Shotgun Transporting on an Airplane

BlackGun

BlackGun

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I saw this was a subject long ago but no current info. I want to take a shotgun on an airplane to my son in Kansas departing from Charlotte. What are the steps I need to take when arriving at Charlotte and how much extra time do I need to allow? If you can list the steps in order it would be nice. Also what happens when I arrive in Topeka? Is a long gun hard case a bad idea?
 
1. Hard sided case with your own lock, not a TSA lock. Ammo is ok to be in the same case. Leave the ammo in factory boxes, or other closeable container.
2. Check in at the counter, not on line. EDIT: you can "Check In" to claim your seats online ahead of time, but go to the counter to check luggage.
3. When you get to the counter, tell the person "I need to check a firearm, can you help?"
4. Follow their instructions.
5. Be prepared to open the case for TSA to inspect. This may or may not involve TSA handling your gun or asking you to verify it's empty or most likely involve a bunch of awkward staring as the TSA person pretends to know what's up.

I've traveled often with firearms and the process varies depending on the airport, mood of the counter person and general randomness. But, I've never actually had a problem if I just followed along with what the counter person wanted to do.

You can ask what the protocol is going to be on the receiving end, but I wouldn't necessarily expect Charlotte to know what mood Topeka is in on any given day. Your shotgun may come out on the same carousel as the regular luggage, it might be sitting off to the side in an oversize area, or you may have to claim it from the luggage office. Again, just be prepared to go with the flow.

EDIT: Don't be "that guy" that waives a printout of the TSA or Airline regulations around telling the TSA what they're "supposed" to do. These guys are .gov employees...they don't care. Just go along to get along and you'll be fine.

Edit to my Edits: I've started placing a bluetooth tracker (https://www.thetileapp.com/en-us/) in the case. It helps me locate the case at the destination city if it doesn't come out with the normal luggage.
 
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First, repeat after me: the gun is for you in Kansas.

After that, it's relatively easy. The case must be hard-sided and lockable. A Pelican case or similar is perfect. Unless the airport is slammed busy, they'll want to "see" it to "verify" that it's unloaded. Only once have I not had to show it to them and that was only because the Boy Scouts jammed the airport due to some worldwide jamboree thing that no one anticipated.

Depending upon the airline, they may do this "check" at the counter or they might march you down to the pilot/air crew check in room. I keep using parenthesis because no one handles the gun nor even looks at the bolt/chamber to truly verify unloaded.

They typically want ammo in its original package which can be inside the firearm case, just not in the gun. You can also put a pocket knife in there with it (just remember you'll need a way to check it on your return trip if you're going to "lose" the gun while in KS--but a knife doesn't need a locked container, it can just sit in your suitcase in a shoe or something).

Every airport is a little different, but this is how CLT operates.
 
Tim said:
1. Hard sided case with your own lock, not a TSA lock. Ammo is ok to be in the same case. Leave the ammo in factory boxes, or other closeable container.
2. Check in at the counter, not on line.
3. When you get to the counter, tell the person, "I need to check a firearm, can you help?"
4. Follow their instructions.

I've traveled often with firearms and the 'process' varies depending on the airport, mood of the counter person and general randomness. But, I've never actually had a problem if I just followed along with what the counter person wanted to do.

You can ask what the protocol is going to be on the receiving end, but I wouldn't necessarily expect Charlotte to know what mood Topeka is in on any given day. Your shotgun may come out on the same carousel as the regular luggage, it might be sitting off to the side in an oversize area, or you may have to claim it from the luggage office. Again, just be prepared to go with the flow.
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What he said, too. Even though he stole piece of my self-worth today by beating me to the thread by about 25 seconds!!!
 
Gun is a loaner and returns by vehicle the last week of December. I’ll be sure to mention I will be using it there which might be the case IF I can find a quail/pheasant hunt within one hour drive of his home.
 
BlackGun said:
Gun is a loaner and returns by vehicle the last week of December. I’ll be sure to mention I will be using it there which might be the case IF I can find a quail/pheasant hunt within one hour drive of his home.
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Don't complicate things. Think of it as talking to a cop, you don't need to justify yourself and anything you say can be used against you. Just shut up and follow along.
 
"EDIT: Don't be "that guy" that waives a printout of the TSA or Airline regulations around telling the TSA what they're "supposed" to do. These guys are .gov employees...they don't care. Just go along to get along and you'll be fine."

Is why I don't fly
 
I would recommend contacting the airline you are flying and find out any requirements they may have. Wouldn't want to get to check in and find out you have to be wearing pink socks to check in.
 
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Goofyfoot2001 said:
"EDIT: Don't be "that guy" that waives a printout of the TSA or Airline regulations around telling the TSA what they're "supposed" to do. These guys are .gov employees...they don't care. Just go along to get along and you'll be fine."

Is why I don't fly
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It's really not that bad. You just have to manage your own expectations for who you're dealing with.
 
Schattenreiter said:
I would recommend contacting the airline you are flying and find out any requirements they may have. Wouldn't want to get to check in and find out you have to be wearing pink socks to check in.
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Check their website sure, good idea.
Call? Nah. You could call 10 times and get 11 different processes to follow.

It's seriously not a big deal.
- Locked, hard sided container
- Go to the check in counter and say, "I need to check a firearm"
- Let them walk you through the process of the day.
 
I’m not shipping any ammo but I read where ammo and the gun cannot ship together even in the manufacturers box. True or false?
 
BlackGun said:
I’m not shipping any ammo but I read where ammo and the gun cannot ship together even in the manufacturers box. True or false?
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Every time I travel I have a box of ammo in the locked container with the gun.

I've done this somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 times.
 
You're traveling, not shipping. Shipping the gun to yourself via USPS is another viable and legal option that will cost about as much as checking an extra bag (gun case). You just can't bring your ammo with you if you do it this way.

Are you also bringing a handgun? That might complicate things, or might not. Any thoughts from those who have done it?

I have about a dozen trips behind me with a handgun and like Tim I've seen the procedures and attitudes vary but never - not once - has anyone given a damn about my plans or delayed me in an unreasonable way. Stay focused on the task at hand: getting through security.

I really like the bluetooth tracker idea!
 
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Tim said:
Check their website sure, good idea.
Call? Nah. You could call 10 times and get 11 different processes to follow.

It's seriously not a big deal.
- Locked, hard sided container
- Go to the check in counter and say, "I need to check a firearm"
- Let them walk you through the process of the day.
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I guess checking their website would qualify as contacting wouldn't it?
 
Goofyfoot2001 said:
"EDIT: Don't be "that guy" that waives a printout of the TSA or Airline regulations around telling the TSA what they're "supposed" to do. These guys are .gov employees...they don't care. Just go along to get along and you'll be fine."

Is why I don't fly
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At CLT, you only deal with TSA *if* they march you down to the crew entry. THey"escort" you allllllllll the way to the end of the ticketing concourse, open your case, look at it, slip the piece of paper inside that assures everyone that the gun is safe, then march you alllllllllll the way back to the ticketing counter where you finish your drab conversation with the airline employee.

Schattenreiter said:
I would recommend contacting the airline you are flying and find out any requirements they may have. Wouldn't want to get to check in and find out you have to be wearing pink socks to check in.
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Not bad advice, but it truly varies by airport, by airline, by time of day. Like @Tim already said, be fluid and ready to go with whatever hoops they throw at you. As long as you have the core requirements down (locked hard-sided case, ammo stored appropriately), you'll be good to go.

Only thing I'd add is an additional hour of time for just in case.
 
Catfish said:
Are you also bringing a handgun? That might complicate things, or might not. Any thoughts from those who have done it?
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I've check a rifle, a handgun, and a small box of carry ammo in the same hard-sided box. No complications at all.
 
If you're going to pack ammo, you should use the original carton. Depending upon which airport you're at, TSA can get really nasty about ammo loose in a bag, loaded in magazines, or even in an aftermarket ammo box.
 
Used to be, the airlines would sell you a hard sided rifle case at cost. But, that was a long time ago. Don't know if they still do it.

As others have said, it's a pretty routine procedure. You just never know which routine.
 
Make sure you check the Kansas rules. Some airports/states don't allow you to put ammo in the same case or bring it at all. I've never had any issues bringing a box of ammo, but like was mentioned above, these are .gov employees just do what they tell you in that moment and it'll be on the plane.

Another reason to check the Kansas rules- I've heard of cases where people were flying to free states but had a layover in a state like NJ. Their final flight gets canceled so they take possession of their firearm to stay at a hotel and get arrested on the way out of the airport. Never seen this particular case with my own eyes but heard it from my CCW class in NC and then heard about it at gun clubs while living in NJ. If you have a layover, check the rules for that state too. Never ever take possession if you have a layover in NJ. It's better to pick a flight without a layover in NJ and other non free states.

tl;dr it's not a big deal. Do whatever they tell you that day. Check the rules for any states you are traveling to.
 
9outof10mms said:
What he said, too. Even though he stole piece of my self-worth today by beating me to the thread by about 25 seconds!!!
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I’d be more upset that I referred to quotation marks as parentheses. :p
 
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