Air Travel With Firearms

Flying this summer with family and plan on checking my carry pistol. I fly often but never bring my gun, figure this summer vacation will be a good time to try. Asked a few buddies who have, they all describe it as very simple and painless.

Ill let you know after.
 
Flying this summer with family and plan on checking my carry pistol. I fly often but never bring my gun, figure this summer vacation will be a good time to try. Asked a few buddies who have, they all describe it as very simple and painless.

Ill let you know after.

Please do. Would love to hear your take on the process your first time!
 
A couple of months back there was a thread about flying with checked pistols. Here is the link to the thread: https://www.carolinafirearmsforum.c...-firearms-transport-on-planes-be-banned.2193/

Here was my report on that thread:

I flew on American last week, round trip from RDU to Phoenix, with a plane change both ways in Charlotte. Here are my observations.

NOTE: My pistol travels inside a locked metal box with a steel cable that secures it to the luggage.

  1. At the American Counter in RDU the agent was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. I declared the firearm, signed the tag, and he put the bag on the belt. All in all about a 5 minute check in. He did tag the bag with a notice that it had to be delivered to the baggage office in Phoenix. What was different this time was that they sent it down the belt from the baggage check, instead of having me carry it over to the TSA check.
  2. In Phoenix, it appears that the bags destined for the baggage offices are the last ones off. I had to wait almost 30 minutes for my bag to be delivered to the office.
  3. On the way home, American had already marked my record locator that I was flying with a firearm and they would not let me check in at the kiosk or in advance. I had to go up to the "slow line" and it took about 30 minutes to work my way to the front. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 35 YEARS of flying with checked firearms, they made me unload my magazines and store the ammo in a factory ammo box. As a precaution, I had put an empty Federal ammo carton in my luggage just in case. Had I not done so, I would have forfeited the ammo in Phoenix. After a 10 minute process, I had to accompany the American gate agent about 100 yards to the TSA checkin, where the rep did a manual search on the bag. This took about 10 minutes. After that the American gate agent took my bag back to put it on the baggage conveyor and I headed to the security check in.
  4. On the way home my bag did not make the connection in Charlotte, and I had to go back to RDU about 3 hours after I left to pick it up at the baggage office. The American baggage agent told me that they are not allowed to deliver bags with checked firearms.
 
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If I end up passing this phone interview tomorrow, I'll be flying out to cedar rapids Iowa for on site interview. Since it is reciprocal with NC, ill pack my VP40 with me. Then I'll check it ata gun ranges too while I'm there.

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If I end up passing this phone interview tomorrow, I'll be flying out to cedar rapids Iowa for on site interview. Since it is reciprocal with NC, ill pack my VP40 with me. Then I'll check it ata gun ranges too while I'm there.

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Make sure to post how it goes.
 
My checked bag got destroyed by AA. The zipper got busted, there were holes in it. All this w the special tag on it.

I used the exact same lock box as in the video. The lock got broken and my pistol was loose in the bag. Because the zipper was busted I'm totally shocked none of those jackoff baggage handlers didn't steal my pistol.

The check in procedure was smooth and straightforward.


Maybe it was payback for traveling w an illegal 17rd mag to CA.


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I used the exact same lock box as in the video. The lock got broken and my pistol was loose in the bag. Because the zipper was busted I'm totally shocked none of those jackoff baggage handlers didn't steal my pistol.
This is why I use hard sided luggage (a Pelican case) and put the locks on that. The rules say that the firearm must be secured. Nothing in those rules says that it has to be placed inside unsecured baggage. The last time I flew they changed the process where instead of sending it through to the TSA scanners and having me wait a few minutes to see if it clears, they sent me the route of having someone manually go through the bag. During the process, the TSA goon made a comment about just putting it in the lockbox and leaving my Pelican case unlocked. I replied, "It is required to be secure. Would you call a little lock box that can be pried open with a screwdriver secure? I don't".

While the process is normally painless, it seems like th airlines have been trying to increase the hassle factor. It seems to me as if they're trying to play the game of making it inconvenient to where the public stops checking their guns. It isn't going to work. Remember we are talking about an industry that prides itself in declaring war on it's paying customers.

Oh and the last time I went to CA, I didn't pack a gun, and left my luggage unlocked - playing the part of the good little sheeple and my Surefire flashlight was stolen from my luggage as a reward.
 
My checked bag got destroyed by AA. The zipper got busted, there were holes in it. All this w the special tag on it.

I used the exact same lock box as in the video. The lock got broken and my pistol was loose in the bag. Because the zipper was busted I'm totally shocked none of those jackoff baggage handlers didn't steal my pistol.

The check in procedure was smooth and straightforward.


Maybe it was payback for traveling w an illegal 17rd mag to CA.


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Special tag? It is a violation of federal law for anyone to put any sort of mark on your bag to identify it as containing a weapon.
 
Special tag? It is a violation of federal law for anyone to put any sort of mark on your bag to identify it as containing a weapon.

It had an orange tag on it iirc, I know it had something that made it stand out. I'm almost 100% certain it was an orange tag.


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It had an orange tag on it iirc, I know it had something that made it stand out. I'm almost 100% certain it was an orange tag.
The firearm declaration tag is orange but that is supposed to go inside. Yes, @trcubed is correct, the federal regulations prohibit marking the bags in a manner that would indicate that it contains a firearm. The airlines seem to be playing games with that requirement via things like designating it going to special handling or putting generic stickers to that effect on it and what not. Again, I suspect that they're trying to make flying with a firearm a hassle.
 
I fly all the time with a handgun. It is really not that bad. Go to the counter, tell them you are checking a bag with a firearm. They will confirm youare going to an area it is allowed. They will give you a small note to sign and put in the bag. Lock the gun with a lock you only have a key to, put a tsa lock onthe exterior bag. Usually you will take it tothe oversized bagage belt and wait for TSA to clear it. Once cleared go to security and board your plane. Pick up your cjecked bag at teh airlines bagage office.

Remember gun has to be unloaded. Ammo can be in mags in teh same container as teh firearm but cannot be loose in the bag.

Biggest hazard is if you are flying to an airport like Philly and get routed to Newark or NY airport for an issue. Then they will be waiting to arrest you at the claim office for an illegal firearm in thier state. It has happened to people. In NJ every hollow point is $200 fine minimum.

Go in educated as some ticket agents are knowledage and some are dumbasses.
 
The firearm declaration tag is orange but that is supposed to go inside. Yes, @trcubed is correct, the federal regulations prohibit marking the bags in a manner that would indicate that it contains a firearm. The airlines seem to be playing games with that requirement via things like designating it going to special handling or putting generic stickers to that effect on it and what not. Again, I suspect that they're trying to make flying with a firearm a hassle.

Every firearm declaration tag I have filled out has been white and went in the bag. They put a generic red tag on teh outside directing baggage handlers to take it to the claim office and not put it onthe standard conveyor belt.
 
@TSConver it must be a generic tag then, not one specifically saying firearms. The having to claim it at the office seems to be fairly new. I've only had to do that once in five years.

I've also read that if you do get routed to one of the people's republics that you need to refuse to take possession of your luggage and insist that they keep it until your final destination.
 
Every firearm declaration tag I have filled out has been white and went in the bag. They put a generic red tag on teh outside directing baggage handlers to take it to the claim office and not put it onthe standard conveyor belt.
It used to be orange years ago. They charged to white about 7-10 years back.
 
I fly all the time with a handgun. It is really not that bad. Go to the counter, tell them you are checking a bag with a firearm. They will confirm youare going to an area it is allowed. They will give you a small note to sign and put in the bag. Lock the gun with a lock you only have a key to, put a tsa lock onthe exterior bag. Usually you will take it tothe oversized bagage belt and wait for TSA to clear it. Once cleared go to security and board your plane. Pick up your cjecked bag at teh airlines bagage office.

Remember gun has to be unloaded. Ammo can be in mags in teh same container as teh firearm but cannot be loose in the bag.

Biggest hazard is if you are flying to an airport like Philly and get routed to Newark or NY airport for an issue. Then they will be waiting to arrest you at the claim office for an illegal firearm in thier state. It has happened to people. In NJ every hollow point is $200 fine minimum.

Go in educated as some ticket agents are knowledage and some are dumbasses.

Who is your preferred airline?
 
@TSConver it must be a generic tag then, not one specifically saying firearms. The having to claim it at the office seems to be fairly new. I've only had to do that once in five years.

I've also read that if you do get routed to one of the people's republics that you need to refuse to take possession of your luggage and insist that they keep it until your final destination.


yes it is generic, just says to not put on carosel and pick up in claims.

That is what I was told to do as well. Do not claim your bag if in a communist state.
 
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Make sure to post how it goes.
I'm thinking I get a carry on sized hard case. Since I won't need much for the Iowa trip. Hard case to check, two locked boxes inside with my clothes.
I will definitely report back.
Too bad I could not buy diplomatic credentials so I could bring some hardware here to China.
 
Just watched the video. If I heard it correctly, loaded magazines can be in the same case as the gun, just not loaded in the gun. Am I interpreting this correctly? Or do I need two locked boxes. One for the pistol and one for the magazines/ammo?
 
Just watched the video. If I heard it correctly, loaded magazines can be in the same case as the gun, just not loaded in the gun. Am I interpreting this correctly? Or do I need two locked boxes. One for the pistol and one for the magazines/ammo?

I think you're interpreting it correctly. Mags and the gun can be in the same case, although only the gun is required to be locked up. Ammo can just be in your luggage in a factory or aftermarket box.

Like @toddje , I've always used a plastic ammo case, but the law only requires that it be packaged in such a way that the primers are protected. Magazines do a good job of that, but I've never tried getting that method thru TSA. It's too simple to use an ammo case to risk being wrong.
 
I think you're interpreting it correctly. Mags and the gun can be in the same case, although only the gun is required to be locked up. Ammo can just be in your luggage in a factory or aftermarket box.

Like @toddje , I've always used a plastic ammo case, but the law only requires that it be packaged in such a way that the primers are protected. Magazines do a good job of that, but I've never tried getting that method thru TSA. It's too simple to use an ammo case to risk being wrong.
Thanks. I have another small dry box I can put a box of ammo in. If the factory VP40 box has 2 lock holes can I use that?
A foamed Pelican case is not expensive either.
I should know in a week or so if I'll be flying out to Cedar Rapids. The technical call with the managers went well.
 
The factory box should be fine, provided it is inside another suitcase. Make sure the lock(s) you use won't let you pry the box open far enough to get the gun out.

Since you're using a hard case, your suitcase can be soft-sided. If you have a hard suitcase that can be locked, your pistol can be in a soft case inside the hard suitcase.

Take a few minutes to read the rules for the particular carrier you plan to fly. There are differences between the different airlines. (I flew Southwest a lot and it was dirt simple.)

Congratulations on the new prospect. I know you're getting tired of the trips to China. Good luck...hope you get to interview in Iowa.
 
no problems when i flew home for Christmas, lady at the counter didn't bat an eye, just gave me the form to fill out and had me put in inside my luggage. that was it.
 
Biggest hazard is if you are flying to an airport like Philly and get routed to Newark or NY airport for an issue. Then they will be waiting to arrest you at the claim office for an illegal firearm in thier state. It has happened to people. In NJ every hollow point is $200 fine minimum.

There have been news reports of people flying from one free state to another and their plane diverts to NY/NJ. They claimed their firearm and checked into an on-airport hotel for the night. They were busted by Port Authority cops and are looking at seven years mandatory minimum for having a firearm without possession of a NJ Firearms ID Card.

So what happens if they don't claim their checked gun? The airline will not put it on the flight to your destination without you going through the form, lock, TSA routine. But you can't because the moment you take the case to open it - guess what?

They stay up nights looking for ways to screw us over.
 
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