Southwest Airlines, no problemo (Details)...

[stevie_d_64]

Ok I just flew in from Dallas and are my arms tired!!! (rimshot)

Departing at Hobby Airport, I got in line to check in my one bag, and declare my firearm...

I prepped the trip by unloading my normal loadout magazines and cleared "Sledghammer" (a.k.a.-Springfield 1911 A1 .45)

The magazines, holster and plastic reloading container with 25 rounds of Federal Hydroshock only, I placed in a mesh pouch in the lid of the baggage, no prob so far...

I have a unlockable front zipper pouch where I placed the unloaded .45 in a Secure-It metal (keyed lock) safe...Just big enough for the pistol, and easy to pack when we had to lock it up...

Proceeded to the counter, bypassing all the "help" to get me through the system faster, I.E. curbside check-in (which is a big no-no for flying with a firearm in your checked bags)...E-Tickets, boarding passes etc etc etc...

If yer gonna do this, you need to really prepare, and go through the hoops to be able to do this successfully...My opinion...

I was not able to ziptie the action back to give the un-initiated the ability to determine if the pistol was unloaded...So I just went with it...

Now, I am up at the counter, and with all the activity around me, I discretely had the ticket agent start getting me processed and a boarding pass issued...At the same time I discretely asked her this: (just like this)

"Hi, can you give me the form to fill out so I can declare a firearm in my check baggage???"

To which she didn't bat an eyebrow (yet) and gave me the form explaining what they needed to be filled out...Notice when you approach the counter, they have a prohibited items placard (sign) that tells you the do's and don'ts with certain items, and they do not say you cannot fly witha firearm, you just need to declare it to the agent and get it taken care of, the penalty for not doing this, and by the way they do x-ray ALL bags behind the wall...They will see it, and will call you if you have failed to declare the firearm...Be forewarned...

Now back to our Hero...

I filled out the form, and she proceeded to clear "packing tape" the form to the "outside of the Secure-It safe, I first had a mental problem as most times the form goes inside the safe with the firearm, then after they "visually", not physically, verify (I know, I know) the "gun" is unloaded, you lock it up, and then I proceeded to put the safe in the lockable compartment of the bag...Locked the bag, where she said, "You know what you're doing!", I said, "Yep"...Got my boarding pass and proceeded on my way to the TSA, the checked bag went in the back with the rest of the passngers luggage...

No TSA coming by to "escort" you to screening or anything...

Did the whole shoes off everything out of yer pockets, laptop out of the bag and in a "bin" for separate screening, belt off and proceeded to be "backscattered" and cleared through...At no time was I groped, poked or prodded, unless you call a TSA agent, while I am trying to re-dress myself snatch my wallet up out of the bin and proceed to check it (after it had been screened) along with all my other stuff...She proceeded to ask me all sorts of innocuous questions, because I was still trying to re-belt and re-shoe myself, so I was kinda detained till I could get the stuff back on...Kinda annoying...

But I knew why the questions were presented...no big deal folks, just be dis-interested, normally annoyed,and you'll be in your way as soon as you get those dirn shoes on without sitting down...Dirnit!!!

Anyway...Got into the air with no problems, and landed in Dallas with no issues...Make sure you put something unique on your bag like a colored ribbon tied to the handle or something...I could not believe how many bags looked like mine...And you don't want to get a mixup with someone elses bag because not all the time, I noticed did the baggage claim person check everything...So be careful...

Did my TSRA convention thing in Mesquite (which I may detail out in another thread), and proceeded to Love Field in Dallaas for my return trip...A totally different experience...

Make sure you prep the same way, not having to grope through at the counter for very long to fill out the "same" form again, makes for a quicker, more descrete check in...this time the ticket agent told me that she was going to place the form "inside" the safe with the gun, and lock it up, was more to my past experiences...Everything went smooth and she said as soon as I waved bye bye to the locked bag, to wait over to the side of the ticket counters for 5 minutes, just in case they need me after the bag is screened behind the wall...So I waited just about the alloted time, and jumped on the plane for the trip back to Houston with no further incidents...

All in all it went smooth, the Love Filed folks didn't backscatter me, I just got undressed and x-rayed, redressed without any conversation with any TSA folks at all...

So the bottom line is this, have YOUR routine spot on, no mistakes, try to be one step ahead, and be prepared for "little"things to be different at each airport...Not all are alike, and attitudes and procedures may differ depending on where you are, and who you'll be dealing with...

I imagine that if you were dealing with the airports in a different state you might find some procedures to be overbearing and somewhat invasive, but hey, thats what we pay for...

Just remember, to read up on the states requirements you are going to carry in, review your procedures to keep yer own game tight, relax, be courteous, but firm, and most of the time the ticket agents won't have a coniption fit at the sight or mention of the word "gun", which you should not use anyway...Some people fixate on the words you use when you'venever talked to them before, this is true for most customer service folks like ticket agents...So if you approach it like an adult, and let them feel like they are doing their job,most of the time you'll scream through check in and be on your way with little incident...

It has been a while since I flew with a firearm, but old habits die hard...

the next trip will be this summer to St. Paul, Minn., so that might be a different animal up there when we fly up there for a summer trip...

I also printed out copies of the TSA, the airline, and if I was oging to a differnt state, get a summary of the gun carry provisions in that states law, along with the rules regarding force and deadly force, and keep them in your baggage for ready reference, just in case...It won't mean a hill of beans to Law Enforcement at such an unfortunate time, but it will in the long run prove you were priudent in your preparations for your trip...

The skies are still friendly...And we do a lot to keep them that way...

[ELB]

....I filled out the form, and she proceeded to clear "packing tape" the form to the "outside of the Secure-It safe, ...

I've flown my gun numerous times, and sometimes the declaration went inside the gun box, sometimes outside (but still inside my luggage). Taping it on the box is a new one to me, however.

....Make sure you put something unique on your bag like a colored ribbon tied to the handle or something...I could not believe how many bags looked like mine...

Seems like half the black bags have a bandana or ribbon on them. I finally went with two-color tape, on the handle and someplace on the bottom, in case it gets turned around. If I ever buy luggage again I am going to get something in a tie-dyed psychedelic patten...

Last time I flew Southwest, I could tell that there were at least nine firearms waiting to check-in besides mine. There were probably more.

[sugar land dave]

Ok I just flew in from Dallas and are my arms tired!!!

Sorry about those tired arms!

[baldeagle]

Help a newbie. I'm flying American to Austin a week from Wednesday. Exactly what do I need to do, step by step, to fly with my weapon. I have a Sig P239 with the original hard plastic case, and I can lock it with two locks that I have. Can I put the empty mags in the case with the gun? Or do they need to go somewhere else? I know I have to have the ammo in a box separate from the pistol. When I go to the counter, do I have to show them the pistol? What about the ammo? The mags? How does all this work so you don't have problems?

[stevie_d_64]

Help a newbie. I'm flying American to Austin a week from Wednesday. Exactly what do I need to do, step by step, to fly with my weapon. I have a Sig P239 with the original hard plastic case, and I can lock it with two locks that I have. Can I put the empty mags in the case with the gun? Or do they need to go somewhere else? I know I have to have the ammo in a box separate from the pistol. When I go to the counter, do I have to show them the pistol? What about the ammo? The mags? How does all this work so you don't have problems?

First, go to the airlines website and print out the policy regarding firearms in checked baggage...

The original hard plastic case "might" be ok...The Secure-It safe I have doesn't look like it is just made for guns...Putting the empty mads in the case with the gun "should" be ok, but again, check the airlines rules...The ammo can be stowed in an original packaging, or something that doesn't allow a lot of movement of the ammo...

Yes, you will have to show them the pistol...Conventional wisdom says that the rules are is that no one touches the firearm...But sometimes "it" happens...

Just kinda go with the flow of what I wrote up there,and you should be fine...Its going to show them that you are more prepared than most on this issue...

[jordanmills]

You did the naked scanner? Do you want to get cancer?

[Rebel]

I have flown with firearms quite a few times, and surprisingly the biggest hassle I have is Texas Airports. Have flown out of Los Angeles and Long Beach, no one batted an eye, just declared, filled out card, showed weapon and locked it all back up.

Every time I have flown out of Texas(Dallas,Austin, and El Paso). There have been comments, TSA who like to ask questions about "Why?", and general long times to get cleared. I even had to tell the TSA guys in DFW that he was not allowed to have the keys and only I could open the case, and I could and would not leave till I saw that my back had been closed and locked back up.

[ELB]

Help a newbie. I'm flying American ...?

TSA firearms regs: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
American Airlines firearms policy: http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformatio ... rearms.jsp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

TSA allows ammo in the same locked box as the gun. HOWEVER, American Airlines does not. Put it somewhere else. I have a little dop kit I put my knife, OC, and ammo. Oh, and copies of the TSA and AA policies. Do make sure the gun is clear. If revolver, count the rounds, and show clear to the wife to double check. If semi-auto, make sure mag AND chamber is clear, and show clear to wife if possible. Basic stuff, but important not to screw this up.

Allow extra time, so show up early. Because of curbside check-in and kiosks and all that, there seem to be less clerks available to check in folks at the counter, so lines can get long. Occasionally the TSA area is a long way from the counter, and you have to go back and forth, which takes time of course.

Your Sig box should be just fine as long as it can be locked, and it is not so flimsy or flexible that a corner can be pried open even when locked. You can buy a really rugged metal box that will withstand a nuclear blast, but they make your baggage heavier and I don't think they really provide any more security -- thieves who are baggage handlers will just carry it home to open later. Your best security is the anonymity of your bag among the huge amount of luggage that travels.

I just tell the counter agent I am checking a firearm in my luggage. Sometimes the counter people want to see that the gun is unloaded, sometimes they take my word for it. Most times they have taken my word for it, and just have me fill out the declaration form. Some travelers with guns seem to get paranoid about this part, but if you act like it is normal, nobody will notice.

DO wait around while TSA inspects the bag. Occasionally they want to open the gun box. When it has happened to me, they were not interested in the gun, they just thought the saw something else that was peculiar or unknown to them (I had put some other stuff in the same box). So I just make sure there is nothing but "gun" in the locked box, and no more delays.

Assuming you are putting your gun box inside an other piece of luggage, make sure that the luggage is locked or secured as well, so nothing falls out.

Have a nice trip!

[KD5NRH]

You did the naked scanner? Do you want to get cancer?

Nah, just another blue ribbon to go with the one I'll be wearing if I ever have to go through one of those

[jordanmills]

You did the naked scanner? Do you want to get cancer?

Nah, just another blue ribbon to go with the one I'll be wearing if I ever have to go through one of those

Opt out. Fight it.

[apostate]

If you know what you're doing (or act like you know what you're doing) it's not too much of a hassle. The only surprise was the time the nice lady thought I was a LEO and wanted to carry onboard the flight.

When I first starting checking a handgun in the early 90s, I used a Pelican case with a big beefy padlock. It was secure but heavy. Eventually, I took a more relaxed approach. These days I generally use a COM box inside conventional luggage.

[AustinBoy]

I havent flown with a gun yet, but I am curious.

If you have to show them the gun, how discrete are they about it?

Did you take it out and lay it on the counter or just crack the case and say "see?"

I have carried in the non secure area of the airport and that feels strange enough.

Cant imagine showing a gun!

Thanks

[ELB]

...If you have to show them the gun, how discrete are they about it?

Did you take it out and lay it on the counter or just crack the case and say "see?"

...

As to how discreet are they? Not particularly. Some agents check it themselves (if they check at all), sometimes they call over another agent to do it, "Hey Fred! Guy checkin' a gun!"

The way it has gone for me has always been like this: I put the bag to be checked on the low scale or platform beside the agent's counter, then tell her or him I am checking a firearm in the bag. If the agent wants to see, I open the luggage with the lid against my legs, so the open bag is "facing" the agent's side of the counter. I open the gun box wide open, flat on top of my clothes, and open the action(s) or cylinder(s), leaving the gun(s) more or less on/in the open lock box. It never really leaves the bag. The agent says okeydoke, and I lock everything back up and away we go. Of course putting the declaration form in or on the gun box as the agent instructs.

When I transported a rifle, I just laid it on top of my bag, opened the case, and opened the action. People close by could see it, but really, so what?

[tacticool]

When I transported a rifle, I just laid it on top of my bag, opened the case, and opened the action. People close by could see it, but really, so what?

Nothing to be embarrassed about. It's not like you're wearing Uggs or Crocs.

[Rebel]

When I transported a rifle, I just laid it on top of my bag, opened the case, and opened the action. People close by could see it, but really, so what?

Nothing to be embarrassed about. It's not like you're wearing Uggs or Crocs.

Or sandals with socks!