Tranporting Guns on Airliners

[mike101]

I know that you can take a gun on a plane if you lock it in your luggage and declare it.

Does this apply to any airline, anywhere in the country? When you declare the gun, do you have to show any paperwork for the gun,(permits, etc)?

 

[BIGDADDYLONGSTROKE]

I have traveled several times from Washington to Texas and other places, Traveled American, southwest, and I always just showed them the gun in the case locked up in my checked baggage I had some information from the airline to fill out and had to keep the red slip on my person. And another slip went in the gun case.

What ever you do dont put the bullets with the gun and make sure it is unloaded, If carrying ammo I would put it in a seperate checked bag if possible.

 

[Kaylee]

About a week before the last "no water bottles" ruling, I flew with a pistol. Same as always -- locked case inside of luggage, open it so they can stick the little slip in. Two changes of late though -- no one asked for me to demonstrate that it was unloaded, and TSA hand-checked the whole bag the pistol box was in.. usually in my sight. Everyone was polite and professional.

Flew through Tennessee, Atlanta, Seattle, and Anchorage. Delta, Northwest, and Alaska I believe. No one has ever on any flight I've had asked for paperwork on the weapon, or to see my CCW.

The only concern I'd have is taking something somewhere it's locally prohibited -- taking an AR on a trip that goes through CA for instance. The one time I had an M14 clone going through CA, I made sure to have relevant parts of CA's code printed out and in the rifle box with it, just as insurance. Didn't have any problems, and didn't need it.

 

[TX1911fan]

Each airline has its own specific rules, but generally the gun needs to be in a locked case, and I have found they prefer it to be in another bag, also with a lock. No one gave me any problems having the ammunition in a box in the same case as the gun. After demonstrating the gun was empty, I locked the case, locked the suitcase, and then took it to TSA, telling them it had a checked gun. They asked me to wait by the scanning machine in case they had questions. They never did, and let me go on my way. One advantage of this is that your bag goes to the head of the line in the scanning machine, and you are certain it gets scanned and on the conveyor belt.

 

[Cliff]

I've flown many times from the National Capital area to Kansas City, the Carolinas, Texas,etc. Flying United, Southwest, Delta, American, and USairways. Never had to show papers/documents at all. I have my pistols in a locked case,and have that inside a regular luggage bag. Declare the guns at the counter,fill out a 3 by 5 card that goes INTO the case,and it's walked over to the TSA. I also use the TSA approved locks for my luggage. I don't want to run the risk of somebody getting a wild hair up their ass,and wanting to physically search my bags,and having to cut my locks.
One young TSA idiot wanted to pick one of my pistols up,I asked why,his supervisor agreed with me. Another time,I was asked if I was a LEO,and when I said no,the guy seem surprised,but had no more questions or comments.
Other then that in the past 5 years I've flown guns I've never had a problem. I would still call the airline and or visit their website to check for any changes in flying firearms before every flight. Years earlier there was no limit as to how many firearms you could fly with. Some airlines are now limiting how many guns you may fly with. Just do you homework before you walk up to the ticket counter and you'll be fine.

 

[wdlsguy]

I'm fairly sure USA3000 Airlines refuses to transport firearms or ammunition in checked baggage.

I would really do my homework before flying into or out of one of the People's Republics in the northeast. I have heard of people getting busted in NYC because they didn't have a NYS pistol permit, for example.

 

[sumpnz]

Just got back from a trip to TX on Frontier. It was a no-nevermind to have my pistol in my bag. I declared it, signed the form, but the red card in the case, took it TSA (in Phx they just had me wait while they scanned the bag, at DFW they hand searched the entire bag and unlocked the case to inspect the pistol), and off I went to the (un)security line (after ensuring the bag was on the conveyer and out of reach of the TSA guy). The way out I had the ammo in the same bag, but not in the pistol case. On the way back I had the ammo in the pistol case. Neither was cause for any flak, but YMMV.

Didn't have to show any paperwork on the gun, but then again I live in and travelled to a state that doesn't register guns, or enact any prohibitions beyond the federal ones. YMMV

 

[mountainclmbr]

I have travelled on Delta, United, Frontier and Southwest with gun and ammo in checked luggage. Often the ticket agent will inject some of their own rules, but if you are patient and polite I have found it easy to work out most problems. On United they want the gun in one locked container and then inside locked luggage and then ammo must be in original boxes, in a separate locked container and also in separate locked luggage. United likes the magazines for semi-autos in the container with the ammo. I had TSA check every round of ammo in the factory box to make sure that it was all from the same mfgr as the box. Not sure if this is an official rule, but they checked. This could make it difficult to transport reloads.

I have heard of issues where landings were diverted to anti-cities or states or where a connection was missed in anti territory. I don't let that stop me though.

 

[RustyShackelford]

TSA rules-THR posts

This topic has been posted on THR.org recently. I know airlines have seperate rules and policy about flying with guns. I also know you must have the firearms unloaded and the case locks must be able to be opened by TSA/security agents. Pelican makes TSA approved security locks that fit gun cases. Plano makes airline-FAA approved cases.

Check www.UScav.com for Pelican locks/cases.

Rusty