Flying with firearms

[Larry FF]

I will be acquiring 5 handguns in May from my brother. He passed away in Dec., 2021. He was a LEO for 30 years. I read the airline requirements as far as being in a locked container to be in checked in baggage. All the instructions seem to be easy to follow.
Has anyone else here flown with firearms and did you run into any problems? I want to make this as trouble free as possible.

Thank you.

 

[Bald1]

My son flys with long guns all the time. Locked approved case is required. They will open and look at guns when u check them in. They will take u off to the side to do it. I always thought handguns were a no-go on planes.

 

[Truckman]

It's been several years, but I put my .45 in a locked airline approved container inside my luggage when I flew from Texas to Utah...My Texas CHL is good there, so I took it out of my luggage when I got past the no-no zone at the airport, put it in my holster and carried the rest of the time there...I even got a guided tour of the State House in SLC where no handgun restrictions were posted...Freedom is great!......Ben

 

[SmithNut]

Unless the rules have changed since I last flew with guns, long guns as well as handguns have the same requirements.
Locked, unloaded, in an approved case, and they will inspect them, they allow you to lock the case again then it goes to baggage.

As an alternative, there used to be a provision that you could Fedex or UPS the guns from yourself - to yourself so it's not treated as a transfer. If that is something that would save you any hassle of dealing with the airlines, you'd have to verify if that is still an option.

Good luck.

 

[WC145]

I've flown with handguns in my checked bag numerous times. It's really not a big deal, just tell the you have a firearm to declare when you check in. They may or may not need to see it depending on where you are. It needs to be in a locked case that only you can access. I use the clamshell style with a cable and run the cable through the frame of my suitcase so it can't be easily taken. They'll have you sign a card and put an inspection card in your suitcase to show that it's been checked. You might have a hard time finding a locking case large enough to hold 5 guns that will fit in your checked luggage, though.

If you have trouble finding a proper locking container that will fit in your checked bag you can ship the guns to yourself across state lines via Fedex or UPS without going through an FFL. That might be an option for you.

 

[JP@AK]

I have flown with handguns dozens of times. As stated above, they must be in an approved locked case inside your suitcase. You much declare them at check-in and fill out the two-part form. One copy goes in the suitcase (not in the locked handgun case). The other is stapled by the attendant to your ticket or boarding pass, if I remember correctly.

When I've flown with more than two, I have used two cases, each of them in a different suitcase. Same process, but declare them both.

I've done this on Delta, the old NW and Alaska Airlines. Never had any problems. I have also never had an attendant who asked to see them. Long guns are inspected before going into the checked baggage hold, but I've never had them do that with properly checked handguns.

DO MAKE SURE the guns are unloaded. Ammo can be transported in checked bags too, but must be in cases that are designed for the particular ammo. Original boxes are best, but proper plastic ammo cases (e.g. Flambeau) are also okay.

 

[jschmidt]

Don't let fraudsters sell you a TSA approved gun case. The only requirements are hard sides and a key or combination lock. There are no TSA approved locks: there are locks (that they will break if they want in) and cheesy luggage padlocks they can open with their key.

The idea that you have to buy a "tsa approved case" was invented by con artists. There is no TSA manufacturer's pre-approval process.

 

[F224]

WC145 and Truckman are correct. It's no big deal. Just do the following as per the airlines website:

1) Declare them at check in.
2) The airline may or may not ask to inspect them, only that you place the signed "they are unloaded" card inside the bag.
3) Hang around the check-in counter until the TSA representative comes out and tells you they have cleared the bomb scan (usually less than 10 minutes). If they have any questions, they will come out and ask you for a key to unlock the bag and return your key to you promptly after they have satisfied themselves that your bag is good to go.
4) Alternatively, at some airports, an airline or security agent will escort you and your bag to an alternate location to "feed" your bag through a special handling portal.
5) Limits on ammunition is usually five kilos or about eleven pounds.
6) You bag may get special handling and they may ensure you're the person who gets it at your destination.

Consider getting a Pelican 1510 sized roll aboard bag, it will hold lots of guns, is cheap enough, lifetime warranty, and you can put two real padlocks on it.

Captain Dave...retired, I was heavily involved in the FAA rewrites of airport and airplane security sometime ago.

 

[JP@AK]

Just to clarify what I wrote:

they must be in an approved locked case inside your suitcase

By "approved" I mean hard sided and lockable, either with strong padlocks or internal locks that are part of the latches.

As jschmidt wrote, you don't have to buy one from TSA or any other particular maker.

 

[RobertJ.]

I have three times now, twice as separate checked bags and once in my suitcase. I haven't had any problems, in fact, the airline (Alaska all three times) treated it as completely routine.

 

[John Patrick]

Three gun limit for international travel, might be an airline restriction, don't recall.

TSA locks are NOT supposed to be used. I always put spare locks in the case just to be sure the firearm got to where I'm going. If they cut the locks, and there are no replacements, the case stays where the locks were cut.

 

[Squarebutt]

Couple of suggestions: print out a copy of the TSA gun rules as well as those of your airline and keep them in your pocket. Some gate agents try to make up their own rules. Also, try to book a direct flight, especially coming home, to avoid lost items. Finally, if you wind up getting delayed in a non-friendly state, do not take possession of the guns, especially if there are handguns in the mix. Don't sweat it too much - thousands of us fly with firearms every day.

 

[Screwball]

Three gun limit for international travel, might be an airline restriction, don't recall.

TSA locks are NOT supposed to be used. I always put spare locks in the case just to be sure the firearm got to where I'm going. If they cut the locks, and there are no replacements, the case stays where the locks were cut.

No US law that I know of… probably airline policy or foreign country law.

 

[roninsan]

ONE MAJOR WARNING. When I was active duty LEO, I had an assignment that took me to DC once and I was required to be armed. (PSD assignment.) I did all the above, case, lock, declaration. Returning from DC I was sitting in my seat when TSA came on board and ordered me off the plane. I followed the "agent" to the TSA supervisors desk, where I was told I was being detained for a weapons violation, and Metro DC was on the way. They wouldn't tell me anything else until Metro got there.
When Metro arrived, TSA turns the screen around and there in the image is my duty weapon, still unloaded and locked. My badge sitting in plain view. All my other duty gear in plain view. Very obvious I was a "good guy." Metro says "So what'd he do?" TSA says "he failed to declare it, and there's no tag on his luggage." Cop looks at me and I say "I checked the bag per regs when I got to the counter, turned it over to employee, I've no idea what happened to the tag, she didn't give it to me to put on the bag, she did that." Cop looks at TSA and says "You want him charged, you charge him. He's a cop just like you and you want to hold him responsible for something like the tag??" He walks away. I ask TSA "So now what?" They say "You ain't getting on that flight." The airline retagged my luggage and four hours later I caught the last flight back to ATL.
My advice? Make sure you witness the airline employee place the red "FIREARM" (steal me) tag on your bag, and verify the paperwork needed is attached to your boarding pass or put into your hand.
The last time I flew I got pulled out of the security line and interrogated by no less than five TSA agents and two cops. My infraction? I had a Garand Collectors Assn. sticker on my cigar box. Only had a backpack carry on bag and TSA literally shut down the line I was in due to a "security breach with a weapon." Literally put that over the radio. I had no idea what they were talking about until the supervisor pointed to the sticker and, I swear, asked me "Where's the weapon?"
Never underestimate the stupidity of people with authority.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

^^^^^
Nowdays, the tag is supposed to go inside the bag, to reduce theft. It took them years to figure that out.

No airline can reduce the TSA/FAA regs, but an airline can impose stiffer requirements if they want to. Check the website carefully.

Presume that all airline employees are idiots who hate guns. Sometimes you'll be pleasantly surprised, but not always.
I've had agents give me the the FAA form to tell the Captain that I'm armed LEO, instead of the tag that goes in the checked luggage.
Just last year another one (United contract employee in Salt Lake) insisted that we didn't need to declare the gun, she sent my bag down the conveyer before I could stop her. It caused a major fiasco and I almost missed my flight.
Etc.

 

[Larry FF]

No US law that I know of… probably airline policy or foreign country law.

Southwest Airlines states that multiple guns can be secured in one case.

 

[1911haulic]

The last time I flew with my declared and checked long guns, by the time I got down to baggage claim (as fast as possible) the luggage belt was empty and someone had put my gun case against the wall.

I felt fortunate they were not stolen.

 

[Screwball]

Never underestimate the stupidity of people with authority.

Best perk of being Federal L/E… can fly armed for personal travel.

I know there are some good people working in TSA… but they aren't the majority. A lot get out and move to my agency (CBP). But flying prior to work, I hated dealing with TSA. I'm a Type 1 diabetic on an insulin pump. Pump and sensors cannot go thru X-Ray… to include body scanner. I've had TSA actually argue with me about going into the body scanner. I said no, pat me down, swab my hands, and get me thru your checkpoint!

When they keep saying, "it's safe," I ask them if they are going to front $6,000 if that scanner fries a medical device that is ultimately keeping me alive? No… do you have professional liability insurance? "What's that?" It's the protection you are going to need after I sue TSA and they side that you didn't follow their protocols… and it turns out that the lawsuit gets directed towards you.

I've had other officers argue with me about flying armed… that headache is why I always do. I've checked bags with handguns before… being I'm only allowed to carry my duty gun. Boxes that TSA or anyone else can't get into… big thing because I wouldn't trust TSA with safety scissors.

When I was down at FLETC, they trained at the same location. I was there for like four months… they are there for two weeks. Formation to move from class to the cafeteria… it's a joke (blob more than a formation). I really try not to judge people, but if they require a background investigation… I'm shocked many passed from what I observed. And for an agency that has to deal with lines constantly… they always would cut the lines and act stupid because they have to eat before other trainees who were actually doing real PT either before or after lunch.

Best story I got related to flying with a gun… was from a coworker. So, he picked up one of those gun cases that looked like a guitar case. Legitimate gun case. He was bringing his AR back home to go shooting with friends. Declares it, goes thru security… and then sees local PD in the terminal. They announce his name… "hey, what's up?" Sir, what's in your luggage? "My AR?" Did you declare it? "Yep, told the ticket agent… and I asked if I needed to do anything else, which she said no." You have ID? "You want to see my credentials?" [emoji1787]

Turned out the lady didn't do the right thing, and they tried to say that the case wasn't a gun case. He pulled it up on his phone, showing it was, and that it was secured correctly. PD left… our management made him write a memo because TSA made a stink… but it went no where.

Like two months after this happened… I flew out of a different airport; maybe like 2.5 hours away from the one he was at. Flew armed, so had to deal with a TSA supervisor, who was making small talk as everything was checked. Asked where I worked… "did you fly out of X with a long gun?" [emoji1787] Tell him no, but I know the guy. Asked why he brought that up… as I'm walking thru the terminal to meet up with my girlfriend/her daughter, who was going thru the checkpoint. He said that they had like four musters over it, and it turned into a big deal. Asked about the case, where some girl injected that he was wrong for using a guitar case. Explain that it was a legitimate gun case, and per their regulations, he was good to go. "Well, it looks like a guitar… so people aren't going to treat it the same as a firearm case." I looked at her, and without hesitation… "are you kidding me?" I cleaned that up A LOT. The airline is supposed to take the case to TSA, X-Ray to confirm it is ok, then directly take it to the cargo dock, and hand it directly to the cargo crew who will put it on the plane in their presence. Shy of that, it's done/over with. Who cares if someone thinks it is a guitar or not? She realized she wasn't going to win this argument… so she went to help another person just to get out of it.

Came back, told my buddy about it… and we laughed for about 30 minutes.

 

[stanmerrell]

I'm not sure if anyone mentioned this but my understanding is that the case has to have two locks.

 

[Doug M.]

I has to be locked in such a manner that a hand cannot get into it. I had to buy a third lock in a hurry a few years ago when an airline employee who obviously had an attitude got couple of fingers in to the case. I was pretty annoyed.

With 5 pistols, I would either invest in a really good case, or two of them. I would also consider using an FFL to get them to you just to avoid the airline BS. The cost might be less than the cost of good cases.