This is correct. At one point in time, the TSA regulations specifically stated that the hard-sided case should not have a TSA lock on it. According to American Airlines' website "Firearms will only be accepted if unloaded and in a locked, hard-sided container such as a rifle case. TSA approved locks are accepted." To me, "accepted" implies "but not required". The hard-sided case must be locked, but the lock does not have to be TSA-approved. If the case is placed inside another piece of luggage (eg. duffel bag), then the luggage must be locked with a TSA-compliant lock (or left unlocked altogether). I flew with AA last week with a small gun safe inside my checked bag. The TSA agent asked if the gun safe was TSA-compliant but didn't have any objections when I said it wasn't. As an aside, she gave me an earful about not locking the bag itself; she wasn't rude - just kept insisting that it would be a really good idea and I should use one next time. (For the record, the gun safe has a security cable that attaches to the bag. To get the safe, you have to take the bag as well - or use bolt cutters.)Vol Texan wrote:Non-TSA locks on the hard-sided Pelican case. This case made it just fine, with the declaration inside the case.madwildcat wrote:Stories like this, and others talking about the higher rate of "misplaced" bags that have firearms have always made me think twice about flying with guns. Hope they cover the damage.
Along the same lines, I noticed the OP stated he used non-TSA locks on the cases. I was under the impression all locks had to be TSA approved. Is this not the case with firearms (and first I thought this is why they broke the Nanovault but then I noticed the Pelican case had non-TSA locks as well)?
TSA locks were on the soft-sided case that also included the Nanovault. The declaration was outside the Nanovault, inside the suitcase. The Nanovault was the only thing destroyed by the TSA.
On a related note, is there any penalty for failing to declare a firearm? American wouldn't let me use the self-checkin kiosk and made me wait in line for the full-service agent. The line was quite long and (combined with other factors) caused me to almost miss my flight. Would it have been better to simply use the self-checkin and not declare the firearm? Sure, the TSA would page me and make me open the bag for them, but that wold have taken less time than waiting in line at the terminal.