Air Travel With Firearm

FastWReX · Jan 10, 2014

Hey everyone,

I'm getting married in June, and my buddy from Wisconsin is coming down. He wanted to bring his Glock and asked me about bringing it down here. I recall there being a post on here somewhere that a guy did about how he travels through airports with his firearms. Just curious if anyone can post a link to that thread, so I can pass it on to my buddy.

Thanks.

MAC702 · Jan 10, 2014

Most everything you need to know is here: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/firearms-and-ammunition

When they say "TSA-approved locks" they are not referring to locks that can be opened by TSA. They mean locks that cannot be opened by anyone other than the passenger.

The passenger should print this page and bring it with him. He should also print the relevant page from his airline's website. This is the quickest way to resolve questions and hesitations from sometimes ignorant counter staff at the ticket line.

G22shooter · Jan 10, 2014

I have been traveling armed for several years and have modeled my procedures on the steps in "Mac's Guide to Flying with a Firearm." It's a long read but it's an excellent resource on how to do it right.

solus · Jan 10, 2014

first congrats on tying the knot...

I routinely travel across the US w/at least a half of dozen pistols and never experienced any problems.

my conversations with TSA agents is they have been told to validate the box securing the firearm can not be 'pried' or 'twisted' open even partially so someone can retrieve the contents.

there was one type of molded plastic firearm box that was popular which has only one lock hasp under the handle which can be pried partially opened and i personally have switched to the molded plastic box which has lock openings under the handle as well as recessed on both sides.

TSA guidance provided by Mac is excellent start...the other key is to assure the ammo is maintained in a plastic box (or original container) verses being in the in the mag.

and Mac, et al., TSA agents get cranky and bitter when you throw their documentation in at them as i have discerned each aeroport's TSA and aeroline's counter staff have their own 'unique' way of following the spirit and intent of the TSA's published guidance.

finally, ensure your friend arrives early at the aeroport and sometimes it takes a bit of time to get through the 'special handling' activities when you check in. and please pass on the term you wish to use is 'you need special handling of your baggage' verses saying 'oh i have a gun in my luggage, can you help me'...

flying out of RDU the SW ticket agent always hollars out...YOU HAVE A GUN TO CHECK? and one time made me show her it was unloaded at the counter...sigh!!

make sure your friend does not fly through any NY aeroports...that is a separate thread topic.

ipse

meadowsr · Jan 11, 2014

My recent experience flying

Posting as a warning to others that travel with their firearms…

I left DEN on United to fly to LA (the state) to visit my in-laws. Since we were going to be touring NOLA for a few days before joining the fam, I decided, since my CO CHP is recognized in LA, that I would carry (especially after my wife noted that one of the places we were going to visit, at night, was not a place you would want to take the street car home from).

So, got all packed up, put my travel case, locked, near the top of one of two suitcases we were taking. Declared it to the United agent at check-in, and dutifully followed the TSA escort to the secondary screening, where all firearms-containing luggage is scanned separately. (Not sure why all this happens, as all baggage is scanned anyway…) After the scanners declared me OK to continue, the TSA escort says I can continue to my gate, he'll deliver the bag to where it needs to go.

Well, upon arrival to NOLA, I end up with only one suitcase; yes, the one with my checked firearms, as well as most of the kids' Christmas presents. Oh, all all *my* clothes, except for one change of underwear. The lady in front of me at the United baggage claim counter has lost all her suitcases, but at least they are able to inform her that they are definitely still in DEN and will be shipped on the next flight. My bag, however, they have no clue where it is. I'm now under the assumption that the "TSA escort" absconded with a bag he knew to have valuables in it. I'm trying to figure out in my head how to deal with Denver PD, from a distance, reporting a grand larceny, as well as (with my wife) trying to come up with a list of all the contents of the bag (we got up to at least $2500, including the guns).

Anyway, long story short(ened), the bag finally arrived after 2 1/2 days of being missing; everything was intact. I now resolve to not head to my gate while the "TSA escort" delivers my bag, but escort *him/her* back to the counter and watch my bag get put on the conveyor belt.

davidmcbeth · Jan 11, 2014

The airline determines how to travel with a gun ...

G22shooter · Jan 11, 2014

davidmcbeth said:
The airline determines how to travel with a gun ...

Uh, no. The airlines cannot make rules or policies contradictory to the policies of the TSA.

Sent from my SGH-T999L using Tapatalk

davidmcbeth · Jan 11, 2014

G22shooter said:
Uh, no. The airlines cannot make rules or policies contradictory to the policies of the TSA.

Sent from my SGH-T999L using Tapatalk

No but they can add additional restrictions ... chk with the carrier

G22shooter · Jan 11, 2014

davidmcbeth said:
No but they can add additional restrictions ... chk with the carrier

Thanks for echoing what MAC702, solus and I already said.

Sent from my SGH-T999L using Tapatalk

Motofixxer · Jan 11, 2014

I would recommend a hard sided suitcase such as a Pelican case. Rather than just a case inside another suitcase. I like the idea of all my contents being secure. You can also travel with a cheap flare gun declared and follow all same regulations as its classified a firearm. Then all your contents are always safe and locked up.

G22shooter · Jan 12, 2014

Motofixxer said:
I would recommend a hard sided suitcase such as a Pelican case. Rather than just a case inside another suitcase. I like the idea of all my contents being secure. You can also travel with a cheap flare gun declared and follow all same regulations as its classified a firearm. Then all your contents are always safe and locked up.

This is not a bad recommendation, but I've never had any trouble when using a cable lock to secure my pistol case inside my checked bag.

Sent from my SGH-T999L using Tapatalk

carolina guy · Jan 12, 2014

Fun site w/useful information

Including reports of how the individual airports and airlines handle travel with firearms.

http://deviating.net/firearms/packing/

One bit of advise I thought was especially worthy was that he puts "firearms" in each checked bag to ENSURE they make it to the destination and that they cannot be opened legally by the TSA after they are out of his sight.

One side note, in the videos, the language can get a bit thick, so use caution. ;-)

solus · Jan 12, 2014

meadowsr said:
Posting as a warning to others that travel with their firearms…

I left DEN on United to fly to LA (the state) to visit my in-laws. Since we were going to be touring NOLA for a few days before joining the fam, I decided, since my CO CHP is recognized in LA, that I would carry (especially after my wife noted that one of the places we were going to visit, at night, was not a place you would want to take the street car home from).

So, got all packed up, put my travel case, locked, near the top of one of two suitcases we were taking. Declared it to the United agent at check-in, and dutifully followed the TSA escort to the secondary screening, where all firearms-containing luggage is scanned separately. (Not sure why all this happens, as all baggage is scanned anyway…) After the scanners declared me OK to continue, the TSA escort says I can continue to my gate, he'll deliver the bag to where it needs to go.

Well, upon arrival to NOLA, I end up with only one suitcase; yes, the one with my checked firearms, as well as most of the kids' Christmas presents. Oh, all all *my* clothes, except for one change of underwear. The lady in front of me at the United baggage claim counter has lost all her suitcases, but at least they are able to inform her that they are definitely still in DEN and will be shipped on the next flight. My bag, however, they have no clue where it is. I'm now under the assumption that the "TSA escort" absconded with a bag he knew to have valuables in it. I'm trying to figure out in my head how to deal with Denver PD, from a distance, reporting a grand larceny, as well as (with my wife) trying to come up with a list of all the contents of the bag (we got up to at least $2500, including the guns).

Anyway, long story short(ened), the bag finally arrived after 2 1/2 days of being missing; everything was intact. I now resolve to not head to my gate while the "TSA escort" delivers my bag, but escort *him/her* back to the counter and watch my bag get put on the conveyor belt.

glad you finally got your bag, but i learned a long time ago flying out of DIA to escort the little foreign national from the ticket counter to the TSA screening point and then to where they take it outside and put it down the external beltway.

never had a misplaced bag (knock on wood) to date and last year was a thirty round trip year...sigh

ipse

solus · Jan 12, 2014

carolina guy said:
Including reports of how the individual airports and airlines handle travel with firearms.

http://deviating.net/firearms/packing/

One bit of advise I thought was especially worthy was that he puts "firearms" in each checked bag to ENSURE they make it to the destination and that they cannot be opened legally by the TSA after they are out of his sight.
One side note, in the videos, the language can get a bit thick, so use caution. ;-)

sorry TSA can open the bag any bloody time they feel like it, please make no mistake you do not need to be present!!

ipse

MAC702 · Jan 12, 2014

solus said:
sorry TSA can open the bag any bloody time they feel like it, please make no mistake you do not need to be present!!

They can open a bag that contains a cased firearm, but they cannot open the case that contains the firearm. If the entire bag is the firearm's case, they are not allowed to open it.

solus · Jan 12, 2014

MAC702 said:
They can open a bag that contains a cased firearm, but they cannot open the case that contains the firearm. If the entire bag is the firearm's case, they are not allowed to open it.

and that MAC is why i found the locks cut off my firearm box which was housed inside another bag and the firearms box was re-bound with fiber industrial bands upon retrieving my bag from a recent trip from the SEATAC to the RDU via DIA.

fortunately the contents were in tact as well as the cut locks inside!!

out of sight out of legal bounds...under the guise of protecting our citizens...

ipse

eye95 · Jan 12, 2014

Carry one suitcase. Make it hard-sided and lockable. Put a firearm in it, whether you want to transport it or not. Put a lock that the TSA can't open on it. Follow all procedures. Be careful of all laws in all States where you will be handling the bag with the firearm in it. It is possible to be in technical violation of the law while taking the bag to check-in or picking it up from the carousel.

Remember, it was the suitcase WITH the gun that made it through unmolested! There is a reason for that.

This thread has import beyond this State. It should be moved to General Discussion.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk.

<o>

HPmatt · Jan 12, 2014

solus said:
and that MAC is why i found the locks cut off my firearm box which was housed inside another bag and the firearms box was re-bound with fiber industrial bands upon retrieving my bag from a recent trip from the SEATAC to the RDU via DIA.

fortunately the contents were in tact as well as the cut locks inside!!

I use the storage unit hardened steel locks on my pelican case. They would have to use a cutting torch or thermite to cut those shackles.

FastWReX · Jan 14, 2014

Thank you all very much for the congrats! There is a ton of great information that you all posted, and I'll be sure to pass them along to him. What I was initially looking for was Mac's Guide, however, there is a plethora of information in the others. I do thank you for all the information! I hope you all are having a great day!

carolina guy · Jan 14, 2014

eye95 said:
Carry one suitcase. Make it hard-sided and lockable. Put a firearm in it, whether you want to transport it or not. Put a lock that the TSA can't open on it. Follow all procedures. Be careful of all laws in all States where you will be handling the bag with the firearm in it. It is possible to be in technical violation of the law while taking the bag to check-in or picking it up from the carousel.

Remember, it was the suitcase WITH the gun that made it through unmolested! There is a reason for that.

This thread has import beyond this State. It should be moved to General Discussion.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk.

<o>

True, although 18 USC 926A gives some significant protection for a firearm that is stored unloaded in a locked container:

Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

Air Travel With Firearm

Regular Member

Campaign Veteran

Campaign Veteran

Regular Member

New member

Banned

Campaign Veteran

Banned

Campaign Veteran

Regular Member

Campaign Veteran

Regular Member

Regular Member

Regular Member

Campaign Veteran

Regular Member

Well-known member

Regular Member

Regular Member

Regular Member