I am flying from Toledo, Ohio to Orlando, Fl and have never had to think about weapons before. I want to bring my Glock 19 and some ammo to shoot. Can I put this in my checked baggage? What do I say to the counter person so I don't cause alarm? Do I need a locked case? Please help a COMPLETE noob out...thanks, Bill
Flying To Florida...What Do I Do??
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TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
Some airlines have additional requirements, look on their website under baggage info.
But, in general, for handguns, you can take a handgun and some ammo in your checked bags.
You will want a locked case to put the handgun in, no TSA locks.
Ammo is best left in the factory box, but some airlines allow it in magazines. Easier just to avoid the issue and leave the mags empty.
Walk up to the baggage check desk and tell them that you have an unloaded firearm you would like to declare. How it works is that you are required to show the baggage agent your handgun and verify to that person that it is unloaded. At that point they give you a firearm declaration card and you sign it. Lock the gun up and put that locked case inside your regular suitcase, along with the firearm declaration card. Take it to the TSA agent and tell them you have a declared handgun in the suitcase.
Stick around a few minutes, sometimes they want to look at the handgun but most of the time they don't.
After they turn you loose, go get on your plane.
Now, for me personally I have had an easier time if I take the gun apart at least to a field stripped condition (autos) Opening the case to show it unloaded and in pieces seems to calm some baggage agents. They feel better looking at a bunch of parts. But that's a personal thing, certainly not required. I tend to carry 1911's when I fly and I literally have the thing in 6-8 pieces.
Also, I recommend you read the TSA website on carrying firearms and the airlines rules.
But for the most part it's pretty straightforward and easy, especially into and out of gun friendly states.
But, in general, for handguns, you can take a handgun and some ammo in your checked bags.
You will want a locked case to put the handgun in, no TSA locks.
Ammo is best left in the factory box, but some airlines allow it in magazines. Easier just to avoid the issue and leave the mags empty.
Walk up to the baggage check desk and tell them that you have an unloaded firearm you would like to declare. How it works is that you are required to show the baggage agent your handgun and verify to that person that it is unloaded. At that point they give you a firearm declaration card and you sign it. Lock the gun up and put that locked case inside your regular suitcase, along with the firearm declaration card. Take it to the TSA agent and tell them you have a declared handgun in the suitcase.
Stick around a few minutes, sometimes they want to look at the handgun but most of the time they don't.
After they turn you loose, go get on your plane.
Now, for me personally I have had an easier time if I take the gun apart at least to a field stripped condition (autos) Opening the case to show it unloaded and in pieces seems to calm some baggage agents. They feel better looking at a bunch of parts. But that's a personal thing, certainly not required. I tend to carry 1911's when I fly and I literally have the thing in 6-8 pieces.
Also, I recommend you read the TSA website on carrying firearms and the airlines rules.
But for the most part it's pretty straightforward and easy, especially into and out of gun friendly states.
brboyer
Member
Check out the airline's website, they will have very specific instructions.
Also check out TSA's website: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1666.shtm
Also check out TSA's website: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1666.shtm
kingpin008
Member
With all due respect, this subject has been covered many times here in the past. The search function would have answered your question just as easily. (and probably have saved you some time)
FlaChef
Member
RevDerb
Member
With all due respect, the questioner has been a member for 3 months and perhaps has not had an opportunity to spend that much time using the search function. There are many things that we discuss many times because there are always new people arriving. What could have been easier for him than posting a question here? Good advice was given and good links provided. We can all use a refresher from time to time.
kingpin008
Member
It takes two minutes to search "flying with guns" here on THR or on Google.
This is true, but that doesn't mean that we have to discuss those topics many times. If the info is already available, why waste time and bandwidth re-hashing it? I can understand if there has been a change in the laws/procedures or if it's an issue specific to a particular locality, but this is standard info.
Searching "flying with guns" and reading the multiple threads full of good info.
To be clear - I'm not trying to be a hardass. I've been a member since '06, and there have been MANY times when I've had a question, then found an answer by using the Search function. This saved me (and others) time, prevented a redundant thread from being created, etc. Of course, if the topic ISN'T easily found by using it, go ahead and post a thread. That's all I'm saying.
brboyer
Member
janedoedad
Member
Maybe a sticky on a "Flying with guns" topic in General is the way to go. Perhaps, a FAQ page may be of value.
This could save some time and some apparent (respondent) aggravation for all concerned.
One reason people continue to ask about this subject is the changing nature of assorted State laws and TSA regulations. I fly a lot and traveling with a firearm is never a pleasant procedure.
Just ask the poor SOB who got busted in NJ when his flight was cancelled/delayed.
Kingpin, FWIW, if the you don't want to answer a question, ignore it. Don't waste your time complaining when someone asks a question.
brboyer, great advice! Your Google-Fu is strong
This could save some time and some apparent (respondent) aggravation for all concerned.
One reason people continue to ask about this subject is the changing nature of assorted State laws and TSA regulations. I fly a lot and traveling with a firearm is never a pleasant procedure.
Just ask the poor SOB who got busted in NJ when his flight was cancelled/delayed.
Kingpin, FWIW, if the you don't want to answer a question, ignore it. Don't waste your time complaining when someone asks a question.
brboyer, great advice!
Your Google-Fu is strong
Last edited:
billybob44
Contributing Member
A few words to the wise.
I checked two hand guns last Dec. on a trip to Fl. Did my search, some differences in airline policies.
Be sure to store ammo outside of the firearms case.
Be sure that your hand gun case has provisions for two locks-one on each end.
TSA will probably re-check your bag that the firearm case is in-they did mine.
All went well, and had two hand guns for my drive back to Indiana, along with two boxes of SD ammo to go with them.
I checked two hand guns last Dec. on a trip to Fl. Did my search, some differences in airline policies.
Be sure to store ammo outside of the firearms case.
Be sure that your hand gun case has provisions for two locks-one on each end.
TSA will probably re-check your bag that the firearm case is in-they did mine.
All went well, and had two hand guns for my drive back to Indiana, along with two boxes of SD ammo to go with them.
kingpin008
Member
JaneDoeDad - I'm not complaining, I'm stating an opinion. And in regards to wasted time - I don't feel that pointing out a better way for members to utilize the forum and find their answers more efficiently is a waste of time.
Guillermo
member
I am travelling armed this summer and you can bet that I am going to start a new thread so as to get the most recent info as the laws and policies can change seemingly daily
kingpin008
Member
But they don't change "daily". And if they did happen to change, odds are that somebody here is going to know about it and post to let the rest of us know.
So what's the harm in searching first before you post? It takes minutes (or less) of your time, and if you're not satisfied w/ the results, you can still post and ask.
I just don't see the sense in completely ignoring a useful tool that takes essentially no effort to use, in favor of asking a possibly (massively) redundant question.
So what's the harm in searching first before you post? It takes minutes (or less) of your time, and if you're not satisfied w/ the results, you can still post and ask.
I just don't see the sense in completely ignoring a useful tool that takes essentially no effort to use, in favor of asking a possibly (massively) redundant question.
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
I agree, but let's be real honest here. If we only started threads for new topics we'd get one, maybe 2 new threads a month
NavyLCDR
member
Guillermo said:
While it might OK to come here and verify your interpretations of the actual statutes, there is no substitute for going and looking up the actual statutes yourself. No offense to anyone, I hope, but you will find a lot of "I think the law says..." on here - and that certainly will hold no weight with a cop when you are on the side of the road with them.
Guillermo
member
cops generally don't know the law outside of what they normally deal with
absolutely
B J Elliott
Member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2008
- Messages
- 42
American Airlines says handgun must be in a hard case, locked. Is the case it came in (hard plastic) considered hard?? Just wondering. Thanks.
First, get a hard sided suitcase or small trunk you can lock with 1-2 serious padlocks. Not Master locks because they are junky. Get good padlocks at a locksmith.
Since this trunk is also very crooked-luggage-handler-theft resistant you can put your camera, laptop, jewelry, other valuables inside and everything is locked up right.
http://deviating.net/firearms/packing/
This website and video on it covers EVERYTHING! Very handy.
http://deviating.net/flying/
Don't forget to review your airline and your experience at the airport dealing with the TSA.
http://deviating.net/firearms/packing/accounts.html
If they(gate agents, TSA agents, airport staff) don't get told "Hey you really messed up here" by management, they never learn. If you have problems, stay calm, show the regulations you have printed with you, take notes of names, dates, etc.... and be ready to send letters.
Print the regulations from the TSA website and your airline website to have with you since the agents often don't know some of them or make mistakes. Just in case.
Since this trunk is also very crooked-luggage-handler-theft resistant you can put your camera, laptop, jewelry, other valuables inside and everything is locked up right.
http://deviating.net/firearms/packing/
This website and video on it covers EVERYTHING! Very handy.
http://deviating.net/flying/
Don't forget to review your airline and your experience at the airport dealing with the TSA.
http://deviating.net/firearms/packing/accounts.html
If they(gate agents, TSA agents, airport staff) don't get told "Hey you really messed up here" by management, they never learn. If you have problems, stay calm, show the regulations you have printed with you, take notes of names, dates, etc.... and be ready to send letters.
Print the regulations from the TSA website and your airline website to have with you since the agents often don't know some of them or make mistakes. Just in case.
Last edited:
SMMAssociates
Member
billybob:
The "two locks" thing seems to have come from some counterperson who decided that since the case had holes for two locks, you should have filled them.... Seems to be more than a little goofy.
B J Elliot:
Two trips via AA over the last couple weeks, using one of those cheap flat "gun safe" things that come with a built-in lock and cable if you want to use it. No questions at all.... Couple years ago, at CLE, an agent told me that showing him it was unloaded was just plain silly because most of the staff would have no idea anyway....
I do note that AA wants unloaded magazines. The TSA rules seem to only require that the magazines be in holders that won't "leak". (They really don't want loose ammunition wandering around in your bag.)
DO NOT use a combination or TSA lock on the gun box. While they're not supposed to open your gun case "behind the wall", they still may want to, and a TSA lock or a combination is kinda public at that point. Give 'em a key, and wait until they return it. TSA guy at PIT couple weeks back noted a couple TSA locks on my bag and asked: "Can you give me the combination, or do I have to go find my key?"
That combination might as well be printed on the lock - those things primarily serve to keep things from popping open, and to keep casual lookers out. Good "labels", too - the ones I use are a bit unusual looking. Wouldn't stop a determined chipmunk, though....
The airlines have managed to sort most of this out over the last few years, as more and more people travel with firearms. But you still run into it.... TWICE at DFW, two separate trips, at least a year apart, I ran into a countergal who wasn't quite in the loop. The first one had no idea what I needed to do, and then when I explained the declaration card, had to call somebody to ask where they were.
The second one managed to fumble around long enough to get a supervisor's attention, and she wanted to know why I was bringing a gun along....
DO NOT fail to get that declaration card into the gun box, or onto it. Seems to me that they used to put the card on the OUTSIDE of the gun box, but inside the outer suitcase, but they wanted 'em inside the gun box last trips. I'm getting old....
Actually, I swear that they had a key for that gun safe - when I got back from TX on Tuesday AM, I found the action closed, and the card under the gun. Seems to me that when I closed it at ELP (El Paso), the action was open, and the card on top.... Could be a failing mind....
FINALLY, never take a gun you wouldn't mind getting an insurance check for. Probably no worse risk than lost luggage, but you might as well face it....
And that hard plastic case should be sufficient. Simple test, if anybody cares at the airport - just see if you can open it, locks and all, without being a body builder. "Hard plastic" is pretty much what they mean....
Regards,
The "two locks" thing seems to have come from some counterperson who decided that since the case had holes for two locks, you should have filled them.... Seems to be more than a little goofy.
B J Elliot:
Two trips via AA over the last couple weeks, using one of those cheap flat "gun safe" things that come with a built-in lock and cable if you want to use it. No questions at all.... Couple years ago, at CLE, an agent told me that showing him it was unloaded was just plain silly because most of the staff would have no idea anyway....
I do note that AA wants unloaded magazines. The TSA rules seem to only require that the magazines be in holders that won't "leak". (They really don't want loose ammunition wandering around in your bag.)
DO NOT use a combination or TSA lock on the gun box. While they're not supposed to open your gun case "behind the wall", they still may want to, and a TSA lock or a combination is kinda public at that point. Give 'em a key, and wait until they return it. TSA guy at PIT couple weeks back noted a couple TSA locks on my bag and asked: "Can you give me the combination, or do I have to go find my key?"
That combination might as well be printed on the lock - those things primarily serve to keep things from popping open, and to keep casual lookers out. Good "labels", too - the ones I use are a bit unusual looking. Wouldn't stop a determined chipmunk, though....
The airlines have managed to sort most of this out over the last few years, as more and more people travel with firearms. But you still run into it.... TWICE at DFW, two separate trips, at least a year apart, I ran into a countergal who wasn't quite in the loop. The first one had no idea what I needed to do, and then when I explained the declaration card, had to call somebody to ask where they were.
The second one managed to fumble around long enough to get a supervisor's attention, and she wanted to know why I was bringing a gun along....
DO NOT fail to get that declaration card into the gun box, or onto it. Seems to me that they used to put the card on the OUTSIDE of the gun box, but inside the outer suitcase, but they wanted 'em inside the gun box last trips. I'm getting old
....Actually, I swear that they had a key for that gun safe - when I got back from TX on Tuesday AM, I found the action closed, and the card under the gun. Seems to me that when I closed it at ELP (El Paso), the action was open, and the card on top.... Could be a failing mind
....FINALLY, never take a gun you wouldn't mind getting an insurance check for. Probably no worse risk than lost luggage, but you might as well face it....
And that hard plastic case should be sufficient. Simple test, if anybody cares at the airport - just see if you can open it, locks and all, without being a body builder. "Hard plastic" is pretty much what they mean....
Regards,
SMMAssociates
Member
Hugo:
IMHO, you can't put a non-TSA lock on the outer case. They will cut it off if somebody decides that they want to paw your undies....
You can (read SHOULD) use a non-TSA lock for your gun case itself.
IF you're transporting a gun case that is itself a "suitcase" (i.e., a long gun case), this would not apply, but it's also kinda saying "GUN"....
Regards,
IMHO, you can't put a non-TSA lock on the outer case. They will cut it off if somebody decides that they want to paw your undies....
You can (read SHOULD) use a non-TSA lock for your gun case itself.
IF you're transporting a gun case that is itself a "suitcase" (i.e., a long gun case), this would not apply, but it's also kinda saying "GUN"....
Regards,
dprice3844444
member
go to walmart and get one them cable locks to run through the mag well.put in locked case.take a picture if you have a pic phone to show the agent it is rendered safe.lock up ammo seperately
Flying To Florida...What Do I Do??
take a plane,it's easier on the arms
Flying To Florida...What Do I Do??
take a plane,it's easier on the arms
B J Elliott
Member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2008
- Messages
- 42
Wow! This is getting more complicating every minute!
B J Elliott
Member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2008
- Messages
- 42
Thanks Stu, good advice. BJbillybob:
The "two locks" thing seems to have come from some counterperson who decided that since the case had holes for two locks, you should have filled them.... Seems to be more than a little goofy.
B J Elliot:
Two trips via AA over the last couple weeks, using one of those cheap flat "gun safe" things that come with a built-in lock and cable if you want to use it. No questions at all.... Couple years ago, at CLE, an agent told me that showing him it was unloaded was just plain silly because most of the staff would have no idea anyway....
I do note that AA wants unloaded magazines. The TSA rules seem to only require that the magazines be in holders that won't "leak". (They really don't want loose ammunition wandering around in your bag.)
DO NOT use a combination or TSA lock on the gun box. While they're not supposed to open your gun case "behind the wall", they still may want to, and a TSA lock or a combination is kinda public at that point. Give 'em a key, and wait until they return it. TSA guy at PIT couple weeks back noted a couple TSA locks on my bag and asked: "Can you give me the combination, or do I have to go find my key?"
That combination might as well be printed on the lock - those things primarily serve to keep things from popping open, and to keep casual lookers out. Good "labels", too - the ones I use are a bit unusual looking. Wouldn't stop a determined chipmunk, though....
The airlines have managed to sort most of this out over the last few years, as more and more people travel with firearms. But you still run into it.... TWICE at DFW, two separate trips, at least a year apart, I ran into a countergal who wasn't quite in the loop. The first one had no idea what I needed to do, and then when I explained the declaration card, had to call somebody to ask where they were.
The second one managed to fumble around long enough to get a supervisor's attention, and she wanted to know why I was bringing a gun along....
DO NOT fail to get that declaration card into the gun box, or onto it. Seems to me that they used to put the card on the OUTSIDE of the gun box, but inside the outer suitcase, but they wanted 'em inside the gun box last trips. I'm getting old
Actually, I swear that they had a key for that gun safe - when I got back from TX on Tuesday AM, I found the action closed, and the card under the gun. Seems to me that when I closed it at ELP (El Paso), the action was open, and the card on top.... Could be a failing mind
FINALLY, never take a gun you wouldn't mind getting an insurance check for. Probably no worse risk than lost luggage, but you might as well face it....
And that hard plastic case should be sufficient. Simple test, if anybody cares at the airport - just see if you can open it, locks and all, without being a body builder. "Hard plastic" is pretty much what they mean....
Regards,
oneounceload
member
No one seems to read the stickies, which is why we get the same questions over and over
If you don't want to be bothered helping, then pass the thread on by
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