How would one take a gun when travelling by plane?


thebenj74

New member
Howdy!
Christmas is coming up and I'll be flying home to Texas from Nevada. I have a Nevada CC Permit and Texas honors Nevada's permits. I'll be flying with SouthWest airlines and checking in my luggage.
SO
if I pack my gun in a gun case with a gun lock on the pistol itself in the checked in luggage should I be in legal compliance? I have never flown with a gun before and I don't want to break any laws (or get my gun confiscated) :help:

Thanks
 

Contact Southwest Airlines and ask them to provide you, in writing, with their firearm policy. I want to say the gun has to be broken down but I'm not for sure. I also want to say you cannot transport ammunition but again. Not for sure and you will want to get the policy in writing and take it with you, just in case.

Just my opinion.

The Dove
 
I haven't heard of a gun needing to be broken down when flying. just needing to prove it was unloaded and in a secure locked case. you can also transport ammo up to a certain weight. I think things vary slightly between different airlines. the best thing to do is contact the airline you will be taking and as stated above get everything in writing from when you get to the airport to when you pick up your bags at your destination.
 
Must be in lockable hard case and notify airline agents as to content. Many airlines require ammo and gun to be placed in separate bags. Remember also that many airlines are now charging extra for more than one checked bag per customer. May have to pick it up at the airport security area at your destination. As stated before, get the policy from the airline(s) involved and follow those. You shouldn't have any problems.
 
TSA Rules

The key regulatory requirements to transporting firearms, firearm parts or ammunition in checked baggage are:

* You must declare all firearms to the airline during the ticket counter check-in process.
* The firearm must be unloaded.
* The firearm must be in a hard-sided container.
* The container must be locked. A locked container is defined as one that completely secures the firearm from access by anyone other than you. Cases that can be pulled open with little effort do not meet this criterion. The pictures provided here illustrate the difference between a properly packaged and an improperly packaged firearm.
* We recommend that you provide the key or combination to the security officer if he or she needs to open the container. You should remain present during screening to take the key back after the container is cleared. If you are not present and the security officer must open the container, we or the airline will make a reasonable attempt to contact you. If we can't contact you, the container will not be placed on the plane. Federal regulations prohibit unlocked gun cases (or cases with broken locks) on aircraft.
* You must securely pack any ammunition in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging that is specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
* You can't use firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition unless they completely and securely enclose the ammunition (e.g., by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder, holster or lanyard).
* You may carry the ammunition in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as you pack it as described above.
* You can't bring black powder or percussion caps used with black-powder type firearms in either your carry-on or checked baggage.


Southwest rules, they don't charge for bags.

Guns and Ammunition
Guns

* Customers are responsible for knowing and following the firearms laws of the state(s) that they will be traveling to, from, and through.
* Our Customers must declare the gun to the Customer Service Agent at the ticket counter (no firearms will be accepted curbside) and prove that the firearm(s) chambers are free of ammunition and the magazine clip has been removed (when applicable). Paintball guns and BB guns are considered the same as all other firearms.
* Paintball guns are allowed in checked baggage and are not subject to the container requirements of firearms. Customers must declare the paintball gun to the Customer Service Agent at the ticket counter. Compressed gas cylinders are allowed in checked baggage or as a carryon only if the regulator valve is completely disconnected from the cylinder and the cylinder is no longer sealed (i.e. the cylinder has an open end). TSA Security Screeners must visibly ensure that the cylinder is completely empty and that there are no prohibited items inside.
* Firearms must be encased in a hard-sided, LOCKED container that is of sufficient strength to withstand normal handling, as follows:
1. A firearm in a hard-sided, locked container may be placed inside a soft-sided, unlocked suitcase.
2. A firearm placed inside a hard-sided, locked suitcase does not have to be encased in a container manufactured for the transportation of firearms.
3. Only the Customer checking the luggage should retain the key or combination to the lock. No exceptions will be made.
* Firearms may be checked and will count toward the two-piece free baggage allowance for each fare-paying passenger. We allow multiple firearms to be transported inside one hard-sided case.
* Southwest Airlines assumes no liability for the misalignment of sights on firearms, including those equipped with telescopic sights.
* Firearms are never allowed in carryon luggage.

Ammunition

* Small arms ammunition for personal use (provided it is properly packed) is permissible in checked baggage only.
* The ammunition may be placed in the same container as the firearm and must be securely packed in cardboard (fiber), wood, or metal boxes, or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
* When checking ammunition, Customers are limited to 11 pounds gross weight (ammunition plus container) per person.
* Magazines or clips containing ammunition must be securely packaged (placed in another small box or in a secure cutout in the carrying case, in order to protect the primer of the ammunition).
* Make sure guns are unloaded and definitely never transport a gun in your carryon baggage!
* Gunpowder (black powder) and primers or percussion caps are not allowed in checked or carryon baggage.
* Loose ammunition or loose loaded magazines and/or clips are not allowed.
* Paintballs must be packaged in a leak-proof container and will be conditionally accepted.
 
Yes on the above. Look up on the airlines website under security/firearms and it will outline what needs to be done.
I locked my unloaded firearm in the case it came with and had it inside my luggage bag. Do not lock your luggage bag! Mag's (empty) and ammo locked in another case and stored in my other luggage bag. At ticket counter, tell them you a declaring a firearm. An agent will then ask you, "where is the firearm" followed with, open the bag and then case (pretty much follow their instructions). A tag is written up and They place it on the weapon. Lock the case and close your luggage bag. You will be escorted to xray machine where your luggage will be placed on conveyer and gone through security. It will now go with everyone elses baggage. When you pick up luggage at destination, you should be all set. It's only when your checking in luggage. I could get more in depth but YOU need to follow up on your own for this information. The above mentioned is from my scenario when I flew out of Boston, MA. to FL.
Like mentioned eariler, go to airline website and look under security/firearms and it will guide you through. When you think about it, alot of folks who hunt need to travel by airlines and you really don't hear any news about firearms at airports etc. That's because everything is proper when they check in. The only thing you hear is when someone is caught with a firearm in their pocket or something like that. Then they say, "oh, I forgot it was in there"! It's a very simple procedure. Just go by the guide lines and you should be golden. If you do a search on here, you will find more info on this question. Good luck!
 
Do NOT let them place the paperwork INSIDE the gun case. If TSA does not see the paperwork they don't know if the gun has been declared. Without the declaration paperwork, your gun will NOT travel on a plane.

It should be placed outside the locked gun case. I know, I had a Airline agent tell me to place it inside the locked case, and I asked for her supervisor. He corrected her, but it was tense for a few moments.

Just because the local TSA agent sees it when you unlock it, what happens IF TSA decides to do a secondary look at your bag after you've gone thru security? If they see the paper declaration then you'll have a better chance of receiving your gun on the end of your trip.
 
Do NOT let them place the paperwork INSIDE the gun case. If TSA does not see the paperwork they don't know if the gun has been declared. Without the declaration paperwork, your gun will NOT travel on a plane.

It should be placed outside the locked gun case. I know, I had a Airline agent tell me to place it inside the locked case, and I asked for her supervisor. He corrected her, but it was tense for a few moments.

Just because the local TSA agent sees it when you unlock it, what happens IF TSA decides to do a secondary look at your bag after you've gone thru security? If they see the paper declaration then you'll have a better chance of receiving your gun on the end of your trip.

What are you talking about?!?!? :eek: Your post contains some very WRONG information. When you go to check in your baggage, be sure to declare the firearms and have them ready for inspection. Some airlines check to see that they are unloaded, others leave it to TSA. In any case, BE SURE THAT YOUR FIREARMS ARE UNLOADED prior to arriving at the airport. Failure to do so can result in arrest and my ruin your trip. The airlines baggage agent will have you sign a firearms declaration form (usually looks like a luggage tag in some bright color like red or orange). Once the form is signed, the baggage agent will take the original copy (usually white) for their records, then place the bottom copy (the luggage tag) INSIDE your luggage. Having a brightly colored luggage tag dangling from your piece of luggage that says something to the effect of "Firearms Unloaded" may tip off any potential thieves that there are firearms in that piece of luggage. This may result in your firearms not making it to it's final destination.

Your baggage will be traveling through secure and "sterile" areas where you won't have any access to it. I have NEVER had TSA grab my luggage in transit. If they need to access your luggage, they can page you via intercom, and you can open the luggage for them.

DO NOT place any indication that there are firearms in your luggage ANYWHERE on the OUTSIDE of your baggage!

I've traveled with firearms literally 100s' of times (difficult to drive anywhere from PRHI :wink:). The declaration process has changed slightly over the years, but otherwise exactly as I described above.



gf
 
GlockFan,

That IS what I said...the tag should be OUTSIDE the locked GUN CASE not the luggage.....

Of course its inside the luggage but not the Gun Case.....that is locked....

Sorry about the confusion OP...

Symtron
 
....sorry for My confusion too. The "declaration tag" has a string on it which They placed on my weapon in which I closed the case with the Tag hanging out (my type of case did not have a place to loop the tag through which is why the string was on the inside with the Tag hanging out) and then I proceeded to lock the case. This locked weapons case stayed inside my luggage bag. I asked if I needed to lock my luggage bag and was told "no". There are others on here who have had the experience traveling 100's of times. Me, only once. And yes, as it was mentioned on here...make copies of the rules and regulations when you look up the airline/s you're going with (I did anyway), do not hesitate to call them either if you're not sure of something. Forums are helpful, but sometimes it is hard to express what you want to say over a keyboard.
 
GlockFan,

That IS what I said...the tag should be OUTSIDE the locked GUN CASE not the luggage.....

Of course its inside the luggage but not the Gun Case.....that is locked....

Sorry about the confusion OP...

Symtron

The declaration form goes IN the gun case regardless of if the firearm is in a locked case inside another bag, or in a specific piece of luggage designed to transport firearms (like a Pelican case). I've traveled through numerous airports and the placement of the firearms declaration has been pretty much the same.



gf
 
Taking Your Pistole Along

Having traveled a number of times, here's how I go at it:

1.Review www.handgunlaw.us and/or Link Removed to determine:
*If you can possess the weapon at all your stops
*Where and how you can carry at all your stops
*What are the deadly force rules in each state you are visiting
2.Have a copy of the Don Young Transportation Letter on hand - Link Removed. This covers changing modes of travel - car to plane to car - in a single journey.
 
After much trepidation, I am happy to report I had no problems yesterday transporting my pistol on Delta from Detroit to Tampa.

I bought a small metal hinged case with a key lock and cable. Ran one end of the cable through a heavy web strap I found under my suitcase's zip out lining while the other end is secured inside the metal pistol case. Placed my PPS with slide locked back inside the metal case along with 2 empty magazines. I reported the pistol to the Delta counter person, opened the suitcase and metal case when told to. She looked down at the pistol without bending over and said "OK, secure the metal box." I checked off the firearm shipping requirements on a red card she gave me and signed it. She placed the card in my suitcase next to the closed and locked metal box. I used a TSA-approved combination lock to secure the suitcase and the suitcase was placed on the conveyor which carried it out of sight.

To my relief, the metal box and pistol was still in my suitcase when I discretly peered into them in a corner of the luggage area before leaving the Tampa airport. If something had been amiss, I intended to file a claim then and there.

This was the first time I had flown with a firearm since 2000. This experience went as smoothly as back them. Whew! :smile:
 
After much trepidation, I am happy to report I had no problems yesterday transporting my pistol on Delta from Detroit to Tampa.
~
This experience went as smoothly as back them. Whew! :smile:

Mike From Michigan, Welcome, I, too, just got back from a little airplane ride, But I left my sidearm home. I have a simular TSA approved case, But Hawaii and Michigan don't get along well. I am glad your trip went well... I felt very lacking for the first few days while in Honolulu. Maybe it was for the better anyway, Lots of really fine sand there.

 
I have travelled with my ar and the rules rforgy stated apply and as long as u r open about it there is no problem. I do agree with glock fan tho unless u have a big gun case don't declare that u have a pistol in yur checked baggage by a bright orange tag, jus don make sense to me
 

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