Thanksgiving Week: My experience flying with a firearm

[-hanko]

Thanks for sharing!

One thing I will add is that when I fly with my firearm(s) I always check them as a separate checked bag. If you put the case inside of your checked bag, you have no idea if it'll be there when you get to the other side. Odds are it will, but you won't KNOW until you look. If you check it as a separate bag you can track using the airlines app as it is loaded and unloaded from flights and have a record of where it was the last time it was off of an airplane. You can even see when it's been unloaded at your final destination.

Just more peace of mind IMO. YMMV.

I also check guns in a separate bag, insured for ~ $1K or more, depending on the guns.

The bag doesn't come out on the carousel, I pick it up after showing ID.

Painless.

[phdo]

I also check guns in a separate bag, insured for ~ $1K or more, depending on the guns.



The bag doesn't come out on the carousel, I pick it up after showing ID.



Painless.

Use a cable lock and anchor it to the inside of your luggage.

[baranski]

Use a cable lock and anchor it to the inside of your luggage.

That is a great idea, thank you.

[Intimid8tor]

Some of the airports I frequent do the swab thing. I prefer to be there anyway and usually they will let me organize my bag.

The last quoted paragraph is key. Every airport is different. Often times there is a variation based on the counter agent. Know the rules, but known when to be flexible. You're at their whim at that point. Like it or not.

2 side stories.

Only place I got grief was in Anchorage with Delta. The counter agent kept asking for my LEO credentials to check it in a bag. I told her I didn't have then and didn't need them. She insisted I did. We went back and forth then she realized the error of her ways.

In San Diego, the normal luggage drop line was 200 deep. Thanks to needing full service, we got into the line that was like 6 deep.

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[splithoof]

^^ You missed the part where he put locked gun vault inside suitcase with tsa locks.

No, I did not.
I specifically called out the use of TSA locks on the larger piece of luggage that the separate locked container was placed into.
As I said before, I NEVER use TSA locks on any piece of luggage.

[tonyxcom]

So many of you guys over think this process. And why do some of you want to challenge TSA agents like a know it all at the gun store. LOL.

• I use NON-TSA locks for the pistol case.
• Pistol case has a metal cable around the inner frame of luggage.
• The pistol case contains the pistol and empty magazines, not inserted into pistol.
• I toss the case into the bag I am checking.
• My ammo is in its original container. usually with my holster in one of the mesh pockets of my luggage.
• TSA lock are used on outside of my luggage.
• Step up to counter and simply say "I need to declare"
• Open my bag so I can put the card on top of my pistol case.
• Open pistol case if asked by agent.
• Close bag, lock bag. Board my flight.

Please stop confusing traveling with a small handgun in a case between your pants and drawers with traveling with your rifle in a pelican case.

[splithoof]

^^^^I do everything as you do, with the exception of Point # 6.
My main Pelican case is one of the large square types that musicians like to use for saxophones, etc. It is not a obvious rifle case.
My sidearm goes into a smaller locked 1150 Pelican case inside the big one. Airline ticket agents have always simply taped the orange declaration card to the outside of the 1150 case. TSA has never requested opening of the larger case; however if they do, I carry a fresh copy of the regs on my person just in case.
The whole process is very simple, done it numerous times, never had an issue.

[tonyxcom]

The reason I use TSA locks on my checked bag that contains both my clothes and firearm is so that the TSA inspectors can check for the declaration card. Not once has a TSA agent asked to see inside the pistol case.

When you tape the declaration outside of your pelican, they are probably assuming you have a firearm inside that case, not necessarily another locked case inside the pelican with the declaration taped to it.

That is the obvious distinction here. If the declaration card is inside your checked luggage with your locked pistol case, they are going to need to get into your luggage to find the declaration card, hence the TSA locks.

When the x-ray finds a firearm in your luggage, rest assured, they are going to want to make sure it's been declared. But they don't usually need to get inside the pistol case, hence the NON-TSA locks.

I think its New Orleans, when flying out, the airline agent will walk you over, and stay with you at a TSA inspection counter. A TSA agent will then swab the inside of your bag. You are there if they decide they want into the gun case. When the TSA is done, the airline agent walks your bag to their conveyor and you go on your way.

When flying out of Indy, after you declare they give you this piece of paper. After you go through the TSA checkpoint, you hand this piece of paper to the POLICE kiosk in the checkpoint area. They then call down to the TSA inspectors to make sure they don't need to get into your bag or locked gun case, then you go can proceed to your gate.

But it is honestly easier to do than it sounds, especially when reading about it on a forum

[splithoof]

The TSA can see the orange card in the X-ray image, I'm told. It is taped to the outside of the 1150 case, which is locked; if they need to get into the larger Pelican box, they can come find me in the terminal. This is yet to happen. Usually they tell me to wait for a few minutes after the large box goes down the conveyor belt; a few minutes later, someone walks over and advises that everything is OK.
The hassle for me is the heavy weight of the two cases, and total of four padlocks. While I have never been charged for exceeding fifty pounds, it usually comes very close.
On another note, I have painted the large box to be very distinct; this allows for easy sighting as it goes up into the actual airplane cargo hold. At that point I walk to the boarding gate, knowing that my luggage made it that far.

[pl411]

Here are a few things to potentially be prepared for. 1) A few times per year I fly with a hunting rifle in a 1750 Pelican case with two sturdy non TSA locks in the two metal reenforced holes on the case. Last year a TSA agent would not check my bag because he said every hole capable of taking a lock needs a lock in it. I had to go to a shop in the airport and buy 2 useless junk TSA locks to add to the case before he would check it through. Every agent I have asked since says that is not a requirement, but some agents have said with less sturdy cases they might require that so the case is not pried open at weak points. Anyway, I now travel with plenty of pad locks to avoid the hassle of being stopped again. 2) a doorman at a Westin hotel stopped me and asked if I had a firearm in the case. I simply ignored him and then went in a different entrance but be prepared for this when traveling as some hotels have a policy on entering with a firearm.


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[tanks]

Here are a few things to potentially be prepared for. 1) A few times per year I fly with a hunting rifle in a 1750 Pelican case... 2) a doorman at a Westin hotel stopped me and asked if I had a firearm in the case. I simply ignored him and then went in a different entrance but be prepared for this when traveling as some hotels have a policy on entering with a firearm. ...

That is one of the reasons I like TuffPak as it looks like a golf bag and one can put two rifles in soft cases in it without exceeding the weight limit. I usually put some clothes in it as well for extra padding. Made several trips to Africa without any issues with it.

[splithoof]

^^^^^Nice. That might make things easier.
How does it lock?
Would also like some input on transportation of rifles to Africa.

[bacon_lover]

... a doorman at a Westin hotel stopped me and asked if I had a firearm in the case. I simply ignored him and then went in a different entrance but be prepared for this when traveling as some hotels have a policy on entering with a firearm.

Had something similar happen to me and I told them that it was a telescope for stargazing, which seemed to satisfy their curiosity.

[TrailerparkTrash]

2) a doorman at a Westin hotel stopped me and asked if I had a firearm in the case. I simply ignored him and then went in a different entrance but be prepared for this when traveling as some hotels have a policy on entering with a firearm.

[TrailerparkTrash]

Had something similar happen to me and I told them that it was a telescope for stargazing, which seemed to satisfy their curiosity.