My First Experience (Airline Travel with Firearm)

[jimlongley]

Years ago I travelled from Albany NY to Orlando Fl, I was shooting metallic silhouettes at the time. Family vacation to FL and thought why not shoot while I was there. Anyway Albany checks my guns, 3 monster handguns, all packed in shooting suitcase carrier. They put bright orange tape, firearms enclosed on it. That made me nervous, thieves look here is what it should say. Get to Orlando get family luggage and no guns. Found out they had to be picked up at the office, no problem. Going home (won one trophy) Orlando checks and puts orange tape. When I get to Albany, expecting to go to the office for the guns, here it comes right down the ramp with all the other luggage. A little nerve racking but got home safe and sound.

That had to be way pre-9/11, the rules changed a good while back and guns are no longer identified on the outside of the bag.

Where did you shoot near Albany? I was a long time member of Watervliet F&G and Bethlehem, lived in Slingerlands, Albany, and Glenmont, and a close friend's father donated the land that the New Baltimore range is on.

[mgood]

Years ago I travelled from Albany NY to Orlando Fl, I was shooting metallic silhouettes at the time. Family vacation to FL and thought why not shoot while I was there. Anyway Albany checks my guns, 3 monster handguns, all packed in shooting suitcase carrier. They put bright orange tape, firearms enclosed on it. That made me nervous, thieves look here is what it should say. Get to Orlando get family luggage and no guns. Found out they had to be picked up at the office, no problem. Going home (won one trophy) Orlando checks and puts orange tape. When I get to Albany, expecting to go to the office for the guns, here it comes right down the ramp with all the other luggage. A little nerve racking but got home safe and sound.

That had to be way pre-9/11, the rules changed a good while back and guns are no longer identified on the outside of the bag.

Yeah, I've flown with pistols several times, all pre-9/11, in the nineties. And even then they had started putting the tags inside the case. But the tags on the outside was evidently recent history at the time becuase they always explained to me that they now put the tags on the inside so it's not an advertisement to thieves. (They seemed pretty well-versed on this aspect even if they didn't know much about anything else regarding air travel with firearms. It doesn't sound like much has changed except introducing TSA into the equation.)

[austin]

Just want to add:


DO NOT TAKE YOUR HANDGUN TO NYC Airports!!!

You will be arrested.

[nitrogen]

Also, identifying that a case contains a firearm is against federal law.

Don't let them do it.

[striker55]

Years ago I travelled from Albany NY to Orlando Fl, I was shooting metallic silhouettes at the time. Family vacation to FL and thought why not shoot while I was there. Anyway Albany checks my guns, 3 monster handguns, all packed in shooting suitcase carrier. They put bright orange tape, firearms enclosed on it. That made me nervous, thieves look here is what it should say. Get to Orlando get family luggage and no guns. Found out they had to be picked up at the office, no problem. Going home (won one trophy) Orlando checks and puts orange tape. When I get to Albany, expecting to go to the office for the guns, here it comes right down the ramp with all the other luggage. A little nerve racking but got home safe and sound.

That had to be way pre-9/11, the rules changed a good while back and guns are no longer identified on the outside of the bag.

Where did you shoot near Albany? I was a long time member of Watervliet F&G and Bethlehem, lived in Slingerlands, Albany, and Glenmont, and a close friend's father donated the land that the New Baltimore range is on.

I shot in Lake George (Queensbury), up near Syracuse (Camillus Gun Club), Burlington Flats out past Cooperstown. Lived in Johnstown. And yes it was quite a while ago.

[tomc]

well that helps me out as I am leaving to Va. on the 10th of march and flying Delta airlines, if I may ask what airline did you use?? did you check 2 bags or just one and have the gun in the same bag as the ammo ?? I am only going to check 1 bag and have both the gun and ammo in it , the gun is going in a kimber box wit 2 locks on it and the ammo is in a hard plastic type ammo box in a inside pocket.

thanks for telling me how TSA is in Austin ,I hope they are nice in Richmond VA.

Doc

I fly from DFW to Richmond at least once a year with my pistol. I have had no troubles on either end. At DFW, I check in at the main ticket counter, show that Its unloaded, fill out the unloaded card, take it about 20 feet to the TSA, tell them about "unloaded firearm", they have me wait til it passes through the x-ray machine(about 2-3 minutes), then they tell me to "have a good flight." In Richmond returning, I check in, show it and fill out the card, they then call a TSA guy up to the counter where he looks and inspects before I lock it up and they send it on its way. Do get there early because the main check-in counter is often scarcely staffed.

The only problems I have had was getting through security screening to get to the plane and having to put up with their rediculous rigamarole procedures.

[Texasdoc]

Thanks Tomc for the heads up on Richmond, my return flight is at 09:30 so I guess I will get there by 07:00 and be ready for there stuff.

Doc

[ELB]

Re: Ammunition

As Mr. Longley noted earlier, there is no TSA rule requiring ammo be packed only in an ammo manufacturer's cardboard box, much less that the box actually be the one that particular ammo came from (!). I have flown with the ammo loaded into magazines and the magazines secured inside leather carriers, and that seemed work just fine. American Airlines is the only airline I have run across that requires a manufacturer's cardboard box exclusively, so now I just wrap two magazines with a small sheet of foam padding (to keep them from shifting and rattling), and put them in a spare Winchester white box I had laying around. I reinforced the box with clear packaging tape, and tape it shut so the mags don't popout one end during transit. When I get to the other end, I just slip into the restroom nearest baggage claim, and presto, my pistol is fully configured and ready to go.

I have flown a number of times with my pistol(s). As others have noted, the actual implementation of the TSA rules varies quite a bit from airport to airport. I have had my gun looked at by both the agent AND the TSA inspector, by one, by the other, and sometimes neither. Seldom does an airline agent actually verify that it is really unloaded (I can only think of this happening twice). I have been told to put the white card (which used to be orange, or maybe it still is with some airlines) inside the gun box, but more recently, on top of, but outside, the gun box.

I really can't think of any "problems" I have had with either airline agents or TSA people -- at worst, a couple times an inexperienced agent had to go ask her supervisor what to do. In fact, one time the zipper/locking mechanism on my checked bag broke after opening the bag for a quick TSA peek, and the TSA guy actively worked with me to use some of my zip ties (which I keep in an outside pocket of the bag) to secure the zipper for the rest of the trip.

[AggieMM]

My First Experience (Airline Travel with Firearm) – Return Trip

As I mentioned in my earlier post, this is my first airline trip with a firearm. Today, I headed back home:

Departure – Tampa, Florida

I approached the main desk, and declared the firearm to the airline representative. He then proceeded to ask “Armed traveler, or checked luggage�. This still is an odd question, as I would think armed travelers (LEOs, etc) would use a different check-in process, maybe more secret, but maybe I don’t understand that process.

This time, the airline representative didn’t ask to see that the firearm was unloaded, nor did he ask to see the ammo. And I didn’t mention it before, but the Austin airline representative instructed me to put the white form on top of the locked case. The Tampa airline representative instructed me to lock the white form inside the case. I can easily understand the differences between airlines, but one would think that the same airline would have the same policy manual. Oh well.

At Tampa, I was then escorted to the TSA oversized luggage area. There, the TSA person asked me if the firearm was unloaded, and took the luggage from the airline representative. He told me to wait here until I was cleared to leave, and then placed the luggage on the x-ray machine. I did not have to show the TSA agent the firearm. But apparently, everything passed, as I got a thumbs up, and I was allowed to head to my flight.

First Experience Lessons

While traveling with a firearm for the first time, here is what I learned on my trip:

• Do your due diligence with the Airline and TSA policies before leaving.
• Arrive at the airport with plenty of time to handle the check-in process.
• Smiles and polite questions go a long way.
• Go with the flow as airports/airlines seem to be different, even if you know the correct answer to the process. Unless they are REALLY messing it up, just play along.

With that, I’m back home. I had a boring work trip, and nothing happened to make me thankful I brought the firearm along. But I was sure glad I had it, and that I got my “flying with firearms merit badge�.

Ryan

[jimlongley]

Welcome back, Ryan, and welcome to the ranks of the many people who have travelled with a firearm without a significant hassle.

-------------------

Striker, I have shot at Queensbury, in smallbore rifle matches a LOOOOOONG time ago, and used to work with Steve Kraynak, who I am sure you will have shot with, or against.

[nitrogen]

[*] Do your due diligence with the Airline and TSA policies before leaving.

I'd go one step further. I'd print out the TSA rules, the airline rules, and federal laws. Specifically print out FOPA.
Realise that the people you're dealing with probably almost never see guns and arent sure what to do. If a supervisor isn't available to too busy, having the printout can help speed things. It can also help correct a supervisor if they are wrong, and encourage them to check into something.

[rgraham541]

I will assume that you already have your handgun in the case?

[frankie_the_yankee]

[*] Do your due diligence with the Airline and TSA policies before leaving.

I'd go one step further. I'd print out the TSA rules, the airline rules, and federal laws. Specifically print out FOPA.
Realise that the people you're dealing with probably almost never see guns and arent sure what to do. If a supervisor isn't available to too busy, having the printout can help speed things. It can also help correct a supervisor if they are wrong, and encourage them to check into something.

Nothing wrong with doing this, but I wouldn't count on getting much help from those documents, or any documents, in the event of any sort of hassle.

Any document can be edited. So the airline or TSA employee will not necessarily accept anything you show them regarding the law, TSA regulations, etc. as being valid. Nor will they necessarily be pursuaded by your interpretation of what the law or regulations mean, even if you are 1000% correct. If they have a procedure they are following, right or wrong, you are not likely to change the screener's mind with a legal argument - documents or no documents.

In my experience, the best way to resolve this kind of "problem" is to maintain a calm and friendly demeanor ("Nice" goes a long way!) and ask to speak with someone higher up in the chain of command if you feel the person you are dealing with is incorrect.

I've only had to do this once many years ago (pre-TSA) on a trip between RI and AZ. And FWIW, the airline representative (on the RI side of course) STILL didn't change the incorrect / illegal thing she was insisting be done - which was to put the "Unloaded Firearm" tag on the outside of the case. But she did end up following my request to have a representative of the airline's Lost & Found office intercept the case at my destination and hold it for me. I also got her name and informed her that if the firearm was lost, stolen, or turned up related to any sort of crime as a result of her misinterpretation (and violation) of federal law, I would hold both her and the airline responsible to the fullest extent of the law.

[rgraham541]

I can remember when I picked my mother up at the San Antonio Airport. Standing at the baggage claim the overhead speakers come on and you hear " Will the owner of the handgun on Delta flight XXX please see the Delta Baggage Representative to claim your gun." The look on my mothers face was priceless.

[asleepatthereel]

Last year I flew twice on different airlines to Burlington Vt from Houston. Both times my luggage did not arrive with me. Once, I had to wait for three hours at the airport until the next flight arrived with my bags, and the next time, they had to be delivered to me across the lake in New York where I was at. There is no way I would trust the airlines with my weapons.

The year before that, I had to go up there for my grandmothers funeral. This was in November, and I was hunting in Leakey when I got the news. I hurried home, and quickly packed everything I needed and proceeded to the airport. The only warm jacket I had was the one I was hunting in. I passed through the metal detectors and put my coat through the xray machine. Imagine my surprise in Burlington when I reached into the pocket in the airport and discovered 5 loaded 30-06 shells.

No offense to the poster who worked for TSA, but there doesnt seem to be any consistancy in the agency other than the level of confusion I have seen at the airports. If I travel somewhere and want to take my weapon, I will drive rather than fly.