Traveling on business.......

[jkviper]

I will be traveling (Airline) on business to Arizona in about two weeks and see that they have Reciprocity with Texas as a written agreement. I have been doing research on Arizona's laws about CC, but I am still really nervous about the airline thing on checking the firearm and ammunition in my check baggage. I have been to TSA's website and researched this and see the rules and regulations on how to transport a firearm on the airline, but I am still nervous. How many others have done this before and how did it work out?

Thanks in advance.

[hi-power]

I was nervous the first time going from D/FW to Washington Reagan airport (which is actually in Virginia). I read all the TSA and airline rules and regulations, but this forum helped put everything in place for me. Just do a search on "flying with handgun" or something like that and you'll see numerous threads on the subject.

As I said I was nervous, but on the return flight from Virginia, the TSA officer appeared more nervous than I was. After you do your research, you'll realize that you know as much or maybe more about carrying on an airplane than the ticket agent or TSA officer.

[RoyGBiv]

You have NOTHING to worry about... ***
1. Empty gun
2. Locked gun container that "cannot easily be pried open" and for which only you have the key/combination
3. Ammo stored separately from gun. Some folks claim you can check a loaded magazine as long as it's secured in a small box. I just put the rounds back in their original box, and put the box inside the locked gun case.
4. When you arrive at the ticket counter, after handing the agent your ID say "I need to declare an unloaded firearm in my luggage"
5. Agent will give you a small card to fill out... sign and date. It's a firearms declaration. Put it inside your luggage, but outside (on top of) the locked gun case.
6. Follow ticket agent directions to special TSA screening. This will vary by airport. Some places the TSA agent will come to the ticket counter, other places you need to walk your luggage to a special screening location. The ticket agent will know where. If it's unclear, ask.
7. Follow the direction of the TSA screener.
8. Hand screener a TSA-approved luggage lock and ask them to secure your bag after they inspect it. You will not be allowed to touch your bag after the screener starts their inspection, until you pick it up at your destination.
9. TSA screener will send your bag onward, you go through regular screening.
10. When you arrive at your destination, pick up your bag from the regular luggage carousel.
***11. If, by some chance, you find yourself stuck in transit in a gun-un-friendly place (like NEW YORK CITY or CHICAGO)...... DO NOT CLAIM YOUR BAG.!!!!! Go to airport security and inform them that you have a checked firearm and ask them to secure your bag for you until you can resume your journey. As soon as you pick up a checked bag containing a handgun in NYC you can be arrested and jailed for 3 years.

Also...
http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... ly#p587327" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... andgun+fly" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RoyGBiv]

You have NOTHING to worry about... ***
***11. If, by some chance, you find yourself stuck in transit in a gun-un-friendly place (like NEW YORK CITY or CHICAGO)...... DO NOT CLAIM YOUR BAG.!!!!! Go to airport security and inform them that you have a checked firearm and ask them to secure your bag for you until you can resume your journey. As soon as you pick up a checked bag containing a handgun in NYC you can be arrested and jailed for 3 years.

Really good information, I was totally unaware of the option, thank you.

It should be noted that, thankfully, I've never been in a position to try this myself. This is what I would do if faced with that situation. I absolutely would not take possession of the bag, even if it meant losing the gun and my clothes. I can replace those things for less than the cost of a lawyer. The next choice would be to leave the bag in the posession of the airline, checked through to my final destination, after informing the baggage supervisor of my reasons. If that didn't get me where I wanted to go, airport security would be my next choice. YMMV.

ETA: If the poo really hits the propeller and I find myself in NYC holding a piece of luggage containing a handgun, I would go directly to the car rental counter, get a one-way car to Pennsylvania (to a destination that does not require me to drive through New Jersey ) and rebook my continuing flight from the more gun-friendly state of PA where I wouldn't get arrested at airport check-in.

[bayouhazard]

The process is simple if you don't overthink it or try to game the system.

Flying between Texas and Arizona especially should be no problem. California or Massachusetts is a different story.

[steveincowtown]

You have NOTHING to worry about... ***

***11. If, by some chance, you find yourself stuck in transit in a gun-un-friendly place (like NEW YORK CITY or CHICAGO)...... DO NOT CLAIM YOUR BAG.!!!!! Go to airport security and inform them that you have a checked firearm and ask them to secure your bag for you until you can resume your journey. As soon as you pick up a checked bag containing a handgun in NYC you can be arrested and jailed for 3 years.

Also...
http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... ly#p587327" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... andgun+fly" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Both of these are true, but keep in mind the odds of #11 happening are just about zero.

Take 2009...

6.6 Million Flights
15,500 Flight Diverted
85% of those continued to their final destination after being diverted.
This leave 2325 Flights which were diverted.
There are over 19,000 airports in the USA

So your total chance of being diverted, and having to claim your bag is % .04 . Since this "chance" is spread over 19,000 airports in 50 states, the realistic odds of this happening are pretty slim.

http://www.federaltimes.com/article/201 ... 02/4080302" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


That being said ....roygbiv has given great advice.

ADD

this situation has occurred and people have been prosecuted; so the risk does exits.

[jmace57]

Agreed - it is no problem.

I printed out the TSA rules, and the rules from the website of the airline I was flying - just in case. The ticket agent didn't have a clue what to do, but pulled out a manual and walked herself through it.

[The Annoyed Man]

I'm actually flying to Florida at the end of April for the better part of a week. We're going to be staying with a group of people in a block of rooms at the Best Western Cocoa Beach, right outside of Cape Canaveral. We'll be spending large amounts of time at the launch facilities, where we won't be able to carry at all. It seems to me that the biggest risk of something happening is between Orlando Airport and the hotel and there is a temptation to just leave my gun and the hassle at home.............but then I read stuff like this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... Obama.html.......which occurred in the same state where they are trying to fry Zimmerman in the press for defending himself.....

If I were flying into Arizona or any other gun-friendly state I wouldn't really worry about it. But this is Florida, where they kill visiting tourists while they beg for their lives, and they try and convict people in the press for defending themselves—and there seems to be a unifying theme between the assailants and the victims in both situations. I'm really not comfortable traveling to Florida without a gun, but because of what we're going to be doing, bringing one may be a bigger hassle than it's worth.

[jmorris]

You have NOTHING to worry about... ***
1. Empty gun
2. Locked gun container that "cannot easily be pried open" and for which only you have the key/combination
3. Ammo stored separately from gun. Some folks claim you can check a loaded magazine as long as it's secured in a small box. I just put the rounds back in their original box, and put the box inside the locked gun case.
4. When you arrive at the ticket counter, after handing the agent your ID say "I need to declare an unloaded firearm in my luggage"
5. Agent will give you a small card to fill out... sign and date. It's a firearms declaration. Put it inside your luggage, but outside (on top of) the locked gun case.
...

5a. I have been asked by the ticket agent to open the gun case so that he could verify it was unloaded. He did not touch the weapon or case but it was sans magazine and locked back so that may have satisfied him. If he had reached for it.......

[74novaman]

I've flown twice with a weapon. No problems from either the airline or the TSA either time. Just follow their regulations and everything will work out.

[johnson0317]

I've flown twice with a weapon.

Bet your arms got really tired.





Sorry.

RJ