TexasCHLforum.com

Howdy, folks.
I wanted to give you an update on my flying experience with my little Ruger LCR .38 Special Plus P Revolver.
My first flight was from Midland to Denver. The second flight was back home from Denver to Midland. Both on Southwest Airlines.

The flight from Midland to Denver.
I wheeled my baggage up to the ticket agent counter and told the agent I wanted to make a declaration that I was
carrying an unloaded revolver and ammunition in a locked hard-sided plastic case in my checked luggage. She had me fill
out a card and sign it and she then taped it to the plastic case and had me put it back in my luggage. She never opened the hard-sided case to look at the revolver. All of my checked luggage including the hard-sided case in one of the pieces of luggage was then put on the luggage carousel at her counter and sent on its way behind her. No problem--from there we went through security and got on the plane.

The flight back from Denver to Midland.
The Denver TSA handled my firearm declaration differently than the Midland TSA handled it which is always aggravating. The ticket agent called a guy to walk my bag containing my revolver case over to a secluded screening area and the TSA agent at that location ran my bag through x-ray and found no problem and said he would put the bag with the other luggage dropped off with the ticket agent. He also did not open the hard-sided case containing my revolver to examine it.

Not sure why they have different procedures at different airports. Maybe larger airports have to do it differently because of the increased amount of luggage they check? I did not want to give any of the TSA agents the third degree so just remained quiet and cooperated. No real problems with either flight. So--as someone else indicated--be prepared for different procedures at different airports.

What type of lock do you guys recommend for your case when flying?
and,
Most of the cases I see have slots for two locks---should you use two locks or is one lock sufficient?
I bought an Eylar case and it should get here in a few days.
Thanks!