Gun Friendly Airlines?

[9Cal_OC]

Hey guys,

Tried searching but didn't get much. If any can point me in the right direction or suggest which airlines are gun friendly in checked baggage (and maybe some to avoid).

Looking to do some traveling this month or the next so would want to plan around that. Will be traveling with a pistol or two.

TIA

[Librarian]

I think Alaska and Southwest are not bad, but it seems more a function of where the airport is located.

Look up both TSA and airline rules, get to the airport early, smile ...

[squeeze]

Hey guys,

Tried searching but didn't get much. If any can point me in the right direction or suggest which airlines are gun friendly in checked baggage (and maybe some to avoid).

Looking to do some traveling this month or the next so would want to plan around that. Will be traveling with a pistol or two.

TIA

Gun friendly, or unfriendly, airlines do not really exist. They carry in baggage what the TSA passes. TSA is not really interested in guns. They are more interested in things that go BOOM and bring down an airplane. Each airline posts their own set of rules concerning traveling with a firearm. I suggest that you choose an airline by your final destination and then compare what they post on line and what TSA posts on line. You will find them all to be remarkable similar. Attitudes of some airline employees can vary. But, you only spend a minute with them.
Search on this forum and you will find dozens of posts re: traveling with a firearms on airlines. I have posted a lot of them. They become redundant after awhile.
Alaska has always been cool. But as I said before; you'll only spend a minute or so with the airline employees. If you follow the rules; it is no big deal. Cheap gun cases will get you in trouble with TSA in a hurry. Get a Pelican style.

[L84CABO]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about this. It's legal on all airlines as long as you follow the rules. Any issues you have are more than likely going to be a factor of the specific people who help you. Which is just luck of the draw. Most are fine anyway but you may get a newbie from time to time. Also, the check-in process varies a bit from airport to airport but that is usually defined by TSA and not the specific airlines.

Follow the rules. Be polite. And having a printout of the rules and policies for the particular airline you are flying is always a good idea. Give yourself some extra time to get through the screening. You'll be fine.

[LuckyGuy]

I agree.

I have used Southwest many times. They worked out good.

[OCEquestrian]

I have never had a problem with United, American or Southwest.

[TheGood]

Make sure your case is locked with locks that only you have the key to. TSA (or anyone inside the security zone) is not be allowed access to a travel case that has firearms in it. Locks should be bolt cutter-proof.

[Bainter1212]

Have checked handguns and rifles multiple times with Delta. No problems.

[Rodell]

Alaska is the only one that allows up to 50lbs of ammo on their US flights, as long as you are within their system. It is a big help when I’m headed out for prairie dogs.

[ACfixer]

They are pretty much all the same as far as the firearms check in process. What seems to vary is the way TSA handles it from airport to airport. Bigger airports like LAX or CLT make a big deal out of it in a back room with you there... Smaller regional airports pretty much just have me sign a slip saying it's unloaded then I put my locks on it. I don't get it.

But anyway, never a real problem with any airline or in any airport.

[Robotron2k84]

Alaska only allows 50 lbs of ammo on certain flight numbers, as some are code-shares, smaller planes, or have different requirements.

On Alaska Airlines flights 001-1999 and flights 2000-2999, up to 50 lbs.(domestic) and 11 lbs. (international - where permitted) may be checked. Customers checking in or connecting to Alaska Airlines flights 3300-3499 are limited to 11 lbs. of ammunition.

https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/baggage/special-baggage/transporting-firearms

The reason for this policy has little to do with supporting gun rights, as the airline makes a good amount of money from cargo on their hauls to the last frontier. Often times, a R/T ticket to the lower-48 (better with a friend) to fetch ammo will be cheaper than having it contract ferried or trucked up to Alaska.

All in all, Alaska Air is a fairly liberal company, as they are based in Seattle, not Alaska, as their name would imply.

Apropos: https://www.foxnews.com/travel/idita...-sled-dog-race

According to 2ndvote.com: Frontier, ExpressJet, and Spirit rank as more friendly to traditional values, including 2A.

[dobek]

[OCEquestrian]

This! It is important for you to read the rules each airline has and be familiar and comply to the letter.

[PaperTarget]

I think Alaska and Southwest are not bad, but it seems more a function of where the airport is located.

Look up both TSA and airline rules, get to the airport early, smile ...

I agree it has much more to do with where the airport is located than the airline. Some airports from the airline counter personnel and the TSA agents handle it like they do everyday.

Other airports you may run into the check-in person that has never done it before and awkward TSA screening that takes time.

LAX TSA (at Alaska Airlines) takes the case somewhere down to the baggage scanning area, they scan it (xray,etc), then comes back asking for the keys to inspect sometimes. You have to wait until they return with the keys. Last time took about 30 minutes and the reason given for the need for the keys was "ammo in the same case". Curiously, the week before, the same condition didn't cause for a need for the keys. What they look for and what they do with them down there, I wish I could witness as in other airports.

Smile.

[Bainter1212]

+1 allow extra time. I had to wait for them to scan it last time. Took an extra 15 min before I could go through TSA