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I travel quite a bit for work and thought I would share my experience with the airports, Airlines and TSA. My travel took me from San Diego to Norfolk Virginia to Salt Lake City finally returning to San Diego.
Preparations: First I carry a 9mm Shield in a small pelican case that I removed/customized the foam to fit the hand gun, 2-3 magazines and a box of Hornady Critical Defense. I have no magazines physically in my firearm while transporting. I have the DROS form showing ownership of the firearm to me inside the case and I lock it with 2 key locks. I take two keys, one on my everyday key ring and one that is clipped to the inside of my backpack that I fly with. I cable the pelican case to my suitcase on the inside to secure it so that it can't just "walk/disappear" while in transit. I printed 2 copies of Delta and TSA regulations and had once copy in my checked bag with the pelican case and a second copy in my back pack.
San Diego: I check in and declare that I have an "unloaded firearm" in my checked bag. Agent asked me first if it is in a hard sided case and then has me open my suitcase, inspects the locks and attempts to open the pelican case with locks to ensure it cannot be opened. Asked me if I had any ammunition and that I was limited to 11 lbs of ammo. Once satisfied she provides the Red Form that she initials and I sign and date and place on top of pelican case with my other printed documents. Note, my checked bag is not locked, thus another reason for the cable. She puts the bag on the belt and states I have to wait at the counter for 10 minutes, if no query then I am free to go. After 10 min, I asked and she said I could leave.
Norfolk: I check in and declare that I have an "unloaded firearm" in my checked bag. She provides me the form, ask if I have ammo and how much. She does not inspect anything initials the form, I sign and date and place inside my checked bag. She directs me to the TSA screening isle. I drop off my bag and inform the TSA agent that I have declared an unloaded firearm. They had a backlog of bags and were extremely busy, mine went to the front of line and I was directed to wait until it cleared the x-ray inspection. Within 2-minutes had the thumbs up and was told I was good to go.
Salt Lake City: I check in and declare that I have an "unloaded firearm" in my checked bag. Had me open bag, noted it was a hard case, initialed the form, had me sign date and place in my bag. He then walked me to a TSA inspection area, I had to put my bag on a table and then stand about 10 feet back behind a safety line and stayed with me until a TSA agent showed up. Once TSA arrived he left and she did the swab/swipes of my bag. She then open my bag and inspected giving me the go ahead and went on my way.
In SLC the TSA agent and I actually had a good conversation while she was doing her inspection. She complimented me on the Pelican Case, the Cable and having all the regulations inside. Then she told me what she encounters: cases not locked, cases that can be opened, soft sided cases, loaded firearms (one in the chamber) with and with out magazines inserted. Essentially stated there a lot of clueless people out there, her words. I responded with they are most likely infrequent travelers aren't aware of the requirements however, I did acknowledge there are a lot of clueless people! Her final response was if everyone that travelled with firearms followed my procedures they wouldn't have any issues, thus my sharing with everyone.
The above is not legal advice or quoted from any requirements, just my procedures. I recommend you verify each and every time you fly by reading and reviewing the requirements for each location you are traveling too ensuring you understand the rules as they can change at any time without notice.
There were no issues on receiving end of my travels, bag came out on belt, I grabbed it, went to the side, open the corner to ensure pelican case was still inside and went on my way.
BTW I do have CCW permits for VA and UT, amongst others.
I hope this helps anyone out there that may be planning travel by air in the future. It is very easy if you follow the procedures.
Be Safe Out There!!
I travel quite a bit for work and thought I would share my experience with the airports, Airlines and TSA. My travel took me from San Diego to Norfolk Virginia to Salt Lake City finally returning to San Diego.
Preparations: First I carry a 9mm Shield in a small pelican case that I removed/customized the foam to fit the hand gun, 2-3 magazines and a box of Hornady Critical Defense. I have no magazines physically in my firearm while transporting. I have the DROS form showing ownership of the firearm to me inside the case and I lock it with 2 key locks. I take two keys, one on my everyday key ring and one that is clipped to the inside of my backpack that I fly with. I cable the pelican case to my suitcase on the inside to secure it so that it can't just "walk/disappear" while in transit. I printed 2 copies of Delta and TSA regulations and had once copy in my checked bag with the pelican case and a second copy in my back pack.
San Diego: I check in and declare that I have an "unloaded firearm" in my checked bag. Agent asked me first if it is in a hard sided case and then has me open my suitcase, inspects the locks and attempts to open the pelican case with locks to ensure it cannot be opened. Asked me if I had any ammunition and that I was limited to 11 lbs of ammo. Once satisfied she provides the Red Form that she initials and I sign and date and place on top of pelican case with my other printed documents. Note, my checked bag is not locked, thus another reason for the cable. She puts the bag on the belt and states I have to wait at the counter for 10 minutes, if no query then I am free to go. After 10 min, I asked and she said I could leave.
Norfolk: I check in and declare that I have an "unloaded firearm" in my checked bag. She provides me the form, ask if I have ammo and how much. She does not inspect anything initials the form, I sign and date and place inside my checked bag. She directs me to the TSA screening isle. I drop off my bag and inform the TSA agent that I have declared an unloaded firearm. They had a backlog of bags and were extremely busy, mine went to the front of line and I was directed to wait until it cleared the x-ray inspection. Within 2-minutes had the thumbs up and was told I was good to go.
Salt Lake City: I check in and declare that I have an "unloaded firearm" in my checked bag. Had me open bag, noted it was a hard case, initialed the form, had me sign date and place in my bag. He then walked me to a TSA inspection area, I had to put my bag on a table and then stand about 10 feet back behind a safety line and stayed with me until a TSA agent showed up. Once TSA arrived he left and she did the swab/swipes of my bag. She then open my bag and inspected giving me the go ahead and went on my way.
In SLC the TSA agent and I actually had a good conversation while she was doing her inspection. She complimented me on the Pelican Case, the Cable and having all the regulations inside. Then she told me what she encounters: cases not locked, cases that can be opened, soft sided cases, loaded firearms (one in the chamber) with and with out magazines inserted. Essentially stated there a lot of clueless people out there, her words. I responded with they are most likely infrequent travelers aren't aware of the requirements however, I did acknowledge there are a lot of clueless people! Her final response was if everyone that travelled with firearms followed my procedures they wouldn't have any issues, thus my sharing with everyone.
The above is not legal advice or quoted from any requirements, just my procedures. I recommend you verify each and every time you fly by reading and reviewing the requirements for each location you are traveling too ensuring you understand the rules as they can change at any time without notice.
There were no issues on receiving end of my travels, bag came out on belt, I grabbed it, went to the side, open the corner to ensure pelican case was still inside and went on my way.
BTW I do have CCW permits for VA and UT, amongst others.
I hope this helps anyone out there that may be planning travel by air in the future. It is very easy if you follow the procedures.
Be Safe Out There!!
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