Trip report with gun in checked bag…

[The Big D]

…with some differences.

Headed to San Diego from Baltimore (BWI) with a planned four hour layover in Denver last Wednesday. I like airports and airport lounges. Centurion Lounge in Denver is among the very best.

Early morning flight but some road work had me running behind schedule. Barely made the checked bag cutoff but very nice UA agent got me checked in quickly. Bag went on the conveyor and away I went. No need to wait for a few minutes unlike recent trips when I was asked to stand by ‘til baggage scan was completed. More about that later…

Significant glitch but one without any adverse effect(s) was upon my arrival in SD I received a text message noting my bag arrived on an earlier flight and was waiting at the UA office at baggage claim. And it was. Agent requested my claim check and off I went.

Great stay in San Diego and back to the airport Monday morning. There at check in the agent quickly got me checked in but asked if my bag had TSA locks. I said both the hard sided Samsonite suitcase and the Doskocil case holding my G43 had TSA locks. She said ‘great;’ no need to wait for baggage scan as TSA can inspect your luggage very easily. That likely explains why there was no need to wait for a bit near the check in counter at BWI, either.

Retrieved my bag at the carousel at BWI. No issues upon receipt.

All in all a very easy experience…as usual.

Reminder, you can check in for an outbound flight on UA online 24 hours before and declare your bag with a firearm at the ticket counter. However, if you flew outbound with a checked gun UA does NOT allow online check in for the returning flight. Not a problem but you get repeated reminders to check in online.

Remember, though, airports/airlines DO have varying procedures. Be patient and do what they tell you..

Be safe.

 

[Moe Mentum]

It's simple when you follow the airline's guidelines... never had an issue on any airline.

 

[Doc1500]

Please pardon my ignorance but how do you get into California with a pistol?

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Please pardon my ignorance but how do you get into California with a pistol?

Also, how do get a gun in Maryland?

 

[The Big D]

LEOSA.

Can carry in all states per LEOSA certification.

Be safe..

Please pardon my ignorance but how do you get into California with a pistol?

 

[The Big D]

It’s quite easy…

…to buy a gun in Maryland.

Be safe.

Also, how do get a gun in Maryland?

 

[sigp220.45]

My son visited for Father’s Day and decided to take some of his guns back with him. He put four handguns in a single hard case, locked it with two TSA locks, and put that in a GI duffle bag. No problems declaring and checking in at United, flew from Denver to New Orleans, everything arrived just fine.

 

[444 Magnum]

But, did you wear your mask?

 

[The Big D]

Masks were required whilst on the airplane…

…unless actively eating/drinking. They were also required onboard the San Diego trolley and ferry to Coronado. Signage and audible warnings attributed this to Federal guidelines.

San Diego was mask FREE! That included bars, restaurants, hotels…everything.

Be safe.

But, did you wear your mask?

 

[444 Magnum]

I saw on the news there have been over 3200 unruly passengers on airlines already this year. Most related to vacinated persons, children, and masks.

 

[grover99]

Last time I traveled with a gun in my checked bags I flew out of Kansas City and no problem at all Both airline people and TSA were very nice and helpful. Flying back to KC from Phoenix I now know what it is like to be treated as a felon. At Phoenix the airline clerk yelled at me because she didn't want to deal with the procedure the airline had in place. I was then escorted to a TSA agent who tore my bags apart looking for who knows what. After all that I was subjected to a chemical check for power residue and a full body scan. When I got home I found a broken souvenir cup because of the way The TSA agent dumped stuff back in my bag

 

[Doc1500]

Can carry in all states per LEOSA certification.

Be safe..

cool and thank you for your service.
And I thank all law enforcement for their service.

 

[Mike-4]

Can carry in all states per LEOSA certification.

Be safe..

I fly all the time in and out of CA with an off roster gun in my checked baggage. As mentioned, just follow airline rules. Airlines will not ask if you're a LEO, retired LEO, prohibited person, etc. I really don't think they care about your status. Not once have I ever been questioned about my pistol or high cap magazine in my locked case.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Can carry in all states per LEOSA certification.

Since we all cannot do that I have to presume that there could be a little more of an issue for non-LEOs. I've had issues in the past, none worth mentioning in this thread because I've hashed them all out before and they all worked out favorably, but please don't expect police officer courtesy treatment from airline personnel or TSA if you're just flying as a typical non-LEO. You're not going to get treated well in California, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, etc., if you're not legal to carry there. The FOPA goes just so far and no further for most of us.

 

[The Big D]

LEOSA certification…

…is not applicable to a gun in checked bag on an airplane.

I have never shown my LEOSA card or my retired LEO credentials when declaring a gun in my checked bag. Moreover, I have never been asked ‘why’ I am doing so.

So…LEOSA (and retired LEO status) has zero bearing on the issue. ZERO!!

Be safe.

Since we all cannot do that I have to presume that there could be a little more of an issue for non-LEOs. I've had issues in the past, none worth mentioning in this thread because I've hashed them all out before and they all worked out favorably, but please don't expect police officer courtesy treatment from airline personnel or TSA if you're just flying as a typical non-LEO. You're not going to get treated well in California, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, etc., if you're not legal to carry there. The FOPA goes just so far and no further for most of us.

 

[Mike-4]

This ^^ The Big D said it better than I.