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Hmmm very interesting stuff. I wonder why exactly the TSA allows either or? Personally, I feel safer with a Non-TSA lock on the Suitcase/luggage that the Locked Container containing the Firearm is in, simply because it makes me feel a bit better that no one is going to "disappear" the gun out of my suitcase. Its good to know that there is a degree of flexibitly in the regulations though, as it seems to provide a choice based on preference to the owner of the gun/traveler.

dnuggett wrote:I have never allowed the TSA to clear my firearms without me being present. I tell them up front that I want to be present when the bag is searched. They oblige no matter where I have to go to watch.

I completely agree. Next time, I'll be sure to let them know that I don't want the unlocked suitcase leaving my eyesite, until it's locked up and ready to go. I thought it was weird that they didn't want me to be present while the rest of the bag was being screened, though.

rdcrags wrote:If you haven't done this and need to, just allow about 20 extra minutes and don't be surprised to see the variation in procedures that have been posted. I have experienced most of them, myself.

Again, I completly agree. I know they say to always arrive to the airport with enough time to spare when you aren't checking a Firearm, but this is about 10x as true for when you do declare a Firearm. Part of me finds it so odd that the TSA has such variences in the way they do things from each Airport to Airport (and even Agent to Agent), but not at all surprising. I expected that each airline would have different policies to a degree, and either trained/untrained employee's, but not so much the TSA. At any rate, I can definitely say that from my experience, and from the experiences everyone has described in these posts, that checking a Firearm can be a wildly varying experience.

With that said, I certainly wouldn't be dissuaded from doing it again.

Alrighty folks, just made it to my gate. Checking my P11 was a little more complicated this time around. Once I declared the firearm to the checkin attendant, she called a TSA associate up to the counter to do the check. Took about five minutes for him to get there. Had me open the case up for him (all the while insuring the gun case stayed in his control) and then opened up the box of ammo I had in the case with the gun. They were just 124gr PDX1 loads in 9mm, and I suppose he deemed them "ok" ashe closed the ammo box right back up. Here is the interesting part...

He didn't even.check the gun to see if it was unloaded, nor did he ask me to demonstrate that it was unloaded or even if it was unloaded. Didn't seem to even bat an eyelash at it! He then had me lock it up, and asked me if I was planning on locking my suitcase with the gigantic lock I was holding and wanted to know if it was TSA Certified. Told him "No its not TSA Certified" and "Yes i plan on locking it" and he replied "If the lock closes without the key, ill need you to give the lock to me unlocked and I will take your suitcase down to get the rest of it screened. After which I will personally put the lock on it".

I'm not really comfortable with this, to be honest, but I didn't see much of an alternative. Has anyone else experienced something like this before? I'm curious why they couldn't just screen my bag while I waited, allowing ME to lock the case.

I just flew from El Paso to DFW last tuesday via Continental. Everything went pretty smoothly, and I'm glad for that as it was my first time declaring. The clerk was checking me in, and I simply said "I have a firearm to declare". They then pulled out an orange tag, had me read and sign it, and then they asked to see it. I demonstrated it was unloaded discreetly, closed the case up, the check in attendant put the orange tag in my suitcase and I locked everything up. They then pulled it aside and took it somewhere behind the scenes to get checked by TSA and requested I wait around until it was cleared. I had the key to my suitcase the entire time and 15ish minutes later the attendant let me know that everything checked out and that I was good to go.

I did, however, BARELY make my flight but that was my own fault - I didn't allow for enough time between checking in, and it was BUSY at both the check in counter and security. By the time I made it past security I heard the dreaded final boarding call for my flight and I ran like mad to my gate. It was close, and I wont be cutting it that close again!

I fly back to El Paso tommorow evening from DFW so I'll be declaring it again. I'll post afterwards to let y'all know how it goes. One interesting comment that the check in attendant made to me was "thank you for declaring it, most folks don't and we have to call them back over the intercom". I made a face similar to this: O.O and commented that I couldn't believe somene would do that. I mean... that's a pretty big no-no.

One last thing regarding cases: I have my P11 in the large nanovault (combination lock) with two unloaded mags and a 50 rnd box of ammo. It all fits tight but is good to go. I put that in my "Suitcase" which is actually a large rolling electronics container/flight case made out of thick plastic with a hard point for locking. Its the kind of case you would trasport something large and sensitive in so its almost bomb proof. I just have a beefy masterlock on the case and it worked great.

I know tommorow will go well, but I can't help but feel a bit nervous. Then again, I just get the nerves when I fly in general.