flying with your firearm

[Jim101]

I bought one of these:
Center Of Mass Central

to use when I fly and store the ammo in there as well, no problems. I also have a copy of the TSA and airlline rules for flying with a gun in your luggage...

Jim

 

[DrLewall]

So after your brief encounter with the TSA people, your "hardcase" is then placed on the conveyor and handeled as check-in luggage? If I understand this right, you can not do a "carry-on..is this correct?

 

[LVLouisCyphre]

So after your brief encounter with the TSA people, your "hardcase" is then placed on the conveyor and handeled as check-in luggage? If I understand this right, you can not do a "carry-on..is this correct?

That is correct. Declared unloaded firearms must be in checked baggage per federal law. The only persons who can carry firearms onboard a plane are pilots cleared by TSA and their employer to do so and certified LEOs carrying on official business.

Best practice is to have your hard side firearm case inside your checked luggage so it will not draw attention. I did see a padlocked hard side case come out of the baggage claim in Louisville and when I returned home to Vegas. That's a bad practice because a locked hard side case on the baggage claim carousel screams gun and invites theft.

A normal piece of luggage secured with a TSA lock with your locked hard side firearm case does not scream gun to the world.

 

[Glock Fan]

That is correct. Declared unloaded firearms must be in checked baggage per federal law. The only persons who can carry firearms onboard a plane are pilots cleared by TSA and their employer to do so and certified LEOs carrying on official business.

Best practice is to have your hard side firearm case inside your checked luggage so it will not draw attention. I did see a padlocked hard side case come out of the baggage claim in Louisville and when I returned home to Vegas. That's a bad practice because a locked hard side case on the baggage claim carousel screams gun and invites theft.

A normal piece of luggage secured with a TSA lock with your locked hard side firearm case does not scream gun to the world.

Keep in mind that some airlines do not allow you to place a firearms case in another piece of luggage.



gf

 

[LVLouisCyphre]

Keep in mind that some airlines do not allow you to place a firearms case in another piece of luggage.
gf

I would avoid using those airlines since they are putting your firearms at a much greater risk for being stolen by this practice. The airlines I have used do not have this requirement. They unfortunately do exist.

 

[340mopar]

Last I flew the bags were red tagged now that may have changed, but it was very obvious which ones had a gun in the bag ... Delta

 

[Glock Fan]

Last I flew the bags were red tagged now that may have changed, but it was very obvious which ones had a gun in the bag ... Delta

Red tags go in the case. We used to call them "steal me" tags. The FAA has since changed the regulations.



gf

 

[t11spanner]

As discussed earlier on this thread, LAS and Southwest is A-OKAY!!!

Southwest and Cleveland (CLE) are A_OKAY too!

The agent took my bag to TSA, and they scanned it and gave me the thumbs up and all was well......

So, add Cleveland to your list of okay places to check your weapons!

Carl

 

[LVLouisCyphre]

Just got back from Florida last night. Other than a bad weather delay in Tampa last night, no problems.

LAS to MCO
PBI to LAS

I fly Southwest whenever possible.

 

[LVLouisCyphre]

Another successful trip...

LAS (McCarran Las Vegas) to HOU (Houston Hobby) and back.

The only firearm related issue I had was the Southwest ticket agent had me fill out a firearm declaration card for each firearm. I brought three this last trip.

 

[HillBilly]

I have never done it... but for what it is worth..., the attorney at my ccw training said that, with compliance of all of the rules, Unloaded, Locked, Cased, Seperated from Ammo, etc... a TSA officer will personnaly escort your bag to the plane and watch it get stowed. At ther other end another TSA officer will personally deliver the bag to you. No more lost luggage.

 

[KimberPB]

I have never done it... but for what it is worth..., the attorney at my ccw training said that, with compliance of all of the rules, Unloaded, Locked, Cased, Seperated from Ammo, etc... a TSA officer will personnaly escort your bag to the plane and watch it get stowed. At ther other end another TSA officer will personally deliver the bag to you. No more lost luggage.

This is not entirely true. After you declare the firearm they will escort you to the xray machine and scan it while you are present. After that I can not say for sure they personally see it onto the plane. However, This last flight I took from Raleigh to Tampa was late getting into charlotte for the connecting flight. I made it on the connecting flight but after landing in Tampa I found out my luggage, including my pistol did not. I returned to the airport a few hours later when the next and last flight from charlotte to Tampa was due. Sure enough out popped my luggage on the carousel.

 

[LVLouisCyphre]

Mine pop out on the carousel as well. The only exception to that was my luggage on my trip to Dallas back in Jan 2007 was put on an earlier flight than me. It was waiting for me at the SWA baggage claim office at McCarran.

 

[Glock Fan]

LAS (McCarran Las Vegas) to HOU (Houston Hobby) and back.

The only firearm related issue I had was the Southwest ticket agent had me fill out a firearm declaration card for each firearm. I brought three this last trip.

They do that sometimes, not realizing that the declaration covers all firearms in the same case. I was traveling on Hawaiian Airlines once and had 5 firearms in my rifle case (1 rifle, 1 shotgun and 3 pistols). The lady at the ticket counter had me fill out a tag for each firearm and identify the type of firearm on each tag. There wasn't an area to specify the make/model of the firearm on the tag, so the lady used a ruler and created a space. Not wanting to argue with the lady, I complied. I just finished the last firearms tag when her supervisor came by and informed her that only one tag per case was necessary and I wasn't required to specify the make/model of the firearm on the tag. :haha:



gf

 

[LVLouisCyphre]

They do that sometimes, not realizing that the declaration covers all firearms in the same case. I was traveling on Hawaiian Airlines once and had 5 firearms in my rifle case (1 rifle, 1 shotgun and 3 pistols). The lady at the ticket counter had me fill out a tag for each firearm and identify the type of firearm on each tag. There wasn't an area to specify the make/model of the firearm on the tag, so the lady used a ruler and created a space. Not wanting to argue with the lady, I complied. I just finished the last firearms tag when her supervisor came by and informed her that only one tag per case was necessary and I wasn't required to specify the make/model of the firearm on the tag. :haha:

I was in Texas, you can't tell me that this ticket agent hasn't checked multiple firearms before. :no:

Just as long as they don't give me the form to travel legally armed as a LEO on official business I'm easy. That happened to me once @ Love Field. I saw what she gave me and corrected her. I don't need to be charged with multiple federal and State crimes for their mistake plus I wouldn't have an agency badge or ID number to put on the form. :sarcastic:

I have had US Scareways write how many firearms where in the case on the tag last time I flew with them.

 

[gpbarth]

As I hate flying (and not because I'm afraid of flying - I jump out of perfectly good airplanes for sport), I would never, ever check one of my guns with the airline. Even if the TSA agent took me with him and let me watch him load the bag into the hold. I do not trust the airlines with my bags, and I do not trust TSA as far as I could throw them. I see at least one of you is familiar with Orlando International, where they had drug runners working with the baggage handlers.

I try very hard not to fly anywhere - I'll drive first. But if I must, I pack everything into a single carry-on and would STILL rather spit on a TSA agent as look at one. If I have to fly, my gun is staying home. I'll take my chances.

 

[Glock Fan]

As I hate flying (and not because I'm afraid of flying - I jump out of perfectly good airplanes for sport), I would never, ever check one of my guns with the airline. Even if the TSA agent took me with him and let me watch him load the bag into the hold. I do not trust the airlines with my bags, and I do not trust TSA as far as I could throw them. I see at least one of you is familiar with Orlando International, where they had drug runners working with the baggage handlers.

I try very hard not to fly anywhere - I'll drive first. But if I must, I pack everything into a single carry-on and would STILL rather spit on a TSA agent as look at one. If I have to fly, my gun is staying home. I'll take my chances.

Driving isn't much of an option here in PRHI. It's very difficult getting my car to stay afloat on the Pacific Ocean. :wink: When I do travel, it's often to places where I'm allowed to CC (under one of many permits). I'll take the calculated risk and fly with my firearms.

I totally agree with you about the TSA folks (TSA = They'll Steal Anything). Most of them are very poor in customer service and many have this major "You must respect my authoritai" complex. It's unfortunate, but the TSA "security theatre" will be around for a while. :sad:



gf

 

[LVLouisCyphre]

I haven't had an issue with anything being stolen. I've had my luggage rifled through many times. I also only take firearms that I can easily replace. Like GF, I travel quite frequently. TSA has been getting better in my experience. Typically it's the airline baggage handlers that steal luggage and items out of luggage. Seattle was the airport with the highest volume of firearm thefts.

 

[HarleyEnough]

:help: I see many questions about traveling with a firearm and hoping someone might know the specifics of what I am looking for without having to research site after site to get an answer!!!

I am originally from New York and have moved to Texas. I do still have a pistol permit from the state of New York and also have a concealed permit for the state of Texas. I am having to fly back to New York first thing in the morning to attend a friends son's funeral and would like to take my pistol with me (don't like to go any where without it). We are flying Delta from Dallas to Atlanta then to Rochester. According to Delta's web site all the basic TSA rules apply for checking the pistol through with our luggage, so that is not a problem. What I am unable to find is a difenitive answer on is, am I allowed to carry the pistol into the state of New York and then re-check it back in my luggage to Texas? I sure hate to get the gun to New York and then them not allow me to check it back through to Texas. Any help on this issue would be greatly appreciated.........

 

[LVLouisCyphre]

:help: I see many questions about traveling with a firearm and hoping someone might know the specifics of what I am looking for without having to research site after site to get an answer!!!

I am originally from New York and have moved to Texas. I do still have a pistol permit from the state of New York and also have a concealed permit for the state of Texas. I am having to fly back to New York first thing in the morning to attend a friends son's funeral and would like to take my pistol with me (don't like to go any where without it). We are flying Delta from Dallas to Atlanta then to Rochester. According to Delta's web site all the basic TSA rules apply for checking the pistol through with our luggage, so that is not a problem. What I am unable to find is a difenitive answer on is, am I allowed to carry the pistol into the state of New York and then re-check it back in my luggage to Texas? I sure hate to get the gun to New York and then them not allow me to check it back through to Texas. Any help on this issue would be greatly appreciated.........

If your NY permit is valid, you shouldn't have an issue. Keep in mind that there is precedence of travelers not having a valid NY permit being arrested for possession without a permit.