There are a lot of requirements Pelican is the leading case maker.
Not sure, but a concealed weapon is not allowed in an air carrier terminal. In a suitcase would be considered concealed, no?
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.
TSA.gov has a page of info.
www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/firearms-and-ammunition
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.
Don’t take it into the cabin with you then yell out “Hey look what I got for Christmas!”
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.
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.
Just don’t fly into jfk or laguardia. Mayor Bloomers goon squad will bust you and confiscate the pistol.
If TSA opens the bag they are in violation of Federal Law. Period end of story. They have to contact you if they to examine it and YOU have to open the case.
Plus one on the pelican case.
I flew with my pistol a few months ago. It was a much more pleasant experience than I was expecting. I flew on two different airlines and they had two slightly different procedures.
One airline had me open the case at the ticket counter, place the firearms declarations tag inside the case and then give the case to tsa.
The other airline gave me the tag and told me to take it to the tsa inspection area without opening it. At the tsa area, I was told to open the case, they looked at the contents of my case (pistol, two empty magazines, and a sealed box of ammo), had me place the tag inside, and then had me lock of the case again.
In both instances, I requested permission to do anything before I did it and I said that I had a firearms declaration form. You just need to make sure your container is lockable, I used tsa-approved combination locks, make sure the gun is not loaded, the magazine are not loaded, and the ammo box is closed with no loose ammo in the case.
I recommend getting a pelican case, cutting the foam inserts for the outline of the gun, the magazines, and the ammo box. (Cutting the foam insert is the trickiest part). There are videos on youtube which should you how to do this properly. I kind of did a quick hack job with a leatherman, but you can better results following the instructions of these videos.
You need to declare it at baggage check in. Do not put tag on outside of bag as this says steal me to TSA.
Follow regs for for airline u are flying.
Check with your airline.
I have done it many times(in the past).I wouldn’t do it now because of the criminals in TSA!
Cancel trip!
Your ammunition MUST be in the same box the manufacturer packaged it in.
You are not permitted to put loose ammo in with your weapon.
You are not permitted to have ammo in your magazines or in the firearm.
I trust FEDEX before I trust TSA...
I place pistols in small hard case (not typical gun case as corners open when pulled)for flying and lock it with a key. The pistols have gun locks on them.
In separate identical small hard case is ammo in either plastic ammo box or typical manufacturers box, along with mags/speedloaders.
I then have a lock on my luggage. It’s a non-TSA lock. They are not allowed to get in your luggage with a firearm. In fact, there are computer geeks who travel with handgun replicas, stage props, or flare guns just for this purpose. That way they have their own custom locks insuring security of their computer equipment.
Declare you have a firearm and/or ammo at counter. Fill out a form. In Chicago for example they want to see guns, in Tampa they didn’t. Sometimes they want the form in box with guns, other times taped on outside of box. You then stroll to TSA counter with your luggage for special check in, they might open the boxes, examine contents, lock everything up and take luggage, or may simply grab your luggage, and slip it through a special x-ray machine. I make sure the non-TSA lock is secured on luggage before leaving area, and have had TSA personnel notify me lock is secure.
If you’re looking for a case, most will indicate that it is air travel compliant. I use an inexpensive metal case that has a key lock and a cable I can loop through the frame of my rolling duffel. You will also need air travel compliant containers for any ammo. Ammo and firearm need to be in separate containers. I’ve never had a problem traveling either. Just make sure you declare the firearm at check in. Airline personnel will assist you from that point on.