerk put the bag with the firearm on the conveyor behind her and asked me to hang around a bit to make sure there were no problems with TSA. I stayed until I saw my bag go through the scanner. BTW the 3-D imaging used to inspect bags was astonishing!

In Phoenix, the clerk wheeled my bag immediately to the TSA agents.

 

[mikep99]

What do you mean by astonishing? It is very detailed?

 

[HarryB]

What do you mean by astonishing? It is very detailed?

I was similar to an MRI. The operator could move the image in all 3 axes, zoom in and out, and isolate items from the rest of the baggage.

 

[SLCDave]

Well, at least AW seems to do ONE thing right.

They stranded my wife and 3-month old daughter at the airport the night before Thanksgiving. I had driven ahead to meet them at our destination, and she was dropped off at the airport. I was waiting at the destination airport, and found out the flight was delayed because the PA system on the plane was malfunctioning, and found out a few hours later the flight was cancelled. Nobody in the SLC airport was given any information about the delay, and I knew the flight was cancelled 30 minutes before it was announced in Salt Lake. They found her a seat on a Delta flight the next morning, but it was "Her Problem" to find a way home, and then back to the airport the next day.

I think I can safely say I'm done flying America Worst.

 

[HighVelocity]

I haven't had any problems check firearms. Recently, an American Airlines counter agent asked me where I got the alluminum case with the foam cut out for the pistol and mags. When I told her I cut the foam myself she asked if I could do it for hers if she bought a case.

 

[mrsig]

This week AA was great in both San Diego and Dallas. TSA was another story. In SAN they asked me to leave the bag with the others. I said that it had 'stuff' in it. She asked if it was declared, did the sniff test and sent it on its way. DFW marked the tag with a red mark, asked for the combination to the locks, and searched the bag. I was somewhat shocked that SAN went easier than DFW.