As others pointed out, most people are in their own little worlds and won't notice. I put my bag flat on the scale between the agent stations, turn it around so that when I open it the lid flips up towards me, not away from me, and then open the handgun case while it is laying on top of all my underwear and such. I don't even pick the gun up, I just run the slide (or cylinder) open while it is laying flat on the foam.TomsTXCHL wrote:
I don't understand how you can easily do that in a crowded airport with people all around you--I mean, just the act of setting the bag somewhere and opening it up is unusual and would get others' attentions???
If it is a rifle case (not inside another piece of luggage) I also lay it down so the lid opens towards me.
But it has been hit or miss about whether the agent checks to see if it is really unloaded. Also hit or miss about whether the declaration form goes inside or outside the handgun case when the case is inside another piece of luggage.
Allegedly the rules are the same at all the airports, but the implementation varies wildly. Always allow extra time.