Handguns & Airlines
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italiansport
Member
I have done this on multiple occasions and as long as you adhere to the regulations it doesn't seem to be much of a problem. The pistols must be in an approved and locked case and unloaded. You must inform them at checkin that you have pistols in your luggage. They may ask to see them or just give you a red tag to put in your luggage indicated they've been declared.
The regulations may vary by State and airline so be sure to check in advance.
Jim
The regulations may vary by State and airline so be sure to check in advance.
Jim
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I too have traveled on the airlines with a gun checked in my baggage. There are slight variations from carrier to carrier but I've never had a problem. Know the law.
Traveled many times with shotgun. No sweat. Years ago I'd get the royal treatment. Right to the front of ticket counter lines.
Almost impossible to pack both handgun and long gun in one bag. Some airlines only allow a specific number of handguns.
Almost impossible to pack both handgun and long gun in one bag. Some airlines only allow a specific number of handguns.
avery53
Member
It's a little different these days, but when I got out of the service in '72, I brought home two rifles thrown in my duffle bag. lol
I have a friend that travels to Arizona every year to the End of Trails Shoot, he ships them rather than carrying them on the airline. He says guns have come up missing on the airlines.
avery
I have a friend that travels to Arizona every year to the End of Trails Shoot, he ships them rather than carrying them on the airline. He says guns have come up missing on the airlines.
avery
I print out the TSA regs as well as the particular airline's guidelines and bring them with me. I haven't had a problem in a very long time.
It is not a nightmare at all. You don't get royal treatment anymore but they'll take care of you 99.9% of the time with no hassles.
Follow the rules. Hard sided, lockable case. Declare that you have an unloaded firearm. No need to scream it. Just put the case on the counter or on the scale, DO NOT WAVE THE GUN AROUND, leave the case closed until and unless you're asked to open it, tell the airline personnel, they'll know what to do. Some airlines escort you to TSA. Some will want to see the unloaded firearm and then escort you to TSA and some will just take the case after you lock it. All of them will make you fill out a little card to put with the gun but sometimes they have you take the card to TSA and they watch you put it in the case. Sometimes they'll have you lock the card inside and tell you where to go to find TSA and then you just tell TSA and they take it from there.
It depends on the airline, the personnel, the airport rules, and even the type of case. It is almost always easy unless you get a dumb bunny who doesn't understand. Leave time for the escort to the TSA office. it could be a 10 minute walk.
See next message.
Follow the rules. Hard sided, lockable case. Declare that you have an unloaded firearm. No need to scream it. Just put the case on the counter or on the scale, DO NOT WAVE THE GUN AROUND, leave the case closed until and unless you're asked to open it, tell the airline personnel, they'll know what to do. Some airlines escort you to TSA. Some will want to see the unloaded firearm and then escort you to TSA and some will just take the case after you lock it. All of them will make you fill out a little card to put with the gun but sometimes they have you take the card to TSA and they watch you put it in the case. Sometimes they'll have you lock the card inside and tell you where to go to find TSA and then you just tell TSA and they take it from there.
It depends on the airline, the personnel, the airport rules, and even the type of case. It is almost always easy unless you get a dumb bunny who doesn't understand. Leave time for the escort to the TSA office. it could be a 10 minute walk.
See next message.
I lost one version of this reply once already so I wrote the above and now I'll paste this one in; I hope it works this time:
Rule one – the law/TSA rules/airline rules require a hard sided, lockable case.
Rule two – the airlines do NOT always understand rule one. Okay, sometimes it's the personnel, not the airline itself.
Because I lost the original message I will omit the remarks about long guns and cowboy action, etc., but if you want me to flesh this out I will. I have done this many times. Sticking to handguns, then, let me give you some examples of hard sided, locking cases in which you can check a handgun on a plane:
Pelican Case 1170. | Nalpak
Personal Pistol Case - 501 - Pistol Cases and Camera Cases
https://www.google.com/search?q=tuf...%2F%2Fwww.tank007.net%2Ftuffcase.html;800;600
Victorinox Travel Gear - Hardside Luggage - Spectra? 2.0 26
CARRY-ON EXP. SPINNER TROLLEY Delsey 00207180004
Plano Gun Guard All Weather Large Pistol Case 17.25
https://www.google.com/search?q=bea...%26For%252520Gun%252520Type%3DHandgun;225;225
Hardside Luggage: Hardside Suitcases & Hard Case Baggag
http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mbG5QqPvLw32ihLmoDKWGIQ.jpg
There are many, many more examples of hard sided luggage/gun cases that will be suitable for carrying a checked handgun inside. Old time luggage and modern. Remember: HARD SIDED. LOCKABLE. That's the rule. So, here is one airline's interpretation of that rule:
Firearms & Ammunition
Everything you need to know is contained therein, in very plain English. Easy deal. However, because I KNOW that airline personnel don't always get it, let's look at the pertinent section:
Any clue what that means? Notice this special phrase:
MTM Pistol Case 12 Black
It's hard sided, it has a place for small padlocks, so it totally fits into the definition. You would NEVER, repeat, NEVER be permitted to check one of those with your gun inside. But people do use them inside soft luggage and I know of airlines that have allowed it. When I was told, pardon the pun, I went ballistic. That is NOT what the rule requires. But since it falls into the definition airline personnel will allow it sometimes. Here's where it gets interesting, however – if you take one of these:
http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mbG5QqPvLw32ihLmoDKWGIQ.jpg
and toss your handgun into a side pocket, say in a gun sock or even loose, but you lock the case, airline personnel will claim you're not within the rule because your gun is loose. They shouldn't make that claim but they might – because I've had it happen. It's ignorant – but they do not understand. The hard sided, lockable case is the entire piece of luggage – as clearly explained by Frontier Airlines' nice long discussion. I've had TSA walk over and say it's good to go. I've had management have to tell the folks at the counter that it's good to go. But the folks behind the counter might not get it. So, basic rule – in large luggage, don't let your gun lie in there in a pocket just loose. Use a Midway-type case inside the luggage to avoid idiots who do not get it from ruining your travel day.
Rule one – the law/TSA rules/airline rules require a hard sided, lockable case.
Rule two – the airlines do NOT always understand rule one. Okay, sometimes it's the personnel, not the airline itself.
Because I lost the original message I will omit the remarks about long guns and cowboy action, etc., but if you want me to flesh this out I will. I have done this many times. Sticking to handguns, then, let me give you some examples of hard sided, locking cases in which you can check a handgun on a plane:
Pelican Case 1170. | Nalpak
Personal Pistol Case - 501 - Pistol Cases and Camera Cases
https://www.google.com/search?q=tuf...%2F%2Fwww.tank007.net%2Ftuffcase.html;800;600
Victorinox Travel Gear - Hardside Luggage - Spectra? 2.0 26
CARRY-ON EXP. SPINNER TROLLEY Delsey 00207180004
Plano Gun Guard All Weather Large Pistol Case 17.25
https://www.google.com/search?q=bea...%26For%252520Gun%252520Type%3DHandgun;225;225
Hardside Luggage: Hardside Suitcases & Hard Case Baggag
http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mbG5QqPvLw32ihLmoDKWGIQ.jpg
There are many, many more examples of hard sided luggage/gun cases that will be suitable for carrying a checked handgun inside. Old time luggage and modern. Remember: HARD SIDED. LOCKABLE. That's the rule. So, here is one airline's interpretation of that rule:
Firearms & Ammunition
Everything you need to know is contained therein, in very plain English. Easy deal. However, because I KNOW that airline personnel don't always get it, let's look at the pertinent section:
Any clue what that means? Notice this special phrase:
. Followed by this special phrase:
So, some people read that as meaning that you can use one of these inside a standard piece of soft luggage:
MTM Pistol Case 12 Black
It's hard sided, it has a place for small padlocks, so it totally fits into the definition. You would NEVER, repeat, NEVER be permitted to check one of those with your gun inside. But people do use them inside soft luggage and I know of airlines that have allowed it. When I was told, pardon the pun, I went ballistic. That is NOT what the rule requires. But since it falls into the definition airline personnel will allow it sometimes. Here's where it gets interesting, however – if you take one of these:
http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mbG5QqPvLw32ihLmoDKWGIQ.jpg
and toss your handgun into a side pocket, say in a gun sock or even loose, but you lock the case, airline personnel will claim you're not within the rule because your gun is loose. They shouldn't make that claim but they might – because I've had it happen. It's ignorant – but they do not understand. The hard sided, lockable case is the entire piece of luggage – as clearly explained by Frontier Airlines' nice long discussion. I've had TSA walk over and say it's good to go. I've had management have to tell the folks at the counter that it's good to go. But the folks behind the counter might not get it. So, basic rule – in large luggage, don't let your gun lie in there in a pocket just loose. Use a Midway-type case inside the luggage to avoid idiots who do not get it from ruining your travel day.
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I am compelled to continue.
Some cases scream GUN!!! Some do not. I have never lost a gun on an airline and I use various cases, such as a small case like this:
http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mbG5QqPvLw32ihLmoDKWGIQ.jpg
It looks like a kid's piece of luggage. I actually do have it padded and inside the padding I have one of these:
MTM Pistol Case 12 Black
I don't lock the Midway case, just the Samsonite, and it's an old, internal lock, kinda junky, but a lock is a lock, and I bungee cord it to keep it tight.
Or an Americase like this:
http://www.americase.com/catalog/Files/Images/Left angle w Pistol.jpg
Or a suitcase similar to this one:
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/...G3zKDI-Y7YThVz2mNSHStasxLTvxjqWaPx6i__54f9cJQ
It was the suitcase like that in which I had the loose handguns that got the personnel at the counter all worked up so I'll never carry a loose handgun again, even though I'm right. Not worth the effort.
Don't put NRA stickers on your luggage, or S&W, or any gun maker. Keep it clean, keep it simple, it's an easy deal.
Some cases scream GUN!!! Some do not. I have never lost a gun on an airline and I use various cases, such as a small case like this:
http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mbG5QqPvLw32ihLmoDKWGIQ.jpg
It looks like a kid's piece of luggage. I actually do have it padded and inside the padding I have one of these:
MTM Pistol Case 12 Black
I don't lock the Midway case, just the Samsonite, and it's an old, internal lock, kinda junky, but a lock is a lock, and I bungee cord it to keep it tight.
Or an Americase like this:
http://www.americase.com/catalog/Files/Images/Left angle w Pistol.jpg
Or a suitcase similar to this one:
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/...G3zKDI-Y7YThVz2mNSHStasxLTvxjqWaPx6i__54f9cJQ
It was the suitcase like that in which I had the loose handguns that got the personnel at the counter all worked up so I'll never carry a loose handgun again, even though I'm right. Not worth the effort.
Don't put NRA stickers on your luggage, or S&W, or any gun maker. Keep it clean, keep it simple, it's an easy deal.
Squarebutt
Member
As S&W Fan recommended above, take a printout of both the TSA and your airline's rules in your pocket. Then if there is any misunderstanding, you have it in black & white. Usually you want to put the hard pistol case inside a larger suitcase. Make sure it's a HARD suitcase, as the soft ones are easy to break into. I try to book a non-stop, so there's less handling, and if there's a problem it's easier to fix.
tjhodges310
Member
Can you carry ammo in the same case as the firearm?
My understanding is the ammo must be separate, and also in a locked case.
tjhodges310
Member
Thank you. I thought I read something like that once upon a time
BigBlueSix
Member
I have traveled successfully with handguns per the rules. The ammo was locked In the case with the guns but the guns were unleaded. This was fine for Southwest Airlines. In Vegas on the recent return trip, they had me wait 10 mins in a designated area in case a tsa agent want to see me or whatever. I waited 12 and moved along without further issue.
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Most of the airlines require ammunition to be in its original factory box, or in one that separates the rounds like a factory box like reloaders use. I put this in a gallon plastic bag and have never had it become an issue, but as others stated best to know your specific airline regulations before traveling.
Texas629
Member
never had an issue with Southwest, United, Delta. Pistol goes in a case with a TSA approved lock. Ammo in a plastic case. Just make sure you sign the form or check off the box when you check your bag. TSA has not been an issue for me. Last time they didn't open the pistol case.
My understanding is that you are NOT supposed to put a TSA lock on the gun case. Only YOU are supposed have the key or combo for the lock. You must remain, when asked, in the screening area to provide the key to the TSA agent should he desire to check the inside of your gun case. The key will then be returned to you.
There are a lot of different opinions on using a TSA or non TSA locks. I keep both styles on hand and use which ever one the agent says to use. For the record after many flights every one of them has said to use the TSA lock.
My favorite experience was in Manchester NH with a pretty little ticket agent. When I opened the case my Kimber Ultra CDPII was in her response was, "Well isn't that cute"!
My favorite experience was in Manchester NH with a pretty little ticket agent. When I opened the case my Kimber Ultra CDPII was in her response was, "Well isn't that cute"!
Texas629
Member
If you say so, last time I flew (about 3 weeks ago) I was asked to use a TSA lock. No one asked me to stay anywhere. My bag was not opened. Your mileage may vary.
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