|
Forum Rules | Firearms Safety | Firearms Photos | Links | Library | Lost Password | Email Changes |
Register | FAQ | Calendar | Search | Today's Posts | Mark Forums Read |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
September 30, 2009, 02:01 PM | #1 |
Junior member
Join Date: September 30, 2009
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 2
|
Questions about checking firearms when flying
To those that have travelled on airlines with your guns checked hopefully the following questions can be answered.
1. The locks that should be used. Do they need to be of the TSA type? Seems like they shouldn't be according to the TSA website only the OWNER should be able to unlock no one else not even TSA. 2. Does the locked case need to be inside your suitcase? 3. If or if not inside your suitecase do they take the suitcase or locked gun box directly to the plane? 4. When you arrive is your suitecase or gun case just put on the general belt or do you need to go claim it from a secured area? I will be travling from FL to MN with them and will be in MN for a few months (which I will probably get my MN or UT carry permit while I'm there). Think I've narrowed it down to a Pelican 1300 which will hold 2 hand guns nicely. Just need to figure out which locks to get and if I need to just check the case or check it inside some lugage. Thanks for the help. |
September 30, 2009, 03:14 PM | #2 | ||||
Senior Member
Join Date: December 29, 2004
Posts: 3,351
|
Quote:
You CAN use them on the suitcase. Quote:
Just put the gun container inside a larger suitcase. It works very well. Quote:
Quote:
Rifle cases are usually held at the office, since it is pretty easy to figure out what they are. |
||||
October 1, 2009, 06:10 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 2, 2005
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 3,943
|
The only thing I disagree with in the above post is about
no one knowing there is a gun in your luggage...
anyone at the airlines who has access to a computer terminal and can look up your luggage ID number can see that there is a gun checked in there. trust me, I found out when my luggage got delayed.... when I got to my final destination and reported it... that's the first thing the airline folks said when they looked it up... "you have some type of gun in that luggage right?" |
October 1, 2009, 11:19 AM | #4 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 29, 2004
Posts: 3,351
|
Quote:
Are you saying they all stand around typing in random numbers looking to see if there are guns in them? |
|
October 1, 2009, 12:19 PM | #5 |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: June 25, 2008
Location: Austin, CO
Posts: 19,578
|
Straight from the horses mouth:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...rial_1666.shtm
You may only transport firearms, ammunition and firearm parts in your checked baggage. Firearms, ammunition and firearm parts are prohibited from carry-on baggage. There are certain limited exceptions for law enforcement officers who may fly armed by meeting the requirements of Title 49 CFR § 1544.219. Law enforcement officers should read our policies on traveling with guns. The key regulatory requirements to transporting firearms, firearm parts or ammunition in checked baggage are: You must declare all firearms 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 access by anyone other than you. Cases that can be pulled open with little effort do not meet this criterion. The pictures provided here illustrate the difference between a properly packaged and an improperly packaged firearm. We recommend that you provide the key or combination to the security officer if he or she needs to open the container. You should remain present during screening to take the key back after the container is cleared. If you are not present and the security officer must open the container, we or the airline will make a reasonable attempt to contact you. If we can't contact you, the container will not be placed on the plane. Federal regulations prohibit unlocked gun cases (or cases with broken locks) on aircraft. TSA locks are not approved for securing firearms. You 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. You can't 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). You may carry the ammunition in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as you pack it as described above. You can't bring black powder or percussion caps used with black-powder type firearms in either your carry-on or checked baggage. We and other authorities strictly enforce these regulations. Violations can result in criminal prosecution and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. Airlines may have their own additional requirements on the carriage of firearms and the amount of ammunition that you may have in your checked baggage. Therefore, travelers should also contact the airline regarding its firearm and ammunition carriage policies. Also, please note that many other countries have different laws that address transportation and possession of firearms. If you are traveling internationally, please check with the authorities at your destination about their requirements.
__________________
Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley Last edited by Brian Pfleuger; October 2, 2009 at 06:38 PM. Reason: Removed photo reference |
October 1, 2009, 01:04 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 20, 2007
Location: Richardson, TX
Posts: 7,523
|
Here is a link to a great video about transporting firearms by air. It was posted to the "Discussion" forum recently.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGjddG5Owsc The video is actually from a computer-related conference since hardcore computer geeks have evidently discovered that traveling with firearms allows them to hard-lock their expensive and/or high-security tech gear in the same container. However, the guy giving the presentation is extremely knowledgeable and experienced, he obviously likes firearms, and all of the advice seems legally sound. WARNING: The video has brief NSFW content- several 4-letter words and a brief sexual reference. Consider yourself warned.
__________________
"Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules... MARK IT ZERO!!" - Walter Sobchak |
October 1, 2009, 01:19 PM | #7 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 20, 2007
Location: Richardson, TX
Posts: 7,523
|
Quote:
He states (albeit without references to actual instances) that the few times he's heard of gun cases disappearing during air travel occured because the traveler put a small pistol case inside a non-secured or TSA-locked suitcase. Also, if it isn't obvious, the gun case should be made of a material that can't be readily cut with hand tools. Translation: thick steel. This rules out most gunmaker-provided and cheap aftermarket pistol cases, since they're usually plastic or aluminum.
__________________
"Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules... MARK IT ZERO!!" - Walter Sobchak |
|
October 1, 2009, 02:03 PM | #8 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 16, 2007
Posts: 2,153
|
Quote:
|
|
October 1, 2009, 02:53 PM | #9 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 20, 2007
Location: Richardson, TX
Posts: 7,523
|
Quote:
__________________
"Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules... MARK IT ZERO!!" - Walter Sobchak |
|
October 1, 2009, 05:32 PM | #10 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 16, 2007
Posts: 2,153
|
Quote:
|
|
October 1, 2009, 11:45 PM | #11 |
Member
Join Date: June 4, 2007
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 84
|
Taking Your Pistole Along for the Flight
Having traveled a number of times, here's how I go at it:
|
October 2, 2009, 06:53 AM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 2, 2005
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 3,943
|
As a side note... I fly almost never and find the whole security thing a joke...
Flew out of Detroit last year to Amsterdam.... about 2 hours out it was time for dinner... very good meal with a steak..... eating utensils included a very nice metal steak knife.....
|
October 2, 2009, 03:20 PM | #13 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 29, 2004
Posts: 3,351
|
Quote:
I think that a knife wielding hijacker is not going to survive the other passengers. |
|
October 5, 2009, 10:25 AM | #14 |
Junior member
Join Date: September 30, 2009
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 2
|
Wanted to post my experience with flying with Delta and 2 firearms declared.
I had posted some questions and thank you goes to "brickeyee" for answering them. They were on this thread but appear to have been deleted or something. Anyways I flew yesterday (10/4/2009) on a Delta/NWA direct flight from FL to MN. I contacted TSA and Delta to make sure I had all the rules down and it was easier and quicker then I imaged it would be. 1. I bought a Pelican 1300 case and 2 master lock shackle style locks for the case. These are not TSA locks. Per TSA's site they don't want anyone but you to be able to open the box. 2. I placed my locked box in my suitcase where I used TSA shackle locks on the suite case. 3. When I contacted Delta they said I should go to a ticket agent and not the kiosks. So I did she asked how I could help, I told her I was checking my back with 2 firearms. She said ok filled out a bright orange card. Had me open the locked Pelican box and I showed her the top gun and told her there was one underneith as well. I asked her if she needed me to show her they were unloaded and if she needed to see the second firearm and she said no. (she seems nervous). She had me sign the Orange tag and I locked up the Pelican case. She placed the tag inside my suite case and then I locked that with the TSA lock. She had me wait maybe 5 min if that and had me escourted over to the are where TSA scans the bags. The person that escorted me was a regular Delta person that was carting over some over sized bags to be scanned (golf bags). Took 5 min if that to walk over to the TSA guys I gave him my bag he asked if it was a hard sided box I said yes. He scanned it again less then a couple of minutes and said everything was ok. 4. When I arrived in MN my bag was with all the other checked bags in the luggage belt. My bag did have a TSA security inspection tape on it but I don't know if they put that on it after the scanned it or later. Anyways I'm happy to say that I don't think it could of been any easier then that and I'm surprised I was not asked to show both guns were unloaded. I do have to say opening the gun case in the middle of the airport with people standing around and watching was a little weird but no one appeared to be freaked out. Again thanks to "brickeyee" for answer my questions. |
October 5, 2009, 01:48 PM | #15 | |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: June 29, 2000
Location: Rupert, Idaho
Posts: 9,660
|
Quote:
Regardless, glad it all worked out. |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|