Traveling with a firearm

[Justincase]

I get all the details about how you travel with a firearm, but I was just wondering for those of you who’ve done it, is it a pain in the ass or no big deal? We’re going to Alaska for two weeks and would really prefer to bring something to carry but not sure if it’s worth the trouble. If it were just me I wouldn’t hesitate but the wife is difficult with stuff like this.

 

[spat]

I get all the details about how you travel with a firearm, but I was just wondering for those of you who’ve done it, is it a pain in the ass or no big deal? We’re going to Alaska for two weeks and would really prefer to bring something to carry but not sure if it’s worth the trouble. If it were just me I wouldn’t hesitate but the wife is difficult with stuff like this.

Flying ?

Haven't done it, but my understanding is it's not too complicated.

 

[Bob]

I fly with firearms in my checked baggage regularly. It's not nearly as much of a pain in the ass as some people make it out to be. Make sure you arrive a few minutes early. Make sure you are flexible. And make sure you have a good attitude.

Procedures vary from airline to airline, airport to airport, and even from agent to agent. Be flexible and work with them, and they'll get you on your flight as quickly as possible.

 

[Justincase]

Flying ?

Haven't done it, but my understanding is it's not too complicated.

Yes flying. Should’ve mentioned that, thanks.

 

[Justincase]

I fly with firearms in my checked baggage regularly. It's not nearly as much of a pain in the ass as some people make it out to be. Make sure you arrive a few minutes early. Make sure you are flexible. And make sure you have a good attitude.

Procedures vary from airline to airline, airport to airport, and even from agent to agent. Be flexible and work with them, and they'll get you on your flight as quickly as possible.

So you just tell them you want to declare a firearm and you just have it in one of your checked suitcases, you open up the suitcase, open up the firearm case when they ask and do what they say from there?

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

 

[Bob]

So you just tell them you want to declare a firearm and you just have it in one of your checked suitcases, you open up the suitcase, open up the firearm case when they ask and do what they say from there?

Sometimes they'll ask you to demonstrate that it's unloaded. Sometimes they'll just ask. I usually pack the firearm with the action opened and a cable lock placed through the open action and the magwell to make it obvious.

This is where everybody does things a little differently.
They'll hand you some paperwork to sign. Usually, it's just a single tag. The tag then gets attached to the case. Sometimes they'll place it in the case. You then secure the case in front of them. You DO NOT secure the case with TSA locks. It's either a keyed lock that only you have the key to, or a combination lock that only you have the combination for. (yeah, I know it's all theater, but...) The case then goes back into your checked bag. Depending on the airport and airline, they may take the bag right then and there and throw it on the conveyor. They may also direct you to a secondary location where the bag gets inspected by TSA before loading.

Pro tip:
Place your name and cell phone number on the outside of the case. When TSA screens the bags, they have an obligation to resolve ALL alarms. If they don't see the declaration tag that you've signed and attached to the case, they will demand access to the case. That is supposed to happen in your presence. Having your name and cell phone number on the case gives them less of a reason to cut the lock(s). Which takes me to Pro Tip #2:

Toss an extra lock inside your case. If they do end up cutting the lock, they won't replace it. Sometimes the airline will have replacements that you can purchase. But that's a pain in the ass. It's easy enough to just open the case (or your luggage) and pull out a spare lock to put on your case, and away you go.


On a couple of occasions, TSA has inspected my bag by hand after it was dropped on the conveyor. Presumably, they saw the firearm on xray but not the tag (JetBlue doesn't use radio opaque declaration tags, where other airlines do) and inspected by hand. They found that the case was secured and the tag was correctly attached, so they left the note and moved my bag through.

I've never actually been called to open my case, nor have I had a lock cut.

The biggest problem I've ever had was actually when I was flying out of KBUF. While I was at the counter, there was a NFTA cop there, chatting up the airline agent. The cop tried flexing and giving me shit about wanting to check my permit. I handed him a Bush-era opinion letter from the US Attorney's office and basically told him to get bent.

 

[Justincase]

Sometimes they'll ask you to demonstrate that it's unloaded. Sometimes they'll just ask. I usually pack the firearm with the action opened and a cable lock placed through the open action and the magwell to make it obvious.

This is where everybody does things a little differently.
They'll hand you some paperwork to sign. Usually, it's just a single tag. The tag then gets attached to the case. Sometimes they'll place it in the case. You then secure the case in front of them. You DO NOT secure the case with TSA locks. It's either a keyed lock that only you have the key to, or a combination lock that only you have the combination for. (yeah, I know it's all theater, but...) The case then goes back into your checked bag. Depending on the airport and airline, they may take the bag right then and there and throw it on the conveyor. They may also direct you to a secondary location where the bag gets inspected by TSA before loading.

Pro tip:
Place your name and cell phone number on the outside of the case. When TSA screens the bags, they have an obligation to resolve ALL alarms. If they don't see the declaration tag that you've signed and attached to the case, they will demand access to the case. That is supposed to happen in your presence. Having your name and cell phone number on the case gives them less of a reason to cut the lock(s). Which takes me to Pro Tip #2:

Toss an extra lock inside your case. If they do end up cutting the lock, they won't replace it. Sometimes the airline will have replacements that you can purchase. But that's a pain in the ass. It's easy enough to just open the case (or your luggage) and pull out a spare lock to put on your case, and away you go.


On a couple of occasions, TSA has inspected my bag by hand after it was dropped on the conveyor. Presumably, they saw the firearm on xray but not the tag (JetBlue doesn't use radio opaque declaration tags, where other airlines do) and inspected by hand. They found that the case was secured and the tag was correctly attached, so they left the note and moved my bag through.

I've never actually been called to open my case, nor have I had a lock cut.

The biggest problem I've ever had was actually when I was flying out of KBUF. While I was at the counter, there was a NFTA cop there, chatting up the airline agent. The cop tried flexing and giving me shit about wanting to check my permit. I handed him a Bush-era opinion letter from the US Attorney's office and basically told him to get bent.

Those were exactly the little tidbits I was looking for that you would never think of unless you’ve done it before. Thanks a million!

 

[dwa12479]

Yeah, its really not all that much a PITA, just a few extra steps and some extra time. @Bob gave very sound advice above.

 

[BuffNiag]

Alaska is almost synonymous with “cruise.” You’re not going on a cruise, right?

 

[Justincase]

Alaska is almost synonymous with “cruise.” You’re not going on a cruise, right?

Ha. No, lol. Cabin for ten days with fishing excursion, whale watch abs glacier tours and other stuff I probably didn’t pay attention to.

 

[BuffNiag]

Ha. No, lol. Cabin for ten days with fishing excursion, whale watch abs glacier tours and other stuff I probably didn’t pay attention to.

Ah, OK. Definitely a no go on there with guns. Just making sure.

 

[dsdmmat]

So you just tell them you want to declare a firearm and you just have it in one of your checked suitcases, you open up the suitcase, open up the firearm case when they ask and do what they say from there?

You should just have to declare them. The only time in the past year I was asked to open a case was so they could see the ammunition was in the “original” packaging. It wasn’t of course ( they did not know that) it was in a plastic shell holder.

 

[Saltwater60]

From what I know it’s not bad. Most airlines have the form and instructions on line on how to do it
You will need a locked case as stated. I’d personally do what he said and cable lock it or flag the chamber so they can easily see it’s unloaded. For this trip I would bring your gun.

 

[Justincase]

Ah, OK. Definitely a no go on there with guns. Just making sure.

I could imagine. I bet people get really testy when they lose at shuffleboard. Don’t want anyone being armed when that happens lol

 

[Deplorable Me]

I get all the details about how you travel with a firearm, but I was just wondering for those of you who’ve done it, is it a pain in the ass or no big deal? We’re going to Alaska for two weeks and would really prefer to bring something to carry but not sure if it’s worth the trouble. If it were just me I wouldn’t hesitate but the wife is difficult with stuff like this.

Make sure your plane does not land in Canada.

 

[Saltwater60]

Make sure your plane does not land in Canada.

Interesting. I never thought of that, but makes sense.

 

[Tisto]

You should also make sure that coming back home won't be an issue. Especially if you're transferring from one airline to another. Say for instance you fly Delta to Fairbanks, then Alaska Air to Nome, then on your way home things are reversed. You need to make sure that youRe following the rules both directions. The rules can vary a great deal from airline to airline, and location to location.

I've flown into and out of Alaska with long guns, but the last time was before Sept 11 and all the hastle that brought.

Canada is a different story. If you are on an American flight that began in the US and lands in the US without stopping, you have not left the US even though you are physically flying over Canadian territory. If however, you run into weather or mechanical problems and you happen to touch down in Vancouver or some other place in Canada, you could be in a world of shit.

 

[Justincase]

Got to the airport two hours beforehand and they informed us our flight out was canceled an hour prior and there was no getting out for two days. Would’ve lost out on $500 worth of lodging and $800 car rental. So we drove 5 hours to Columbus to get out there. Chick at American Airlines baggage claim was definitely not amenable to guns. Told me I HAD to use a TSA approved lock or it would definitely be cut. Wouldn’t let me loop the cable around the handle, and gave me shit about the ammo being locked in the case with the gun even though it says nothing about it online and Alaska airlines actually states that’s one way you CAN do it. Good thing I had a different lock in my pocket in preparation for that. Thanks for that Bob

 

[spat]

Make sure your plane does not land in Canada.

If it does for an emergency or something, refuse to take possession of the bag containing the guns.

It's the airlines problem, make sure it stays that way.