Flying with a firearm

[dougncrew]

I am getting ready to travel from CA to PA for work and I would like to carry while in PA. I have an AZ non -resident CCW and I see that PA does recognize and accept them.
I am flying on SWA and on their web site they say that if I have the firearm in a locked hard sided gun case I can put it in my checked luggage. They also say that I can have ammo in the same carry on as long as it is in a hard sided locked case.
Here are my questions.
1. Is the plastic case that the pistol comes in with a pad lock on it acceptable?
2. Can the magazine be in the same case as long as it is not in the gun?
3. Can the Ammo be in the magazine?
Please let me know what I am to do. I have never flown with a firearm before.

[Capt_Communist]

1 yes
2 yes
3 different box (I usually just get ammo when I get to my destination)

[Untamed1972]

I am getting ready to travel from CA to PA for work and I would like to carry while in PA. I have an AZ non -resident CCW and I see that PA does recognize and accept them.
I am flying on SWA and on their web site they say that if I have the firearm in a locked hard sided gun case I can put it in my checked luggage. They also say that I can have ammo in the same carry on as long as it is in a hard sided locked case.
Here are my questions.
1. Is the plastic case that the pistol comes in with a pad lock on it acceptable?
2. Can the magazine be in the same case as long as it is not in the gun?
3. Can the Ammo be in the magazine?
Please let me know what I am to do. I have never flown with a firearm before.

1) Yes, but maybe less than secure when it comes to tampering. You might wanna consider a small Pelican case or something of the sort. I have an 1170 case that will fit a fullsized glock, 2 mags and box of ammo. Cost about $40. Cheap insurance I think.

2) Yes. could prolly even be in the gun as long as there are no rounds in it.

3) I have had ammo in mags and never had an issue. I think some airline policies state this is ok as long as the exposed ammo at the top of the mag is secured in a manner in which it cant come loose out of the mag while in transport. Some say that mags with ammo are GTG if they're in a magpouch or something like that even.

[Untamed1972]

1 yes
2 yes
3 different box (I usually just get ammo when I get to my destination)

In terms of carrying for self-defense.....not very practical. Unless they sell ammo at the airport, that would mean you're unprotected until you can get to a store and buy ammo.

[Maestro Pistolero]

Ammo in mags fine as long as primer in the top round protected. Full mag, in mag pouch and in hard sided case ok. Another way is full mags under foam with gun on top of the foam in locking case. All this is declared and checked, of course.

[Icypu]

I can share a story. I travelled on American Airlines with a Plano case with a semi-auto shotgun in the case from my destination (not LAX). Also in the case was an oem pistol case with a Jericho 941 in it. I had 100 rounds in 2 boxes of .40S&W as well as 2 small boxes of buck. Leaving my destination, the airlines didn't even inspect it, they just trusted me. They asked me to sign an affidavit that the firearms were unloaded, and that the ammunition was in original packaging. This affidavit was included in the case.

I also carried the box (after I locked it back up) to the TSA check in luggage scanner. I had regular padlocks on it and I asked the lady if she had to open it. I also told her if she had to, I would be there to watch. She told me "No you won't need to open it unless it alarms". She swabbed it from a swatch and it cleared so she put it on the belt to the plane. I didn't even have to open it up or unlock it. This was not the same experience I had in LAX.

Now travelling out of LAX, I remember the inspectors opened every box of ammunition 20 feet away from me within my eyesight and checked each bullet. Checking every bullet took them 5 minutes per box.

Later, they swabbed me because I was with my infant in a harness at the main security to the gates. I alarmed a silent alarm on their machine. The TSA inspector (this was on Christmas day) took me and my baby in the back of the line. He asked supervisor on the podium if he had to frisk me, as well as the baby. The supervisor told him to do us both since I alarmed. It was the most annoying and uncomfortable thing to patted down all over. After he patted me down he had to pat down the baby who I was carrying in my chest harness in front of me. I told him "Hey is this really necessary?, My baby isn't wearing anything except a jumper and a diaper". All he said "If it is any consolation, merry Xmas"!

The moral of this story is TSA in LAX are super vigilant, and will make it uncomfortable if you carry a lot of weapons or ammunition. Furthermore, don't clean your gun, or go to a shooting range before flying because you will alarm if swabbed. I think it was the Hoppes 9 on my hands that got me inspected.

[dougncrew]

Well I just ordered a steel lock gun case just to be safe. I am flying out of ontario airport and in to baltimore airport. ANd that brings up a thought I was only checking on the PA end of it and forgot I was flying into baltimore.

[Librarian]

Just added an article at the wiki -- http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/Flying_with_firearms

Much more than a stub, but feels incomplete.

Anyone have a favorite Calguns discussion thread on flying with firearms I could link?

[Paper Boy]

Anyone have a favorite Calguns discussion thread on flying with firearms I could link?

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/archive/index.php/t-466349.html

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/archive/index.php/t-415506.html

[Librarian]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/a.../t-466349.html
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/a.../t-415506.html

Thanks! I'll use the first one.

[Decoligny]

Well I just ordered a steel lock gun case just to be safe. I am flying out of ontario airport and in to baltimore airport. ANd that brings up a thought I was only checking on the PA end of it and forgot I was flying into baltimore.

Maryland only recognizes Maryland CCWs.

It is illegal under Maryland law for anyone without a permit to carry/transport, either openly or concealed, any handgun.

Don't expect the FOPA to keep you from being arrested and having your handgun confiscated and having to put up bail and then later having to come back to Maryland to stand trial.

I would see if you can rebook your travel so that you are actually flying into Pennsylvania.

[Paper Boy]

Thanks! I'll use the first one.

No problem

[Havoc70]

Maryland only recognizes Maryland CCWs.

It is illegal under Maryland law for anyone without a permit to carry/transport, either openly or concealed, any handgun.

Don't expect the FOPA to keep you from being arrested and having your handgun confiscated and having to put up bail and then later having to come back to Maryland to stand trial.

I would see if you can rebook your travel so that you are actually flying into Pennsylvania.

So long as his luggage doesn't ever come into his possession at Maryland (i.e. just a plane change, and the luggage stays "in the system"), he'll be fine as he isn't transporting his firearm(s), a regulated carrier is.

[dougncrew]

So long as his luggage doesn't ever come into his possession at Maryland (i.e. just a plane change, and the luggage stays "in the system"), he'll be fine as he isn't transporting his firearm(s), a regulated carrier is.

No he is right. I drive to PA from MD. well thats that.

[Havoc70]

Ah, yah, well that is a wrinkle. Sorry for the mis-read.