What To Do if I Have a Checeked Gun and The Flight Is Re-Directed ...

[Broc]

Flying to Michigan mid November. I was going to drive but with a new job at my company I can't take the extra time.

So, I am thinking of a couple of worst case scenarios due to weather or something else ...

1. Flight has to land in NY (this happened to my wife a few weeks back flying home from Chigao due to weather).
- I think if this happens all I have to do is NOT get the gun, right? ... even if the Flight gets canceled and they want us to stay over night, can I let the airline hold my checked bags?

2. The worst case would be re-directed to Canada. What are your thoughts?

Before anyone says it, and becuase I always say it, I WILL be contacting a lawyer to ask. I like to educate myself first.

If it matters, it will be 2 bolt action rifles. So even if it lands in NY and I have to rent a car, I am not too worried about that.

When my wife's flight was re-directed, they offered the option to stay there for the night or they would pay for a cab to Logan from Albany.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

If you are talking about NYC, even the bolt action rifles require a license.

Unlike handguns, rifle cases are very distinctive.

 

[Dennis in MA]

Step 1. Don't fly through NYC. LOL

Step 2. Ditto for Chi-town.

Step 3. Baltimore?? Mmmmmmmm. . . . . .

Step 4. Drive? LOL

 

[Broc]

If you are talking about NYC, even the bolt action rifles require a license.

Unlike handguns, rifle cases are very distinctive.

I wouldn't be worried about NYC. There are plenty of airports to land between Boston and Michigan without having to be re-dorected south.

But for the sake of this example, let's assume NYC ... what do I do, do I not grab the case and let it sit wherever rifles go to get picked up?

Also, will be landing at Detroit, I hope that is not an issue.

 

[Broc]

Step 1. Don't fly through NYC. LOL

Step 2. Ditto for Chi-town.

Step 3. Baltimore?? Mmmmmmmm. . . . . .

Step 4. Drive? LOL

No need to fly through NYC to go from Boston to Michigan. DIRECT FLIGHT.

 

[allen-1]

If you land in a state in which you cannot posess the firearm, (NY for example) - DO NOT COLLECT YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE. You will then be in posession of a firearm in a state that you cannot legally posess it in.

It's the airline's responsibility to get your luggage to your destination.

Pack your toothbrush, meds and sufficient clothing in your carryon so that if your luggage is delayed or lost - you don't have a problem. But, you already know this.

 

[cstockwell]

I cover this topic in my safety classes. Your best option is to tell the airline to hold your checked luggage and only keep your carry on luggage. Always keep extra clothes in your carry on in case of lost luggage or a case like this. If the airline employee gives you a hard time you just ask for a supervisor and explain the checked firearm and they will understand the local laws at the layover state.

 

[Broc]

I cover this topic in my safety classes. Your best option is to tell the airline to hold your checked luggage and only keep your carry on luggage. Always keep extra clothes in your carry on in case of lost luggage or a case like this. If the airline employee gives you a hard time you just ask for a supervisor and explain the checked firearm and they will understand the local laws at the layover state.

I never flew with a checked gun.

In the case of guns, you don't pick them up where all the luggage is picked up, right?

 

[cstockwell]

I never flew with a checked gun.

In the case of guns, you don't pick them up where all the luggage is picked up, right?

I have only flown with checked handguns that go in a TSA approved lockable case inside your checked luggage. And that luggage goes to the same pickup location as all the rest of the luggage on the carrousel. Hopefully someone who has flown with a long gun can chime in with that info.

 

[lukewarm_fuzz]

No need to fly through NYC to go from Boston to Michigan. DIRECT FLIGHT.

I just flew Boston-Michigan, headed back in a few hours, paid for a direct, they changed my flight last minute to a short layover where they lost my clothes but not my rifles. Point is you can schedule direct but be prepared for some bullshit. Have a plan.

 

[lukewarm_fuzz]

I never flew with a checked gun.

In the case of guns, you don't pick them up where all the luggage is picked up, right?

The luggage office is near the carousel, but sometimes your guns will come out of the carousel, especially in smaller airports.

 

[Broc]

I just flew Boston-Michigan, headed back in a few hours, paid for a direct, they changed my flight last minute to a short layover where they lost my clothes but not my rifles. Point is you can schedule direct but be prepared for some bullshit. Have a plan.

My main concern is them switching it to an over night layover.

Besides that, I don't care too much, I will make it their problem if they lose anything.

A re-direct to Canada concerns me.

 

[LTCRN]

I never flew with a checked gun.

In the case of guns, you don't pick them up where all the luggage is picked up, right?

It depends on the airline and the airport. When I flew from down South into PVD, the nice young lady at the desk down South told me to make sure that I was one of the first people off the plane so I could get to the baggage carousel first just in case all luggage and packages were treated equally. Sure enough, my luggage and package came off the plane and were put on the same belt / carousel.

 

[Broc]

It depends on the airline and the airport. When I flew from down South into PVD, the nice young lady at the desk down South told me to make sure that I was one of the first people of the plane so I could get to the baggage carousel first just in case all luggage and packages were treated equally. Sure enough, my luggage and package came off the plane and were put on the same belt / carousel.

Interesting. So, if you can't have that gun in Canada and you are stuck there over night, what are you supposed to do? ... not touch it, call someone so they can grab it?

Or maybe it came our because it was your final destination?

 

[lukewarm_fuzz]

Interesting. So, if you can't have that gun in Canada and you are stuck there over night, what are you supposed to do? ... not touch it, call someone so they can grab it?

I’d say grab it and take it to baggage claim office, work with the airport for accommodations. The police aren’t going to materialize out of the floors to arrest you (probably).

 

[NHKevin]

You aren't getting a surprise trip out of the country. Most passengers wouldn't have a passport.

 

[LuvDog]

It depends on the airport... sometimes they just toss everything on the belt. Other times, they'll move all the "sporting equipment" to a different area.

If you're an iphone user, put an airtag in the case. If you're Samsung, get a Smart Tag Plus and put it in the case.
Don't claim your luggage, but go the baggage claim and find your airlines baggage office and have them hold it for you.

From BOS to DTW, you could easily get diverted to NYC if there were issues.

 

[AJK129]

Before take off, go to the pilot and tell him you have guns in your luggage and need then to land in PA if anything goes wrong, not NY.

 

[whatluck]

I have only flown with checked handguns that go in a TSA approved lockable case inside your checked luggage. And that luggage goes to the same pickup location as all the rest of the luggage on the carrousel. Hopefully someone who has flown with a long gun can chime in with that info.

Do NOT use TSA approved locks. Use a hard case and your own locks. Make sure the shackles are the right size so the case can't be opened.

 

[lukewarm_fuzz]

Hard cases, quality locks, AirTags and you’ll be gucci

 

[Rob Boudrie]

I’d say grab it and take it to baggage claim office, work with the airport for accommodations. The police aren’t going to materialize out of the floors to arrest you (probably).

Whenever an airline does not know what to do gun wise, the reaction is often to call the airport police. In the case of Canada, eh? the most likely outcome would probably be forfeit to the crown.

 

[Brin747]

I had this happen last year during a flight that had a stopover in NY. Last flight got cancelled, ended up having to spend a night at LGA. I simply advised the Delta agent that I had a firearm in my checked luggage and could not legally take possession of it in NY. They said no problem, they would put it in secure storage overnight and re-check it to my morning flight. No heartburn, no big deal...

I never even touched the bag in NY.

 

[WJ406]

Other than NYC, are there any other airports that have a police officer respond when you declare a firearm at the ticket desk?

I’ve flown all over the country with firearms and never had an issue. Even in California, all they did was check my ID and ensure the firearm is unloaded. I understand no one would want to be the test case, but I’d be willing to bet that FOPA applies if your flight is diverted. It’s not like you chose to be stranded in NYC if that’s where the flight diverted to. Same if you got a flat tire on I-95 in New Jersey.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

You aren't getting a surprise trip out of the country. Most passengers wouldn't have a passport.

You might if the flight was from Seattle to Anchorage and there was a problem with the plane or a passenger (medical or disruptive).

 

[Rob Boudrie]

Other than NYC, are there any other airports that have a police officer respond when you declare a firearm at the ticket desk?

I have heard of this at other airports in upstate NY.

There have been people jammed up in NY and having to hire an attorney to argue FOPA applies. One key is to be vewwy careful what you say - admit to staying in a hotel overnight and they will argue you are not on a continuous and uninterrupted trip and should not have taken possession of the gun.

 

[jkelly1229]

I wouldn't be worried about NYC. There are plenty of airports to land between Boston and Michigan without having to be re-dorected south.

But for the sake of this example, let's assume NYC ... what do I do, do I not grab the case and let it sit wherever rifles go to get picked up?

Also, will be landing at Detroit, I hope that is not an issue.

If it gets delayed don't they move your luggage to the new flight?

 

[Brin747]

If it gets delayed don't they move your luggage to the new flight?

Usually, yes. They only ask you to take possession of your luggage if you get stuck overnight. And even then they sometimes keep it in storage.

 

[Picton]

OP's goin' to jail, eh.

 

[Broc]

If it gets delayed don't they move your luggage to the new flight?

Delayed is not a problem.

Problem is overnight. Mostly overnight in NYC, anywhere else in NY is not a big deal. I wouldn't mind taking possession of a rifle in Albany and renting a car or getting in a cab to drive Boston.

Bigger problem would be overnight in Canada.

But I will assume Canada is not as big of a deal as I think, since a lot of people might not have U.S passports or Drivers License, airports usually have a place where you can hang that is no man's land. So I would assume the airline would store the luggage.

 

[drgrant]

Get the airline to retain the guns. It's that simple.