Gun Friendly Airlines?

[norcalAF]

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.

Came here to say this. SFO on average requires an extra hour to check a gun.

[baggss]

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.

Never had an issue with any airline at LAX (UA, AA, DL, AK), TSA seems to have a pretty standard process, the airlines don't and each has their days where you know the agent has zero clue.

Came here to say this. SFO on average requires an extra hour to check a gun.

Yep. Airport issue there, maybe some airlines as well.

[Litespeeds]

I flew on Southwest and it was a painless process. Just went to the ticket counter to check in my luggage. Told them I am declaring a firearm and that it is unloaded. Filled out a form and then had to wait around for 15 minutes in case TSA had any issues. After 15 minutes, I was good to go and went through pre-check and to my gate. Once I got off the plane, I went to baggage claim and picked up my luggage and off I went.

[norcalAF]

Never had an issue with any airline at LAX (UA, AA, DL, AK), TSA seems to have a pretty standard process, the airlines don't and each has their days where you know the agent has zero clue.







Yep. Airport issue there, maybe some airlines as well.

Flying from Kansas City, the ticket counter personnel had me racking a pump shotgun at the counter to verify unloaded status. I asked them twice if it was ok before I took it out of the case and racked it in the middle of a crowded airport lol. Stupid California making me paranoid about gun culture.

[squeeze]

Came here to say this. SFO on average requires an extra hour to check a gun.

Been in and out of SFO MANY times on Alaska. Usually 10 minutes extra time. Most of the time is waiting for a TSA contractor to come to the check-in counter. They look through the bag; you lock it and a handler comes and gets it. Done.

SEATAC is the same except you go from the check-in counter to a TSA inspection room 50 feet away. Again; maybe 10 minutes extra.
All-in-all; if you are compliant with the TSA regulations; traveling with a firearm is no big deal.

[norcalAF]

Been in and out of SFO MANY times on Alaska. Usually 10 minutes extra time. Most of the time is waiting for a TSA contractor to come to the check-in counter. They look through the bag; you lock it and a handler comes and gets it. Done.

SEATAC is the same except you go from the check-in counter to a TSA inspection room 50 feet away. Again; maybe 10 minutes extra.
All-in-all; if you are compliant with the TSA regulations; traveling with a firearm is no big deal.

The times I have flown out if there it has been United/American/Delta. you wait for a tsa rep to come get you and the bag and take you down a couple of levels to a secure room there they swab the case inside and out and your hands. Then they look at the gun, decide they have no idea how to clear it, and ask you to do so. Then they ask you to lock everything up and then you can go back upstairs and go through security

[ACfixer]

Never had an issue with any airline at LAX...

I've never had any "issues" there either baggss, the TSA folks I have dealt with there were friendly and knowledgeable and in no way a problem... Just that's it's a bigger airport and they seem a little more thorough. I had to wait about 15-20 minutes each time and accompany the agent to a room while they went through it then we locked the case together. Same basic procedure in CLT and ATL.

In regional airports, ONT for example, it's mostly been just a declaration and then signing a paper and locking the case and away it went. The told me they would page me if they needed me back there, but they never have.

In short, no airline or airport has ever made the process even remotely what I would call difficult.

[LoadedM333]

[Spyder]

I have probably flown all of them domestically, and one or two overseas. Never had a problem with any.

[mooster]

I travel frequently with a firearm and prefer using Southwest. I recommend avoiding American Airlines and Delta.

When you fly with a firearm on your outbound flight on Delta or AA, their systems will associate the firearm with your itinerary. You will not be able to do online check-in with AA or Delta on your return leg - thus putting you in the last boarding groups. You can get around the boarding group issue if you are in one of the priority boarding groups (airline status benefit, 1st class, economy plus or exit row).