Flying on Delta out of Atlanta - should I bother packing my pistol?

[tprice]

I'm headed down to Florida to visit my pop and go shooting with him. however, I've heard stories of people having their guns stolen when flying out of Atlanta. Would you all recommend that I just rent a gun from the range when I'm down there (my dad only has one pistol, a Glock 26, that I do not consider a range gun )

 

[AKElroy]

I have no experience with guns out of Atlanta, but I do do travel a lot, and it is, without a doubt, the WORST run facility on this planet. I would rather take a commercial flight out of Bangledesh. I spent a lovely 18 hours trying to get back through customs in that God forsaken waistland, and it left me scarred for life. Drive.

 

[flyfish22]

Flying through Atl

Really Why is Atl any different from any US city. I fly Delta Atl almost every week for the past 25 years. Since 9/11 everything changed it is not about service anymore it is about one more flight that something doesn't go wrong. Taking a gun or a set of golf clubs is the same risk. They dont care. None of them do. Ship it. You wouldn't belive it if I told you waht they will take out of your bag when given a second to look through it. I can assure you Delta has become a true fake in service as compared to what they once were. They do not value you unless you are in Salt Lake City. There still some good Delta people there and for some resaon they still try to give good service. Last week I was at BWI and frist class check in was a after thought. No way dont take it on a plane.

 

[RangerHAAF]

I've flown with guns on Airtran & Delta between Atlanta and Florida with no problems; the guns were in checked and locked baggage.

 

[NMGonzo]

I'd rather drive.

 

[AKElroy]

the guns were in checked and locked baggage.

It is not legal to lock checked baggage. I would check firearms as an absolute last resort; particularly through Atlanta.

 

[cleardiddion]

Actually it's not illegal to lock the cases with firearms, which is checked baggage.
In fact, to the best of my recollection they actually specifically say for you NOT to have TSA locks on cases.

And yeah, I have some experience flying through Atlanta and that was the policy I had to follow last year.

 

[AKElroy]

Actually it's not illegal to lock the cases with firearms, which is in fact checked baggage.
In fact, to the best of my recollection they actually specifically say for you NOT to have TSA locks on cases.

I trust your expertise & stand corrected.

 

[cleardiddion]

The reasoning behind it is that they want to be able to check standard luggage for all sorts of goodies because from what I remember from class it's roughly 70% that actually gets scanned as it should (as opposed to the 100% the law wants the airlines to do).

However, firearms must be checked in seperately by a TSA, or in 25% of the nation's airports private security, official so it kinda stands exempt. That's on top of the whole thing about not wanting to deal with stolen guns.

I do homeland security as a major, I sit through this in class along with a healthy dose of middle eastern this jihad that all day.

 

[ArizonaTRex]

I have flown in and out of Atlanta with my firearm. Best advice ever given to me was there-don't use softsided luggage! With their plastic zippers it is easy to "pop" the zipper seam open-reach in grab stuff- then swipe the zipper back an forth and make it seem the luggage was never opened! The TSA agent that inspected my gun recommends hardsided luggage.

Here is how I transport my firearm when I fly-and yes I still use softsided luggage

I have a small lockable hardcase to store my gun in which goes inside my suitcase.
I use a flexible cable lock thru the gun to satisfy the unloaded requirement...
After they inspect the gun and I put the signed card in, I ALWAYS lock both the cases locks.

My particluar case has two carry handles-one on each side of the case halves which I use to to secure the case to my suitcase! Using another flexcable lock, I run/loop the cable thru and around the handles and since my suitcase has a steel frame I lock the cable to the frame.

And then I DO lock the suitcase also with the wimpy TSA approved lock.
It's faster to do it than type it.......

So a thief would have to pop the zipper, reach in thru all the clothes and find the case, pop the two locks on the small case, then he has to figure out how to either break the handles off or break the suitcase frame...without drawing attention to himself...and yes it could happen but this feels secured! (Or steal the whole bag.....)

So if you can secure it, go ahead and take it.

 

[lamebums]

I would love to be as constructive as possible, but given the troubles that would entail from trying to fly (out of anywhere for that matter, but especially Atlanta), it isn't worth it.

Drive.

If your destination is less than 10-12 hours away by car, odds are you'd get there sooner anyway than flying ever will. And unless you get three miles per gallon, you'll spend a lot less on gas than you would on any plane ticket.

 

[Captain Bligh]

If you decide to take a gun, take one that is most easily replaced and you have less of an emotional attachement to. For example, I wouldn't take a favorite, out-of-production gun. I'd leave the Kimber series I at home and also the no-lock S & W revolver. I'd take a Glock. Easily replaced.

Good luck.

 

[ZXD9]

I've flown Delta out of ATL numerous times with a firearm and have never had an issue. Everyone has been very polite through the process.

 

[AirForceShooter]

If you're worried about flying with it just send it to yourself in Florida

AFS

 

[ny32182]

I've checked my Glock through Atlanta plenty of times; never an issue. The procedure is this:

-At the check in counter, declare your firearm. They will give you the little orange tag to fill out.
-They will take you and your bag to a TSA office where they will look at the pistol very briefly (may or may not even verify if it is empty), and watch you lock the pistol in the pistol case you brought for it. Ammo is separate outside the case.
-Case goes in your bag. They take your bag from there.
-You proceed to your gate like usual.

To reiterate, I've done this at least a dozen times at various airports; and never had the slightest issue at any of them. Time added to your check in is really very minimal. I wouldn't hesitate in the least to do it again.

The Glock is never the most expensive thing in my bag anyway, and I am taking it because I intend to use it for defensive purposes. Do I care if it gets stolen? Relatively speaking, no.

 

[DeepSouth]

If you're worried about flying with it just send it to yourself in Florida

+1

All nice and legal.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Without a doubt, Hartsfield is the WORST airport in the US to fly into or out of, and that includes Ohare, La Guardia, and JFK. I have never tried taking a gun through Hartsfield, but don't see how the experience could be made much worse even with a firearm. I believe the TSA employess in Atlanta are primate escapees from the Atlanta Zoo.

But, Atlanta in general is a stinking arm pit, so why should the airport be different.

 

[btg3]

I've checked my Glock through Atlanta plenty of times; never an issue. The procedure is this:

Thanks ny32182. This agrees with inquiries I've made in anticipation of flying with handguns in checked baggage.

 

[OurSafeHome.net]

I've flown in and out of ATL dozens of times in the past few years with pistols and revolvers in checked luggage and had no trouble at all.

 

[ChCx2744]

Depending on where you are going in Florida, a drive from Atlanta is not going to take that long...Just drive!

 

[rmodel65]

if you fly out of atlanta dont carry on your person, they are refusing to follow state law that allows carry in non sterile parts of public transportation(an activist jimmy carter appointed judge ruled against GCO ) but your good to go carrying in accordance with fed law

 

[gym]

Rent the gun at the range and save the headache.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Ship your pistol by Fed EX to your Dad Same day air.