Air travel with the Shield. Easier than I thought

[mlapaglia]

I just took a firearm with me to Tucson last night. Flew Southwest air. Having never traveled with a gun I was concerned about doing it. I have to say it was very easy. Informed the ticket agent I had a firearm. They had me fill out a card and place it on the case the Shield was in. Walked me over to the TSA room for firearms. A very nice lady took the bag and ran it through the X-ray. Looked it over. Asked if the case was locked and I was done. Very nice and easy. No problems, snide looks or anything. It was all done very professionally.

After it was over the TSA lady asked me, unofficially, if it was a Shield. We then spent 20 minutes chatting about the Shield and the M&P series in general.

If you have your CCW and need to travel, as long as your destination honors your CCW its really easy to travel by air.

 

[Old cop]

Thanks for sharing, this is a subject that has caused me worry. Did you call the airline beforehand?

 

[xzhync]

How did you handle the ammo? Where was that packed?

 

[avigar]

I read somewhere you're not allowed to carry ammo on a flight, even in a separate locked container. It will have to be purchased at your destination.

 

[Neumann]

Follow the TSA guidelines (TSA) and review the airline's policy on firearms, and you are good to go. Airlines are sometimes more restrictive than the TSA, typically for the way ammunition is carried. On the other hand, you can't do less than required by the TSA, regardless of what an airline representative says.

If you call, it is unlikely you'll get an authoritative source. In my experience, you get the opinions of the person, not the official policy. Print a copy of the TSA and airline policies, just in case you get a different opinion from the ticket clerk. Truth be told, all of the clerks I've dealt with in the last two or three years are comfortable dealing with firearms in luggage.

Early on, I had a clerk tell me I had to leave the firearm box unlocked. I showed him the TSA policy, which requires it to be kept locked, and he finally relented. I have never been challenged by the TSA over firearms, just for the other junk I've been known to carry - umbrellas, camera tripods, battery chargers ...

Also check the go/no go list - it changes from time to time. For example, you can't carry matches or lithium batteries of any sort in checked baggage. They now go on board with you, due to a policy reversal.

You can carry up to 11 pounds of ammunition (e.g., 250 rounds of .45 ACP) in containers designed to hold ammunition. The TSA will allow loaded magazines, as long as they're not in the weapon and the business end is covered in a holder. Don't do it! - all of the airlines require a box of some sort. Ammo can be in the same locked box as the firearm, but it's not required. I use plastic boxes, and tape or tie-wrap them shut. Heck, they pop open in my range bag.

 

[crofoot629]

Ammo in factory container, or in loaded mags with mag pouch having a top closer (Velcro or snap) in the same locked case as my handgun.

I've been through a pretty fair sampling of airports and it seems none are the same. But always easy.

TSA doesn't get me in a twist. Sure they take time but being able to print out boarding passes 24 hours befor flights makes it even. I still have to check a bag while my family waits because I have a handgun, but it's no big deal.

Emory

 

[FCSO117]

Just remember that New York City is a world of their own. The airlines and TSA will allow you to check a firearm to fly into NYC. But then when you try to check the firearm to fly back out of NYC, you will get to meet NY's finest boys in blue... The airline desk clerks are required to notify the police for anyone declaring a firearm.

If you do not have an NYC firearms permit, the best you can hope for is to have the firearm confiscated, and you may still end up arrested....

In short, know the laws for wherever you are traveling to.

 

[k-dog]

I flew from Hawaii to STL with 4 firearms in one rifle case and also had about 6 lbs of ammo in my checked luggage in a taped cardboard box No issues they didnt even ask about ammo

 

[Dean1818]

In DFW its a breeze.... However

Some airports will hassle you a bit

And..... Dont fly through Newark airport as well,
If you can help it

 

[N4KVE]

Just remember that New York City is a world of their own. The airlines and TSA will allow you to check a firearm to fly into NYC. But then when you try to check the firearm to fly back out of NYC, you will get to meet NY's finest boys in blue... The airline desk clerks are required to notify the police for anyone declaring a firearm.

If you do not have an NYC firearms permit, the best you can hope for is to have the firearm confiscated, and you may still end up arrested....

In short, know the laws for wherever you are traveling to.

What happens when you take a flight between 2 gun friendly states, but can't land at the scheduled destination because of poor weather, & the flight gets rerouted to NYC? Do you refuse to take your luggage, & hope it ends up on your plane when you finally leave NYC? Obviously guns are illegal there, but you never planned to go to NYC in the first place. It's a slippery slope. GARY N4KVE

 

[FilmMkr]

I read somewhere you're not allowed to carry ammo on a flight, even in a separate locked container. It will have to be purchased at your destination.

Not true.

I travel with firearms and it is never a problem. Check with the specific airline you want to fly for their exact requirements.

From Southwest Airlines:

Firearms must be encased in a hard-sided, locked container that is of sufficient strength to withstand normal handling, as follows:

A firearm in a hard-sided, locked container may be placed inside a soft-sided, unlocked suitcase.
A firearm placed inside a hard-sided, locked suitcase does not have to be encased in a container manufactured for the transportation of firearms.
The locked container or suitcase must completely secure the firearm from access. Cases or suitcases that can be pulled open with minimal effort do not meet the locked criterion.
Only the Customer checking the luggage should retain the key or combination to the lock. No exceptions will be made.

Ammunition:

Small arms ammunition for personal use (provided it is properly packed) is permissible in checked baggage only.
The ammunition may be placed in the same container as the firearm and must be securely packed in cardboard (fiber), wood, or metal boxes, or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
When checking ammunition, Customers are limited to 11 pounds gross weight (ammunition plus container) per person.
Magazines or clips containing ammunition must be securely packaged (placed in another small box or in a secure cutout in the carrying case, in order to protect the primer of the ammunition).

 

[WashMP9]

I bet SW get so many guns because of their bag policy,which save you 20-50 dollars, that the agents don't even bat an eye when someone says they have a gun to declare.

Follow the Tsa instuctions and it relatively easy.

 

[mlapaglia]

Not true.

I travel with firearms and it is never a problem. Check with the specific airline you want to fly for their exact requirements.

From Southwest Airlines:

Firearms must be encased in a hard-sided, locked container that is of sufficient strength to withstand normal handling, as follows:

A firearm in a hard-sided, locked container may be placed inside a soft-sided, unlocked suitcase.
A firearm placed inside a hard-sided, locked suitcase does not have to be encased in a container manufactured for the transportation of firearms.
The locked container or suitcase must completely secure the firearm from access. Cases or suitcases that can be pulled open with minimal effort do not meet the locked criterion.
Only the Customer checking the luggage should retain the key or combination to the lock. No exceptions will be made.

Ammunition:

Small arms ammunition for personal use (provided it is properly packed) is permissible in checked baggage only.
The ammunition may be placed in the same container as the firearm and must be securely packed in cardboard (fiber), wood, or metal boxes, or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
When checking ammunition, Customers are limited to 11 pounds gross weight (ammunition plus container) per person.
Magazines or clips containing ammunition must be securely packaged (placed in another small box or in a secure cutout in the carrying case, in order to protect the primer of the ammunition).

This is exactly correct. Yes I did call the airline. Some charge to take a firearm as luggage. I grew in 2 boxes of goals dot HP and there was no question about the ammo at all. NYC is why my OP says check your destination for the laws on guns.

All in all it's uvery easy if you just follow the TSA rules and smile.

 

[much ado]

firearms travel,NYC

New York City is a world of their own as far as firearms.My friend and I went to South Africa on a plains game hunt in the late 80s.We,of course had rifles and a revolver apiece also.No problem leaving as everything was in checked baggage from Richmond to LaGuardia to Kennedy and on to South African Air(they are one airline that is used to firearms).On the return though we (everyone)were assembled next to our baggage by a Customs Agent and for some reason he asked Brian what firearms he had and Brian told him in addition to his rifles he had a Model 19. I was never asked anything...thank goodness.The agent took custody of the revolver and said they would mail the gun. It seems to me they got $19 from Brian for the freight but Brian did get his revolver the next week,wrapped like a mummy.I checked my baggage on to Richmond and was thankful they didn`t ask me about my property.

 

[mlapaglia]

As an update Leaving Tucson International Airport was different but just as easy. Checked in with the counter and from that point they took the bag and told me if there was any problem they would find me. Never heard another thing from them.

All in all a good trip.

 

[madmikeb]

I've flown from Maine and New Hampshire to Tucson and back with a gun several times and have never had any issues whatsoever. Just follow the rules and it's fine.

 

[Road Rat]

I read somewhere you're not allowed to carry ammo on a flight, even in a separate locked container. It will have to be purchased at your destination.

Wrong information.

 

[edl]

Do not take the gun into NY State airports or NYC Airports even for changing flights that require you to take possession of your baggage.

If you try checking a gun in and you don't have an NYC permit, your gun will be confiscated and you will be arrested by the Port Authority Police. They do not recognize any US laws that permit people to travel.

You may ultimately beat the charge after employing a lwyer, but you won't beat the ride to central booking or the initial arrest.

 

[SMMAssociates]

One bit of silliness that I've heard about: If your gun case (manufacturer's product box, for example) has two holes for locks, some ticket agents will demand a second lock! Since any six-year-old can get into a plastic case, with one or two locks....

Make sure you fill out the declaration card - I had a gal at DFW who didn't know what they were, and when I showed her the one I'd signed to get there in the first place, she didn't know where to find them. Didn't want me to re-use the old one ....

DO NOT use a combination lock (or locks) on the gun case. That should be a key locked device. If you use a combination lock, you're essentially giving the "keys" to anybody nearby. While a TSA employee may actually open the case in some instances, they're not supposed to do it outside of your view, and are supposed to return the key.

If your gun case (i.e., handgun) is inside other luggage, you should put a TSA lock on the outer case. Don't use "your" lock - they'll likely cut it off if anybody decides to paw through your undies. I prefer to use a TSA lock rather than nothing at all - helps identify the bag, and helps protect the bag from popping open, which is really the only good reason to lock a bag anyway.

Finally, take an "airline travel" gun if at all possible. One you'd not mind a check for (hopefully after losing the gun on the return leg). In my case, it's an M&P40C. I really like the gun, and put some time and money into it, but compared to my "local" 1911 EDC rotation guns, it's just a gun....

DO expect the airlines to have different, and more restrictive rules, than the TSA, and the airline's people at the ticket counter to be a little unclear.

(I ran into a TSA agent who asked "would you give me the combination to the TSA lock, or do I have to dig out my key?" Hard not to laugh, but he was otherwise polite enough. Agents at DFW and El Paso seemed to be competent, btw, other than that gal I mentioned. I've had a few "why?" questions, too, but only one who was trying to make a scene.)

Guess the good news is that they're getting used to it. Now if we could only get NY and NJ to get with the program....

Regards,

 

[Model39]

Just remember that New York City is a world of their own. The airlines and TSA will allow you to check a firearm to fly into NYC. But then when you try to check the firearm to fly back out of NYC, you will get to meet NY's finest boys in blue... The airline desk clerks are required to notify the police for anyone declaring a firearm.

If you do not have an NYC firearms permit, the best you can hope for is to have the firearm confiscated, and you may still end up arrested....

In short, know the laws for wherever you are traveling to.

Concerning NYC, what if you have a HR-218 certification card? Doesn't that override all state laws concerning carrying a concealed weapon as long as you are complying with all TSA/Airline regulations? Hopefully NYC teaches their police to obey the laws, not make up their own to satisfy Mayor Bloomberg, and his personal anti-gun agenda.