Flying with Firearms, slight procedure change with TSA.

[BAJ475]

Most of all that you mentioned has been done as such for the past 10 years that I have been carrying. The one thing that HAS changed is the fact that you can't get it from the carousel anymore. They do tag it now so that you have to go to the baggage office to claim it.

Also you failed to mention that when they bring out your bag from the back of the baggage office they make a big presentation of putting some massive zip ties over the bag to prevent you from opening it in the airport. I usually will then make a big presentation of cutting the zip ties off with the multi-tool on the outside pocket of my bag and then leaving the cut zip ties lying on their floor of the office.

And I've been flying with a firearm everywhere I've gone for the past 10 years and while it is more of a hassle than flying without one it is worth it to me to have my firearm with me as I travel.

My experience was that in the past I would have to pick up my suitcase at the baggage office. But recently, it has been off of the carousel. Never had anyone put zip ties on my suitcase.

[CALI-gula]

Every time I fly with a gun the rules and regs change depending upon the Airline agent and/or the TSA Agent. They invent stuff on the spot. Having the airline and TSA regs on you simply pisses them off and they make your life miserable. So DO NOT pull out the regs.

Sometimes it goes smoothly, sometimes it doesn't. Always give yourself an extra hour or two to jump through the invented rules they create on the spot.

Yep, exactly.

I have even had counter clerks tell me "we don't allow passengers to fly with firearms anymore since 9/11" until I call over the supervisor, hand the print-out on "Sporting Equipment" rules from their own website, and that person is then told to take a lunch-break as the supervisor then calls over a TSA agent to take it from there.

However, flying with a .50BMG rifle and a couple of handguns over 8 years ago, the drill was very similar to the O/P's but without the chemical swab.

Also, now the luggage has the red tag on it where you have to pick it up from the luggage service and not the carousel.

Can't say that's a bad thing; one time we were delayed getting off the plane due to a medical issue an elderly passenger was having that blocked the forward (and only) exit, so luggage was already unloaded as we waited and off to the baggage claim. Made me nervous seeing it carted off and stuck on the plane.

I had to run from one side of Las Vegas/McCarran airport to the other (which is long) to pick up a rifle whereby the time I got to the luggage carousel it had long been slopping 'round and round, with every and any yahoo walking by that could have picked it up. It was a huge Pelican case, so anybody could have deduced it was a large rifle of sorts.

.

[Citadelgrad87]

Most of all that you mentioned has been done as such for the past 10 years that I have been carrying. The one thing that HAS changed is the fact that you can't get it from the carousel anymore. They do tag it now so that you have to go to the baggage office to claim it.

Also you failed to mention that when they bring out your bag from the back of the baggage office they make a big presentation of putting some massive zip ties over the bag to prevent you from opening it in the airport. I usually will then make a big presentation of cutting the zip ties off with the multi-tool on the outside pocket of my bag and then leaving the cut zip ties lying on their floor of the office.

And I've been flying with a firearm everywhere I've gone for the past 10 years and while it is more of a hassle than flying without one it is worth it to me to have my firearm with me as I travel.

I fly all fhe fime, most recently in April.

Never seen a zip tie.

[BigPimping]

The destination where you're going is that bad, that you need a firearm, I'm not going.

[OCEquestrian]

The destination where you're going is that bad, that you need a firearm, I'm not going.

Where is your sense of adventure? You must know that all the cat houses in the country are in the worst parts of town..

[9mmepiphany]

They are not supposed to tag the outside of your bag

There is nothing preventing them from doing so. I think you're referring to the rule that they aren't supposed to apply any marking to the outside of the bag to identify it as containing a firearm.

That isn't what they're doing. They are marking the bag for special handling...it isn't just for firearms...meaning that it is hand carried off the plane and doesn't go onto the carousel

[squeeze]

funny how some here say it is an hassle, and i've read elsewhere that some people purposely check in a firearm to ensure their luggage will be safe at the other end due to the extra security steps. if they were going to travel with expensive equipment/items (ie computer, photography, heirlooms etc)

a tip i read from them was to purchase a starter gun or flare gun since they don't want to buy a real gun. and to use that as the "gun" to qualify for the extra security check-in.

Incorrect: Alaska switched me over to Virgin at the last minute. Went through all of the firearm stuff; picked up my bag and went home. About midnight I decided to unload my bag. That's when I discovered that the cable that I locked my gun to the bag frame was missing and a broken lock was left in its place. My gun case also had the lock broken off. The pistol was still in the case but 5 boxes of ammo were missing. Baggage handlers; not "TSA". Going through the firearm check does not give you any more security as a regular checked bag. After "TSA" checks your bag containing the firearm; it is sent into the big pile of other luggage. It is not singled out for any special treatment.

The lesson I learned is: after taking my bag off the carousel, go immediately to a quiet place in the baggage area and check to see if my firearm is still there while still at the airport.

[tanks]

If someone is going to steal your gun they will take the locked container from your baggage and probably the entire bag so to me, the whole "lock" thingy is just to comply with the rules.
...

The rules say non-TSA lock on the hard case containing firearms. So, in reality you are not complying.

[tanks]

The destination where you're going is that bad, that you need a firearm, I'm not going.

You don't travel anywhere in the USA?

Also, if people compete or hunt most of the time they have to take their firearms with them. Shipping them is not an option all the time, especially if you are going overseas.

[tanks]

Also you failed to mention that when they bring out your bag from the back of the baggage office they make a big presentation of putting some massive zip ties over the bag to prevent you from opening it in the airport...

I have been traveling with firearms since the late 80s. Never have they put zip ties over my luggage.

[OCEquestrian]

The rules say non-TSA lock on the hard case containing firearms. So, in reality you are not complying.

REALLY whose rules where? Please provide quote /ink?

You didnt read the entire thread or my post #40 in this thread where I quoted the TSA rules? Or did you read it and confirm by clicking on the TSA link I provided and then choose to ignore it?? Here I will again provide the QUOTE from the Official website of the Department of Homeland Security just for YOU:

Firearms
- When traveling, comply with the laws concerning possession of firearms as they vary by local, state and international governments.
- If you are traveling internationally with a firearm in checked baggage, please check the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for information and requirements prior to travel.
- Declare each firearm each time you present it for transport as checked baggage. Ask your airline about limitations or fees that may apply.
- Firearms must be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container and transported as checked baggage only. As defined by 49 CFR 1540.5 a loaded firearm has a live round of ammunition, or any component thereof, in the chamber or cylinder or in a magazine inserted in the firearm. Only the passenger should retain the key or combination to the lock unless TSA personnel request the key to open the firearm container to ensure compliance with TSA regulations. You may use any brand or type of lock to secure your firearm case, including TSA-recognized locks.
- Firearm parts, including magazines, clips, bolts and firing pins, are prohibited in carry-on baggage, but may be transported in checked baggage.
- Replica firearms, including firearm replicas that are toys, may be transported in checked baggage only.
- Rifle scopes are permitted in carry-on and checked baggage.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition

^^^^ CLICK ON THIS LINK to Official website of the Department of Homeland Security for CONFIRMATION!!!!!

[tanks]

Interesting, the statement about only the passenger having the key/combination seems to contradict usage of TSA locks.

Then, again it is a government agency I guess making sense is too much to ask for.

[OCEquestrian]

Interesting, the statement about only the passenger having the key/combination seems to contradict usage of TSA locks.

Then, again it is a government agency I guess making sense is too much to ask for.

Obviously, and not surprising, the TSA does not consider THEIR access to the case to be of any risk, just access by ANYONE ELSE BUT TSA or the owner...which makes perfect sense to me. At least that is how I read that and given all the issue free flying I do with a handgun "in" my checked luggage, that has been my experience as well.

[Bert Gamble]

Man that sucks. But I'm curious, what case did you buy that is truly a hard case. Because man did I look. And I couldn't find a single typical suitcase that was a 100% hard case and lockable with your own locks. Almost every case had either a hard shell with a fabric zipper (which I assumed wouldn't satisfy the TSA requirement for a "hard case") or had TSA approved locks and no means to lock the case with your own padlock. So I went with Pelican case and it's worked out great. The baggage monkeys haven't been able to break the case yet.

It is a hard case with a fabric zipper like you mentioned. This guy wanted to make trouble and cost me time and money. He succeeded at both.

[george223]

About 3 years ago, I flew into LAX on SW with a couple of rifles. As we were landing, I realized that I had to get to the men's room asap. I did my thing as fast as I could and rushed down to the luggage area where luggage from my flight was already going around the carousel.

Much to my surprise, there was my rifle case sitting on the floor up against the wall unsupervised, just sitting there, plain as day that it was a rifle case. I would have thought that I would have had to claim it in the office. But no. In a security conscious airport environment, they sure didn't really seem too concerned about security.