First time flying with my gun

[edgerly779]

OP got it right. I fly all the time with firearms. Mostly swa and Alaska. Never an issue.. 11 lbs of ammo max for all but Alaska allows 50 lbs.

[Bert Gamble]

Make sure that your "Locked container" stays closed when locked. A 1/4 gap can cause you to have to buy hard sided luggage at the airport.

[LoadedM333]

First time flying with my gun

[edgerly779]

I have never seen my firearms case marked by Alaska or Southwest. AA does not like firearms and you cannot have loaded mags with them. Supposedly.

[rvicta]

I always fly Southwest now because I know they won't put the red security tag on my check-in.

[mikef]

Can I have loaded mags in the case with the gun? Not in the gun of course.

[tonyxcom]

Mine are always unloaded. Mag is always outside of gun.

The airport, before getting on a plane for work, is the last place I want to get in an argument about policies and procedures.

[rjsnow]

Funny story, my wife is flying cross the country American Airlines. First time her flying with her gun I told her to go to the TSA as well as American Airlines and print what their policies are and have those copies with you when you get to the gate and follow them to a tee.

She was going to use one of those lock boxes with a cable that you use in your car.

She cleared her gun and I told her she needs to have the ammo in a retail box, she told me no you don't it doesn't need to be I said yes it does and that was that.

We arrived at the counter she said she's going to declare and they asked if the gun is unloaded she replies yes and then she added that the magazines are in there also and somehow or another said the magazines where loaded.

That started a little debate between the counter people and her. She wasn't winning but there was a deputy at the next counter and I asked if he may have some empty boxes in the office. He said he thinks there were some so he rode off on his bicycle.

He came back a short while later with two boxes and there we were at the counter with the gun Box open unloading the three magazines for the Glock 19 and putting them in the boxes, you can't make this stuff up.

I only told her one time that I told you.

Hahaha

[M1NM]

Can I have loaded mags in the case with the gun? Not in the gun of course.

Might vary by airline - but all the ones I've flown want the ammo in the original box.

[Robotron2k84]

[L84CABO]

The check-in process usually goes one of two ways...The ticket agent will take your bag and send it on its way and it will be inspected by TSA in the back. OR...you will take your bag to a secondary TSA agent off to the side, around the corner, etc., and they will inspect your bag with you there. This process varies but it is defined by TSA at your particular airport, not your airline.

If you get the first situation, you will want to hang out on this side of security for 15-20 minutes or so in case there is a problem and they call you back. If you get the later, then you can proceed to security as soon as you are done. Accordingly you will want to leave yourself some extra time to deal with this.

On the other end your bag will USUALLY be with the agent at the Oversized Luggage counter...but sometimes it ends up on the regular carousel. Check both places before you panic.

Also note that some airports will zip tie your case closed. If you intend to arm up immediately upon landing, you will want to plan ahead and have a way of dealing with the zip ties. Note that EMT Shears are legal to carry on...and they're cheap enough that it's no big deal if you get a TSA agent who doesn't know the rules and takes them. To that end, it's a good idea to print and carry a copy of the TSA regs and your airlines policy for firearms transport.

Note that many airlines are fussy about ammo. Using the factory ammo box works just fine. It is also technically permissible to load your magazines but if you do this they tend to want to see a box of some sort that totally encompasses the magazine. This is my preference if I intend to arm up immediately upon landing because I hate loading magazines in an airport bathroom or rental car. YMMV. But if you do this, throw an empty ammo box into your suitcase just incase the airline/TSA has a problem with it. Not everyone knows their own rules.

Lastly, repeat after me, "I need to declare a firearm today." NOT "I have a gun!"

[edgerly779]

here in el paso stay near ticket counter till cleared. last night i went to ate and got called back and missed my flight.

[Jaysol33]

Can I have loaded mags in the case with the gun? Not in the gun of course.

Ammo should be on the original retail box, not loaded on the magazines.

[RobinGoodfellow]

Your gun should be unloaded, and in a locked case (it doesn't have to be a pistol case or anything in particular--I've used a tackle box). Don't use a TSA lock on the pistol case (although you may use one on your outer luggage).

Ammunition should be in a factory box, but they don't always check.

At the check-in counter, state in a clear voice, "I am declaring a firearm." [NOTE: I have had a variety of reactions from nothing at all to a look of utter shock from the counter agents.] The agent may or may not ask you to open the case so they can see the firearm; the agent may or may not ask you to demonstrate that it is unloaded. I remember normally having to sign an orange card, which is placed inside the luggage with the locked gun case.

In the past the agent would then place the luggage on the conveyor. Last time I flew he had me carry it to a separate location where a TSA agent (IIRC) took it and placed it on a separate conveyor. He asked me a number of questions about the pistol (don't know whether this was a part of the process, or he was just personally interested).

When you get to your destination, your luggage likely will not be on the carousel with the other passengers' luggage: it will probably be in a room off to the side.

Good luck!

[ChampCarStar]

I posted the below information a couple years ago on another forum, so some things may have changed.

When I was competing I was flying somewhere just about every month with my rifles.

These are my experiences and the only place I've had an issue is at LAX.

As was stated earlier, the initial process is pretty standard. Bring your locked case(s) to the check in counter and let the agent know you are declaring a firearm(s). Some airlines will direct you to a specific counter for firearms handling. At United at LAX, they send you to the Oversize Luggage counter which is actually nice because there is almost never a line to check in. If you are unsure of where to go, ask an airline representative prior to getting into line so you don't waste your time queuing up in the wrong line.

Fill out the Firearms Unloaded certificate and place it in the case when they tell you to. Sometimes they ask if it is unloaded (it should always be), but I have never had to physically show them an empty chamber on my firearms.

Some airports will have you leave the key with the TSA agent, others will have you hold on to it and open it only if they have to check something. And please don't use TSA locks. Use regular key or combination locks that only you can open.

Each airport is different. Here are my experiences with the ones I have flown through.

Los Angeles Intl Airport (LAX) Domestic Flights - Declare at counter. Case is taken to closed screening area to be swabbed for explosive residue. You are unable to observe. You hold onto the key. Case is not opened.

Los Angeles Intl Airport (LAX) International Flights - Declare at counter. Case is taken to open screening area to be swabbed for explosive residue. You are able to observe as screening takes place. You hold onto the key. Case is not opened.

Orange County / John Wayne Airport (SNA) - Declare at counter. Case is taken to open screening area to be swabbed for explosive residue. You are able to observe as screening takes place. You hold onto the key. Case is not opened. (One time the TSA agent let me stand right next to him as he screened my case)

Colorado Springs (COS) - Declare at counter. Case is taken to open screening area to be swabbed for explosive residue. You are able to observe as screening takes place. You hold onto the key. Case is not opened.

Denver Intl Airport (DEN) - Declare at counter. Case is taken to open screening area to be swabbed for explosive residue. You are able to observe as screening takes place, but from a distance. You hold onto the key until they ask for it. Case is opened as you watch screening. They don't pull the rifle(s) out, but they will push and squeeze the foam to see if anything is hidden inside of it.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) - Declare at counter. Case is taken to open screening area to be swabbed for explosive residue. You are able to observe as screening takes place. You hold onto the key. Case is not opened.

Columbus Metropolitan Airport, Georgia (CSG) - Declare at counter. Case is taken to open screening area to be swabbed for explosive residue. You are able to observe as screening takes place. You hold onto the key. Case is not opened.

Memphis Intl Airport (MEM) - Declare at counter. Case is taken to open screening area to be swabbed for explosive residue. You are able to observe as screening takes place, but from a distance. You hold onto the key until they ask for it. Case is opened as you watch screening. They don't pull the rifle(s) out, but they will push and squeeze the foam to see if anything is hidden inside of it.

Flughafen Hannover, Hannover Airport, Germany (HAJ) - Declare at counter. Case is taken to closed screening area to be examined by local Police. You provide copy of your Import Permit issued by the German Authorities so they can verify the rifle(s) you are leaving with are the same as the rifle(s) you originally arrived with. You open the case at their instruction and pull out rifles to verify serial numbers. At no time will they physically handle your rifle, you handle it the entire time in the presence of the Polizei.

All of the above is only the initial screening. The cases are still x-rayed but usually after you have already departed the initial screening area. I put my phone number on all luggage tags and write it as well on the case so they can call me if anything else is found during the x-ray. This has happened to me once where the x-ray tech saw something strange and i was called.

You may encounter a ticketing agent who will ask you how much ammo you are checking in as well. The limit if i recall correctly is 5.5 kilos (about 12 pounds). I often just say it's less than the maximum allowed weight. Only once have I had to take ammo out of my check in luggage and have it weighed.

Check your airline for specific rules on sports baggage. Many airlines waive the dimensional restrictions but will still charge you if your case is over 50lbs. My case with both air and smallbore rifle comes in at 49.9 lbs.