Flying One-Way with a Firearm

[diveRN]

I've read several threads here and other forums about flying with a pistol and I've done it myself a few times without issue, but it has always been a round trip flight.

My folks are moving to North Texas in February from the Sacramento area and I'm going to fly back to help them get their last bits packed and loaded up. A buddy and I are going to drive my Dad's van back here with his guns and some other stuff. I was planning to buy a couple of one-way fares for my friend and I, but I'm also planning to bring my EDC for the drive back.

Is flying with a firearm one-way going to invite some scrutiny? Wondering if I should just buy round-trip tickets and skip the return flight. It will cost more, but likely avoid any potential TSA hassles at the gate.

[TrailerparkTrash]

Shouldn’t be any hassle at all. The gun will be secured down in luggage and not the cabin with the passengers. One way or round trip, there’s no difference.

[PaperTarget]

One way should not be any different.

First of all, you aren't doing anything wrong.
And you aren't doing anything all that weird.

If you need to think it through, a lot a people buy one way tickets. Fly in to there. Come back from another place. Also, you don't declare when you buy the ticket just at the check in counter. And really, its no big deal if they search your bags because of a random check or for a "one-way".

Sure, in the big data analysis your "suspect score" may rise by a few fractions of a point but your posting on CalGuns has already put you into the yellow zone. This last line is a joke, sort of.

[P5Ret]

Why or how would TSA know or care? Every flight I have ever taken either one way or round trip I've only had one boarding pass at a time.

[edgerly779]

One way or round trip makes no difference.

[lexanidubs09]

Makes no difference. Just flew one way out to Michigan a few months ago and the entire process was business as usual.

[Librarian]

I did exactly that in June - drove to Montana, then down to Salt Lake City, flew to SFO.

Nobody cared.

[TrailerparkTrash]

The only time I’ve EVER seen TSA “care” was my 80 year old aunt. No I’m not kidding. She was a German retired surgeon and lived 6 months here in the USA with her sister (my mom) and 6 months in Deutschland. She NEVER traveled with ANY luggage whatsoever, except her purse and always bought a one way ticket. TSA every time questioned her and thought it was weird. They’d send her to a “secondary” area when checking in before boarding the plane. She always rolled her eyes and asked if she looked like a terrorist being an 80 year old woman that looked like Barbara Bush.

I really believe that most but not all of the TSA employees at LAX all attended L.A. Unified school district.

[audiophil2]

1 way tickets do matter but there are other variables needed. 1 way ticket paid in cash with short notice and no checked bags will get you extra screening. A checked gun means nothing to tsa other than making sure it is compliant with faa regulations.

[Jeepergeo]

I really believe that most but not all of the TSA employees at LAX all attended L.A. Unified school district.

That line was classic!!