“New” airport procedures for travel with a gun in checked bag.

[The Big D]

Last week I flew on American Airlines (AA) from Reagan National (DCA) to Palm Beach International (PBI.) Had flown that route multiple times. This time procedures changed…both ways.

At DCA I was redirected from the usual bag check in location upstairs to the main level AA ticket counter and then directed to AA “Special Services” counter. There a very efficient agent completed the required form, I signed it, and WE walked with my bag to the baggage screening area nearby. I was told to wait til my bag was screened and given the okay to depart. No issues; took only a few minutes extra.

At PBI my bag was not on the carousel. My companions’ bags were. Waited a few minutes and headed to the AA baggage service office. There was my bag; agent asked for claim ticket and ID and off I went.

Day before return I tried to check in online as usual. Nope. Received notification I would have to check-in at PBI ticket counter because I had flown with a firearm. Did so and agent completed the form, I signed, and bag was placed on conveyor. Was told to step away and would receive notice when I was cleared to go. About 5 minutes later she told me I could leave. Easy!

At DCA my bag was in the AA office adjacent to the carousels. It was there before my companions’ bags were delivered. Presented ID. All good!

Note: TSA locks on my suitcase and gun case inside. To my knowledge neither was opened.

Have Clear and Pre. Clear is now via photo. Very much more efficient than past use of iris scanner and/or fingerprint.

Zero issues through TSA checkpoints.

All in all a POSITIVE experience.

Be safe.

PS: This post applies to AA travel at DCA and PBI, ONLY. As has been the case for many years, individual carrier and/or airport procedures vary.

 

[Norton 750]

I have flown many, many times with firearms in my previous job. Now that I am retired, I have vowed never to fly commercial again! I will only spend my tourist dollars in States that honor my Missouri CCW and will drive a day out of my way to avoid the States that don't. Hey, it is only time...and now I have all the time I need!

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Except for this:

Day before return I tried to check in online as usual. Nope. Received notification I would have to check-in at PBI ticket counter because I had flown with a firearm.

I have experienced the described procedures at various airports, including Dallas-Fort Worth, Love Field in Dallas, Miami-Dade, Fort Lauderdale, Denver, and Colorado Springs. Perhaps others that I cannot think of offhand. Flying with a firearm, especially handguns, since the passage of FOPA has always been easy and, please note, I have not flown with a handgun or a rifle for quite a few years. The sole difference in my experience was being asked to check-in at a specific counter. That I have not experienced. Once, though, I experienced the opposie - for some reason the Fort Lauderdale airport was checking luggage at a different location and they took my suitcase over my objection - "Don't worry about it". I'll never forget that incident! Decades ago, BTW.

 

[Claymore33]

I have checked guns on flights to and from lLOVE FIELD , DFW, DCA, and many more, Never a problem, never a delay.

 

[sceva]

I have flown to Florida from Ohio and back years (1980's) ago then more recently (post 9-11) from Chicago to Ohio ( Dayton and Cincinnati (actually KY) with no problems. I always politely informed one of the airline workers directing people and asked where to go and it was easy peasy. I will say thet the first thing I do after collecting the luggage is check it.

 

[usmcsgt]

Yep had the same experience picking up my checked gun on DFW-DCA flights on American. I used to fly this every month for work.

I was checking in for a flight from DWF one time on American, the nice lady asked me to open my suit case and the gun case so she could see the pistol and put the tag inside. I discreetly cracked the suit case open on the scale so the folks in line behind me could not see the pistol- well the gate agent says wow what kind of front sign is that- grabs the gun out of the case and looked at the front sight LOL- I’m sure the 6 people from California in line behind me fainted dead away. (It was a Xs Big dot sight)

 

[Neumann]

Florida destinations tightened up about 10 years ago, due to a shooting incident where the assailant retrieved his firearm from checked baggage. My luggage never reached the carousel, but were delivered to the luggage office. I had to ask before I found out that it was being held.

Once, on a return to Milwaukee, my luggage was missing. My Air Tag said it was in Seattle. The airline agent said they would investigate. I responded that there was a firearm inside, and I would need to report any loss to the FBI. 'Nuff said! My doorbell range at 7:30am the next morning, and a courier handed my suitcase to me.

Dozens of other times, there was no incident at either end.

 

[DirtyShirt]

Is that an airport procedure or an American Airlines procedure? I've experienced different protocols from different airlines when checking a firearm.

 

[walkin' trails]

I always current print copies of TSA and airline requirements regarding transportation of firearms and carry them with me. In some cases airline employees know the proper procedures, and it other cases they don’t. Always wise to stay calm and ask to speak to a supervisor when you suspect someone is trying to reinvent the wheel.

 

[The Big D]

Is that an airport procedure or an American Airlines procedure? I've experienced different protocols from different airlines when checking a firearm.

If your inquiry is in reference to my OP, I made it clear it applied to AA travel at DCA and PBI, only. (See “PS:” in that OP.)

Be safe.

 

[John_M52]

Flown all over many times with checked firearms on United. Some airports are more annoying/delayed than others. Sometimes on the carousel, sometimes not. Once you start a trip with a checked firearm they will block you from online check-in for the rest of your trip which is annoying if you want to change a seat.

 

[Claymore33]

Last week I flew on American Airlines (AA) from Reagan National (DCA) to Palm Beach International (PBI.) Had flown that route multiple times. This time procedures changed…both ways.

At DCA I was redirected from the usual bag check in location upstairs to the main level AA ticket counter and then directed to AA “Special Services” counter. There a very efficient agent completed the required form, I signed it, and WE walked with my bag to the baggage screening area nearby. I was told to wait til my bag was screened and given the okay to depart. No issues; took only a few minutes extra.

At PBI my bag was not on the carousel. My companions’ bags were. Waited a few minutes and headed to the AA baggage service office. There was my bag; agent asked for claim ticket and ID and off I went.

Day before return I tried to check in online as usual. Nope. Received notification I would have to check-in at PBI ticket counter because I had flown with a firearm. Did so and agent completed the form, I signed, and bag was placed on conveyor. Was told to step away and would receive notice when I was cleared to go. About 5 minutes later she told me I could leave. Easy!

At DCA my bag was in the AA office adjacent to the carousels. It was there before my companions’ bags were delivered. Presented ID. All good!

Note: TSA locks on my suitcase and gun case inside. To my knowledge neither was opened.

Have Clear and Pre. Clear is now via photo. Very much more efficient than past use of iris scanner and/or fingerprint.

Zero issues through TSA checkpoints.

All in all a POSITIVE experience.

Be safe.

PS: This post applies to AA travel at DCA and PBI, ONLY. As has been the case for many years, individual carrier and/or airport procedures vary.

That is exact experience I had in flying Love Field to DCA and Love field to Reno.

 

[BB57]

Is that an airport procedure or an American Airlines procedure? I've experienced different protocols from different airlines when checking a firearm.

Airlines and airports can both have their own policies and you usually end up following the most restrictive. Plus TSA can decide that it needs the key to re-inspect a firearm.

I had an oddity once where the airline staff had to escort me out the terminal and all the way to my transportation, an annoying airport authority requirement. I jokingly asked the staff person if I could take the bag with the gun in it back in the terminal if I had to use the restroom, or say check in for another flight, and she said "absolutely, no problem at all", and gave me an eye rolling look that said "yeah, this policy is really stupid and doesn't make any sense".

The only problem I ever had was flying out of MSP. The airline had me open the case so they could verify the firearm was unloaded, had me lock it and retain the key. I got the all clear in a few minutes and then went through security and to the gate.

About an hour after checking in and about 30 minutes before boarding I was advised they could not load my bag as TSA needed the key to the case to inspect the firearm. They didn't have a good system to get the key from me, and going back through security from the gate to customer service and back to the gate wasn't a realistic option given the time it was taking to get through the line even with pre check. I had to make a call to a supervisor to coordinate the key issue, which burned some more time, but they got it back to me right at the tail end of boarding.

I don't know quite how TSA screwed that up. There are a lot of travelers with guns in greater MN, so it's not like it was new to them.

Generally speaking I won't use a TSA lock on a gun case as they are both easy to pick and there are a lot of TSA keys out there.