Suggestions for air travel lock boxes?

[atxgun]

I recently picked up a friend from the airport and got to thinking I'm probably going to be flying at some point and should get an approved lock box.

Suggestions?

I'm thinking a keyed box would be best as a triple digit combo can be brute forced pretty easily even if you're not a locksmith.

When declaring it do you just say "I would like to declare my firearm?" I don't want to freak anyone out that I have a gun at the airport.

From what I understand you cannot transport ammunition so I need to find a local gun store or walmart at my destination, right?

[anygunanywhere]

I use Pelican cases for my firearm and ammo. You can take ammo in your checked bag. They have matching combination locks for the cases that I use as well. http://www.cases4less.com/

Check your airline websites for rules and TSA as well. The rules vary very little between airlines. The check in procedures may vary a little but from my experience you should have no issues. I have never had any issues with the airlines, only with a few TSA individuals who took interest in my Kimber. I no longer fly with a Kimber.

Anygunanywhere

[Excaliber]

I recently picked up a friend from the airport and got to thinking I'm probably going to be flying at some point and should get an approved lock box.

Suggestions?

I'm thinking a keyed box would be best as a triple digit combo can be brute forced pretty easily even if you're not a locksmith.

When declaring it do you just say "I would like to declare my firearm?" I don't want to freak anyone out that I have a gun at the airport.

From what I understand you cannot transport ammunition so I need to find a local gun store or walmart at my destination, right?

Guns and ammo can be transported in checked baggage only - never in carry on unless you're a law enforcement officer authorized to carry on board.

These lock boxes are typical of what you need. There are other manufacturers and types as well, but these can be used to secure your gun in your car when necessary as well. Dual use is a good thing.

Don't worry about the combo lock - if someone is going to take the gun from inside the suitcase, they'll take the whole box and break it open later. The lock type won't matter.

When you go to the ticket counter, simply say: "In accordance with TSA and airline regulations, I am declaring an unloaded firearm in my checked luggage." Most agents will immediately pull out the red or orange tag that shows you've declared the gun, and ask you to fill it out. If the agent either stares at you and starts drooling or says, "That's nice" but doesn't get out the tag, immediately ask for a supervisor. If you get to the TSA baggage intake point without that declaration tag, your day will get ugly.

Some agents will say they are required to have you show them the gun is unloaded, so make sure the box is on top of the stuff in your luggage and easily accessible. It's also good to have an autopistol stored with the slide removed, and a revolver with the cylinder open and a lock through the frame. This makes the inspection process easy. Airline agents are not allowed to handle the gun.

The completed declaration tag should go inside your luggage on top of the box containing the gun so the TSA can readily see it. Some insist on putting it inside the gun box, which makes little sense because the TSA can't see it there. You can point this out, but if they insist, just do it.

Your luggage bag should be secured with a TSA bypassable lock so it can be readily inspected. If the ticket counter is one where the luggage is put on a belt behind the counter, watch the bag until it goes on the belt and is out of sight. More commonly, the agent will either direct you to a TSA baggage screening point or send an airline employee to escort you there. As you hand the bag to the TSA agent, tell him "This bag contains a declared unloaded firearm." He or she will most often take the bag to a table and, under your observation, search the bag. They will also usually ask you to open the gun box. They are not allowed to handle the gun. When they are done, secure the gun box with either a combination only you know or a key that only you have (not a TSA bypassable lock), then lock the luggage itself with a TSA bypassable lock in case it needs to be opened at another inspection point.

You can put small amounts of ammunition in checked baggage (round count varies by airline, but it's usually in the low hundreds) as long as it's packed in the original ammunition boxes. Check the airline's website for details. If ammo is in your luggage, declare it at both the airline ticket counter and the TSA checkpoint.

I also recommend against flying with high value firearms whenever possible, because baggage theft and loss is a significant concern. When I fly, I usually take an easily replaceable Glock that falls well within the airline's reimbursement limits for lost or stolen baggage.

[atxgun]

Is there any significance between a red or an orange tag? Or is that just something that varies and doesn't really mean anything?

[anygunanywhere]

Is there any significance between a red or an orange tag? Or is that just something that varies and doesn't really mean anything?

Most of the airline firearm tags I have signed have been either red or an orangish red. I am not certain if color really makes a difference. My wife accuses me of being somewhat color blind anyway.

Anygunanywhere

[anygunanywhere]

Your luggage bag should be secured with a TSA bypassable lock so it can be readily inspected. If the ticket counter is one where the luggage is put on a belt behind the counter, watch the bag until it goes on the belt and is out of sight. More commonly, the agent will either direct you to a TSA baggage screening point or send an airline employee to escort you there. As you hand the bag to the TSA agent, tell him "This bag contains a declared unloaded firearm." He or she will most often take the bag to a table and, under your observation, search the bag. They will also usually ask you to open the gun box. They are not allowed to handle the gun. When they are done, secure the gun box with either a combination only you know or a key that only you have (not a TSA bypassable lock), then lock the luggage itself with a TSA bypassable lock in case it needs to be opened at another inspection point.

Whenever I fly with a firearm I have never used a TSA accessible lock. The rules I have followed state that the baggage owner is the only one who can have the key or combination. TSA has never questioned this and have always allowed me to lock my luggage with my locks. The only time any TSA agent gave me grief was when they wanted to fondle my Kimber and demanded the combination.

Anygunanywhere

[Excaliber]

Your luggage bag should be secured with a TSA bypassable lock so it can be readily inspected. If the ticket counter is one where the luggage is put on a belt behind the counter, watch the bag until it goes on the belt and is out of sight. More commonly, the agent will either direct you to a TSA baggage screening point or send an airline employee to escort you there. As you hand the bag to the TSA agent, tell him "This bag contains a declared unloaded firearm." He or she will most often take the bag to a table and, under your observation, search the bag. They will also usually ask you to open the gun box. They are not allowed to handle the gun. When they are done, secure the gun box with either a combination only you know or a key that only you have (not a TSA bypassable lock), then lock the luggage itself with a TSA bypassable lock in case it needs to be opened at another inspection point.

Whenever I fly with a firearm I have never used a TSA accessible lock. The rules I have followed state that the baggage owner is the only one who can have the key or combination. TSA has never questioned this and have always allowed me to lock my luggage with my locks. The only time any TSA agent gave me grief was when they wanted to fondle my Kimber and demanded the combination.

Anygunanywhere

There is a distinction between the gun lock box itself and the luggage it's contained in.

You're right that only you should have the key / combination to the gun lock box. However, the luggage it is contained in should be secured with a TSA bypassable lock. If it's not and they decide to inspect it at another point, whatever lock you've got on there will be destroyed and discarded, leaving your luggage unlocked and your gun box accessible to anyone who can operate a zipper. This doesn't happen a lot because they usually mark the luggage tag in some way to indicate that it contains a firearm and has been inspected. I don't bet on what usually happens because, in my experience flying somewhere between 50K - 100K airmiles per year, I've seen a lot of unusual things happen in airports.

If no further inspection occurs, having a proprietary lock on the luggage won't be an issue, but be aware of what will happen if it does.

Also keep in mind that the lock only secures the zipper or latch and functions mainly as a privacy indicator. Most luggage, even the "hard sided" types, can be readily opened by anyone with a folding pocket knife.

[couzin]

Second on the Center of Mass boxes (steel, keyed, cabled, will also hold ammunition in 'original box'). I keep a key around my neck for it in case the TSA folks want to check if loaded, etc. Ditto on not using the TSA locks - those are for your luggage only - firearms cases (including long gun cases - I think) are supposed to have only locks that you can access (thus the reason to be able to let TSA 'look' if they desire). I believe that is stated in the regulations regarding flying with checked firearms.

However - if there is someone who touches your luggage (or long gun case) that decides to liberate a handgun or long gun - it will probably never be seen again.

[atxgun]

I dream of the day society comes to their senses and licensed, law abiding citizens are allowed to just carry on their person on planes.

[BigBlueDodge]

what constitues a TSA bypassable lock?

[boomerang]

what constitues a TSA bypassable lock?

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... locks.shtm

[Excaliber]

what constitues a TSA bypassable lock?

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... locks.shtm

They're sold at Home Depot, Lowes, and Wally World.

[austin-tatious]

what constitues a TSA bypassable lock?

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... locks.shtm

They're sold at Home Depot, Lowes, and Wally World.

and hardware stores and drug stores and department stores that carry luggage and maybe even your local convenience store.

[B3XD]

The xd case I got when I bought the gun worked fine. I used the longer lock Springfiedl supplied to first lock the gun case and then secure it to the luggage frame after the lady at the counter examined it. I just told the lady when I checked the bag in that I had a firearm to declare. She got all excited cause she had just taken the "course" they had and I was her first. The only hassle was having to go inside to check the bag. I added about half an hour to my usual arrival time to compensate for that.

Fortunately, I also had printed out a copy of the airlines published policy and regulations with me, which saved trouble when the newbie tried to take issue with the ammunition. Having the slide off and in its own hole in the foam helped cause after I explained what it was. The supervisor said it wasn't necessary, but never hurt. ( I cut a hole in the foam for the slide cause I couldn't figure out exactly what the regs were saying. )

[jimlongley]

Whenever I fly with a firearm I have never used a TSA accessible lock. The rules I have followed state that the baggage owner is the only one who can have the key or combination. TSA has never questioned this and have always allowed me to lock my luggage with my locks. The only time any TSA agent gave me grief was when they wanted to fondle my Kimber and demanded the combination.

Anygunanywhere

I agree with that, and I still think you were mean to not at least let me just touch it a little.

Seriously folks, I was a TSA screener for three long and arduous years.

First of all, TSA has no responsibility to check to see if you declared a gun. If they discover that the gun is improperly packed, then the declaration would become an issue to the LEOs involved, but TSA is SUPPOSED to ignore firearms in checked bags.

TSA is not allowed to touch firearms, NOT NOT NOT!!! No ifs, ands, or buts, under no circumstances.

And they also cannot require you to have a TSA accessible lock on your case, and you have to, under Federal law, lock the case as stated above, so they must accomodate you if they need to open the case. I would, however put a TSA lock on the bag the case is in, so they can get that far.

Never, ever, ever, ever, bother to put a lock on a zipper bag, except maybe to keep the zipper tabs together.

I'm not going to repeat them here, but I do have several funny/horror stories about working at TSA and guns, and traveling and guns, posted elsewhere.

Suffice it to say that TSA screeners are human too.