flying commercial with a firearm in checked baggage- question

me ^ | 11-26-13 | TZ

[TurboZamboni]

it's been years since I've flown with a firearm. I've read the TSA and Delta's website. Still looking for tips/suggestions.

[TurboZamboni]

pistol in checked bag.any advantage to having hardsided luggage (like a Samsonite that locks) or after it leaves my site does TSA still need to open the suitcase and mess around inside? Is lost gun insurance suggested,if so, from what provider?

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

There are a lot of requirements Pelican is the leading case maker.

[ArtDodger]

Not sure, but a concealed weapon is not allowed in an air carrier terminal. In a suitcase would be considered concealed, no?

[Rio]

Yes. The gate agent is an airline employee, not TSA. In each case, I’ve shown the gun unloaded to the gate agent. They watch me lock the case and place it in the luggage. Then the gate agent takes the bag directly to a TSA station. I follow. The TSA look at the gun case and stick a sheet of paper with it. Then I ask if the TSA agent would please lock the bag. They always do.
So far no problems.

[TurboZamboni]

it is in the non-secured area, otherwise nobody could ever travel with a firearm.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

TSA.gov has a page of info.

www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/firearms-and-ammunition

[Hoodat]

As I recall, the pistol has to be in a hard case. But that was back in the late 80’s. You could walk right up to the ticket counter with pistol in hand and check it.

[TurboZamboni]

So there IS an advantage to hardsided luggage vs soft sided.

[TurboZamboni]

yes , it does. and must be locked(inside your baggage)

[TurboZamboni]

yep. I’ve got that.
thanks.

[Hot Tabasco]

Don’t take it into the cabin with you then yell out “Hey look what I got for Christmas!”

[PapaBear3625]

Googling airline transport firearm brings up a number of references. The first three on the list are the TSA webpage on checking firearms, the American Airlines instruction page, and the NRA page on transporting firearms.

[garyb]

Suggest that in no way should you trip take you through or into any airport in NY NY.

[kingu]

To clarify, the gun must be in a hard case with a lock. It must have an actual lock on it that uses a physical key. (TSA approved locks are NOT acceptable at my local airport.) You bring the bag with the firearm inside it to the counter, declare that you’re transporting a firearm in your checked luggage. The ticket agent will ask you to remove the hardsided case, sometimes will ask you to open it, they will then take your luggage to the TSA screening station, asking you to wait in a marked area. They will then return with your key and you can then go in to the screening area for yourself and any carry on bags.

Soft sided luggage vs hard sided isn’t much of an issue; the firearm itself must have a hard sided gun case.

[Gabrial]

Here are my tips...

The gate agent will have to put a declaration notice into the piece of luggage that contains the firearm. I have never had to show the firearm to a gate agent.

Once this is done you can lock the case securely. You do not have to use the TSA locks. You then have to take the locked case to a special screening area where a TSA agent checks the case that it is secure and the locks are strong enough. I have never tried it with normal luggage, so I don’t know about that. If you declare you have no ammunition in the case, the TSA agent will not want to open it. If you say you do have ammunition in the same case they will want you to open it so they can verify the ammunition is properly packaged.

At the other end you have to show ID to pick up your case.

[PapaBear3625]

The last time I flew with my gun, about 10 years ago, the gun had to be in a hard case inside one piece of luggage, and the ammo had to be in a different bag, in it's original box. This meant you needed two checked bags to transport your gun in.

One additional piece of good advice from the NRA page: "As always, since some airline counter clerks may have little training or experience in these procedures, gun owners should contact the airline in advance, obtain a written copy of the airline policy from a reservation clerk or the airline's website, and bring it to the airport in order to answer any questions that arise at check-in. "

[marktwain]

I use a separate hard pistol case inside the luggage, with a lock on it. That satisfies the requirement for a hard sided case, even if your luggage is soft-sided. I use TSA approved luggage locks that are combination. That way I do not have worry about keys.

The phrase that I use with the ticket agent is this:

“I wish to declare an unloaded firearm.”

[PapaBear3625]

Suggest that in no way should you trip take you through or into any airport in NY NY.

And if your plane gets diverted to a NY airport anyway, DO NOT touch your baggage to transport it to the other airplane. Tell the baggage agent that there's a checked firearm in the baggage, and request an airline employee or TSA person move it.

And remember that possession of hollow-point ammo in NJ will get you in trouble, if changing planes in Newark.

[PapaBear3625]

Suggest that in no way should you trip take you through or into any airport in NY NY.

And if your plane gets diverted to a NY airport anyway, DO NOT touch your baggage to transport it to the other airplane. Tell the baggage agent that there's a checked firearm in the baggage, and request an airline employee or TSA person move it.

And remember that possession of hollow-point ammo in NJ will get you in trouble, if changing planes in Newark.

[Cold Heart]

I see a niche for a concierge service. Leave your guns at home. You are met at the airport by a good looking woman who hands you a rental while you are in town.