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I flew Delta from San Antonio to Memphis TN with a stop in Atlanta this weekend. I arrived 2 1/2 hours early, announced loudly that I had a gun and then the fun began!

Seriously, the attendants in San Antonio were very good. Had no issues at all. Coming home was a little weird. The ticket agent didn't know what to do when I told her I was checking an unloaded firearm. Her super came over with attitude, mumbling "why is it that important that I have to have it win me", over & over. After she got over herself, all went smooth.

Lessons learned: have a good case with holes for lock on both sides. I purchased a Pelican for $40 and it holds 2 guns plus mags and ammo. Know airline and TSA policy. Know state and local laws and have a copy ready to present. Relax, you probably won't have any issues.

Did you have ammo in the gun case as well? I've heard yes and no for that being allowed- just wondering how you did it.

flechero wrote:Did you have ammo in the gun case as well? I've heard yes and no for that being allowed- just wondering how you did it.

Yes. I packed a box of critical duty (original mfr box) in he hard case. No questions about it. They never looked in the case or asked about ammo.

jayinsat wrote:

flechero wrote:Did you have ammo in the gun case as well? I've heard yes and no for that being allowed- just wondering how you did it.

Yes. I packed a box of critical duty (original mfr box) in he hard case. No questions about it. They never looked in the case or asked about ammo.

I recently flew to CO. Ammo in the locked case both ways. The inbound flight from CO to TX, we had to accompany a porter with said luggage down to the TSA scanner room. I assume that big machine can tell if my underwear was clean. I am comfortable saying if that TSA agent was okay with ammo in the locked container (with pistol), you're good to go.

I keep the ammo separate when I fly just so there is now questions about a loaded gun. Some places (like California) would consider that a loaded gun and you might be treated badly. And a manufatures box is a good idea. I had a problem once when I used plastic reloading boxes even-though it's totally within TSA guidelines. It's unnerving to have the supervisor come over because the counter agent is excited.

The most common hassle I run into is where to put the required form. Some ticket counters tape it to the outside of the locked container in the luggaage, others want it inside the locked container with the pistol. Often they complain if my ammo is in a plastic ammo box rather thay in in the factory cardboard. Eventually the cardboard box for my carry ammo gets beaten up enough that it won't stay closed, so I prefer the plastic box, with a strip of duct tape just to make sure it stays closed. TSA Omaha felt the need once to rip the tape off and dump the ammo so that it was all over the inside of the suitcase...

Luggo1 wrote:The most common hassle I run into is where to put the required form. Some ticket counters tape it to the outside of the locked container in the luggaage, others want it inside the locked container with the pistol. Often they complain if my ammo is in a plastic ammo box rather thay in in the factory cardboard. Eventually the cardboard box for my carry ammo gets beaten up enough that it won't stay closed, so I prefer the plastic box, with a strip of duct tape just to make sure it stays closed. TSA Omaha felt the need once to rip the tape off and dump the ammo so that it was all over the inside of the suitcase...

TSA had no right to open the box, file a complaint.

I took mine for the first time this Easter flying with southwest to KY and had absolutely no problem whatsoever. The pistol was in a double locked case and the ammo was in its own box, separate in my suitcase. I told them I had a locked, unloaded firearm, they gave me the form to fill out, and simply wanted to see the case as i put the form on top of it in my bag. They asked me to wait for 10-15 minutes outside the security check before proceeding to the gate and said have a good flight. That was it, really easy and no hassle whatsoever.

Just curious. Wonder what would have happened if they had to divert to some place like New York City and you got stuck there and needed your baggage. I could see the potential for serious trouble. You find a gun in New York City, turn it into the police and they will arrest you. Sullivan law. Glad your trip was uneventful. My brother flew American to San Francisco a few years ago with a Glock that I gave him with no trouble but he did have to buy a case for it and lock it.He does not have chl. I don't think he had any ammo with him.

Don't take possession of the weapon!

ExpatBen wrote:I keep the ammo separate when I fly just so there is now questions about a loaded gun. Some places (like California) would consider that a loaded gun and you might be treated badly. And a manufatures box is a good idea. I had a problem once when I used plastic reloading boxes even-though it's totally within TSA guidelines. It's unnerving to have the supervisor come over because the counter agent is excited.

Next time you go to the range, either save a couple of the boxes you shoot or dig a few out of the trash barrel. There's nothing I'm aware of that says the markings on the box have to match the ammo and it's never been a problem for me.

rotor wrote:Just curious. Wonder what would have happened if they had to divert to some place like New York City and you got stuck there and needed your baggage. I could see the potential for serious trouble. You find a gun in New York City, turn it into the police and they will arrest you. Sullivan law. Glad your trip was uneventful. My brother flew American to San Francisco a few years ago with a Glock that I gave him with no trouble but he did have to buy a case for it and lock it.He does not have chl. I don't think he had any ammo with him.

You do not under any circumstances claim your bag. Allow it to go to unclaimed luggage and then insist they ship it back to you home address. Don't make yourself available to allow them to give it to you.

jimlongley wrote:

Luggo1 wrote:The most common hassle I run into is where to put the required form. Some ticket counters tape it to the outside of the locked container in the luggaage, others want it inside the locked container with the pistol. Often they complain if my ammo is in a plastic ammo box rather thay in in the factory cardboard. Eventually the cardboard box for my carry ammo gets beaten up enough that it won't stay closed, so I prefer the plastic box, with a strip of duct tape just to make sure it stays closed. TSA Omaha felt the need once to rip the tape off and dump the ammo so that it was all over the inside of the suitcase...

TSA had no right to open the box, file a complaint.

You are right, but they didn't do it in front of me, in the back later. I couldn't win the argument.

Luggo1 wrote:

jimlongley wrote:

Luggo1 wrote:The most common hassle I run into is where to put the required form. Some ticket counters tape it to the outside of the locked container in the luggaage, others want it inside the locked container with the pistol. Often they complain if my ammo is in a plastic ammo box rather thay in in the factory cardboard. Eventually the cardboard box for my carry ammo gets beaten up enough that it won't stay closed, so I prefer the plastic box, with a strip of duct tape just to make sure it stays closed. TSA Omaha felt the need once to rip the tape off and dump the ammo so that it was all over the inside of the suitcase...

TSA had no right to open the box, file a complaint.

You are right, but they didn't do it in front of me, in the back later. I couldn't win the argument.

Maybe not, but without your complaint, they will not know that someone did something they were not supposed to, and I can guarantee, from my own TSA experience, that the word will come down that you do not open boxes of ammo, which would be a reiteration.

flechero wrote:Did you have ammo in the gun case as well? I've heard yes and no for that being allowed- just wondering how you did it.

The last time I checked TSA rules, they were good with packing ammo in the same box as the gun. However, airlines can make more restrictive rules, and some of them require the ammo to be separate. American used to have this rule, not sure if they still do or not, been awhile since I checked. Southwest didn't. Different airlines also have different rules on the amount of ammo you can check, the number of guns, etc. TSA is also good with ammo being in magazines, as long as the magazine is packed so that no ammo is exposed (e.g. in a mag carrier), but some airlines insist on ammo being in the manufacturer's container.

So before flying you have to check both the latest TSA regs and the rules for the airline(s) you will be flying.

As Excalibur pointed out, any manufacturer's box seems to be good. I just wrap my 9mm loaded magazines with a sheet of thin foam (so they won't rattle), put them in a .38 special box reinforced with clear tape (cuz it is big enough to hold two hi-cap mags), and for my convenience I put the mags into a little dop kit where I also put my other fun stuff, like knives, pepper spray, etc. That way I can find all the good stuff quickly at the other end.

And yes, no two airports seem to have precisely the same way of handling that little declaration form...