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ronbo83 wrote:

TexasTransplant wrote:

RHenriksen wrote:

TexasTransplant wrote:

RoyGBiv wrote:I believe you need to have a TSA lock on the outside of your bag. I have always had one, so I'm not sure what happens if you do not.

Are you saying that you have a locked container inside your regular luggage, then you lock the luggage with a TSA-approved lock?

My luggage is a steel 81mm mortar case, and the pistol(s) are locked inside of it (along with my clothes, toiletries, camera, etc) with a NON-TSA lock. Once in a while you get a confused airline staffer or TSA agent who are so used to seeing a small lockbox inside of a conventional piece of luggage, that they'll try to tell me I can't fly that way. I've always resolved those misunderstandings amicably and to my satifaction.

I do the same thing, with a Pelican case. Nice!

Same here. I am using a large pelican case that serves as both my luggage and my hard sided gun case. It looks like any other case that audio or video people would use. I agree that every now and then the airline agent is confused by the luggage and locked gun case being the same thing but it has always worked out. For me this is the best scenario, my gun as well as my other possessions are secured by 2 non-TSA locks and I don't have to worry about attaching my small gun case to the cheap aluminum frame of most suit cases. Small price for peace of mind!

Agreed. By the way, what lock did you choose? I have two Abloy 321's.

RHenriksen wrote:

TexasTransplant wrote:

RoyGBiv wrote:I believe you need to have a TSA lock on the outside of your bag. I have always had one, so I'm not sure what happens if you do not.

Are you saying that you have a locked container inside your regular luggage, then you lock the luggage with a TSA-approved lock?

My luggage is a steel 81mm mortar case, and the pistol(s) are locked inside of it (along with my clothes, toiletries, camera, etc) with a NON-TSA lock. Once in a while you get a confused airline staffer or TSA agent who are so used to seeing a small lockbox inside of a conventional piece of luggage, that they'll try to tell me I can't fly that way. I've always resolved those misunderstandings amicably and to my satifaction.

I do the same thing, with a Pelican case. Nice!

RoyGBiv wrote:I believe you need to have a TSA lock on the outside of your bag. I have always had one, so I'm not sure what happens if you do not.

Are you saying that you have a locked container inside your regular luggage, then you lock the luggage with a TSA-approved lock?

MasterOfNone wrote:

Seabear wrote:Your trip home is the way it is supposed to go.

You say " I have a weapon to declare"

They say "show me that it is unloaded"

You show them discretely, put the red card on the lock box, lock it up, keep the key, go to the plane.

The idgiot that wanted it to go to TSA is new and trying to hard to follow the rules. The regs actually say you are supposed to wait till TSA clears it, but it also states that you must retain the key. If they want it opened , you have to be present. The first guy goofed up.

It normally goes pretty smooth and easy.

For your next trip I would recomend printing out the ailine and the TSA regs so you can show them what they are supposed to know. I always carry them with me, however I have never needed to prove my point.

Small correction. The card is to be outside the box to tell TSA why you have a locked container in your baggage and that they are not to open it.

and a small correction to your correction... Per TSA rules, the outside of the container is not to be identified in any manner as to the contents -- and on my weekly trips, I have NEVER been asked to show the firearm has been unloaded. I have never been asked to surrender the key, either.

It sure is nice to have ALL my belongings protected from both TSA employees and airline employees.

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edit: I just reread this thread, and realized some people may not do what I do...I have a Pelican case (hard-sided) large enough for all my stuff (shoes, shirts, pants, suits, toiletries, laptop, etc ) and after packing that all up, I put an unloaded handgun, in my IWB holster, on top, then close the lid and lock it up. EVERYTHING is protected that way.