In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Air travel with a firearm
Warbirds
Member Posts: 16,813 ✭✭✭✭
This is a round about way to tell my friend Drobs I use a Boyt brand case. But the question comes up in one way or another that I thought a general post about air travel might be helpful to the forum for future searches.
The two things for Drobs:
Here is my case made by Boyt- it is a gun specific case and mine shows zero signs of wear after a year of steady travel and makeshift range bag duty.
They make a single or double pistol case- mine is the double pistol case. I also have a giant Pelican rifle case with rolling wheels. It stays at home unless I am absolutely traveling with a rifle simply because it is large, I can?t put it inside of a suitcase once my gun is checked- in short, the downside is it is very clearly holding an expensive firearm.
[url] https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/boyt-tactical-h-series-double-handgun-case[/url]
2nd for Drobs which noone else mentioned was the specific locks- I use TSA approved Cable locks because the gun cases all have heavy duty hinges and its hard to find a lock to fit them.
Now onto the more generic tips for others to perhaps reference in the future.
1- Safety 1st, with regard to air travel this means ensuring your firearm is unloaded before you get to the airport. I typically will either lock the slide back or remove the slide all together.
2- know the laws where you?re going. They don?t care where you are from once you arrive. NY is particularly notorious for prosecuting travelers who violate their laws.
When speaking to the agent tell them ?you have a firearm to declare?. They will ask of it is unloaded and if you have any ammunition. Ammo must be separately contained, it cannot be in the mags in the gun case. Federal law limits ammunition to 11lbs while flying. I have never had my ammo weighed, & typically I just buy ammo when I land if possible. Less than 10% of the time have I ever had an attendant ask to see the firearm. I have told them I am not pulling the gun out of the case in an airport- if they need to see it unloaded they can call a TSA agent.
They will have you sign a firearms declaration card, which I always photograph as proof I legally declared the firearm. I then take my gun case, lock it with TSA cable locks, place the case inside of my checked bag (now it isn?t screaming FIREARM) and lock my checked bag with another TSA lock.
Your bag automatically has $3,300 worth of insurance. If you need more tell the agent when checking in- its pretty cheap.
Last- the agent will place a ?Return to BSO? tag on your checked bag. This is important as it routes the bag to the oversize baggage area instead of to the regular baggage carousel. 99% of the time they will page me over the loud speaker when my bag arrives. Show them my ID and I am off with the rest of my trip.
The two things for Drobs:
Here is my case made by Boyt- it is a gun specific case and mine shows zero signs of wear after a year of steady travel and makeshift range bag duty.
They make a single or double pistol case- mine is the double pistol case. I also have a giant Pelican rifle case with rolling wheels. It stays at home unless I am absolutely traveling with a rifle simply because it is large, I can?t put it inside of a suitcase once my gun is checked- in short, the downside is it is very clearly holding an expensive firearm.
[url] https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/boyt-tactical-h-series-double-handgun-case[/url]
2nd for Drobs which noone else mentioned was the specific locks- I use TSA approved Cable locks because the gun cases all have heavy duty hinges and its hard to find a lock to fit them.
Now onto the more generic tips for others to perhaps reference in the future.
1- Safety 1st, with regard to air travel this means ensuring your firearm is unloaded before you get to the airport. I typically will either lock the slide back or remove the slide all together.
2- know the laws where you?re going. They don?t care where you are from once you arrive. NY is particularly notorious for prosecuting travelers who violate their laws.
When speaking to the agent tell them ?you have a firearm to declare?. They will ask of it is unloaded and if you have any ammunition. Ammo must be separately contained, it cannot be in the mags in the gun case. Federal law limits ammunition to 11lbs while flying. I have never had my ammo weighed, & typically I just buy ammo when I land if possible. Less than 10% of the time have I ever had an attendant ask to see the firearm. I have told them I am not pulling the gun out of the case in an airport- if they need to see it unloaded they can call a TSA agent.
They will have you sign a firearms declaration card, which I always photograph as proof I legally declared the firearm. I then take my gun case, lock it with TSA cable locks, place the case inside of my checked bag (now it isn?t screaming FIREARM) and lock my checked bag with another TSA lock.
Your bag automatically has $3,300 worth of insurance. If you need more tell the agent when checking in- its pretty cheap.
Last- the agent will place a ?Return to BSO? tag on your checked bag. This is important as it routes the bag to the oversize baggage area instead of to the regular baggage carousel. 99% of the time they will page me over the loud speaker when my bag arrives. Show them my ID and I am off with the rest of my trip.
Comments
Thank you for posting.
My only question is, I always thought for firearms you use a regular, not a TSA approved lock?
I've always just used Master padlocks on my case when checking my rifle(s) through.
Did something change?
Thanks
Ed
Also- it is automatically insured for $3,300 so there is that, luckily they have never lost a bag of mine with a firearm.
Good idea on buying ammo on the ground.
I figure, I'll bring 2 boxes of defensive ammo along with the gun/s and magazines.
I take it, your holster and mag pouches are in your checked bag?
We'll be down Jan 23 - 30. Let's get together for dinner one night.
TSA advises passengers on how to travel with firearms, ammunition
Local Press Release
Thursday, July 26, 2018
PHOENIX ? The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on July 26 provided tips for passengers who are traveling with firearms and ammunition on a commercial aircraft.
?Every day, at airports across the country, TSA officers detect firearms ? many of them loaded - during the routine security checkpoint screening process,? said Scot Thaxton, deputy federal security director for Arizona. ?Passengers are allowed to travel with firearms, but it is important that certain procedures are followed to ensure it is done properly.?
Firearms can be transported on a commercial aircraft only if they are unloaded, packed in a locked, hard-sided case and placed in checked baggage. Ammunition and firearm parts, including firearm frames, receivers, clips and magazines are also prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be checked.
At the airport during the check-in process, a passenger needs to go to the airline ticket counter to declare the firearm, ammunition and any firearm parts. Prior to traveling, passengers are encouraged to check gun laws and regulations at their destination to ensure they are in compliance with local and state laws.
Firearm magazines and ammunition clips - whether loaded or empty ? must be securely boxed in a hard-sided case containing the unloaded firearm. Small arms ammunition that does not exceed .75 caliber for a rifle or pistol and shotgun shells of any gauge, may be transported in the same case as the firearm. TSA recommends travelers check with their airline prior to their flight to ensure they comply with any airline-specific requirements.
Any type of replica firearm is prohibited in carry-on baggage and must be transported in checked luggage. TSA permits rifle scopes to be transported in either carry-on or checked bags.
If a passenger brings a firearm to the TSA security checkpoint, TSA will levy a civil penalty against the passenger. The recommended civil penalty starts at $1,960 and can be as high as $9,800. The factors TSA considers when determining the civil penalty amount include whether the firearm was loaded and whether there was accessible ammunition. TSA evaluates each incident on a case-by-case basis.
Individuals who violate the rules above will have their Trusted Traveler status and TSA Pre?? expedited screening benefits revoked for a period of time. The duration of the disqualification will depend upon the seriousness of the offense and if there is a repeated history of violations.
In addition to the above:
Travelers can use the ?Can I Bring?? feature on the TSA mobile app, myTSA, or visit the TSA web site. Travelers can also Tweet or Message ?AskTSA? if they have a travel question or are unsure if an item is allowed through security in a carry-on bag. Just snap a picture or send a question and get real-time assistance every day from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. MST.
Delta Airlines, on the other hand, does not specifically call for a TSA agent to inspect a firearm:
In the smaller regional airports I've used in the south flying Delta, you simply step aside after informing the ticket agent of your firearm, place the case on a table, unlock and sign the waiver. Re-lock and let it go through baggage. There may be 50 people in these airports not 10 or 20,000 like Phoenix or worse, O'Hare.
In every major airport though, I have quietly declared to the ticket agent that I have a firearm to check and get told to see the TSA agent when they walk over. We move to an area aside from the regular check-in and I unlock the case(s) for inspection. Then sign the waiver and re-lock the case(s). I have been told by TSA that I can use my own locks or (they recommend, of course) using TSA locks. I use my own locks. Cases are picked up away from general baggage, usually in the airline office.
The best suggestion I will always make is to READ ALL airline rules first then check TSA just to be sure of what is required. These folks do not joke!
Best.
Their focus is air security and are very supportative of citizens rights which include the 2nd Admendment as well as our right to privacy.
I found the easiest way to receive their customized service is to simply carry my gun into the terminal exactly the same way I carry it every day - concealed. After gaining access to the passenger booking area I hold my gun above my head and declare in a loud voice, "I HAVE A GUN!"
From that point, forward, TSA gives me that special service thay are famous for.
They promptly take me out of that long line of people waiting for check-in, and a nice young TSA bellhop carries my bags to a private processing area to package my firearm and complete my processing.
I find this personalized TSA service to be very handy when (it seems like every time I travel) part way through the processing they announce my flight has been canceled.
They then escort me to a quiet private area and get me a beverage. Someone always sits with me and leads a pleasant conversation to pass the time.
I love TSA.
Sounds good to me. I would not check a functional gun, some part would be removed and packed separately. In a different suitcase if I had more than one.
Any methods you are comfortable with are applicable and within the letter of the law and rules. But...
As the great mythical thief was once overheard saying, "If we want it we'll get it!"
There are three places where the ATF will rush to when a report is made regarding a lost or stolen firearm:
Airports
FED-X
UPS
And they show no mercy until that firearm is recovered. So, long story short, sign your paper, put it in your case then YOU have to lock it. TSA will not touch your case before YOU affix the locks. They are your witness that the case left their care locked. I've used about 7 different name brand cases designed to be locked and to survive airline travel. Two or three locks, one each end and or one in the middle if possible or just two in the middle to prevent the case from being pried open. Security throughout the baggage handling area is super tight, especially nowadays with all the new digital surveillance equipment. The reality is that the potential thief has no idea if they are stealing a $500.00 commercial rifle or a $10,000 custom rifle because they can't open the case to see. Replacement bolts are currently made for most rifles. Lock your case and enjoy your flight.
Best.
I'll say to do what you have to do to remember this step... I was flying home from AK when I went through TSA at like 3am with only a couple hours of sleep. I forgot, but for less than 30 seconds after they placed my bag on the conveyor. The TSA agent quickly called and was able to get it pulled off the line. I then spent the next half-hour with an officer as he checked everything out piece by piece. It seemed irrelevant to them that I was the one that caught it (just late) than it getting flagged by the system. Months later I got a notice from TSA of a fine to be paid. I contacted them and explained the details to him and also had the TSA and officers names so he could corroborate what I was telling him. They did away with the fines THIS TIME. He basically said failure to declare could result in not being able to fly. I don't know how true that last part is. I will say, that I definitely was awake after forgetting it that morning. :?
I now have a big orange lanyard attached to my bag with only an exclamation point written on the tag.