Air travel and firearms

Roland Thunder · May 22, 2017, 10:34 AM

I am leaving later in the week to fly out of state. I know you can't have a gun in a carry on bag or on your person, but isn't there a provision for storing it in your stow away luggage so long as the ammo is not stored with it. I will be able to carry the gun concealed where I will be going, Indiana, since Indiana reciprocates with GA where I live and have a concealed carry permit.

g.willikers · May 22, 2017, 10:40 AM

Yup, just check with the airline web site.
They should have all the info on packing your shootin' iron and ammo in your luggage.

Recoil spring · May 22, 2017, 11:08 AM

The last time I transported a gun with an airline was in the 1980's, had my Raven P-25 in .25 ACP that I wanted to bring out of state. In those days checking your bag was cheap, not now where they charge a fee, so have not traveled with a gun on an airliner since as I don't want to spend money like that.

It was really strange, I had to pull the gun out of the box to show the ticket agent in a busy airline terminal that it was unloaded, racked the slide back (Ravens don't have a slide lock back feature) and not point it at anyone, the agent was kinda freaking, then put it back into the box, and my suitcase to have her put it onto the conveyor belt to be loaded into the jet.

I think that was the first/last time I showed a gun like that in public. I suppose the rules have changed, definitely check it out.

g.willikers · May 22, 2017, 12:06 PM

^^^^
That rates up there with the guy who approached the check in and said, "I have a gun."

T. O'Heir · May 22, 2017, 12:29 PM

"...check with the airline web site..." Yeah. Every airline, everywhere, has a different policy in addition to Federal/State laws.

rickyrick · May 22, 2017, 01:05 PM

I've seen lots of people having to demonstrate to the ticket person that it was unloaded by racking the slide.

James K · May 22, 2017, 01:15 PM

Unless you really think IN is more dangerous than GA, a better option might be to just leave the gun at home.

Jim

jmhyer · May 22, 2017, 04:17 PM

Just go to the TSA and your airline's websites. Follow instructions closely. In some cases, there will be slightly differing policies. Defer to your airline's policy unless there is a direct conflict with TSA policy. I usually print them out and keep them on my person just in case there is a question once I get there. When I've travelled with my handgun, it's been fairly easy, despite the slightly anxious feelings that I may have had going into it.

One pitfall to be aware of...
Unless your flight is direct from GA to IN, you will want to familiarize yourself with the laws of whatever state and/or municipality you might get stuck in. You wouldn't want to have to claim your handgun for an unexpected overnight layover in NY, for example.

RickB · May 22, 2017, 04:38 PM

The knowledge of airline employees, of their own rules, is often hit or miss.
I have not had any trouble, but was flying to out-of-state shooting competitions, and every time, experiences with TSA and airlines provided interesting conversation over the weekend.
"Would you remove the firing pin?"
Would you know a firing pin if you saw it?
Over the PA: "I have a man with a gun."
TSA agent to me: "Did you know there was a dead rodent in your luggage?" He assured me he was kidding, and I wondered how funny it would have been if I'd replied, "Was the fuse still in it?"

The weight limit for ammo varies greatly among airlines.

A lot of plastic gun cases have a single hole for a lock, and the case can often be twisted enough to get the gun out; TSA will twist it to check.

I'd be VERY reluctant to pull the gun out at the ticket/baggage desk.
The tag that they give you goes in your luggage, but not in the gun case, so no reason to open the gun case before getting to TSA, where they will inspect the gun, but not in sight of everyone in the airport.

**Aguila Blanca** · May 22, 2017, 08:57 PM

And, regardless of what the TSA "agents" at the airport may try to tell you, the federal law says that only the owner shall retain the key or combination to the locked gun case. Do NOT use a "TSA" lock (for which every TSA agent and most baggage handlers have the pass key), and if the TSA agent asks you to turn over your key or give him/her the combination -- no, that's illegal.

http://law.justia.com/cfr/title49/49....8.2.10.6.html

bassJAM1 · May 23, 2017, 03:36 PM

Like others have said, check the airline's website as well as the TSA. I traveled with a couple handguns with Frontier back in January. My ammo was in the box it came in, and both guns were in a single locked safe. The Frontier agent just asked me to open the luggage and show them the safe (I didn't have to open that), and then they placed some TSA card on top of it. Same thing happened to me when I flew home. Easy.

I did have Frontier's firearm policy printed off, just in case.

FITASC · May 23, 2017, 03:40 PM

Quote:

And, regardless of what the TSA "agents" at the airport may try to tell you, the federal law says that only the owner shall retain the key or combination to the locked gun case. Do NOT use a "TSA" lock (for which every TSA agent and most baggage handlers have the pass key), and if the TSA agent asks you to turn over your key or give him/her the combination -- no, that's illegal.

http://law.justia.com/cfr/title49/49....8.2.10.6.html

+1

AND bring a copy of your airlines' regs for transporting guns in case you get a "know-nothing"

Locked case inside your checked luggage

May 22, 2017, 10:34 AM	#1
Roland Thunder Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2010 Location: Gwinnett County Georgia Posts: 1,136	Air travel and firearms I am leaving later in the week to fly out of state. I know you can't have a gun in a carry on bag or on your person, but isn't there a provision for storing it in your stow away luggage so long as the ammo is not stored with it. I will be able to carry the gun concealed where I will be going, Indiana, since Indiana reciprocates with GA where I live and have a concealed carry permit. __________________ Do not follow where the path may lead, go, instead where there is no path and leave a trail - Ralph Waldo Emerson

May 22, 2017, 10:40 AM	#2
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Yup, just check with the airline web site. They should have all the info on packing your shootin' iron and ammo in your luggage. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.” Last edited by g.willikers; May 22, 2017 at 10:45 AM.

May 22, 2017, 11:08 AM	#3
Recoil spring Member Join Date: March 29, 2017 Posts: 80	The last time I did it. The last time I transported a gun with an airline was in the 1980's, had my Raven P-25 in .25 ACP that I wanted to bring out of state. In those days checking your bag was cheap, not now where they charge a fee, so have not traveled with a gun on an airliner since as I don't want to spend money like that. It was really strange, I had to pull the gun out of the box to show the ticket agent in a busy airline terminal that it was unloaded, racked the slide back (Ravens don't have a slide lock back feature) and not point it at anyone, the agent was kinda freaking, then put it back into the box, and my suitcase to have her put it onto the conveyor belt to be loaded into the jet. I think that was the first/last time I showed a gun like that in public. I suppose the rules have changed, definitely check it out.

May 22, 2017, 12:06 PM	#4
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	^^^^ That rates up there with the guy who approached the check in and said, "I have a gun." __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

May 22, 2017, 12:29 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...check with the airline web site..." Yeah. Every airline, everywhere, has a different policy in addition to Federal/State laws. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

May 22, 2017, 01:05 PM	#6
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,238	I've seen lots of people having to demonstrate to the ticket person that it was unloaded by racking the slide.

May 22, 2017, 01:15 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Unless you really think IN is more dangerous than GA, a better option might be to just leave the gun at home. Jim

May 22, 2017, 04:17 PM	#8
jmhyer Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2012 Location: MS - USA Posts: 899	Just go to the TSA and your airline's websites. Follow instructions closely. In some cases, there will be slightly differing policies. Defer to your airline's policy unless there is a direct conflict with TSA policy. I usually print them out and keep them on my person just in case there is a question once I get there. When I've travelled with my handgun, it's been fairly easy, despite the slightly anxious feelings that I may have had going into it. One pitfall to be aware of... Unless your flight is direct from GA to IN, you will want to familiarize yourself with the laws of whatever state and/or municipality you might get stuck in. You wouldn't want to have to claim your handgun for an unexpected overnight layover in NY, for example.

May 22, 2017, 04:38 PM	#9
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	The knowledge of airline employees, of their own rules, is often hit or miss. I have not had any trouble, but was flying to out-of-state shooting competitions, and every time, experiences with TSA and airlines provided interesting conversation over the weekend. "Would you remove the firing pin?" Would you know a firing pin if you saw it? Over the PA: "I have a man with a gun." TSA agent to me: "Did you know there was a dead rodent in your luggage?" He assured me he was kidding, and I wondered how funny it would have been if I'd replied, "Was the fuse still in it?" The weight limit for ammo varies greatly among airlines. A lot of plastic gun cases have a single hole for a lock, and the case can often be twisted enough to get the gun out; TSA will twist it to check. I'd be VERY reluctant to pull the gun out at the ticket/baggage desk. The tag that they give you goes in your luggage, but not in the gun case, so no reason to open the gun case before getting to TSA, where they will inspect the gun, but not in sight of everyone in the airport. __________________ Runs off at the mouth about anything 1911 related on this site and half the time is flat out wrong.

May 22, 2017, 08:57 PM	#10
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,468	And, regardless of what the TSA "agents" at the airport may try to tell you, the federal law says that only the owner shall retain the key or combination to the locked gun case. Do NOT use a "TSA" lock (for which every TSA agent and most baggage handlers have the pass key), and if the TSA agent asks you to turn over your key or give him/her the combination -- no, that's illegal. http://law.justia.com/cfr/title49/49....8.2.10.6.html

May 23, 2017, 03:36 PM	#11
bassJAM1 Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2017 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 147	Like others have said, check the airline's website as well as the TSA. I traveled with a couple handguns with Frontier back in January. My ammo was in the box it came in, and both guns were in a single locked safe. The Frontier agent just asked me to open the luggage and show them the safe (I didn't have to open that), and then they placed some TSA card on top of it. Same thing happened to me when I flew home. Easy. I did have Frontier's firearm policy printed off, just in case.