Flying w/ Handgun: Soft Pistol Case in Hard Sided Luggage?

[Onomea]

Anybody do it this way?

Seems to me on one of these threads I saw someone who was doing this, using a locked, hard sided suitcase for airlines check in with his clothes, etc., but also his handgun, with the gun in a soft, zippered, unlocked, soft pistol case.

To date I've only flown with the small, hard sided, locked case containing my handgun within my larger, usually soft sided, unlocked suitcase.

Seems to me above would be within TSA rules of keeping the gun in a hard sided, locked case...

----

Re security, and cable locking the small case to the frame of the larger suitcase, yes, that sounds very secure. But do we know of any cases where someone's checked in handgun was stolen? A very rare event, I would wager.

 

[max]

I always use a locked plastic case inside my suitcase with a small cable attached to the frame of the suitcase. I might add, I insert an Apple Air Tag under the insulating material in the case.

 

[raljr1]

I would not use a soft case, even inside a regular hard side suitcase.

 

[VaTom]

TSA requires a hard side case with locks. I have a pelican type case and used two master locks (one on each corner). Not TSA locks. No ammo in the case. Open and Show to ticket agent, relock. They put a red card in your checked bag indicating firearm.

That's how it worked when I flew with revolvers / pistols.

 

[SMSgt]

Fly??? SMSgt?

 

[Onomea]

I would not use a soft case, even inside a regular hard side suitcase.

Why? I am curious as to your reasoning, rajir.

TSA requires a hard side case with locks. ..

Yeah, but I think the outer case, the main luggage case, could fit that requirement, right?

 

[madmikeb]

I flew many times with firearms. Put the gun in a pelican case with a padlock on each corner, then put the pelican case in a soft sided suitcase. Never had an issue, I do like the idea of a cable to the frame of the suitcase though.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

TSA requires a hard side case with locks. I have a pelican type case and used two master locks (one on each corner). Not TSA locks. No ammo in the case. Open and Show to ticket agent, relock. They put a red card in your checked bag indicating firearm.

That's how it worked when I flew with revolvers / pistols.

That red tag on the luggage indicating a firearm is what really annoys me. Baggage handlers are probably among the least vetted and screened employees in an airport facility, usually allowed relatively free access into and out of secure areas, and always expected to be handling baggage. Perhaps one of the weakest links in the system, IMO.

Why provide a bright red flag identifying those bags or parcels containing something small, relatively high in value, easily turned into cash?

 

[rbmac52]

I think the red card goes IN the case, not on the outside.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I think the red card goes IN the case, not on the outside.

That might raise an argument with airline personnel occasionally. I have seen it done both ways.

I remember one flight taking me to Atlanta while my checked bag went to another destination. It was delivered to me by a taxi driver a couple of days later, bright red tag visible and my handgun still locked inside. Lucky me (that time).

 

[The Norseman]

Case in point

Hard Case, locks on locking points, and cable
lock secured to suitcase interior frame ONLY.

 

[Chubbs103]

I have no interest in getting into a debate with the airline employee at the desk about whether or not I am following the letter of the TSA requirement.

I have always used a hard case with locks on provided points on the corners. I have never had an issue.

I have had some head scratching, funny moments. I had someone checking me in tell me to remove my weapon from the case, open the action, and show them it was unloaded. While I wasn't crazy about openly handling the gun in the airport, I complied. The individual then leaned over and sheepishly asked if it was unloaded (I assumed they didn't know what to look for).

I was traveling with a muzzle-loader and the ticketing agent asked me to show them it was unloaded. Thankfully they gave up pretty quick.

 

[madmikeb]

In recent years when I flew, the bag wouldn't go on the baggage carousel after the flight. I would have to go to baggage claim and show id to pick it up.

I also had a pair of TSA locks and a pair of non-TSA locks on my person and would use whichever the agents wanted me to use. Technically they should be non TSA but I didn't want to argue with the gate agents.

 

[ditrina]

Nuff Said... Hard case

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyixaupnJxA[/ame]

 

[Baxter6551]

You cannot use a soft sided case. It must be a locked hard sided container. I use a small pelican case with small master padlocks. And the tag is not required to be on outside. I always place it inside. If an agent wants to look at the firearm I would tell them to call the airport police to respond to the desk and I would happily let them inspect it.

Transporting Firearms and Ammunition | Transportation Security Administration

 

[Bugkiller99]

Anybody do it this way?

Seems to me on one of these threads I saw someone who was doing this, using a locked, hard sided suitcase for airlines check in with his clothes, etc., but also his handgun, with the gun in a soft, zippered, unlocked, soft pistol case.

To date I've only flown with the small, hard sided, locked case containing my handgun within my larger, usually soft sided, unlocked suitcase.

Seems to me above would be within TSA rules of keeping the gun in a hard sided, locked case...

----

Re security, and cable locking the small case to the frame of the larger suitcase, yes, that sounds very secure. But do we know of any cases where someone's checked in handgun was stolen? A very rare event, I would wager.

If your hard sided luggage meets the requirements as outlined by TSA (and the airline) which Baxter 6551 nicely linked above, you can put your firearm in a sock if you want. It's no different than using a dedicated hard sided rifle case.
It's not the way most folks do it, and may draw unwanted attention, but you can do it that way.

 

[VaTom]

I think the red card goes IN the case, not on the outside.

The red card goes inside the checked bag and not inside the gun case. At least that's how Delta agent did it last time.

You don't want to get to the ticket counter and have an issue.

 

[rbmac52]

The red card goes inside the checked bag and not inside the gun case. At least that's how Delta agent did it last time.

You don't want to get to the ticket counter and have an issue.

Agreed I wasn't clear enough in my post. The card goes in the suitcase not the gun box.

 

[Onomea]

If your hard sided luggage meets the requirements as outlined by TSA (and the airline) which Baxter 6551 nicely linked above, you can put your firearm in a sock if you want. It's no different than using a dedicated hard sided rifle case.
It's not the way most folks do it, and may draw unwanted attention, but you can do it that way.

Thanks for responding to my question.

 

[grover99]

The times I flew with a firearm the departing airport and the arriving airport had very different ways in dealing with the subject. Flying out of KC they were very easy to deal with and treated me with respect. Flying out of Phoenix was a total pain. Once I declared the firearm at the ticket desk I was collected by a TSA agent and took aside where He went through my bag dumping stuff back in which later caused some items to arrive broken. Once I got to the gate I was subjected to every scan they had including having my hands swabbed for explosive residue. Felt like a criminal boarding the plane. Comes down to each airport and each airline how they interpret regulations.

 

[Beemerguy53]

...I think the outer case, the main luggage case, could fit that requirement, right?

No, it doesn't fit that requirement. The gun must be in a hard-sided case. The language of the regulation is clear...

"Firearms must be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container and transported as checked baggage only."

Transporting Firearms and Ammunition | Transportation Security Administration

 

[Beemerguy53]

...Baggage handlers are probably among the least vetted and screened employees in an airport facility, usually allowed relatively free access into and out of secure areas, and always expected to be handling baggage. Perhaps one of the weakest links in the system, IMO.

While I agree that airport baggage handlers are in an especially good position to purloin parcels and pistols, they are vetted no less thoroughly than anyone else who has access to the sterile or secure areas of an airport.

All behind-the-scenes airport employees have to undergo a Security Threat Assessment (STA) -- what we regular folks call a "background check" -- and be issued a SIDA (Security Identification Display Area) badge. This requirement applies to everyone, from baggage handlers to maintenance workers to aircraft mechanics to fuelers, etc.

Security identification display area - Wikipedia

 

[raljr1]

Why? I am curious as to your reasoning, rajir.

Yeah, but I think the outer case, the main luggage case, could fit that requirement, right?

I just prefer the locked hard case inside the suitcase. It is easier to surreptitiously cut open a soft case and remove contents than it is to remove a hard case. I may be overthinking it, but we have had meds stolen out of luggage in the past, and typically if you lock the outer case it needs to be a TSA lock or you risk it being cut open by TSA.

 

[Beemerguy53]

If your hard sided luggage meets the requirements as outlined by TSA (and the airline)...you can put your firearm in a sock if you want. It's no different than using a dedicated hard sided rifle case...

Respectfully, you can make that argument to the TSA regulatory inspectors who prepare the civil enforcement case against you (which can carry a hefty fine), but I think it's a lot easier just to follow the rules...

Civil Enforcement | Transportation Security Administration

 

[tomhenry]

That might raise an argument with airline personnel occasionally. I have seen it done both ways.

I remember one flight taking me to Atlanta while my checked bag went to another destination. It was delivered to me by a taxi driver a couple of days later, bright red tag visible and my handgun still locked inside. Lucky me (that time).

A guy was at the ticket counter at the airport in Nashville. He told the lady that he wanted a ticket to Louisville, but he wanted his luggage to go to Dallas. She said, "Sir, we cannot do that." He said, "I don't know why not, you did it last week."

 

[Rich Richardson]

When I fly in my plane I usually just leave it holstered

 

[Onomea]

No, it doesn't fit that requirement. The gun must be in a hard-sided case. The language of the regulation is clear...

"Firearms must be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container and transported as checked baggage only."

Transporting Firearms and Ammunition | Transportation Security Administration

I disagree with this. If the unloaded gun is in a sock, as Bugkiller says above, and inside a locked, hard-sided case — with incidentally, a weeks worth of laundry — it is still in compliance with the rule.

I have no interest in getting into a debate with the airline employee at the desk about whether or not I am following the letter of the TSA requirement...

This I agree with. Best to avoid behavior that might lead to confrontations. Foolish to add extra hassle to the hassle of flying. Excellent point, Chubbs.

I just prefer the locked hard case inside the suitcase. It is easier to surreptitiously cut open a soft case and remove contents than it is to remove a hard case. I may be overthinking it, but we have had meds stolen out of luggage in the past, and typically if you lock the outer case it needs to be a TSA lock or you risk it being cut open by TSA.

This, too, is an excellent point. Typically I don't lock the outer case* but do lock, of course, the small, hard-sided gun case within. I also think I recall that the rules say that the gun case should be locked so that only you, and not TSA, can open it. If outer suitcase serving as the TSA-approved gun case, is locked with a TSA lock, or locked with a personal lock, that's potential trouble either way.

*When I flew cross country the last time, Delta zip tied my unlocked soft suitcase lock, plus the entire suitcase.

Respectfully, you can make that argument to the TSA regulatory inspectors who prepare the civil enforcement case against you (which can carry a hefty fine), but I think it's a lot easier just to follow the rules...

Civil Enforcement | Transportation Security Administration

While I am not willing to concede that my "outer case is the hard-sided case" is against the rules, I am heartily in favor of avoiding potential arguments with airlines or TSA employees while traveling.

Thanks, fellas. It was a useful discussion for me. I will stick with the standard "small, locked hard-case w/ unloaded gun inside larger checked suitcase" that I have been using to date.

 

[The Big D]

TSA locks ARE okay.

As the subject line states, TSA locks are okay for use on your suitcase AND on your hard sided gun case.

They have been okay to use for quite some time.

Check the TSA site if you don't believe me.

Be safe.

 

[BC38]

Why? ...I think the outer case, the main luggage case, could fit that requirement, right?

Yes it does - as long as it is a sturdy, hard-sided suitcase with approved locks. I've done it several times.
In fact I have a medium-sized, hard-sided, molded plastic "rolling" suitcase I specifically purchased for this purpose, and have flown with as many as 6 guns (and some clothing) inside this one piece of luggage.
Never had any problems.