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I know this has been discussed in the past, but I would still like info to prevent a bad day at the airport. My wife and I will be traveling to the Florida Keys soon. I have checked the map and Texas does have reciprocity with Fla. I have also read that you must have a hard sided case to keep your firearm in. My first question would be what kind of case is acceptable to TSA. I have the hard plastic ones my Glock 27 came in. Will that suffice? Also, can I put ammo in that case? Can the ammo be in the magazines? Does the gun have to be stripped ( slide off) to verify unloaded status?

Then I understand you place the case with the gun in your checked baggage. Walk to the check in desk and declare you are carrying an unloaded firearm and want it checked. They give you some kind of sticker? Then have you fill out some kind of paper work?

I will admit, I am a bit nervous. Any info that would make my first trip with my Glock a better experience would be awesome.

Thanks in advance.

Check with your specific airline...they will detail it all out.

In addition, read here: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's really simple. A nice metal locking case works best. I use this: http://www.amazon.com/Secure-It-Handgun ... B000HBB15U" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Have it unloaded in the case, in your luggage. (I leave my magazines loaded, and put them both in an empty 100 count box of ammo, taped shut.) Declare your weapon, show it's unloaded if they ask, you'll fill out a form which will be affixed or put in/on or next to the case, it's seems to vary by airline/employee. Lock your case. From there, you'll go to the TSA baggae folks and hand 'em the bag, and WAIT til it clears, and you see it go away.

After you land, pick up your bag, slip into a men's room, unzip, holster up, and you're on your way.

Very easy.

You have to have two locks on the case also. I took one once and it was just as easy as any other checked baggage. It will come out with all the other checked bags so beat feet to baggage claim.

Matt78665 wrote:I know this has been discussed in the past, but I would still like info to prevent a bad day at the airport. My wife and I will be traveling to the Florida Keys soon. I have checked the map and Texas does have reciprocity with Fla. I have also read that you must have a hard sided case to keep your firearm in. My first question would be what kind of case is acceptable to TSA. I have the hard plastic ones my Glock 27 came in. Will that suffice? Also, can I put ammo in that case? Can the ammo be in the magazines? Does the gun have to be stripped ( slide off) to verify unloaded status?

Then I understand you place the case with the gun in your checked baggage. Walk to the check in desk and declare you are carrying an unloaded firearm and want it checked. They give you some kind of sticker? Then have you fill out some kind of paper work?

I will admit, I am a bit nervous. Any info that would make my first trip with my Glock a better experience would be awesome.

Thanks in advance.

The language they're used to hearing is: "I'm declaring an unloaded firearm in checked baggage." I wouldn't say anything like "carrying a firearm" which is asking to be misunderstood.

I also field strip my pistol or put a lock through the topstrap of a revolver with the cylinder open before putting it in the hard case to make it obvious that the gun is unloaded and remove the temptation for an agent to ask you to prove it is by manipulating it. That can get more exciting than you'd like.

The declaration tag that you sign goes inside the luggage. My preference is to attach it to the outside of the hard case that actually contains the gun so it's obvious to an inspector that the declaration process has been complied with without the necessity for opening the case.

It's usually a pretty smooth process in either TX or FL. If the ticket agent you're dealing with looks alarmed or starts drooling, ask for a supervisor who's familiar with the process.

Allow PLENTY of extra time. Some airports require that you be escorted by a TSA agent between the ticket counter and the baggage examination area. Finding one of these folks and getting him to your location can easily take 30 minutes. I arrive an extra hour early to make sure I have time to make my flight even if I encounter a few more glitches than usual.

My experience from a number of flights:

The Glock case should be just fine as long as when it is closed and locked, you can't pry up any corners of the lid to get access to the gun. Some flimsy cases allow this, but I suspect a Glock case is sturdier than that.

A steel or aluminum case is fine if you want an all-around container, but just for flying I prefer the lightest case I can get, so I use plastic. I don't think a metal case is going to provide any more security from baggage thieves -- they will take the case or they won't.

TSA rules are somewhat looser than some individual airlines -- last I looked TSA says ammo can be in the same locked case as the gun, but some, not all, airlines forbid this. I do like chuckybrown above and put my loaded magazines inside a regular cardboard off-the-shelf ammo carton, reinforced with clear tape, with a little padding to keep them from banging together. Again TSA says loaded mags are acceptable ammo containers as long as the ammo is covered (e.g. if the mag is in mag holder), but some airlines don't like this. I put the ammo box in an old dop kit where I also put all my pointy and dangerous things -- knives, pepper spray, etc -- so I can find them easily at the end of the trip.

I have never had to use two locks. If your case has two separate latch points that each have a hole for a lock, then I could see TSA wanting two locks. My case has no holes or anything for a lock -- the two halves of the case form a handle, and I put a Master Lock around it, which fits snugly. TSA happy.

It used to be that TSA required that you have the only key or combo to the case. I believe they changed that awhile back to allow use of TSA locks. Me, I am sticking with my own lock.

At the check-in point, I put my luggage flat on the scale next to the agent so that when I open it, the lid shields the view from behind me, and the contents face the agent. Most agents have not required me to show the gun is empty, they just asked. Some do. No biggie.

Some agents have had me put the declaration tag, which can be orange or white) inside the gun case, some had me put it on top of the case (inside my luggage). Varies from place to place and agent to agent. Dunno why.

As a rule, I have not had to travel far from the gate agent to the TSA screening area. However, I did at Denver International when flying Continental, and it was a 5+ minute walk to the other side of the airport, 10 min for screening, then 5+ minute walk back to Continental so the agent could throw the bag on th conveyer. I couldn't touch, just had to walk along behind. Most places, I see them put the bag thru the screening very close to the ticket check-in, and I let the TSA guys know I will be standing by if they need to open it (since I have the only key). I don't go to the gate until I am sure my bag went thru screening OK. Most times it does, about 25% of the time they want a peek for some reason.

Arrive early, be calm, don't get flustered. Remember, you are doing what you are supposed to be doing as a citizen.

Have a good trip.

ELB wrote:IIt used to be that TSA required that you have the only key or combo to the case. I believe they changed that awhile back to allow use of TSA locks. Me, I am sticking with my own lock.

Do not use a TSA lock. You should be the only one able to open it.

The process is easier than you might think. Just takes a little bit more time.

The key to a smooth transaction is to make it obvious that the firearm is unloaded without having to have anyone handle it and keep ammo (or mags) in a container designed to carry ammo (the reinforced empty ammo box is a great idea).

I have had to "suggest" to the checker that it makes the TSA job easier if the declaration tag is taped to the outside of the case. They usually agree.

Have a great trip! The Keys are great! Sloppy Joe's!