U-Haul there, then fly back

[Bullitt]

Heading to Ft. Knox, KY to take my butterbar son's household goods there in a U-Haul truck. I would like to carry enroute. I intend to fly back on Southwest Airlines. What do I have to do in order to bring the pistol and ammo back in the belly of the plane?

Thanks in advance,

B

[JCole]

You just have to check the gun in a locked container.

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/guns.html

[Bullitt]

Thanks. I did look at those guidelines. What I am not sure of is whether the locked case has to have TSA accessible locks. Anybody know?

[AWB09]

Only you should have the key or combination to the gun case according to government rules.

[Abraham]

I too am interested in such information.

Additionally, anyone know of a good model and mfg of such an acceptable container?

Or, how often they turn up missing after you land?

That kinda worries me...

[ES4Me]

I do not know of any statistics regarding firearms "loss" by airlines, but I do have a source for a TSA acceptable lock-box. Got one of these for Christmas and will use it providing my company quits sending me places where I cannot take my XD.

http://www.center-of-mass.com/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have the keyed lock, but might have preferred the combination lock.

[KFP]

I suspect Jim will be here shortly to give you the complete run down, but I'll go ahead and take a stab at it for you.

There are two sets of requirements that you must abide by when flying, the TSA and your airline. It is wise to look up both of these before flying and print out copies of each to have with you just in case.

TSA: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm
Southwest: http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/guns.html

The basic drill is to pack your gun in a hard-sided case, that locks and only you are able to open. I believe that Southwest allows you to keep mags loaded, if the primers are covered (mag pouch), but not in the mag well. Ammunition is usually acceptable as long as it is in it's original packaging, and less than 11 pounds. The locked case must be inside of a bag that you're checking with the airline and declared to the ticket agent at the counter (don't check in curbside). I like to declare by saying, "I also need to declare an unloaded firearm in my luggage." This keeps from saying things that might excite others around you, such as, "I have a gun."

The ticket agent will have you sign a little card that is placed in/near the case. This is the part that seems to vary every time - I've gotten so that I just do as they say. Depending on the airport they may have you wait for a few minutes to make sure it goes through TSA without issue, take it to TSA until they've scanned it, or take it to TSA and hope that it makes it. I repeat the statement above to the TSA agents when handing them the bag. Once you're through the ticket agent and TSA screening, it's just a matter of claiming your bag at baggage claim like any other checked baggage.

There should not be anything placed outside your bag to identify it as having a firearm.

Many thanks to your son!

[chabouk]

What I am not sure of is whether the locked case has to have TSA accessible locks.

Like AWB09 said, it is supposed to be locked with a NON-TSA lock.

Luggage = TSA lock
Gun case inside luggage = non-TSA lock

[Rugrash]

I have flown about 6 or 8 times to the east coast from Houston (IAH & Hobby to Reagan & BWI). My first piece of advice is to PRINT a copy of the airline's policy with regards to traveling with firearms. On more than one occasion the person at the check-in desk had no idea what to do with a gun that was to be checked. The first time was pretty scary, but they eventually, they did find someone who was familiar with the policies. The second time, I had that copy of their own policies from the web and that seemed to clear up a lot of confusion. Also, ask the representative if your container can be placed in the baggage office rather than being put on the carousel.

I've had responses ranging from "wow that's scary...I'll bet you could spray this whole place with that thing!" to "cool...how do you like it? I've been wanting to get one of those for years now."

The scariest part of all though is when your plane arrives and you race down to the baggage claim and you see your container going round and round on the conveyor belt. You know how nobody every checks the labels anymore like they used to?

As far as cases go, I have used pelican, lockable plastic doskill cases, as well as the long aluminum cases that you can get from Academy.

My scariest trip was to Reagan (DC) with my Colt Hbar in the aluminum case and then traveling through the city via the metro (subway). I'm sure I would've been on all news channels if I got caught that night.

-Rug

[boomerang]

If you're going to check luggage, it might as well have a gun it it.

[Bullitt]

Mission accomplished. That was too easy.

[KFP]

Getting through the first flight is the hardest part, the rest is downhill.

[Nicolai]

Can't help you on the fly part, but we drove to Georgetown, IN, last April and used the Kentucky Parkway roads mostly (think interstate quality, but less traffic). The Wendell Ford Western Kentucky Parkway goes from around Eddyville, KY (I-24 leads there), to near Elizabethtown, KY, right by Fort Knox.
Hope you and new LT (thanks for his service) can carve some time to get to Knob Creek (http://www.machinegunshoot.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)--if you do, don't forget to give us a range report. I was going to visit Knob Creek on the April trip, but my one available day was cold and snowing (yes, the calendar insisted it was April!). That's why we live in Texas.

[Bily Lovec]

you can also ship it directly to yourself.

look it up