Positive Flying Experience: Southwest, Austin and Detroit

[circumspice_tuebor]

My wife and I went back to Michigan for my 30th HS reunion and to see our grandchildren (and MAYBE their parents ). This was my first time flying with firearms - SA XDm 9mm and XDs .45 ACP.

Armed with information from the airline, TSA and forum members, I was prepared for the process: pistols in locked hard case, case cabled to internals of suitcase, ammo in original boxes.

The process was SMOOOOOTH both in Austin and in Detroit. The SW agents in both locations handled the transaction professionally and discretely. TSA in Austin swabbed the case, but didn't ask me to open it. OTOH, in Detroit I didn't interact with TSA at all: the SW agent looked at my case and locks, taped on the declaration card, and the bag went on the conveyor belt. Bag pickup was as usual, except I think they were given priority.

I'm glad I took them - I was treated to a shooting lesson by the friend we were staying with who has an IDPA Expert classification.

One downside - MI doesn't have anything analogous to 30.06, so a business doesn't have to advertise that they are CPL/CHL unfriendly, but can ask you to leave if they suspect you are carrying. Well, concealed is concealed I s'pose.

[trentwhite778]

I'm actually flying to Michigan on Wednesday and will be taking my firearm for the first time. I read up on all the TSA rules as well as Michigan's CPL laws (pretty similar to Texas for the most part). Do you have to cable your case to the inside of your suitcase? I didn't read that anywhere.
TSA clearly says that you can keep your ammo in the same locked case as the unloaded firearm, yet when I called DFW, they said I had to have the ammo and gun in SEPARATE locked cases. I don't have an Ammo lock box nor room, so I'm planning on taking everything in one case. I got a cool Pelican case at Cabela's.

So when I go to check in, do I just tell the ticket agent that I need to fill out a declaration of a firearm and let them take it from there?
Do they mark the outside of your suitcase as containing a firearm? I'm not sure how I feel about that.

[Shoot_First]

I'm actually flying to Michigan on Wednesday and will be taking my firearm for the first time. I read up on all the TSA rules as well as Michigan's CPL laws (pretty similar to Texas for the most part). Do you have to cable your case to the inside of your suitcase? I didn't read that anywhere.
TSA clearly says that you can keep your ammo in the same locked case as the unloaded firearm, yet when I called DFW, they said I had to have the ammo and gun in SEPARATE locked cases. I don't have an Ammo lock box nor room, so I'm planning on taking everything in one case. I got a cool Pelican case at Cabela's.

So when I go to check in, do I just tell the ticket agent that I need to fill out a declaration of a firearm and let them take it from there?
Do they mark the outside of your suitcase as containing a firearm? I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Fastening your firearm case to your suitcase with a cable is not a requirement, but it does provide better security in case a baggage handler gets sticky fingers. TSA allows ammo in the factory boxes, other boxes made to hold ammo, or even in the magazines if they are placed in a magazine pouch. When I do the latter, I tape them in the pouch to keep them secure. What your airline's policy is about ammo in the firearm case is another matter... check their web site or call your airline. Southwest allows ammo in the gun case and their policy is not to verify that the firearm is unloaded, but some airlines want to physically check the firearm to ensure that it is unloaded. When you get to the check in counter, tell the agent that you have an unloaded firearm to declare. The agent will have you complete the declaration form and will place it on the firearm case, some tape it to the firearm case. You should not use locks that can be opened by TSA to lock your firearm case. Your suitcase is not marked to indicate that it contains a firearm as such is prohibited by law. Southwest is firearm friendly, some airlines are not so much.

[ChillMickelson]

Great post! Thanks for the info!

[trentwhite778]

THank's I'm flying AA. They don't specify one way or the other that ammo has to be separate. Only that it's preferred that it be in the original box, which it is...in the case with the firearm.
Here's my setup. Think this will be okay?

[Vol Texan]

THank's I'm flying AA. They don't specify one way or the other that ammo has to be separate. Only that it's preferred that it be in the original box, which it is...in the case with the firearm.
Here's my setup. Think this will be okay?

That should work just fine. Ammo is in the original container, both are in the same locked case.

For me, I do only one more thing: I don't use plastic cases, rather I choose to use my 'car safe lock box' that's made of metal. That way, they can't even x-ray it to see what's inside after it leaves my presence.