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

[kjolly]

I suppose you may have to pay for an extra bag?

[gus]

Are combination locks ok for the gun safe?

[Seabear]

Are combination locks ok for the gun safe?

Yes

[sjfcontrol]

Negative. Both times the card was put in the locked container. According to TSA regs. there is not supposed to be any indication that there is a firearm in the suitcase. I asked and they said they could see the card in the case with their x-ray machine.

Really? Lead-based ink? Sounds fishy to me!

(Perhaps they meant they won't see the firearm anyway with the x-ray machine, so it didn't matter.)

[Seabear]

Just telling ya what they told me.

[boba]

I suppose you may have to pay for an extra bag?

Not on Southwest but you still have to get fondled or nudie scanned by Team Sexual Assault.

[howdy]

I am flying on Southwest this Sunday from Houston to Lubbock. I have a small combo single handgun safe that I use in my car when I go inside my place of work. Two questions: Can I leave the suitcase unlock (I lost the key) and have this locked safe securing the handgun and can I place the loaded magazines inside this locked safe with the handgun.

[ELB]

I am flying on Southwest this Sunday from Houston to Lubbock. I have a small combo single handgun safe that I use in my car when I go inside my place of work. Two questions: Can I leave the suitcase unlock (I lost the key) and have this locked safe securing the handgun and can I place the loaded magazines inside this locked safe with the handgun.

Q1 (unlocked suitcase): no way would I send suitcase thru checked baggage without it being secured somehow, and TSA has told me they would not let it go thru that way anyway (assuming they notice). When I misplaced the lock I used on my soft-sides, I used zipties to hold the zipper pulls together, and that worked well. I either left it un-ziptied until the TSA was done (they were pretty good about this) or I told them that if they had to open it, I had extra zipties to close it again. (Hint: keep extra zip ties and a nail clipper or some such in an OUTSIDE pocket of the suitcase so you replace if necessary and you can get your suitcase open at the other end, since you can't carry your pocket knife with you. Ask me how I know this.)

If it is hardside that doesn't have zipper pulls... I am not sure. I would at least get one of those sturdy straps that goes around the case and through the handle to keep it from popping open.

Q2 (magazines). TSA rules (last I looked) said ammo in same box as gun is OK, but some airlines do not allow this. Don't remember if SouthWest is one of them. TSA is happy with ammo in mags as long as the rounds are completely enclosed (such as in a mag carrier), but again, some airlines are not. I stick my mags in regular 50 round PMC ammo carton with some padding, and put it in a dop kit with my other dangerous stuff (knives, pepperspray, shaving razor, etc), and I put the dop kit in the same corner of my suitcase every time.

[sjfcontrol]

From the TSA website...

Travelers must declare all firearms, ammunition, and parts to the airline during the ticket counter check-in process.
The firearm must be unloaded.
The firearm must be in a hard-sided container.
The container must be locked. A locked container is defined as one that completely secures the firearm from being accessed. Cases that can be pulled open with little effort cannot be brought aboard the aircraft. Federal regulations prohibit unlocked gun cases (or cases with broken locks) on aircraft.
TSA inspects all firearm cases at the ticket counter. Travelers should remain in the area designated by the aircraft operator or TSA representative to take the key back after the container is cleared for transportation. If travelers are not present and the security officer must open the container, TSA or the airline will make a reasonable attempt to contact the owner. If contact is not made, the container will not be placed on the aircraft.
Travelers must securely pack any ammunition in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging that is specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
Travelers may not use firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition unless they completely and securely enclose the ammunition (e.g., by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder, holster or lanyard).
Ammunition may be carried in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as it follows packing guidelines described above.
TSA prohibits black powder or percussion caps used with black-powder.
These regulations are strictly enforced. Violations can result in criminal prosecution and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation.
Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition. Therefore, travelers should also contact the airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies.

See here for more info: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[cpmann]

Anyone got a good recommendation for a case to use to transport a small pistol and 3 mags ?

[Rebel]

How did that go for you? I declared for my first time last week headed down to Florida for a little play time. I left from DFW and the agent had to send it down to TSA to check out what I brought (handgun) and I had to send the key with it. I then had to wait twenty minutes for my key to come back with an a-ok. Now, when I declared in Florida, they said great, slapped a sticker on it and I was on my merry way. She asked if it was unloaded and I said yes. Done.

What have been your experiences?

Under their own regulations you are the only person allowed to have the key, and open the case containing the firearm.

I have flown many times with a gun, and for some reason the only places I have had issues were in Austin and DFW, where I had to inform them they were not allowed to have the key. Heck even in California the most I have had to do is fill out the card and open the case to verify unloaded.

[Rebel]

From the TSA website...

Travelers must declare all firearms, ammunition, and parts to the airline during the ticket counter check-in process.
The firearm must be unloaded.
The firearm must be in a hard-sided container.
The container must be locked. A locked container is defined as one that completely secures the firearm from being accessed. Cases that can be pulled open with little effort cannot be brought aboard the aircraft. Federal regulations prohibit unlocked gun cases (or cases with broken locks) on aircraft.
TSA inspects all firearm cases at the ticket counter. Travelers should remain in the area designated by the aircraft operator or TSA representative to take the key back after the container is cleared for transportation. If travelers are not present and the security officer must open the container, TSA or the airline will make a reasonable attempt to contact the owner. If contact is not made, the container will not be placed on the aircraft.
Travelers must securely pack any ammunition in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging that is specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
Travelers may not use firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition unless they completely and securely enclose the ammunition (e.g., by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder, holster or lanyard).
Ammunition may be carried in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as it follows packing guidelines described above.
TSA prohibits black powder or percussion caps used with black-powder.
These regulations are strictly enforced. Violations can result in criminal prosecution and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation.
Airlines may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition. Therefore, travelers should also contact the airline regarding firearm and ammunition carriage policies.

See here for more info: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Seems that the TSA site is being lax with the actual Federal Regulation.

EXCERPTS FROM CFR 49:

(c) In checked baggage. A passenger may not transport or offer for transport in
checked baggage or in baggage carried in an inaccessible cargo hold under
§1562.23 of this chapter:
(1) Any loaded firearm(s).
(2) Any unloaded firearm(s) unless—
(i) The passenger declares to the aircraft operator, either orally or in writing, before checking the baggage, that the passenger has a firearm in his or her bag and that it is unloaded;
(ii) The firearm is unloaded;
(iii) The firearm is carried in a hard-sided container; and


(iv) The container in which it is carried is locked, and only the passenger retains the key or combination.

[GhostTX]

I've had all the variations described above -- declaration card inside the gunbox/card outside the gunbox, show unloaded/don't show, show behind curtain (rare)/show at the counter (most common), walk the bag myself to TSA/airline employee walk bag to TSA, TSA wants to look in the gunbox/don't want to look in the box. At one airport the TSA was even verifying guns were unloaded for the airlines, altho I think that has since changed.

I just make sure MY end of the process is golden, go with the local airport flow, and have not had any problems. I always tell the TSA guy I will be standing by while they run it thru the machine, and this has always worked out. The process eats up some time, but has never been a real problem. Of course, I only fly to and from free states. And lately I don't feel like flying much at all.

This. I've had every flavor of inspection, too. Surprisingly, the most grief I get is out of DFW. Atlanta, Tampa, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Las Vegas...never a fuss. Further, if the person is doing the procedure incorrectly, I just grin and bear it. No sense making an issue out of it and getting further scrutiny.

Anyone got a good recommendation for a case to use to transport a small pistol and 3 mags ?

I always leave the mags loose in the suitcase. Easier to pack them in the small spaces you inevitably have. I have used the Plano large pistol case successfully a number of times. I lock it up with a small Master-Lock.
http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/store ... se&Ntk=All" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I was thinking about getting one of these:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/de ... ber=593313" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[thatguy]

The same for the wife and I when we flew to Front Sight in Parhump Nev on SW airlines. I declared the gun, they put a sticker on the lock box (only had to show it was unloaded once) and asked me to wait at the far end of the counter for about 10 minutes for TSA questions, if any.

[MasterOfNone]

I was thinking about getting one of these:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/de ... ber=593313" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I use a similar nanovault. It's just large enough for my EDC without taking a lot of extra space. And I loop the cable around the metal bars of the suitcase handle (inside). Once there, I use use it to lock the gun inside the rental car when needed.