Just returned from a short visit to San Diego and wish to relate my experience.

First time traveling via American Airlines. It was from BWI to Chicago-O'Hare and then on to SAN. Checked their regs and found they seem to 'encourage' TSA locks. That is cool...and I customarily use them. At check-in the agent was very courteous and inquired if I was using TSA locks. Did not ask to see the gun. Gave me the form, I signed it, and off my bag went immediately...without me as is the protocol at BWI. (They use a white tag...not orange.)

No problem(s); bag arrived in a timely manner at SAN.

Departed today via US Airways. Agent asked if I was using TSA locks and if ammo was in original packaging. Affirmative to both inquiries. Again, bag was sent to TSA screening without me. No worries; bag almost beat me to BWI claim area.

Just checked TSA regs. Interestingly, they are now silent re: type of locks.

Hope this info is useful.

Be safe.

This is a question I was going to pose later. End of July we are going to Idaho flying out of BWI probably, returning early August. I will be coming back with a family handgun in checked baggage. Being a VA resident, and not able to carry in MD, what is the protocol for transport from Baltimore back into VA?

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Dave

Leave it locked in your suitcase, put the suitcase in the trunk, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. Don't stop in MD for anything once you get in the car. No one at the airline will be telling anyone at your destination that you have a firearm, unless you have REALLY made some enemies.

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NHI, 10-8.

I came back from Alaska a couple of years ago checking my Marlin 45-70 with no trouble but was surprised to find it coming out on the carousel in its case with other bags.
I thought it had to be picked up at customer service in the baggage area. And then show your claim ticket. Maybe that's just airline specific.

I have traveled myriad airlines and via many, many states/airports. Never has my bag appeared in other than on the 'regular' conveyor. If a Marlin 45-70 is a long gun and separately encased that might explain your experience.

Be safe.

You're right. My checked bags were treated normally, but the cased long guns usually were held for pick up. Except that time.
The area was sparsely populated and it was night. If I wasn't there, it would have been very easy for anyone to pick up the case and walk right out. Btw, it was on the carousel before I got downstairs to where it was. I still think I was lucky that time.

If the gun is unloaded and cased, and inaccessible in the trunk or "way back" of the vehicle, you are fine and not in violation of any laws, as you are considered to be in transit. You just can't stop anywhere.

This is not to say that local cops are always knowledgeable or appropriate about what they think is right. Advice tendered above to keep silent is wise.

A gun (unloaded) checked in a stand-alone case should be locked with secure locks for which only you have the key. The case must be hard sided and resistant to prying (per TSA publications). The TSA may ask you to open it for inspection, so it must be labeled with your name and address, but not in a way which reveals its contents. Many airports have TSA luggage inspection stations near the ticket counter. On occasions, I've been led, with said case in tow, to a different location.

You can put it in a hard case inside conventional luggage, including soft-sided. The gun itself must be in a locked, hard case. The suitcase itself should be fastened with TSA locks, so the other contents may be inspected. The card you fill out at the ticket counter should be taped to the firearm box.

If possible, I stand by until inspection is complete. I've never been asked to open the gun box itself. X-Rays easily detected whether it is unloaded or not, or if there is loose ammunition about. The suitcase is nearly always inspected, because the metal gun box obscures objects under or on top of it.

AFIK, it is not illegal to secure the firearm box with TSA locks, but you can use ordinary locks too. TSA locks are so flimsy, and there are so many unauthorized keys about, it's a bad idea. According to the TSA, you should not give the key or combination to an agent. You will be paged if necessary, or your luggage may be withheld. The TSA may break the locks if they suspect an imminent threat.

Neumann is mostly 'correct' but I have added a few clarifications for the sake of complete accuracy.

TSA locks are allowed. You may elect to use a personal lock(s) but you may be delayed...and your bag/case can be damaged if there is a decision to inspect the contents thereof and you cannot be contacted. e.g. Your bag is delayed, flight intinerary changes, bag is misdirected, you don't hear a page, etc. For that reason, I always use TSA locks.

I have never included my address on the luggage tag. A quick search cannot verify that requirement if, indeed, it is a requirement. (I traveled from BWI to San Diego last weekend and my address was NOT displayed on the baggage or the gun case. )

There are airports with TSA inspection areas near the ticket counter. Reagan National comes to mind. There are some where you personally carry your suitcase to the inspection area. Orlando. There are airports where your bag immediately goes on a conveyor to TSA in a remote location. BWI and SAN are examples.

My bag has rarely been inspected dsepite scores of trips with a gun. TSA will place a notice in your bag stating it has been opened/inspected. I do NOT use a metal case for the gun. I use a Doskocil (hard composite) case designed for a handgun.

I have been asked to open the gun case on several occasions. That has been at the request of both airline personnel and TSA agents.

My cell phone digits are noted on my bag tag, inside the bag, and inside the gun case. Only have been called one time; that was at New York LaGuardia. Zero problems resulted.

Hope this helps!

Be safe.

Five years ago, it was common for the ticket agent to require proof that the chamber was clear. That hasn't happened recently. There is always a danger if this is done without a clearing barrel, and it potentially upsets other people in line. If it isn't clear, and you've sworn that it is, it won't get past the TSA, and your trip will be put on hold.

I leave the slide locked back, just in case. I've even got a nod of approval from the TSA for this courtesy.

16 years as a LEO at Denver International Airport here. I've been on numerous gun calls in the baggage areas. Neumann is 99% correct.

X-rays don't show if all firearms are empty. We are constantly called to verify.
Never use a TSA lock on your gun case. They are just too insecure for your valuable gun.

Do use a case with a cable or some other means of securing it to the frame or some part of the suitcase interior that's solid. Thefts from bags are an opportunity crime... if you make it easy to grab an item (like your pistol case) quickly, it might disappear. A cable may not sound like much, but the thief will move on if stealing takes any effort (effort means somebody might see what he's doing.)
Whether or not the airline wants to verify that your gun is unloaded at the ticket counter varies by city and airline. I've seen no consistency at all. Just be prepared and ask if they want to see it. All will have you fill out some sort of firearm tag. It should go inside the pistol case or at least inside the suitcase. (That varies, too.)

As D said, the location of the bag check area varies from place to place also. You may be asked to accompany the bag. Or not. In Denver, we actually have both, depending on which airline.
Ammo, in an original box or a Case Gard-type container made for ammo, is OK. If your gun case will hold it, put the ammo box in the case. Whatever you do, don't leave ammo in any magazine or cylinder. That's not proper storage and they'll want to confiscate the ammo.
And NEVER leave a magazine loaded in a semi-auto. Even with an empty chamber, a firearm is considered loaded if the magazine has at least 1 round in it.

As for screening, that's a whole nother story. All I can say is: Don't ever, ever pack your bags without checking for guns and ammo. If you do like many of us and use one of your range bags as a carry-on, you might have something down in there that won't get through.
Hope this helps somebody. It'd be great to meet up with any of y'all, just not while I'm working, OK? ;-)

I know a DHS agent who caused an incident while escorting a deported person to their home country and screwed up and left a round in his bag. BAD STUFF.

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NHI, 10-8.

According to the TSA, magazines can be loaded as long as the open end is completely enclosed in a carrier of some sort. Personally, I don't think it's worth the possible confusion at the ticket counter. Unless magazines are restrained with a flap, they can fall out of the holder easily. Furthermore, most airlines require ammunition to be in the original box or a container designed to hold small amounts of ammunition (up to 11 pounds, including the container).

Usually I only carry enough for personal defense, about 20 rounds. If I go shooting at the destination, it's usually possible to buy ammunition for that purpose.

This is the rule, copied directly from TSA:
"Travelers must securely pack any ammunition in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
Firearm magazines and ammunition clips, whether loaded or empty, must be securely boxed or included within a hard-sided case containing an unloaded firearm.
Small arms ammunition, including ammunition not exceeding .75 caliber for a rifle or pistol and shotgun shells of any gauge, may be carried in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as it follows the packing guidelines described above."
Otherwise, it gets turned over to the cops.

Given the cost/benefit issues, I carry the ammo in ammo boxes and leave the mags empty. I want to make it easy for the folks inspecting it to not get their bloomers in a bunch so they leave me alone. The time it takes to empty and reload mags is minimal compared to that.

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NHI, 10-8.