For those who have declared firearms at the airport...

[RoyGBiv]

Posting from the airport at DFW. First time checking in with Delta. (AA previously)

Declared at the ticket counter, filled out the card.
Sent me over to the TSA screener nearby (outside) the security checkpoint, behind a private screen.
TSA opened the luggage, did a hand inspection, wiped everything with a cloth and ran it through the chemical detector, but did not ask me to unlock/open the case.

All was well... waved on through to regular security.

Extra time... about 4 minutes.

[KRhea02]

I had my first encounter a couple weeks ago going from Austin to Lubbock. They sent me over to TSA, showed them my firearm and then they swiped my bag down which set off two alarms causing 4 TSA guys to come over and ask questions. Not really sure what was detected and he wouldn't tell me but after 15 minutes I was finally on my way. Lubbock was a totally different story, The guy asked if the firearm was checked and that was it, took a whole 30 seconds.

[RoyGBiv]

I was surprised that my swabs did not set off the detector.
I had just fired and cleaned my gun the day before and had been handling the case with Hoppes still lingering on my hands..

[CEOofEVIL]

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.

[TxDrifter]

Small correction. The card is to be outside the box to tell TSA why you have a locked container in your baggage and that they are not to open it.

Not true. The orange card is signed and goes inside the case. My brother and I have transported to and from Vegas several times over the course of the year and the card is ALWAYS inside the box, admittedly it is a case for guns alone. Nothing on the outside other than locks to denote it is a handgun. TSA will inspect it to be sure it is unloaded and that any ammunition is stored correctly. You are the only one with the key and they have you lock it once they clear it and you have the card signed. Unless you are unfortunate the gun case will need to be claimed at their baggage claim office and should not come out with the rest of the baggage.

The couple of times I transported just one handgun and locked it inside my suitcase the card was outside the gun case, but inside the suitcase.

It actually is an easy process, but leave an extra 15 minutes for it in case TSA is slow to respond and inspect it.

[CEOofEVIL]

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.

[Excaliber]

Small correction. The card is to be outside the box to tell TSA why you have a locked container in your baggage and that they are not to open it.

Not true. The orange card is signed and goes inside the case. My brother and I have transported to and from Vegas several times over the course of the year and the card is ALWAYS inside the box, admittedly it is a case for guns alone. Nothing on the outside other than locks to denote it is a handgun. TSA will inspect it to be sure it is unloaded and that any ammunition is stored correctly. You are the only one with the key and they have you lock it once they clear it and you have the card signed. Unless you are unfortunate the gun case will need to be claimed at their baggage claim office and should not come out with the rest of the baggage.

The couple of times I transported just one handgun and locked it inside my suitcase the card was outside the gun case, but inside the suitcase.

It actually is an easy process, but leave an extra 15 minutes for it in case TSA is slow to respond and inspect it.

I have flown with handguns in checked baggage many times. My luggage has always come out with everyone else's - no special treatment at all. When you think about it, there couldn't be unless the luggage was somehow externally marked - a big no no because it sharply increases risk of theft.

Obvious long gun cases may be treated differently. I've never flown with one. I suspect they don't get special treatment because they're gun cases, but, like golf clubs and baby strollers, because they wouldn't travel well on the luggage conveyor system.

With handguns in a locked box in a suitcase, the orange card goes on top of the locked box inside the suitcase so a TSA agent can easily see it was legally declared. With a long gun case, there's no place else to put it except inside with the guns.

I've had some ticket agents insist on putting the orange card inside the handgun box - which has to be locked with a key only I have, so there's no way for the TSA to see it has been legally declared without asking me to open it.

Depending on how knowledgeable the folks you are dealing with at the ticket counter and security checkpoints, the process can be either a breeze or an adventure. I always leave enough time to manage the adventure and still make my flight.

[ELB]

I have flown my gun numerous times. Most times I was told to put the declaration card inside the handgun case. But quite a few times I was told to put it on top of the handgun case. Most times the card was orange. Some times the card was white. I did whatever I was told with what I was given, and it came out alright either way.

If you think about it, inside the case is probably the defacto standard, since a longarm case does not usually go inside another piece of luggage.

Rules and procedure aside, it does not matter if the card goes inside or outside. The declaration card is not a security or safety feature, nor is it for the benefit of the TSA inspector (Declaration cards pre-date the TSA). It is so the prosecutor has an airtight case for frying you if you put a loaded gun in your checked luggage -- after all, you signed a statement in front of a witness that the gun was unloaded and that you knew it was supposed to be unloaded. That is the purpose of the card.

[terryg]

I was surprised that my swabs did not set off the detector.
I had just fired and cleaned my gun the day before and had been handling the case with Hoppes still lingering on my hands..

Same here ...

Hobby airport was just fine. Didn't open the case, all handled at the Southwest counter.

Leaving PHX, however, we got sent to TSA checker. He opened the suitcase and ran his swab stick all around the inside of my suitcase.

I guess the moral is, if you want to pack explosives in your checked baggage, don't declare a firearm ...

[RoyGBiv]

Hmmmm....

The orange tag has always (5 times) been placed on the outside of the case.
My luggage has always come out on the carousel with all the other luggage.

AA and Delta flights.

[RoyGBiv]

Having just returned last night from my third round trip with a checked handgun, perhaps the following observations/thoughts would be helpful to others..

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer... this is just my observation and opinion, not legal advice.

I've found that the TSA folks tend to know what to do, but the ticket agents don't always know the proper procedure. Here's what I do and how I manage the process. First bit of advice..... DON'T assume the person at check in knows the proper process, but, be nice about giving advice to them...

1. Packing your luggage.
Choose a good hard case (I use a nano vault) with a lock. Key lock or combination, either is ok as long as the case is "difficult" to pry open from any side and locks securely. As a bonus, the nano comes with a cable lock that I wrap around the inside metal bar in my wheeled luggage. This will not prevent someone from stealing your luggage, but they will have to take the whole thing, not just the gun case.

Use a strong medium-to-heavy tie wrap and "disable" the weapon. Try to imagine how the gun will appear on x-ray, and tie-wrap it in a way that might be more easily seen on X-ray. This serves two purposes, actually.... 1. The TSA screener will be less likely to ask you to open the gun case if they can "see" it's disabled and, more importantly, IMHO, if you are checking in at an airport that prohibits firearms on its property (there's a big "NO FIREARMS" sign at RDU, for example, and this sign has force of law), having the weapon "disabled" is, IMO, more likely to help you avoid issues with local LE should you be pulled over for a traffic violation on airport property.

Pack it all up in your luggage before you leave for the airport.

2. Checking In....
The ticket agents I've met with ranged from "Done it a million times" to "obviously scared"... Here's my procedure... First, in a clear but not-loud voice say "I have an unloaded firearm to declare". The ticket agent "should" 1. make a call to TSA and advise them you are heading over to the TSA checkpoint (more on this later), 2. Give you a bright orange card to sign and date (card says "Unloaded Firearm") 3. Put the normal luggage stickers on your bag. and 4. Place the signed orange card inside your bag, but NOT inside your locked gun case.

I am not certain whether the ticket agent will ask you to open the case and verify that the weapon is unloaded. In my case, I have never had the ticket agent ask me to open the gun case. It seems from reading the airline regs (AA and DL), that the ticket agent should be verifying that the weapon is unloaded...... I do not ask them about it if they do not ask me about it, I just move along.

Yesterday at RDU, the ticket agent sent me on my way without the orange card. I said "I think I need to fill out the orange card", and the agent said "Oh Yes.. Thanks.".. I filled out the card and she handed it back to me. On the way over to see TSA, I put the card in my luggage on top of my gun case. On other occasions, the ticket agent always put the card in my bag.

3. TSA Screening...
Next step is TSA screening. You will be sent over (in my case I always had to go over to a special area for TSA screening of my bag, I hear in some places the TSA agent will come over to the ticket counter.... I have not seen this yet) to a special TSA screening area. In DFW, it's usually just outside the normal screening area. In RDU yesterday, they sent me to the "oversized bag check" station where I was met by TSA. The ticket agent will tell you where to go. If they don't tell you, ask them....

The TSA agent will (every time for me) ask you if you have the orange card in your luggage. Yesterday, the agent asked me if it was inside my gun case and I said "No, it's in my bag but not in the gun case" and he said "Good, that's where it's supposed to be."

The TSA agent will put on some fresh gloves, grab a new swatch of clean fabric and swab your luggage everywhere, inside and outside. Be prepared for wrinkly clothes when you reach your destination. Then they'll check the swatch in the chemical detection machine. Sometimes they'll do a separate swabbing of your gun case and check it again. Honestly, I'm surprised every time my gun case comes up clean. I'm certain there's enough alarms at this step that there's some routine way to clear the bag, but, I can't tell you what happens if you set off the alarm. Consider wiping down your gun case with windex (non ammonia version) and a clean cloth before you load a clean weapon inside.

During the TSA inspection and afterward, you cannot touch your luggage. If the agent needs to see inside the gun case for some reason, be prepared to hand them the key. Once they clear the bag for loading, they will close it up and send it on its way. I believe you need to have a TSA lock on the outside of your bag. I have always had one, so I'm not sure what happens if you do not. In some cases, the TSA agent has unlocked the lock using a TSA key and installed it onto my bag. In other cases I handed them an open lock and they put it on, closed it and spun the dials.

4. Picking up your bag.
Other than the TSA lock, there is nothing special on the outside of your bag to ID it as containing a firearm. The bag should come out on the same luggage carousel as all the other luggage.

I suggest waiting until after you pick up your rental car to reload and re-arm. Perhaps a restroom stall would be ok, just make sure the airport you're in doesn't prohibit weapons. As I know it, DFW allows CC outside the TSA checkpoints.... Be sure to know the laws for the areas you'll be traveling in.

That's it...

[dnuggett]

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 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.

[rdcrags]

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.

[CEOofEVIL]

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.

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.

[gus]

Well I recently returned from a week long trip in Colorado. Frontier was the airlines and friendly folks no doubt. In Austin... I told them I had a firearm to declare, they wanted to see what it was in and placed the orange tag on the cable to the safe. That was it. In Denver they asked me to open the safe and placed the tag inside and watched me lock it. We did walk the suitcase over to TSA and they ran it thru some type of scanner, once again no big deal. both times suitcase came out with all of the other luggage. Enjoyed carrying all over Colorada, just like here, knew I had it but really never gave it a second thought.