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Started By
Message
Checking Firearms on Flights
Posted on 2/12/23 at 8:24 am
Posted on 2/12/23 at 8:24 am
May be a crossover post with the Outdoor board, but this is my first time going through the process so hope it helps others.
First I looked up Delta's and the TSA's policies on checking firearms. Delta TSA
First, do not try and bring anything through your carry-on, only checked luggage. It must be a hard sided case with locks. Went to harbor freight last week and got a case for $125 plus two locks. The case is enough to fit a few rifles and 9mms in it, plenty of room. I put some mags in there as well but did not put in any ammo.
At the airport, you can ask the person guarding the line where to checkin firearms. They will send you to a special agent for agent assist. Once there, the firearms case is checked in as an oversized bag (max weight 50lbs) for the normal checked bag cost. They have you sign an orange piece of paper that says the guns are not loaded. This morning they asked me to open the case and put the piece of paper in the case, have read conflicting reports about whether a delta agent should need to open the case or if it's just TSA. I obliged and relocked the case after putting the signed paper in there.
Two baggage tags will print out- one is the regular tag, the other is a tag that says "Do not send to luggage belt". Once both of them are on the case, you venture over to TSA oversized luggage. The agent asks you to unlock the locks and open the case. He swabbed it and we talked about gun stuff for a bit, then once he was done I relocked it and that was it.
Once in Florida I'll have to go to the baggage claim office and show my ID to retrieve the case.
Overall process this morning- 15 minutes
. I could see this being a hassle if the airport was crowded but on a Sunday morning this worked out quite easily.
Any other questions or experiences from others here feel free to chime in
First I looked up Delta's and the TSA's policies on checking firearms. Delta TSA
First, do not try and bring anything through your carry-on, only checked luggage. It must be a hard sided case with locks. Went to harbor freight last week and got a case for $125 plus two locks. The case is enough to fit a few rifles and 9mms in it, plenty of room. I put some mags in there as well but did not put in any ammo.
At the airport, you can ask the person guarding the line where to checkin firearms. They will send you to a special agent for agent assist. Once there, the firearms case is checked in as an oversized bag (max weight 50lbs) for the normal checked bag cost. They have you sign an orange piece of paper that says the guns are not loaded. This morning they asked me to open the case and put the piece of paper in the case, have read conflicting reports about whether a delta agent should need to open the case or if it's just TSA. I obliged and relocked the case after putting the signed paper in there.
Two baggage tags will print out- one is the regular tag, the other is a tag that says "Do not send to luggage belt". Once both of them are on the case, you venture over to TSA oversized luggage. The agent asks you to unlock the locks and open the case. He swabbed it and we talked about gun stuff for a bit, then once he was done I relocked it and that was it.
Once in Florida I'll have to go to the baggage claim office and show my ID to retrieve the case.
Overall process this morning- 15 minutes
. I could see this being a hassle if the airport was crowded but on a Sunday morning this worked out quite easily. Any other questions or experiences from others here feel free to chime in
5
Posted on 2/12/23 at 1:41 pm to CuseTiger
One thing I would suggest when flying with firearms is be flexible. Some ticketing agents don’t know TSA guidelines or even their own airline’s policies. I once got hung up in Sioux Falls by a ticketing agent that required a lock on every available spot on the case even though I’ve never been required to do this and TSA guidelines say nothing about it. Flew up there with 2 locks on the case, had to go to the airport gift shop and buy 2 more (for a total of 4) in order to get past the ticketing nazi. I’ve read many instances of airline desk agents not knowing the rules and people having to jump through hoops last minute.
Posted on 2/12/23 at 2:11 pm to iwantacooler
quote:
had to go to the airport gift shop and buy 2 more (for a total of 4) in order to get past the ticketing nazi
Would've sent that receipt to the airline after the fact with a link to airline policy, TSA policy, and a request for retraining the agent. At most outstations the contractors don't know the airlines rules unfortunately and it's not worth arguing with them because they're right and you're wrong. I must've gotten lucky this morning
Posted on 2/12/23 at 2:43 pm to CuseTiger
Most times I’ve had no issues and things have gone as they’ve should. I’ve had agents ask me to show them the firearm was unloaded and I’ve had others just ask me if they were unloaded without showing them. I’ve heard of folks being prepared with tsa guidelines and airline policies printed out to show agents in case of any issues, but that doesn’t seem to help either.
Posted on 2/12/23 at 7:00 pm to iwantacooler
quote:
Some ticketing agents don’t know TSA guidelines
Not even all TSA agents know the rules.
I was carrying an auto inflate PFD and was flagged and had them go through my bag. I knew the rules and 3 of them are telling me no it isn't allowed. I politely said they were wrong and please get a supervisor.
Supervisor shows up and saw the PFD and immediately told them I was OK and I could continue on to my gate.
Teaching moment for several of them.
Posted on 2/12/23 at 7:08 pm to CuseTiger
I've read that some people will print out the TSA guidelines and bring it with them. You are usually dealing with idiots so it's easier when you have the rules right there.
Also if for some reason your flight gets diverted to NY or maybe even Jersey don't accept your bag. They will arrest you as soon as you accept it. You have to make them hold it till you fly out.
If I remember right it's supposed to be NON TSA locks on the case. They are not supposed to have access to the guns. They are also not supposed to mark the bag. I read people having problems with that too.
Good luck, I would rather drive or ship them.
Also if for some reason your flight gets diverted to NY or maybe even Jersey don't accept your bag. They will arrest you as soon as you accept it. You have to make them hold it till you fly out.
If I remember right it's supposed to be NON TSA locks on the case. They are not supposed to have access to the guns. They are also not supposed to mark the bag. I read people having problems with that too.
Good luck, I would rather drive or ship them.
This post was edited on 2/12/23 at 7:11 pm
Posted on 2/12/23 at 7:30 pm to ReadyPlayer1
My gun cases all have built in TSA locks, they absolutely have every right to open any piece of luggage going on a plane.
Do not buy non TSA locks.
Do not buy non TSA locks.
Posted on 2/12/23 at 8:45 pm to ecb
quote:
Do not buy non TSA locks.
I use masterlocks.
This is copied directly from the tsa page on flying with firearms:
“Only the passenger should retain the key or combination to the lock unless TSA personnel request the key to open the firearm container to ensure compliance with TSA regulations. You may use any brand or type of lock to secure your firearm case, including TSA-recognized locks.”
Posted on 2/13/23 at 8:31 am to CuseTiger
It's an hour but really recommend Deviant's talk about flying with firearms - I'd imagine everyone would learn something here...
YouTube - How To Fly With Firearms
YouTube - How To Fly With Firearms
Posted on 2/13/23 at 9:05 am to ReadyPlayer1
quote:
I've read that some people will print out the TSA guidelines and bring it with them.
This. You have thousands of TSA and ticket agents, be prepared to show them the rules. It's guaranteed you will eventually run into a new one or a sub-par one. If they don't change their mind, ask for a supervisor.
I've flown a few times with checked firearms and it was very easy every time.
Posted on 2/13/23 at 9:31 am to iwantacooler
Well I stand corrected then! But once you hand the gun case to the agent it disappears? How would they get the key from you? I was told they would cut the lock off.
Posted on 2/13/23 at 9:37 am to ecb
quote:
But once you hand the gun case to the agent it disappears? How would they get the key from you? I was told they would
At least at SeaTac yesterday, they had a table at oversized luggage that TSA had me open the case and locks in front of them. They did their work then had me relock the locks/case. This way I was in possession of the lock key the entire time
Posted on 2/13/23 at 9:50 am to ecb
Ticketing agent has always asked me to wait around a few minutes in case tsa wants me to open the case. I’ve yet to have tsa ask me to open it, but I always hang around a bit.
Posted on 2/13/23 at 1:22 pm to CuseTiger
I flew domestically with firearms for years on a weekly basis for work.
Here is the Number One Rule. - There are no rules.
You will get every version of request, demand, "rule" and directive from every random airline employee and TSA officer including supervisors.
I had the TSA Regs printed out, laminated and glued to the inside lid of my hard case. They would read them and then do something completely opposite.
The only thing I learned was to smile, nod my head and not say much. Every single time they would eventually get tired of saying stuff and pass the bags along. It isn't as if they are going to take the guns or deny you checking them. If they want to take them out and look down the barrel (happened) or they want to demand that I take the firearm upper off the lower (an AR, it happened). I just smiled and did it. Had one guy in VA Beach tell me that "only SEAL's can have a rifle like that". Not sure what his plan was but the Supervisor passed me along and sent the guy on break.
Long story short, you are pretty much at their mercy so just smile, nod and be nice.
Here is the Number One Rule. - There are no rules.
You will get every version of request, demand, "rule" and directive from every random airline employee and TSA officer including supervisors.
I had the TSA Regs printed out, laminated and glued to the inside lid of my hard case. They would read them and then do something completely opposite.
The only thing I learned was to smile, nod my head and not say much. Every single time they would eventually get tired of saying stuff and pass the bags along. It isn't as if they are going to take the guns or deny you checking them. If they want to take them out and look down the barrel (happened) or they want to demand that I take the firearm upper off the lower (an AR, it happened). I just smiled and did it. Had one guy in VA Beach tell me that "only SEAL's can have a rifle like that". Not sure what his plan was but the Supervisor passed me along and sent the guy on break.
Long story short, you are pretty much at their mercy so just smile, nod and be nice.
Posted on 2/13/23 at 3:42 pm to ecb
quote:
Do not buy non TSA locks.
Not on firearms cases. You can't prove chain of custody if they have the ability to open the case. You never give TSA or an airline they key or the combo, the case only gets opened, by you, in the presence of TSA or airline officials.
I've been flying with my concealed carry piece for nearly 20 years. The one I lost in the boating accident, anyway.
On the plus side, OP, I've never heard of someone that has a checked firearm have the airline lose or mis-route the bag.
Posted on 2/15/23 at 1:09 pm to CuseTiger
And to think in the late eighties and early nineties I used to just throw my pistol in my check in luggage. I never thought anything about it.
I would not want the headache these days. I would probably just ship them if I had too.
I would not want the headache these days. I would probably just ship them if I had too.
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