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I decided that rather than leave my babies at home over the holidays while I visited Ohio, I'd splash out on a pelican case, wrap them up safely and bring them with me to enjoy the Independence Day festivities.
I arrived at SFO halfway to a ruined set of drawers, mentally preparing myself for a probing at the hands of the least gentle TSA agent available. I repeated my mantra of "Do not say 'i have a gun'" until I walked up to the counter.
I stated that I had an unloaded firearm to declare, woman at the desk seemed taken aback slightly but proceeded to fumble through the process, making me go to TSA additionally screening then come back because she forgot part of what she had to do. After a little back and forthing, I said goodbye to my darlings and went outside to smoke as many cigarettes as I physically could handle.
Now, I read and read and double checked and read again with the air carrier and TSA about what I should and shouldn't be doing, then finalized my checklist.
- Solid case, unable to pry open at all
- Non-tsa locks, four of them, same key for the sake of my sanity
- Trace, cut and prep pelican case
- Throw out back seeing how heavy it is.
Here are the things that were vague to me that I learned in the process.
TSA/Carriers are notably hazy on what constitutes good packaging for ammo. I used an MTM flip open ammo box from amazon, literally the cheapest one. Seems like they only really care that your rounds aren't just flopping around either in the larger case or in their box. Get a box that separates the rounds and do yourself the favor of not losing them to TSA.
Put as many guns as you can fit in the case. There is literally no limit. Bring everything you think you might want to use. I regretted not bringing the overunder in the end/
Your gun case is your castle. TSA is not legally allowed to open it without you being there. Have something valuable you don't want to be lifted? Hollow out a little cavity in your pelican case for cash, the wife's jewelry or whatever. Signed, sealed, delivered.
Do NOT mark your gun case with stickers or logos affiliated with guns. Some websites advise this, I was very succinctly told to remove the magpul sticker (which isn't even a common place logo to non-enthusiasts) by TSA as a courtesy. Make sure your case has the following and only the following:
Your Name
For Access Call: *** *** ****
You do not want to rely on the airport paging system to know that TSA wants to peak under your petticoats some more, and you will most likely miss your flight if you don't give them a quick way to get in touch.
You don't need to put Desert Eagle brand Glock Gat stickers on your case for handlers to know what is in there, the huge master locks will tell them. They won't steal it, trust me. THey can get away with taking a few things, but they have enough brain power to know that airport security might get a little touchy and start asking questions when you complain that your ASSAULT WEAPON and ARMOR PIERCING BULLETS have been pilfered in their airport.
I can't emphasis enough how simple the process is for flying with guns, and I don't think I will ever fly without them again, especially after I can get around to earning a non-resident Utah CCW that reciprocates with anywhere I want to go .
TLDR:
Gats travel is fine in SFO, just know what you need to know, follow their rules and be polite. If you fly to somewhere like Ohio, prepare for the process to be as routine as wiping front to back. Those people know what to do I went from walking in the door of the airport to firearm checked, back outside in the smoker's booth in less than 10 minutes, TSA agent didn't even open the damn thing, just checked the space where the halves met for explosives. (Smokeless powder residue apparently not inclusive).
I arrived at SFO halfway to a ruined set of drawers, mentally preparing myself for a probing at the hands of the least gentle TSA agent available. I repeated my mantra of "Do not say 'i have a gun'" until I walked up to the counter.
I stated that I had an unloaded firearm to declare, woman at the desk seemed taken aback slightly but proceeded to fumble through the process, making me go to TSA additionally screening then come back because she forgot part of what she had to do. After a little back and forthing, I said goodbye to my darlings and went outside to smoke as many cigarettes as I physically could handle.
Now, I read and read and double checked and read again with the air carrier and TSA about what I should and shouldn't be doing, then finalized my checklist.
- Solid case, unable to pry open at all
- Non-tsa locks, four of them, same key for the sake of my sanity
- Trace, cut and prep pelican case
- Throw out back seeing how heavy it is.
Here are the things that were vague to me that I learned in the process.
TSA/Carriers are notably hazy on what constitutes good packaging for ammo. I used an MTM flip open ammo box from amazon, literally the cheapest one. Seems like they only really care that your rounds aren't just flopping around either in the larger case or in their box. Get a box that separates the rounds and do yourself the favor of not losing them to TSA.
Put as many guns as you can fit in the case. There is literally no limit. Bring everything you think you might want to use. I regretted not bringing the overunder in the end/
Your gun case is your castle. TSA is not legally allowed to open it without you being there. Have something valuable you don't want to be lifted? Hollow out a little cavity in your pelican case for cash, the wife's jewelry or whatever. Signed, sealed, delivered.
Do NOT mark your gun case with stickers or logos affiliated with guns. Some websites advise this, I was very succinctly told to remove the magpul sticker (which isn't even a common place logo to non-enthusiasts) by TSA as a courtesy. Make sure your case has the following and only the following:
Your Name
For Access Call: *** *** ****
You do not want to rely on the airport paging system to know that TSA wants to peak under your petticoats some more, and you will most likely miss your flight if you don't give them a quick way to get in touch.
You don't need to put Desert Eagle brand Glock Gat stickers on your case for handlers to know what is in there, the huge master locks will tell them. They won't steal it, trust me. THey can get away with taking a few things, but they have enough brain power to know that airport security might get a little touchy and start asking questions when you complain that your ASSAULT WEAPON and ARMOR PIERCING BULLETS have been pilfered in their airport.
I can't emphasis enough how simple the process is for flying with guns, and I don't think I will ever fly without them again, especially after I can get around to earning a non-resident Utah CCW that reciprocates with anywhere I want to go .
TLDR:
Gats travel is fine in SFO, just know what you need to know, follow their rules and be polite. If you fly to somewhere like Ohio, prepare for the process to be as routine as wiping front to back. Those people know what to do I went from walking in the door of the airport to firearm checked, back outside in the smoker's booth in less than 10 minutes, TSA agent didn't even open the damn thing, just checked the space where the halves met for explosives. (Smokeless powder residue apparently not inclusive).
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