It's possible, but it's never happened to me. I do over 100 airplanes a year. I shoot regularly, and get swabbed during random checks...maybe 6 times a year. I've never set one off.
Joe
Flying With Guns & Ammo, Lessons Learned.
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Joe
Sorry for going off topic here:
Gate agents are given lots of latitude when it comes to doing their jobs. It always pays to treat them nicely. Most folks are stressed when they fly, and these folks get the brunt of it. They're always happy to see a smiling face. They can make your check-in easier or harder if they want to.
Some free advice if you're ever the victim of a cancelled flight and talking to a gate agent. If they are trying to get you rebooked, tell them where you're headed, what time you need to be there, and then shut up. For example, your flight to Ft Lauderdale is cancelled, you can tell them they could also send you to Miami, or Boca instead, as long as you can get there by 4pm...or whatever. If it's possible, they are the only folks that can make it happen. In over 15 years of full time flying, I've only been stranded at the airport a few times. I almost always get rebooked.
So be nice, and then shut up.
I've been flying with handguns for over 40 years. Back in the "good old days", in Texas the local airlines (Southwest, America West, etc) used to keep small cardboard boxes at the gate agents stand for folks whose only luggage was a handgun. I know - I've used them.
One thing that I always do todays is avoid connecting flights that go through anti-gun cities, such as Chicago, NJ, NY, etc. I don't want to risk getting stuck overnight at a location that may arrest me when I try to recheck the gun the next day.
All of my recent flights have involved the bag having to get picked up at the baggage agent after the flight instead of the baggage carousel. It pretty much adds 20 minutes additional time to reclaim the luggage.
A metal lock box such as this one meets the airline requirements for a hard sided case. Ammo much be in a secure box (I always use factory ammo boxes) and not loose. Some agents don't like it loaded in magazines either.
One thing that I always do todays is avoid connecting flights that go through anti-gun cities, such as Chicago, NJ, NY, etc. I don't want to risk getting stuck overnight at a location that may arrest me when I try to recheck the gun the next day.
All of my recent flights have involved the bag having to get picked up at the baggage agent after the flight instead of the baggage carousel. It pretty much adds 20 minutes additional time to reclaim the luggage.
A metal lock box such as this one meets the airline requirements for a hard sided case. Ammo much be in a secure box (I always use factory ammo boxes) and not loose. Some agents don't like it loaded in magazines either.
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I don't recommend the metal clamshell lockboxes for air travel. The panels bend and the locks shear all too easily. I'll post this pic one more time:
Seems i get swabbed regularly. Once in GSO a buddy and I had the same flight time going different places. Like 5:30 am and they pulled us both and swabbed us? We were talking before we went to our gates and decided they must have a quota a day and easier to get it over early. Another time leaving Ilion NY with a group of 5. Our last stop had been the underground range, so we obviously all tested positive. Seemed strange to me since at that time probably 80% of the traffic through that airport were Remington employees going to or from the plant. When we opened the plant in Huntsville, I was there monthy. Once they found out I was a Remington employee, they would just wave me through, no bag check, no take off belt and shoes, just welcome to Huntsville.
edit to add: I was not traveling with firearms, we always shipped them ahead via UPS to avoid any hassle. Had plenty of dumb ass management types that thought the rules did not apply to them (since they worked for Remington) and attempt to board with a firearm. They were not usually long with the company. But with myself and armorers, they have found misc. ammo from shoots shows, etc. They always just confiscated, I said "Sorry" and no big deal.
edit to add: I was not traveling with firearms, we always shipped them ahead via UPS to avoid any hassle. Had plenty of dumb ass management types that thought the rules did not apply to them (since they worked for Remington) and attempt to board with a firearm. They were not usually long with the company. But with myself and armorers, they have found misc. ammo from shoots shows, etc. They always just confiscated, I said "Sorry" and no big deal.
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Yup. Both times at RDU. My travel sling bag was my daily gun stuff bag for years. One time they asked about firearms and the other about being around fertilizer...
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