Just made my first trip with a handgun

[tommypotatoes]

Not much to say, actually... It went very smooth. Hi, I'm traveling with a handgun in my checked baggage today. Ok, open your case. Is it unloaded? sign this. Have a nice flight..
However, the TSA did hassle me in the security line, because they didn't like the size of the baggie I had my shaving creme and aftershave in.
Oh yeah... There was a sign saying I couldn't bring and printer toner cartridges on board the plane.
Ya gotta love this country...

 

[uscg4good]

I'm glad it went smoothly for you just as it should. I've traveled with my guns many times and each time has been just as pleasant and hassle free. I'm bringing my pistol home to Ohio in a couple weeks here.

 

[BigSlick]

Glad all went well. Just curious, what airline did you fly on?

 

[oldbanjo]

Too much gets stole from luggage for me to ever check a Gun.

 

[tommypotatoes]

Glad all went well. Just curious, what airline did you fly on?

Allegiant Air - Rockford to Mesa, AZ. Folks in Mesa were quite experienced. The Illinois agents were less so, but there were no problems at all...

 

[NavyLCDR]

There was a sign saying I couldn't bring and printer toner cartridges on board the plane.
Ya gotta love this country...

You can ship those to yourself care of another person in another state. They should be instructed to not open the package. You might have to go to an actual UPS or FEDEX hub or shipping location, though; and maybe have to show them their own regulations. The counter person, especially at a retail storefront, may not know the laws. For sporting purposes only, obviously.

 

[tommypotatoes]

You can ship those to yourself care of another person in another state. They should be instructed to not open the package. You might have to go to an actual UPS or FEDEX hub or shipping location, though; and maybe have to show them their own regulations. The counter person, especially at a retail storefront, may not know the laws. For sporting purposes only, obviously.

... And you have done this yourself?...

 

[uscg4good]

What the heck is wrong with toner cartridges???

 

[NavyLCDR]

... And you have done this yourself?...

If you've ever ran out of printer toner on vacation, you would know the value of having extra! :to_pick_ones_nose:

 

[HardCorps53]

I just made my first trip with a handgun this week. I used curb-side check-in for both flights and realized an unexpected benefit. I walked up and said "I need to declare a firearm" and in both cities I was taken straight to the front of the line for the TSA inspection. No waiting :biggrin:

 

[MadSci]

I have traveled with my gun. I put it in a pistol safe and locked it in the trunk - of my car that is. I have always been leery of sending it through in checked luggage. Unfortunately, not all employees of the airlines are model citizens.

 

[uscg4good]

Since I'm flying out on Friday, I double checked the requirement for traveling with firearms, and it is pretty much the same. Just thought I would share with you what it is, this is straight from the US Airways site:


Firearms
US Airways will allow passengers to transport firearms in accordance with Federal Law.

•Items of shooting equipment will be accepted as checked baggage only.

•A passenger who presents checked baggage that contains a firearm must declare the weapon and sign a written acknowledgement that the firearm is unloaded.

•Firearms must be packed in a manufacturer’s hard–sided container specifically designed for the firearm, a locked hard–sided gun case, or a locked hard–sided piece of luggage. Handguns may be packed in a locked hard–sided gun case, and then packed inside an unlocked soft–sided piece of luggage. However, a Conditional Acceptance Tag must be used in this case.

•Baggage containing firearms must be locked at all times and the key or lock combination retained by the passenger.

•A Firearm Unloaded Declaration form (available only at the airport) must be signed and placed inside the bag or gun case.

•Checked ammunition may not exceed 11 lbs/5 kg per person. Ammunition must be packed in the original manufacturing package or constructed of wood, fiber, plastic, or metal and provide separation for cartridges. Ammunition may be checked in the same piece of luggage as a firearm. No additional documentation is required.

•There is no limit to the number of items contained in rifle, shotgun or pistol case, up to 50 lbs/23 kg, 62 in/157 cm in maximum.

•A passenger who presents a firearm to be checked to an international destination must be in possession of all required import documentation for their international destination city and any international transit points. It is the responsibility of the passenger to acquire the required documentation from the applicable government entity prior to travel (usually a consulate or embassy). Firearms will not be accepted for transport if international import requirements have not been met.

 

[harveydent]

i imagine you had some case with a lock? did you need to pick it up at desk after flight?

 

[NavyLCDR]

i imagine you had some case with a lock? did you need to pick it up at desk after flight?

There would be no reason for luggage containing a firearm to go anywhere other than the normal carousel. Carriers are prohibited from marking the outside of containers with firearms in then to indicate the presence of a fire. So, to the carrier, the luggage with the gun is just like any other luggage.

 

[GHF]

Taking My Traveling Companion for A Plane/Train Ride

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

1. Review Handgunlaw.us and/or Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps | USA Carry 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 - http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/doj_doc_nyc_air.pdf. This covers changing modes of travel - car to plane to car - in a single journey.

 

[jreXD9]

ATL thorough, SAT not

Last week I flew Delta from ATL to San Antonio and back with no problem. In ATL the counter asked to see my unloaded weapon, gave me a card to sign and put IN the case, told me to take it to TSA and they opened the suitcase and guncase and swabbed everything and put it in the sniffer. After about 5 minutes they said I was good to go. I had the Kahr in a Walther case and simply put a lock tightly around the handle since there weren't any locking positions on the snaps.
In SAT, no one asked to see that it was unloaded, they gave me a card to sign and a guy went WITH me to TSA. The case was inside my suitcase and all they did was put it on the belt to x-ray. 30 seconds later I was good to go. Best of all, when I got back to ATL everything was still there.....just like it was supposed to happen. I sure didn't wanna lose that PM9.....:no:

 

[GA LegionRider]

If you decide to declare a weapon when travelling to NY BE ADVISED, there is no problem getting it into NY. However, when you return, ship the weapon FedEx, UPS, etc back to yourself. DO NOT proceed to the local NY airport and announce that you have a weapon to declare upon your return. If you do and you are not a NY resident and don't have a NY gun permit (and I don't mean a CCW) the local PD at the airport will impound your weapon, give you a receipt for it and instructions on how to recover the weapon upon your return to your home state. It involves contacting a local NY FFL dealer and having them pick up your gun from the local PD and ship it to an FFL dealer in your home state. It cost me about $120 to get my Taurus Judge back between the dealers fees and shipping and you don't get any of your ammo back, period.
Whenever you travel with a weapon it not only has to be unloaded but so do any magazines and the ammo either has to be in its original box or in a container made for storing ammo. It can, however, be in the same locked case as the weapon. This is per TSA, not the airlines. Bottom line is you might want to check with the PD at the destination airport, not just the airline.

 

[GHF]

The Don Young Letter is Alive and Well in The People's Republic of New York

GA Legion Rider -

Review the Don Young Transportation Letter - http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/doj_doc_nyc_air.pdf. This covers changing modes of travel - car to plane to car - in a single journey.

The New York Thugs know this, but were taking advantage of you.

 

[BigSlick]

I never place the signed declaration in with the weapon. If the case is locked and only you have the key how is the TSA going to see that it was declared? I always use a shipping envelope ( the ones that are self adhesive and have a clear window) and place the signed declaration in the shipping envelope. Or you could tape it to the firearm case so it could be easily viewed if your luggage is inspected. If it is locked inside your case you may receive a page from the airline asking you to return to the counter or worse TSA could remove it. Carrying a copy of the rules always helps as I have found that some of the attendants that check you in don't have a clue as to such things. I once had a attendant argue with me that the lock had to be TSA approved. I quickly showed here the rules I printed from the TSA website and she still insisted that she was right claiming that she had been advised differently. In the end it flew my way and not hers. It may be the only time I have won an argument with a female.

 

[Tucker's Mom]

.....It may be the only time I have won an argument with a female.

And you took advantage of it???!!! Good on you! It is usually our way or the highway....:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin: