SpookyPistolero
Member
Hello all!
I haven't been around in a while, and just got back from a family vacation to Florida. The drive from KY is a little lengthy, so we chose to fly down using Delta. This didn't excite me much since I use airlines as seldom as possible and had not ever traveled with a firearm. Overall though, I am happy to say that it was mostly a non-issue.
I made sure I did all my homeowork before trying to travel, and did a lot of double checking with the airline and airport, and checked various peoples experiences as posted online. After reading everything, I went to pick out a pistol case at my gun shop. I found a very nice one with double combination locks marked "NRA" on the front. Very solid case.
I also went ahead and put a cable lock through the Glock 33 I was traveling with, so that if a less than experienced agent were to check me in, they would have a very comforting and simple visual cue that the weapon was safe.
On the flight down to Florida, I simply told the lady at baggage check-in that I needed to check in a firearm and then, when asked, I removed the case from the suitcase. She didn't even ask me to open it so I simply signed the 'unloaded firearm' declaration tag and she put in on the case. I put it back in the luggage and that was that.
On the flight back, the only difference was the gentleman behind the counter asked me to open the case, which I did. He actually placed the tag inside the case with the pistol, as opposed to outside as the first person had.
The one and only problem I did have when traveling was when going through security on the way to Florida when they freaked a little bit about a 'bullet' keychain I had that my dad made. The flash hole was drilled out of a piece of brass with the bullet in it to make a keychain, and I had forgotten to take it off. Well, that got taken so I lost my 5-yr key mate. Bigger tragedies exist though.
Overall, no big deal. Just thought that I would convey that experience in case others were bothered by the idea of airline travel with a firearm.
Take care -
I haven't been around in a while, and just got back from a family vacation to Florida. The drive from KY is a little lengthy, so we chose to fly down using Delta. This didn't excite me much since I use airlines as seldom as possible and had not ever traveled with a firearm. Overall though, I am happy to say that it was mostly a non-issue.
I made sure I did all my homeowork before trying to travel, and did a lot of double checking with the airline and airport, and checked various peoples experiences as posted online. After reading everything, I went to pick out a pistol case at my gun shop. I found a very nice one with double combination locks marked "NRA" on the front. Very solid case.
I also went ahead and put a cable lock through the Glock 33 I was traveling with, so that if a less than experienced agent were to check me in, they would have a very comforting and simple visual cue that the weapon was safe.
On the flight down to Florida, I simply told the lady at baggage check-in that I needed to check in a firearm and then, when asked, I removed the case from the suitcase. She didn't even ask me to open it so I simply signed the 'unloaded firearm' declaration tag and she put in on the case. I put it back in the luggage and that was that.
On the flight back, the only difference was the gentleman behind the counter asked me to open the case, which I did. He actually placed the tag inside the case with the pistol, as opposed to outside as the first person had.
The one and only problem I did have when traveling was when going through security on the way to Florida when they freaked a little bit about a 'bullet' keychain I had that my dad made. The flash hole was drilled out of a piece of brass with the bullet in it to make a keychain, and I had forgotten to take it off. Well, that got taken so I lost my 5-yr key mate. Bigger tragedies exist though.
Overall, no big deal. Just thought that I would convey that experience in case others were bothered by the idea of airline travel with a firearm.
Take care -
:banghead:
