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The pistol box and the luggage it is in should both me locked. Put TSA locks on the luggage.

Although the law reads that you should be the only one with the key or combo to the pistol box, TSA has said (including in an email to me) that I can put TSA locks on the pistol case. I always put my own lock on, they can come and get me if they need to be inside.

As others noted, different airports do things different ways, although TSA will claim the procedure is the same across the nation.

At the start of the flight, you will have to sign a card stating that you know the law says the gun has to be unloaded and that the gun is in fact unloaded. The only purpose I see of this card is so they can hang you in court later if you forget and leave a bullet in the gun. Again depending on the airport and airline, the agent will have you tape the card the outside of the pistol box, or sometimes put it inside the pistol box. For this reason you will have to open your luggage at the agent's station. Some agents used to require I demonstrate that the gun is empty, but they seem to have gotten away from that in the last few years, they just take your word (by signing the card).

Then the TSA folderol begins. In San Antonio and Austin I've found it's pretty simple: the agent takes the bag to a nearby TSA examination point, or they put it on a cart to be taken later and tell me to listen to the PA system for my name if the TSA wants me to come open the box. When this happens it is to run a swab through the box to test for explosive residue (which apparently is differentiated from the regular ol' gunpowder). They don't mess with the gun. Usually tho the TSA just runs it through an xray machine, gives me a thumbs up, and off we go.

When I flew back from Denver, the airline I was with had a special check-in line for people who had for special luggage, like skis, exceptionally large luggage, … and firearms. It was much shorter than the regular line, and I though GREAT! much faster. But no. Once I signed the gun-is-not-loaded card, I couldn't touch my luggage anymore but I had to follow it all the way across the entire airport as it was trolleyed by an agent to the TSA examination room. The bag and key (but not me) went in for awhile, eventually it came back out, and then I had to follow the agent and my bag all the way back to where we started originally to put the bag on the conveyer belt to go to the plane. Then I could go to the gate.

So all this is a long way of saying allow extra time upfront. I have flown with my handgun quite a bit, and usually it is not too onerous, but once in awhile it take extra time and Denver was one of those places I had to wait around a lot.

Enjoy your trip.