I flew from Houston to Atlanta on Continental a few months ago. The process wasn't too bad, but I did have to explain it to one of the clerks.atxgun wrote:http://www.boingboing.net/2006/09/24/se ... cked-.html
It basically says fly with a gun and your luggage gets extra tracking since they definitely don't want to be responsible for loosing it. That makes some kind of sense and I hadn't thought of that.
What I don't get it the article claims you get to lock your actual luggage (also preventing the TSA from rummaging through your underwear). Can anyone confirm or deny this? I thought it was just that you locked the actual gun in a hard sided case but the luggage itself had to be open for inspection.
I double checked the TSA's website before posting this and their firearms instructions didn't mention either still being required to leave your luggage unlocked or specifying it should also be locked.
(Obviously I have never actually flown with a firearm).
I simply told them I'd like to declare a firearm (NOTE: Say "I'd Like to Declare a Firearm" Not "I have a gun"
). They then give you a declaration card to fill out, which basically states that the gun is unloaded and in a safe condition, the ammunition is stored according to TSA and Airline policy, blah blah blah.I was then sent directly to a TSA station (or one was brought to me, depending upon the airport), whereupon I was asked to open my baggage, my gun case (which was inside) and have my gun inspected. Interestingly enough, this consisted of nothing more that a cursory look...they aren't allowed to touch the gun, nor are you allowed to "show clear" as I would have expected.
Once the inspection is done, you're asked to lock your gun case, and you can put it back in your luggage. Any additional inspection of your luggage is done at that time, and the "cleared/inspected" tag is dropped in your bag, it's flagged as having been screened, and you may lock your bag with your own lock. (it's actually preferred).
So, to make a short answer long, yes, by traveling with a firearm, you can lock your luggage with your own lock, and be present while the TSA rifles through your drawers.
