I would contact the airline. They will have the most up to date info.
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Gun Check for Air Travel
- Thread starter Sigo
- Start date
I have not done this because of the fear that someone would grab my weapon. Even if someone grabs my bag by mistake, its still gone.
On one hand I definitely see your point. On the other this is really the more generic problem with airports not checking that people have receipts for the luggage they are walking away with. Hartsfield used to have guys that would check your claim tag when you left, but I haven;t seen that anywhere in years now.
Each airline has somewhat different regs and then enforces them very differently. How you will be treated and what you will be asked to do varies widely.
In theory, the TSA is not supposed to open and access a firearm without you present.
-If you're checking a gun case (only a pistol/long gun in it) such as a Plano etc, then it should have non-TSA locks and have no ammo inside. (They may or may not balk if the outside locks are TSA accessible)
-If you are checking a bag and a firearm is part of the contents, then the outside of the bag must have tsa accessible locks, the ammo must be in original box or ammo box (no more than 11lbs of it) and the firearm must be unloaded and in a hardcase locked with non-TSA lock. (I use nano-vaults)
For best interaction with personnel, arrive with everything in unloaded and locked up condition as above. Quitely inform the agent that "I have an unloaded firearm to check". Follow their instructions, be patient/polite and ask them to let you know when they would like you to open and unlock the case. Many times you will have to wait on a TSA agent to escort you through the steps or carry your bag to the appropriate place. (Being cooperative always works wonders.) I travel with spare keys AND spare locks because I have had TSA break/cut the outside TSA lock and page me back to security and say the bag cannot proceed because their key would not open the outside lock for inspection. (In one case they could not figure out they had to turn the key THEN insert the shackle to close a TSA lock!) Pull a spare lock out of your backpack and crisis is averted.
Be prepared
Be tolerant of the inconsistencies
Be polite
Outstanding information. Thank you.
The biggest problem with the current system is that you have to put the form in the bag with the gun. If they xray your bag later on, they will see a gun and bust open your bag (non-TSA locks after all) only to find a properly checked firearm. Now you have an unlocked bag with a firearm in it going through the system, and just begging to be gone through by Joe Dirt baggage handler...
To get around this I do the double-case method... Tom Gresham mentioned it on his show years ago, but I'm sure someone else came up with before that.
Basically you have a large outer case that is the 'checked' bag. I use a Pelican case that is sized like a large suitcase. This outer case gets a regular TSA lock, and only holds ammo, range gear, etc.
Then I have an inner case (forget the brand) that my pistols (and/or the separated lower for an AR) will fit into. This case uses a very good, non-TSA lock that would be a real bear for TSA to just cut off. I also use a cable lock to connect the smaller case to the Pelican, so it can't easily disappear.
The most important thing for the inner case is that it has one of those clear pockets like you use for FedEx, and the airline form goes in here. That way if they do x-ray and see a gun, they can open the (outer) Pelican case, but will see the form plainly visible on the locked inner case.
This may be overkill, but I've used this system half a dozen times now and it's always worked like a champ. Once I did find my case had been routed to the baggage claims desk in Hartsfield, so I think they did open it, saw it was guns, and sent it there, but every other time it simply showed up like any other bag.
To get around this I do the double-case method... Tom Gresham mentioned it on his show years ago, but I'm sure someone else came up with before that.
Basically you have a large outer case that is the 'checked' bag. I use a Pelican case that is sized like a large suitcase. This outer case gets a regular TSA lock, and only holds ammo, range gear, etc.
Then I have an inner case (forget the brand) that my pistols (and/or the separated lower for an AR) will fit into. This case uses a very good, non-TSA lock that would be a real bear for TSA to just cut off. I also use a cable lock to connect the smaller case to the Pelican, so it can't easily disappear.
The most important thing for the inner case is that it has one of those clear pockets like you use for FedEx, and the airline form goes in here. That way if they do x-ray and see a gun, they can open the (outer) Pelican case, but will see the form plainly visible on the locked inner case.
This may be overkill, but I've used this system half a dozen times now and it's always worked like a champ. Once I did find my case had been routed to the baggage claims desk in Hartsfield, so I think they did open it, saw it was guns, and sent it there, but every other time it simply showed up like any other bag.
