Travel to TX

[SpencerT]

I'll be in Dallas for work the middle of this month.. Haven't flown in 20 years (I was 6 then) and haven't ever transported a firearm, in light of recent events in the area I would really like to have my EDC with me. How difficult is it to check a firearm for air travel? Looks pretty simple, unloaded in a locked hard sided container in a checked bag, I'm not sure on transportation of the mags or ammunition, it says they need to be checked also but doesn't specify if the need to be in a separate hard sided container or just in the checked bag? I'm also assuming that a cable lock through the mag well and breach would be prudent, do the check to ensure its unloaded at the desk?

also, any idea if airlines cover the cost of lost firearms if God forbid my bag gets lost on the way? It would be a Gen 4 Glock30 so it isn't a high $ gun but it's my only semi auto pistol and I don't have enough disposable income right now to replace it if something does happen to it.

Any help is greatly appreciated, Spenc

 

[dragonballzz]

I believe your airlines has their own rules, the airport has their own rules, and TSA has their own rules. Google it and comply with ALL of the rules.

I think the most important rule is that the gun is in a hard case INSIDE of your check-in luggage. The hard case should have a regular lock, NOT A TSA LOCK. And you are the only one who is to open it if they need to inspect it.

 

[SpencerT]

Thanks for that, just checked AA website and they require that the ammunition be in its original package or in a metal/wood/plastic container designed to hold small amounts of ammunition.

Should also add that I am flying out of Logan...

 

[DrNVP]

no big thing at Logan. Have flown out with firearms multiple times.

Go up to the check-in desk and tell the agent that you have unloaded firearms to declare in your checked luggage. Don't just say "I have a gun!". Would definitely bring a printed out version of both the airline and TSA's firearms rules, in case the agent is clueless.

Guns must be unloaded and locked in a hard sided container. I have heard of people being denied for locking them up in the standard plastic cases that you get from the manufacturers (they can be easily pried apart and the gun taken). Generally, I fly with Pelican type cases. If it's a small pistol sized case, put the orange tag in your luggage (it doesn't need to be in the case). I would recommend cable locking it to the frame to prevent a baggage agent from just easily swiping the whole case. If it's a rifle sized case, the orange tag goes inside and the whole thing is its own piece of luggage.

Whatever case the firearm in needs to have your OWN LOCK. NOT a TSA lock.

You can put a TSA lock on the outside of your luggage, but if your pistol case is inside it needs to have a lock that only you have the key to. I would tape a 3x5 index card to the outside with your name and phone number in the event TSA needs you to come back to security to open the case.

Mags and ammo do not have to be locked up. Just make sure you comply with your individual airline's rules about how they can be stored.

 

[noxin]

http://deviating.net/firearms/packing/ Go Read his stuff, watch his video from DefCon, make your own choices.

 

[StevieP]

fly direct. no layovers.

 

[Garys]

I would add a couple of minor things to this. First, I never say anything about a "gun". I always ask for a "Firearms Declaration Card". That's the official name for it. It's the size of a postcard.

I generally use a Pelican or Gun Vault case depending on how many guns I'm transporting. I also use a steel cable attached to the suitcase frame to make it harder for someone to steal the case. As sevemMMmag says, DO NOT use TSA looks. I use key locks and always have two keys on separate key rings.

Good idea about putting your phone number on a card, although the Firearms card has a space for that information.

It's really a very easy experience, which might seem strange seeing as it's MA, but MA law has nothing to do with checking firearms at the airport.

The TSA's only interest is if the locked case alarms for some reason. Ammunition will not set off the alarms, but sometimes the there is an alarm somewhere else in the suit case and the TSA wants to inspect the entire contents. In my experience, the TSA doesn't care at all about properly checked firearms and ammunition.

Ironically, the only bad experience I had flying with firearms was at DFW. I think it was US Air and the baggage supervisor almost jammed me up with the TSA. What saved me was that I had followed the rules exactly and that the TSA guys knew the US Air guy was not only a moron, but an A hole. They were openly laughing at him by the time I was done with him. The TSA guys were super cool, which is not something that you normally say about them.

no big thing at Logan. Have flown out with firearms multiple times.

Go up to the check-in desk and tell the agent that you have unloaded firearms to declare in your checked luggage. Don't just say "I have a gun!". Would definitely bring a printed out version of both the airline and TSA's firearms rules, in case the agent is clueless.

Guns must be unloaded and locked in a hard sided container. I have heard of people being denied for locking them up in the standard plastic cases that you get from the manufacturers (they can be easily pried apart and the gun taken). Generally, I fly with Pelican type cases. If it's a small pistol sized case, put the orange tag in your luggage (it doesn't need to be in the case). I would recommend cable locking it to the frame to prevent a baggage agent from just easily swiping the whole case. If it's a rifle sized case, the orange tag goes inside and the whole thing is its own piece of luggage.

Whatever case the firearm in needs to have your OWN LOCK. NOT a TSA lock.

You can put a TSA lock on the outside of your luggage, but if your pistol case is inside it needs to have a lock that only you have the key to. I would tape a 3x5 index card to the outside with your name and phone number in the event TSA needs you to come back to security to open the case.

Mags and ammo do not have to be locked up. Just make sure you comply with your individual airline's rules about how they can be stored.

 

[swatgig]

fly direct. no layovers.

Direct is not the same as non-stop. (Mom was a travel agent). A "direct" flight may have stops, but you're not scheduled to change planes. That doesn't mean you won't change planes, be forced to get off and stay overnight due to weather or mechanical issues, blah, blah, blah.

Fly non-stop. No layovers.

 

[noxin]

Direct is not the same as non-stop. (Mom was a travel agent). A "direct" flight may have stops, but you're not scheduled to change planes. That doesn't mean you won't change planes, be forced to get off and stay overnight due to weather or mechanical issues, blah, blah, blah.

Fly non-stop. No layovers.

Very few get that distinction and usually look at me funny when I ask "Direct or NonStop?"

I was also a travel agent for about a year

 

[Kevin_NH]

I've flown many segments with long-guns and pistols, and never had an issue, not even with O'Hare. Sometimes the ticket agent is a bit clueless, and if you fly with a pelican case it is likely to get special handling at baggage claim, but for the most part it is not a big deal.

Direct is not the same as non-stop. (Mom was a travel agent). A "direct" flight may have stops, but you're not scheduled to change planes. That doesn't mean you won't change planes, be forced to get off and stay overnight due to weather or mechanical issues, blah, blah, blah.

Fly non-stop. No layovers.

Non-stop isn't always an option.

Aside from the increased opportunities to "misplace" your luggage, the underlying issue is that you don't want to end up having to take possession of your checked luggage in an unfriendly airport, which primarily means the major New England airports -- NY, NJ and (for anybody who does not have a MA LTC) Massachusetts; I am not sure about BWI (Maryland).

Outside of the East and California, there's not much to worry about; Chicago was a concern, but is is much better about non-resident possession now.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

NY and NJ are the only places I've heard of where the police are called to do a "legality check" when you check a gun. I've flown out of many other places, including many times from Logan, and never been asked to produce my LTC.

 

[ablediver]

SpencerT,

GaryS is spot on.I'll add a few from my personal experiences.

>Check your travel state's regs. I.E. types of ammo that can be carried (JHP's etc) Where you can carry your EDC: TX--check this carefully
>Check your airline's regulations . Most domestic carriers will accept firearms for travel. VirginAtlantic, for example won't.
>If you're travelling to your destination and will not be changing planes outside the terminal or will not be needing to re-enter the security checkpoint, your luggage will remain within the confines of the aircraft.
>If you're only carrying a pistol, one of those metal cases with a lock (you manage the key/ comb.and a cable will make everybody happy for air travel. It will also work as a security function where you're staying and in what you're driving.
> Like GaryS said, attach that cable to your suitcase. I carry mine in a Pelican 1610 case. I have an 1/4" eyelet through-bolted in the case, with the eyelet inside with cable passed through the eyelet. TSA locks on the Pelican 1610 .
>Badguys at the baggage handling are semi-pros in getting into even these . My last one didn't have steel reinforced padlock wells and some dirtbag pried it open. Luckily, I wasn't carrying on that trip.The airline offered a whopping $30 credit. Check with the NRA for travel features on firearms.
>I recommend a lesser expensive, reliable pistol for travel. I personally carried a Ruger LC9 until recently. If it was stolen or confiscated, I could absorb the loss.
>When you get to the counter,after you've shown your ID, not LTC, just tell the ticket agent that you have a "Declared Firearm" In your checked luggage. If asked, and you are not on official police business, reply your status as a non-LEO. Remember most of these ticket agents handle strollers not firearms.Unless the location is a destination frequented by LEO/military personnel, 98% of the ticket agents are knowledge deficit of handling firearms, especially in Logan. As GaryS, said, you'll fill out a small postcard, it will be placed in the gun-safe by you, in with your unloaded handgun, with the tag facing out of the safe into the bag. This is so that if the TSA opens your bag, your firearm is locked up and a signed Firearms Declaration is attached. One word of caution, do yourself a favor and don't open any firearms container in an airport until you've acknowledged this action with the ticket agent. When you do open, do so that the ticket agent can see it mostly and not the soccer mom on the scale next you to you. It sucks hearing a loud "there's a gun in that man's suitcase" at 0600 in Logan.
>Airline regs will usually require that any ammunition be loaded so that the cartridges aren't touching each other. An ammunition box designed to hold loose rounds or even a previously used cartridge box that can be duct taped on the ends will suffice.
>I always watch my "gun bag" get put on the conveyor and go to luggage land or escort the airline person taking to TSA and watch TSA check it. After all, it's mine and I'm responsible for it.
>When your gun bag gets to its destination and you don't see it at the luggage carousel the first time around, don't panic. Some baggage offices of the same airline have different protocols. For example at JetBlue, in Boston, for a while, you needed to go to the luggage office to pick up a Pelican case.
>It helps to call ahead to your accommodations regarding a safe on-site. This would be accessible to the guests individually. Those things in the room are a joke.
>Last but not least, resist the urge to place any firearm related nomenclature on your luggage, i.e. stickers. It's just plain bad karma and a written invitation.
>Have a nice trip.

Disclaimer:I've travelled frequently with a firearm for years. I continue to do so. All of the things I've mentioned here are from personal experience not from hearsay. No doubt, I may have missed a few items, but I'm pretty thorough. I am no by no means an expert or claim to be one. Know the laws of those places that you're going to for carrying, brandishing, and or using a firearm.

 

[SpencerT]

Hey all, I appreciate all the input and suggestions on topics to research. Like I said in my OP, it seemed pretty straight forward but I figured you all would be my best bet for first hand experience..

I am flying non stop so I don't have to deal with any swaps at least, I'll let everyone know how it goes.

 

[NHKevin]

NY and NJ are the only places I've heard of where the police are called to do a "legality check" when you check a gun. I've flown out of many other places, including many times from Logan, and never been asked to produce my LTC.

I wonder how CA would be

 

[M1911]

I wonder how CA would be

No license is required for possession in CA so I suspect it would be a non-issue.

 

[Garys]

No one has ever asked to see my LTC at Logan. The airline staff has no interest, nor does the TSA. Same when I flew out of TF Green in Rhode Island. The only places I've heard of people running into trouble are at Port Authority facilities in New York and New Jersey.

One thing I found out is that if you are delayed overnight at a stop on a flight, your baggage will not be released to you. It's the airlines responsibility to get it to your destination. That's a pain in the ass because all of your stuff is inaccessible to you, but it's an advantage if you're stuck overnight in an unfriendly area because you don't have to check it in again.

It's even better not to be delayed overnight, but you can't always predict that.

I've flown many segments with long-guns and pistols, and never had an issue, not even with O'Hare. Sometimes the ticket agent is a bit clueless, and if you fly with a pelican case it is likely to get special handling at baggage claim, but for the most part it is not a big deal.


Non-stop isn't always an option.

Aside from the increased opportunities to "misplace" your luggage, the underlying issue is that you don't want to end up having to take possession of your checked luggage in an unfriendly airport, which primarily means the major New England airports -- NY, NJ and (for anybody who does not have a MA LTC) Massachusetts; I am not sure about BWI (Maryland).

Outside of the East and California, there's not much to worry about; Chicago was a concern, but is is much better about non-resident possession now.

 

[GlockJock]

If you need info about transporting a gun into Texas I'd probably just text this guy and ask him how he went about it...