Flying with declared firearm

mcshooter

NES Life Member
NES Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2014
Messages
4,141
Likes
8,248
Location
South Shore MA
Feedback: 28 / 0 / 0
Do you guys use a specific bag for the gun, have it in a lockbox inside of your checked bag?
I know follow the regulations by the airline, but what is proffered, and what lockbox or cotlntainer is preferred
 
Must be in a hard sided case/box. Some (IE Southwest) require 2 padlocks, some may not.

Factory case or aftermarket doesn't matter as long as it locks.

Ammo must be packed separately (same checked bag, just not in the pistol box, in a factory cardboard or aftermarket case made specifically for ammo.
 
When I fly with a pistol it's in a strong hard metal lock box with a barrel type lock inside my checked luggage bag. I use a larger carry on type roller bag so I can use the cable the lock box comes with to weave around the metal/aluminum frame of the suite case so "they" can't just take the box out and walk away with it easily. The key is on a lanyard around my neck. I also put a white sticker label on the outside of the lock box that has my name and cell number. Remember the red declaration card goes in the suite case but not inside the lockbox. That mistake happened to me once where the airline agent put the red card inside the lockbox after I showed her it was properly unloaded. I had a brain fart and didn't question it and ended up getting called back to TSA from the gate for me to get that straightened out. But I also get to the airport extra early when traveling with a guns so I had plenty of time.
 
They used to put the signed tag inside the case, which in my opinion was your proof that you signed and put it in your case.
Lately it goes on the outside of the gun case (I can jam the card to the outside edge of the case so it doesn't get separated).
If the tag somehow disappears, it is their word against yours. That being said I have a hard sided case with an internal combo lock. Not fancy, but it does the job.

This system is a deterrent and not intended to have Fort Knox security.
You can spend as much as you want on the case, but a high dollar case is not necessary in my opinion. I also use a reloading box to put my ammo in, harder to pop open accidently. TSA accidently didn't close up the original cardboard box once and I had rounds rolling around in my bag.

Next trip I went to South Korea (no firearm) and when I was coming home I found a round that I hadn't found from the last trip. I guess I got lucky no one found it.
Traveling home from California with my piece tomorrow.
 
Last edited:
Check the airline website you are flying. Carriers may vary.

Just flew American from Phoenix to Boston. I used a pelican case with two rifles' and a handgun. No ammo.
Case had 4 holes for locks, and I used 4 locks. Declared a firearm when I checked in. Got escorted to TSA.
TSA checked my guns and I was good. No problems as the American rep and TSA both very friendly.

Picked up my pelican case in Boston with proof of ID. Super easy.

Any lockable hard sided case should work.
 
Pelican Air 1615 with a keyed-alike pair of ABUS 32471 locks. (If you want combination, ASSA SRB36D is a good choice)

This is my suitcase. I put my firearm and ammo in it, with my clothes, packed per TSA and airline regulations as published on their websites. I print those regs to bring with for check-in
 
Check the airline website you are flying. Carriers may vary.

Just flew American from Phoenix to Boston. I used a pelican case with two rifles' and a handgun. No ammo.
Case had 4 holes for locks, and I used 4 locks. Declared a firearm when I checked in. Got escorted to TSA.
TSA checked my guns and I was good. No problems as the American rep and TSA both very friendly.

Picked up my pelican case in Boston with proof of ID. Super easy.

Any lockable hard sided case should work.
Are you going back to Phoenix via Boston ??
Like to hear the return trip story 🤣
 
When I fly with a pistol it's in a strong hard metal lock box with a barrel type lock inside my checked luggage bag. I use a larger carry on type roller bag so I can use the cable the lock box comes with to weave around the metal/aluminum frame of the suite case so "they" can't just take the box out and walk away with it easily. The key is on a lanyard around my neck. I also put a white sticker label on the outside of the lock box that has my name and cell number. Remember the red declaration card goes in the suite case but not inside the lockbox. That mistake happened to me once where the airline agent put the red card inside the lockbox after I showed her it was properly unloaded. I had a brain fart and didn't question it and ended up getting called back to TSA from the gate for me to get that straightened out. But I also get to the airport extra early when traveling with a guns so I had plenty of time.

Exactly the same here.

As a side note; if you get re-routes to a state where you aren’t permitted to possess it Do NOT take possession of the case that contains the firearm. Make the airline keep it until you get to your destination.
 
When did they change the rule about he "unloaded firearm" tag going inside the case with the gun?
They used to put the signed tag inside the case, which in my opinion was your proof that you signed and put it in your case.

My understanding is there are two separate procedures depending if the guns are in a hard case and you are checking the hard case "as is" or if the locked hard case will be inside regular luggage.

In the first scenario, the signed red tag goes in the locked case. In the second scenario, the tag has to go loose in the luggage outside the locked case. I guess the idea is when they scan the luggage and see the hard case/gun inside the luggage, they look for the red tag to make sure it was declared at check in.

In my case that one time, I had my pistol in a hard case and declared it at luggage check in. The agent had me sign the card and then she put it in the hard case which I locked and then zipped back into my luggage. The agent then took that bag along with the regular luggage. Later on TSA inspected my bag and when they didn't see the tag I got called back to TSA. They wanted me to give them the key so they could check it back in the secure area but I refused and cited the law. Eventually they agreed to bring my bag out of the TSA area. I had to take the locked case out of my luggage, unlock it, and show that the tag was in there. Then I locked it back up leaving the red tag outside the locked case and packed everything up and they took my bag back. It was no big deal but could have been if I didn't know the rules and hadn't left extra time before my flight. The TSA supervisor told me that was done incorrectly by the airline agent, which I knew and should have caught myself.

I have travelled with long guns in a separate pelican case before and the procedure was different, at least at Logan in Boston. That time, after checking all the regular luggage, I was taken to TSA with the long gun case and the TSA agents witnessed me putting the red tag in and then locking the case. After that TSA took the pelican case directly.
 
I have never checked a long gun, only handguns.
I have seen quite a few procedure changes over the years.

Initially, you signed the card and it went inside the hard case, then it was locked into your checked bag. Next you were escorted to the TSA person, who rifled through your bag (pun intended) and sent you on your way.
Had an agent once that insisted I needed two checked bags, one for firearm and one for the ammo. He "let me proceed" that time with one bag.

Latest procedure on United this week was at check in they looked at the case, card on the outside of the hard case. Case locked in checked bag and went to TSA where it was checked without me present. Presumably, somewhere in the bowels of the system.

Have had TSA test my firearm and it showed up positive for explosive residue. Second check showed explosive residue again. Had someone finally show up and said, "Yes, it might show up positive for residue, it's a firearm".

I made the flight, but they took so much time my bag didn't. In Lubbock, TX and they got the bag to me quickly without too much stress.
 
Ammo must be packed separately (same checked bag, just not in the pistol box, in a factory cardboard or aftermarket case made specifically for ammo.
Ammo can absolutely go into the lockbox with the gun. Whether it has to be in a factory box or in magazines depends on the airline.


Are you going back to Phoenix via Boston ??
Like to hear the return trip story 🤣
I just did that this past fall, Boston to Phoenix and back with a pistol. What do you want to know?
 
Ammo can absolutely go into the lockbox with the gun. Whether it has to be in a factory box or in magazines depends on the airline.
Not for southwest. Must be in a separate container from firearm, and magazines cannot be loaded.
 
Orange card has to be secured to the outside of the case if he case is going inside a suitcase. If it's a case with, say, a long gun not going into a suitcase then the card goes inside with the gun.


When did they change the rule about he "unloaded firearm" tag going inside the case with the gun?
 
Orange card has to be secured to the outside of the case if he case is going inside a suitcase. If it's a case with, say, a long gun not going into a suitcase then the card goes inside with the gun.
Which airline has orange tags? Southwest tag is white and that also gets taped to the outside of the box when going into checked bag.
 
I just did that this past fall, Boston to Phoenix and back with a pistol. What do you want to know?
Was just wondering how the return service was, flown out of Boston 2 or 3 times, never a "problem" but all times were an ordeal.
For the OP, make sure you add extra time as someone mentioned, missed a flight due to having my buddy's bag being gone through,
it was his range bag he used for double duty and the TSA agent (he didn't speak english 🤣) went through every nook and pocket in the
dang thing. Think that was the same trip the check-in desk lady took off when we said we needed to check firearms, she just walked away
for like 20 minutes !! She did apologize when she came back and mentioned she was xx hours past her punch out time.
Flying out of Manchester NH is soooo much easier but always costs more I've found.
 
Must be in a hard sided case/box. Some (IE Southwest) require 2 padlocks, some may not.

Factory case or aftermarket doesn't matter as long as it locks.

Ammo must be packed separately (same checked bag, just not in the pistol box, in a factory cardboard or aftermarket case made specifically for ammo.
I have to disagree with you. I have traveled multiple times with firearms with ammunition packed in OEM boxes in the same locked container as the firearms.
 
I have to disagree with you. I have traveled multiple times with firearms with ammunition packed in OEM boxes in the same locked container as the firearms.
Ya I guess you guys were right. I just took a quick look at SW and it does say they can be in the same container.

Did they change that recently? I could swear it was specified before that they couldn’t be locked in with the firearm. I’m getting old I guess. lol
 
Was just wondering how the return service was, flown out of Boston 2 or 3 times, never a "problem" but all times were an ordeal.
A bit of a pain in Phoenix because TSA decided to inspect my gun. I had a nice argument with them because they demanded to know the combination to my lockbox. Picking up in Boston was super easy.
 
Back
Top Bottom