My Experience Flying with a Firearm

[madsend81]

So, I thought I'd share my experience flying with my handgun from Long Beach airport to Phoenix, AZ and back. No horror stories, just some interesting observations regarding the checking in of my firearm. I had my handgun properly packaged for transport in my check-in luggage. I got to the counter and told the ticketing agent "I have an item I need to declare."

She paused, looked at me a bit confused and then said "Oh, is it a ..." and then whispered, "firearm?" I nodded and she then thought for a moment, apparently unsure of what the proper procedure was. She told me to continue to check-in using the automated machine and she would be back to finish checking me in. A few minutes later she came back, apparently more confident in what needed to happen. As she was going through the inspection procedure, she noted that I appeared more knowledgeable about what to do than she was. After we were done, she took my bags and I next saw them sitting on the baggage carousel in Phoenix.

Contrast that episode to when I checked in at Phoenix to fly back home. I told the ticketing agent that I had an item to declare. She said, "You mean a gun?"

"Yep," I replied.

She then shouted to her coworker across the way so all could hear, "Can you help me over here? I have to check-in this guy with a firearm." She helped me with my luggage and we had a nice conversation about different destinations around the US while she walked me over to a TSA inspection area where a TSA agent asked me about how the firearm was packaged. I offered him the key to the lock as nobody had visually confirmed it was unloaded, but he said, "I don't need that," and proceeded to wipe my suitcase with a little cloth. The luggage passed inspection and I next saw it in Long Beach on the baggage carousel.

After it was all said and done, my wife and I chuckled a little bit thinking about the nonchalant attitude the AZ ticketing agents had about my having a firearm compared with the very discreet attitude of the Long Beach clerk, like she was helping me keep a secret from the other passengers. Don't get me wrong here, both clerks were very helpful and neither was judgmental about my having a firearm. I have no problems using that airline again (US Airways) to travel to visit my folks again in AZ.

So, has anyone else noticed this subtle nuances when flying with firearms, or am I the only one?

[Trriemferent]

Im glad things went smoothly for you. Not that it matters but what was the airline?

[cc56]

I am glad you had a good experience. I flew back home (Ca) from Maryland and had a scary experience. I declared my hand gun and then placed it into my military duffel bag. You know the tubular kind that has the flaps on the top.. So I get to California and am waiting at the baggage claim for my bag. I see my bag coming with the flaps open and my gun in the box falling out. I quickly grab my bag and stuff my gun back into the bag.
I called the airlines and they blamed the TSA. I called the TSA and they blamed the airlines. I was pissed.

[madsend81]

Im glad things went smoothly for you. Not that it matters but what was the airline?

I'm glad things went smoothly as well. The airline was US Airways. It was my first time flying with a firearm and I was extra cautious to make sure that I was doing everything correctly.

[todd2968]

Flew out of San Diego a year ago no issue no drama it was my first time

[RobinGoodfellow]

My Experience

I have flown through many airports with a firearm in my checked bag. While I have noted a great variety of ways that ticket agents follow the procedure (some want to see the firearm, others don't), they are usually courteous and helpful.

One difference was when I checked in once in LAX--when I told the ticket agent I was declaring a firearm she got real nervous. I think I popped her cherry!

[dinkydau]

I fly Southwest a lot. I had my handgun locked with 2 padlocks in a small Pelican case inside my carry-on roller bag which had a TSA approved lock. I placed the carry on, on the scale and told the agent behind the counter I was declaring a firearm. He/she then gave me a small form to fill out; my name, flt #, date. and then they placed clear packaging tape over the form and placed in on the Pelican case. I locked the carry on and I saw the bag at my destination.
In Ontario, they had me go to the end of the counter and wait for a TSA agent to inspect the firearm which they recorded the make and serial #. I locked everything back up and the TSA agent placed it on the belt.
In Burbank, same thing except the SWA agent there told me to have a seat for about 20min. in case a TSA agent came out and wanted the keys to inspect. But they did not.
Fine by me.
Oh yes, SWA allows 11LBS of ammo to be place in check in luggage as long as its packed properly like in their original packaging or in the replacement range container blocks you see made of plastic or metal and secured.

[negolien]

Nice thanks for sharing

That's a good story. You weren't the guy asking about how to declare it a couple of weeks ago were you?

I have never had the experiance like you had in Arizona. I must say though I hope they aren't doing stuff like that when LEO's are traveling that would piss me off. I have had some carriers give me issues because like you found not everyone knows the rules. Some items are more obvious when declaring too which can in itself be a drag. I always try and call ahead if I' am using a new carrier or going to a destination I have not be too before.

The fun parts trying to get you gear on at your destination without having TSA and all the LEO's chasing you out of the bathrooms thinking you're a terrorist. I've opted to wait till I get to my destination now adays.

Being able to carry can be a burden and of course a responsibility. Alot of people think carrying is all fun and games but if you're not dead serious and 100% sure about what you're doing you could end up in a very bad situation. Just ask George Zimmerman..

[sigstroker]

You can avoid most of that by calling the airline and asking their firearm policy. Sound ignorant so they are forced to look it up. Then ask them to put in a note about it on your reservation. Then when you arrive at check-in all the info is right there for the agent to read, and they will trust it as The Word since it was put there by an airline employee.

[madsend81]

That's a good story. You weren't the guy asking about how to declare it a couple of weeks ago were you?

No, that was someone else, but I did read all of the advice that was provided on that thread. Next time, though I won't say "I have something I need to declare," I'll just straight up say, "I have a firearm that needs to be checked-in with my baggage." That way I'll probably avoid the temporary confused look.

[SanPedroShooter]

I always fly out of LB and I always take a pistol and usually a rifle or two. I've never had problem one.

Course I fly JetBlue. Someone told me they were run by Mormons. That would explain a lot.

I carry the TSA policy and the airlines as well, but its my experience these guys play fast and somewhat loose with the rules.

Personally I don't give ****, I'm checking an unloaded gun in a locked box... Its not like its a box cutter or something dangerous.

As long as my bag comes out at my destination....

[MossbergMan]

I fly with guns alot. Post 9/11 checkin way different from pre-9/11.
Going to the NRA Police Nationals in Jackson MS in 2004, flying Delta out of LAX. Declared my firearm(s), opened my 52" Pelican case to expose 10 handguns and a Benelli S-90A1. The clerk had a litter of kittens, "Sir, you can't have that many guns in one case!" Yes I can...get your supervisor. Everything cleared but my case set of alarms on the xray machine. Pretty funny watching TSA agent telling everyone it was going to go off and then calming other agents when the bells rang.
Coming back....out of Jackson, declared my guns, opened my case and....the ticket gal looked at the arsenal and point to my PPC revolver and said "oh isn't that one pretty. What is it? I told her, offered to have her hold it (and she did) and she told the TSA guy how heavy it was compared to her SW36. TSA guy got all excited when he saw the Benelli and told me he was saving up for one.
Different states, different attitude about guns.
Last year flew out of San Diego SWA with just my carry gun. Nobody inspected it and I didn't have to wait for TSA. However, coming home from, of all places, San Antonio TX. I was escorted to a little cubical by SWA employee and had to wait 20 effing minutes for the TSA turd to wipe my case down without inspecting it. My wife was freaking out thinking I got arrested and we're going to miss our flight.....it's a joke and would be funny if it wasn't such a waste of time.
Flying with guns = Adventure!
Our government spents BILLONS of dollars protecting us from what the terrorist did last year. Stupid.

[Regulus]

I've been traveling almost weekly all year from SNA to PHX (mostly Southwest, occationally US Airways) and have three flights booked in the next three weeks, starting with a flight tomorrow to PHX. One flight to HOU next week.

Every time I checkin, I see that sign on transporting firearms and have considered taking one with me, but thought it would just be to much to deal with.

Thank you for posting your experience and I might give it a try on one of my upcoming flights.

[S.A.]

I fly with guns alot. Post 9/11 checkin way different from pre-9/11.
Going to the NRA Police Nationals in Jackson MS in 2004, flying Delta out of LAX. Declared my firearm(s), opened my 52" Pelican case to expose 10 handguns and a Benelli S-90A1. The clerk had a litter of kittens, "Sir, you can't have that many guns in one case!" Yes I can...get your supervisor. Everything cleared but my case set of alarms on the xray machine. Pretty funny watching TSA agent telling everyone it was going to go off and then calming other agents when the bells rang.
Coming back....out of Jackson, declared my guns, opened my case and....the ticket gal looked at the arsenal and point to my PPC revolver and said "oh isn't that one pretty. What is it? I told her, offered to have her hold it (and she did) and she told the TSA guy how heavy it was compared to her SW36. TSA guy got all excited when he saw the Benelli and told me he was saving up for one.
Different states, different attitude about guns.


Last year flew out of San Diego SWA with just my carry gun. Nobody inspected it and I didn't have to wait for TSA. However, coming home from, of all places, San Antonio TX. I was escorted to a little cubical by SWA employee and had to wait 20 effing minutes for the TSA turd to wipe my case down without inspecting it. My wife was freaking out thinking I got arrested and we're going to miss our flight.....it's a joke and would be funny if it wasn't such a waste of time.
Flying with guns = Adventure!
Our government spents BILLONS of dollars protecting us from what the terrorist did last year. Stupid.

Had the same happen to me last year in San Antonio. Tsa wiped my luggage looking for explosive residue. Oh well, really wasn't a bad experience.

[MichaelKent]

I flew to MI and bacm with a case of firearms back in 2010, and it went surprisingly smoothly at LAX. I asked one of the staff about declaring firearms as soon as I got there and was directed to a check in line much shorter than the main one, seemed a good deal.

It was funny because it was a pair of young guys doing the inspection in another room. One of them came out to tell me the guns were cleared and he was like "are you a secret agent? That silenced machine gun is some serious hardware!". I guess they were impressed by the GSG-5.

I'm sure LAX may treat firearms a bit differently these days, since gun hysteria is like at record levels.