Sensei Pew Pew
Well-Known Member
whas the process of declaring the firearm/s
How to fly with firearms?
- Thread starter Sensei Pew Pew
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Get a TSA approved hard-shell case, preferably one that you can attach to your bag.
Before you go into the airport, lock your unloaded& chamber flagged gun in the case with the ammo packaged separately. Use a reloading or retail box for this - no loose ammo in a bag/can. Also put anything pointy or valuable in there with it.
Go to the retail counter - you can’t use the kiosks - and tell the ticket agent you need to declare a firearm.
Avoid using the phrase “I have a gun” unless you’re starving for attention.
Follow instructions.
At your destination some airlines won’t put your bag on the carousel. You’ll need to find the baggage office and present your ID & claim ticket to retrieve your bag.
Before you go into the airport, lock your unloaded& chamber flagged gun in the case with the ammo packaged separately. Use a reloading or retail box for this - no loose ammo in a bag/can. Also put anything pointy or valuable in there with it.
Go to the retail counter - you can’t use the kiosks - and tell the ticket agent you need to declare a firearm.
Avoid using the phrase “I have a gun” unless you’re starving for attention.
Follow instructions.
At your destination some airlines won’t put your bag on the carousel. You’ll need to find the baggage office and present your ID & claim ticket to retrieve your bag.
Exactly what I was going to say!
It wasn't a big deal, just more time consuming. I flew American Airlines and my bag had to be checked in with a person and I had to pick it up at baggage claim. Took my Glock cause if it got "lost" I wasn't going to be heartbroken. I really like that Pelican case by the way. The foam is reusable. I bought 2 matching locks with numbers for either side. They were TSA compliant.
It wasn't a big deal, just more time consuming. I flew American Airlines and my bag had to be checked in with a person and I had to pick it up at baggage claim. Took my Glock cause if it got "lost" I wasn't going to be heartbroken. I really like that Pelican case by the way. The foam is reusable. I bought 2 matching locks with numbers for either side. They were TSA compliant.
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Do not use the TSA locks like those acceptable for other luggage but rather pad locks for which only you have the key. My cases have always been locked in my sight, and the key given back to me. No case of mine has ever been out of my sight while it was unlocked. I could always see the case but could usually not handle any contents while it was open. That varied with different TSA officers even at the same airport. I have never had any problems putting the ammo in the same case as long as it is in some type of approved ammo box. You might want to check with the local TSA people to see what they want. Things may have changed in the few years since I last flew with firearms.
Ditto the advice from Catfish above.
I've been flying with firearms since 1982. Back in the 80's in Texas they actually kept cardboard pistol boxes at the gates in Texas so that you could check a pistol as your only luggage.
Here is the case that I use.
https://www.amazon.com/SnapSafe-Por...7547&s=gateway&sprefix=fsdc+c,aps,163&sr=8-10
One thing that I like about it is that you can loop the retaining cable around your bag so it's a little more difficult for a baggage handler to steal.
On all of my recent flights (last year or so) I had to pick the bag up at the gate agent. For some reason it's usually the last one off.''
I strongly advise you to avoid any connecting airport in a state with draconian gun laws (such as New Jersey). If your connection flight is missed and you have to stay overnight in that location, you may have problems when you go to check your bag the next day. I recall that someone was arrested in Newark a few years back in this scenario.
I've been flying with firearms since 1982. Back in the 80's in Texas they actually kept cardboard pistol boxes at the gates in Texas so that you could check a pistol as your only luggage.
Here is the case that I use.
https://www.amazon.com/SnapSafe-Por...7547&s=gateway&sprefix=fsdc+c,aps,163&sr=8-10
One thing that I like about it is that you can loop the retaining cable around your bag so it's a little more difficult for a baggage handler to steal.
On all of my recent flights (last year or so) I had to pick the bag up at the gate agent. For some reason it's usually the last one off.''
I strongly advise you to avoid any connecting airport in a state with draconian gun laws (such as New Jersey). If your connection flight is missed and you have to stay overnight in that location, you may have problems when you go to check your bag the next day. I recall that someone was arrested in Newark a few years back in this scenario.
This is how you fly with firearms .
Update - just got back from a trip to Portland, OR. I swear that commercial airplanes are germ factories! Been sick with the crud ever since I got back.
At any rate - check in at RDU was straight forward. I declared the firearm, filled out the tag, and they put the bag on the conveyor. Done.
In Portland I expected to have to go to the gate agent, but the bag came out on the standard carousel.
On the return trip, declared and filled out the tag, and had to then take the bag over to TSA for manual search. Then they put in on their conveyor that apparently bypasses the normal scan.
In RDU, Delta has changed their process and you no longer pick up from the gate agent. Rather you pick up from the oversized luggage window.
Delta now tracks bags with declared firearms. I could not use remote check in in Portland (I could in Raleigh), and as soon as I checked in the gate agent already knew that I was traveling with a firearm.
At any rate - check in at RDU was straight forward. I declared the firearm, filled out the tag, and they put the bag on the conveyor. Done.
In Portland I expected to have to go to the gate agent, but the bag came out on the standard carousel.
On the return trip, declared and filled out the tag, and had to then take the bag over to TSA for manual search. Then they put in on their conveyor that apparently bypasses the normal scan.
In RDU, Delta has changed their process and you no longer pick up from the gate agent. Rather you pick up from the oversized luggage window.
Delta now tracks bags with declared firearms. I could not use remote check in in Portland (I could in Raleigh), and as soon as I checked in the gate agent already knew that I was traveling with a firearm.