Checking firearms while flying.

[baggss]

Fellows, I am about to fly from IAD (Washington DC / VA) to SFO on United. Can anyone share their experience at IAD and the must-do step I have to follow for avoiding issue/delay.

I am about to carry 4 handguns in a pelican case with non-TSA compliant pin-lock. Plan to let TSA check the pistols in the pelican case, lock it and put the case in a check-in bag. Please let me know what to look out for and things to avoid.

Thanks!

-Read and follow the TSA regs, they are strait forward. Google is your friend.

-Read and follow the airline regs, they are strait forward.

-TSA will let you know if they need to look inside of the case, lock it and check it. Only open it if they ask you to.

-Airline may give you a card to sign and put in the case with the gun(s).

-Follow whatever rules the airlines present you, arguing is pointless. If they are wrong, the TSA will correct them verbally, seen it happen several times.

-Arrive a few min early just in case the airline or TSA needs extra time to check you guns.

-IAD is pretty gun friendly, flown in and out from LAX several times with zero issues on either end.

[04Glider2]

SKJM, pretty sure you can't take them in a carry on no matter how they are locked.
Flew Oakland to Orange county with shotgun and on arrival in Orange county airport I had to go to the special handling dept and sign for the gun case.
On returning to Oakland the Americase shotgun case just came out on the belt with all the other luggage. Other than that no problem.

[skjm]

SKJM, pretty sure you can't take them in a carry on no matter how they are locked.

Flew Oakland to Orange county with shotgun and on arrival in Orange county airport I had to go to the special handling dept and sign for the gun case.

On returning to Oakland the Americase shotgun case just came out on the belt with all the other luggage. Other than that no problem.

[tanks]

Try to fly into and out of New York City. I'll send you cigarette money,may be [emoji57].
Yes if you follow the rules set forth by the airlines and TSA you should be OK. But New York City has a whole different set of laws that most other cities and airports don't have. It so far has cost a family member 7500.00 and his court date is the first of the year. He was arrested for having a gun in his checkin luggage that he declared when he left California and and declared it again departing NY.
NY is a different planet OP.
...

You'd have the same issue anywhere else as well if the gun you are trying to check in was illegal. Your family member should have known the law. I fly to NYC on a regular basis. I leave handguns at home.

[tanks]

...Is it possible to transport the gun case inside a check-in baggage? Or the gun case (after TSA inspection and review) has to be shipped separately?...

Yes, you can have the gun case in the checked luggage (I prefer that for security reasons anyway). However, the gun case has to meet TSA regulations.

[Blademan21]

You'd have the same issue anywhere else as well if the gun you are trying to check in was illegal. Your family member should have known the law. I fly to NYC on a regular basis. I leave handguns at home.

The firearm was not illegal. He did follow TSA guidelines when departing California and in his attempt in leaving NYC. Same thing would have happened and has to other travelers that flew in to hunt in in upstate NY and attempted to depart fron NYC. All the time following TSA regulations. All this was discovered after the fact. Again as I posted NYC is another planet. His attorney said this is a common issue in NYC. Be safe.

[skjm]

Yes, you can have the gun case in the checked luggage (I prefer that for security reasons anyway). However, the gun case has to meet TSA regulations.

Thanks for your input and confirmation. What exactly the sequence of event at IAD?
1. Go to United ticket counter, check-in and declare that I am checking-in firearms.
2. Airline staff inspect or call TSA to inspect firearms
3. Lock the case and I keep the key/passcode.
4. Put the case into my checked bag.
5. Continue the baggage checked process, get my boarding pass.
6. Happily fly to SFO and wait for my baggage to show up at the baggage belt?

Do I need to show proof that I am the owner of those firearms? I am asking this as I will be carrying one pistol (out of 4) for my father-in-law who is not planning to fly with us.

Am I missing anything above?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CoopsDad]

I flew from Ontario, CA to Washington Dulles and back with a firearm. It made the process bearable, actually. At both ends while checking in, I was directed to bring the locked case to a special TSA security entry. They asked if the firearm was loaded, (no), had me crack the case wide enough to slip a form that said "unloaded" inside, then button it up with my locks. Then I went through security right there without standing in line with the rest of the chumps.

Still had to cram into coach on my flight, though.

[tanks]

The firearm was not illegal. He did follow TSA guidelines when departing California and in his attempt in leaving NYC. Same thing would have happened and has to other travelers that flew in to hunt in in upstate NY and attempted to depart fron NYC. All the time following TSA regulations. All this was discovered after the fact. Again as I posted NYC is another planet. His attorney said this is a common issue in NYC. Be safe.

Actually it was most likely illegal to have it in his possession as he did not have a NYC possession permit for a HANDGUN. I am assuming he got arrested for handgun violation.

NYC does have a 24 hour transit clause for unloaded long guns so hunters should be OK. I have stayed overnight in NYC before and after a hunting trip to Africa and had no issues with my long guns.

[tanks]

Thanks for your input and confirmation. What exactly the sequence of event at IAD?
1. Go to United ticket counter, check-in and declare that I am checking-in firearms.
2. Airline staff inspect or call TSA to inspect firearms
3. Lock the case and I keep the key/passcode.
4. Put the case into my checked bag.
5. Continue the baggage checked process, get my boarding pass.
6. Happily fly to SFO and wait for my baggage to show up at the baggage belt?

Do I need to show proof that I am the owner of those firearms? I am asking this as I will be carrying one pistol (out of 4) for my father-in-law who is not planning to fly with us.

Am I missing anything above?
...

Almost right. I put the case in my luggage and take it out as needed at the check in counter/TSA inspection (if needed). You will fill out paperwork and they will tape the paperwork to the outside of the hard case going in the luggage. No need to prove ownership. And yes, luggage will arrive at the luggage belt, the only time I have had stuff arrive separately were long gun cases in oversize luggage.

[skjm]

Almost right. I put the case in my luggage and take it out as needed at the check in counter/TSA inspection (if needed). You will fill out paperwork and they will tape the paperwork to the outside of the hard case going in the luggage. No need to prove ownership. And yes, luggage will arrive at the luggage belt, the only time I have had stuff arrive separately were long gun cases in oversize luggage.

Tanks, thank you for your response.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk