airline travel

[rsandovaljr]

I tried to find other treads regarding this topic and I couldn't find any.

I am taking a trip to Arizona and i want to fly with my handgun. I have read all of Southwest's requirements for traveling with a handgun.

Is there anything else i should now about flying out of SFO? Is there any local restrictions I should know about?

[Doheny]

Nothing I know about SFO, although I am sure others will be along to comment about that.

Here's the TSA webpage for flying w/ firearms: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...rial_1666.shtm

[AndrewMendez]

I tried to find other treads regarding this topic and I couldn't find any.

I am taking a trip to Arizona and i want to fly with my handgun. I have read all of Southwest's requirements for traveling with a handgun.

Is there anything else i should now about flying out of SFO? Is there any local restrictions I should know about?

Are you an LEO?

[rsandovaljr]

i am not a leo

[rdmax]

I have not traveled out of SFO but have out of San Jose, Orlando and Houston. Just follow the TSA rules which looks almost just like the airline policies. Never had a hassle. No additional ID required. The airlines try to be discreet about it. Pick up your locked gun at the baggage claim just like everyone else.

[Augi]

Flying with firearms is easy. That TSA website has all the information you need.

Generally the only restrictions airlines have are on the number of rifles or pistols you can have in a single case and some airlines don't like you to have any ammo in the case with the guns, even though the TSA allows it.

IIRC the limit is 2 rifles in a case or three pistols (maybe it was five pistols, I can't remember).

You need to have a hard case with a lock that only you have the key or combination to. While in transit not even the gov't people are supposed to be able to access the contents (they will just x-ray the stuff if they want to see what is inside).

Just walk up to the ticket counter with your case, tell the agent you want to check a firearm and they have a TSA inspector verify that it is unloaded. I generally have the bolt removed if it is convenient or at least leave the action open so they don't have to fool around to check the chamber. Then you sign a red tag stating the weapon(s) are unloaded which gets placed in the case and locked. Then they take it to the magical place that check baggage goes (obviously carry-on is not an option).

I have had several different things happen at the baggage claim on the other end. Most places have called my name over the PA and had me pick up my case from the baggage claim office. Only some have checked my ID against the baggage ticket, and I have never had anyone check my credentials (it is probably a good idea to know the law where you are going though).

Once when I missed a connector but my baggage made it (don't ask), I had a rifle case sitting in the open at the baggage claim for half a day. When I got there, some kid they had working pointed me to a pile of unclaimed bags and I walked away with my case. They clearly had no idea what it was, but it was a small airport so I don't know what they were doing.

[Vectrexer]

Below is my previous trip report. Not SW, but their info pages look similar to United and AA.

I have since flown out of SFO several more times with various handguns and ammo. Sometimes more than one. And every time with at least three boxes (150 rounds) of ammo also checked with the luggage.

The only big thing is to be prepared to wait through a few different checks,,, or not. I have taken as long as an extra 1.5 hours to check in depending on the the size of the crowds and the amount of extra security checking I get flagged with. I have also zipped right through everything and been waiting at the gate 20 minutes after I get to SFO.

If you are going to take along some cleaners then take the M-Pro 7 brand. Others will likely be required to be thrown away or mailed back to yourself.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=113825&highlight=TRIP+REPORT

Chris

[rsandovaljr]

Thank you for all the info . I just wanted to make sure SFO didn;t have some wacky restrictions on top of what TSA and South West already require.

[rsandovaljr]

I don't know if I should start a new post but I would like to hear about more peoples personal experiences when flying with your piece .

[kato4moto]

Knock on wood, haven't had issues yet. I fly on business a couple times a month on average and almost always fly with at least one pistol, mags and ammo (less than 11 pounds in factory boxes). Always pack the locked aluminum case inside a large bag with all my clothes. Have taken rifles on a couple trips in a Pelican 1750; again, no problems so far.

The only time I haven't flown with firearms is when flying internationally and once a few months ago when I took a trip with my sisters for a funeral and they wanted to save time so we took only carry-on.

Just follow the rules, which are sometimes intepreted differently by different airlines, airports and airline agents. Be flexible, be courteous. Sometimes, you'll run across TSA or ticket agents that are shooters, but most of the time, most people working at airports have only seen guns on TV or movies. Still, they seem to be professional and put aside personal/political feelings and simply do their job without expressing any disdain or dislike of the object or of me.

[Fjold]

I've flown to Alaska, Africa, Texas, etc. with rifle and pistols and besides having to explain their own regulations to the ticket people haven't had any problems.

I always print out the airlines policies and put them in my gun case so that I can show them to the ticket agents if they are clueless.