Flying to Nashville. Worry about airport issues

[E.Marquez]

TSA Response:
" The declaration tag is required to be placed inside the checked baggage containing the firearm, not in the outside bag, the firearm container may be separated from the other bag, and the declaration tag must stay with the firearm"

Interesting... So, even though I'm not asked to open the locked case, I should just go ahead and do it and stuff the card inside?
I'll need to ponder that for a bit...

THANKS.! for the Horses-Mouth" info.

ETA: Post 1911 for me....

Well me? Unless the ticket or TSA agent insisted putting the tag on the OUTSIDE and visible to all.. I don’t care what they want to do with it, inside the luggage, or in the gun case... It's not worth a discussion, and I would not open the case at all unless directed to.

I’ve had it go both ways in the last 6 months, but none wanted to tag the outside of the luggage, so I let it go.
Besides, who says the person answering my emails at TSA is the final adjudication authority? For all I know, it was someone’s son or daughter typing that on “Take your Kid to Work day”

[JMPJr]

I've flown with firearms numerous times and have never had a serious problem. One trick that I first read about here was to print two copies of both the TSA and airline rules and have them on my person while traveling. One copy is for you, one copy is for anyone that would benefit from reading along with you. This came in very handy once when the airline did not know their own regulations (not a knock on them, I'd guess that's fairly common). In this case, I simply handed over the second copy of the airline regs to the counter agent. Based on their ignorance, I had to reference both their allowances on number of firearms per case as well as limits on liability and what the choices were to purchase additional coverage at the desk. I'm sure the agent would have gotten there on her own, or with help of a coworker, but being able to show what I was referring to absolutely sped things up.

I also have had what feels like the full gamut on TSA inspecting the firearms or not, wanting to open the case, specifically NOT wanting to open the case, wanting it locked in advance, NOT wanting it locked in advance....

Read the TSA and airline regs, follow them, stay calm no matter what anyone says or does, have two printed copies of the regs, know the laws of your destination and follow those and you'll be fine!

[Topdog77c]

Here is what happened with me. Went inside to southwest ticket both and told the lady at the counter I needed to check a bag with an unloaded firearm. Signed a card and went inside the TSA room with an attendant. TSA person opened my checked bag and pulled container with the pistol out. Ran a swipe of some sort around it and put in some device. He said if that passed I would not need to open it. It passed, he put it back in my luggage and the attendant took control of it after that. He checked it back in and I went on my merry way. Hopefully we connect back up in Nashville. Oh yea, they taped the paper work on the outside of container. Put a little orange dot on my bag. I guess to let some know it's been checked or has a firearm inside. Will update when we get to Nashville.

[iom]

In the pelican case I use, I custom cut the foam so that I can disassemble my firearm and have the slide (with barrel and recoil spring in slide) separate from the frame. This way there's no way an agent can sweep me or anyone else. It's also a way it'll show up via x-ray as a non functioning handgun.

I also keep two copies of tsa and airline regs. One copy on me, and the other copy in the pelican case. You will see small variations in the way each agent handles this, but I've never had any problems. I also keep the ammo in the pelican case in it's original box.

[E.Marquez]

Put a little orange dot on my bag. I guess to let some know it's been checked or has a firearm inside. Will update when we get to Nashville.

By doing so they violated thier own policy.

[sjfcontrol]

Put a little orange dot on my bag. I guess to let some know it's been checked or has a firearm inside. Will update when we get to Nashville.

By doing so they violated thier own policy.

It's to tell the baggage handler on the tarmac which bag to rifle through for "the good stuff".

[E.Marquez]

Put a little orange dot on my bag. I guess to let some know it's been checked or has a firearm inside. Will update when we get to Nashville.

By doing so they violated thier own policy.

It's to tell the baggage handler on the tarmac which bag to rifle through for "the good stuff".

Oh now I did not say it did not have advantages, just that it violated the policy as stated to me by TSA..

[Topdog77c]

Bag made. Took it into bathroom to make sure all was still intact. Looked just like when we left. She was not violated. Now just make the trip home and a bucketlist item can be checked off. Need to brush up on tennessee laws. Appreciate all the feedback. And I am going to ask about the orange dot sticker.

[Topdog77c]

Well, the return flight from Nashville has a different beginning. Filled out the paper work at inside ticket counter. The clerk at the counter had me open my luggage AND my locked case to look at the gun. Put the card inside the case. WTH.? Same airline, different procedure. Told me to hang around for a little bit just in case TSA had any questions. Crossing fingers.

[Topdog77c]

Well, thanks for all the info. Very helpful. Made it home safe and sound. The black box made safe and sound also. And yes, it's pretty much painless if you read TSA and the airline rules.