TexasCHLforum.com

Drove down to Corpus Christi w/ wife and kids from DFW this Saturday. Took the SIG P226 and an extra mag in case I faced any Al Qaeda types heading north

Flew back yesterday since I have to work. Wife and kids w/ the in-laws. They are not comfortable w/ guns so I took SIG home.

Declared gun at the counter. AA rep asked me to show her it was unloaded and put the card in my locked tool case. TSA a few feet away so they saw it. I walked over to them, declared and waited till the scanned it. Done... flew home.

BTW I saw a convoy of National Guard heading south on I-35. Joked to the wife that they were heading to the border. From what I heard on news today they probably were.

Flying with a checked gun is pretty easy these days (except from NY/NJ).

Interestingly, there are many ticket agents that don't know the card should go OUTSIDE the locked case, but inside the piece of luggage containing the locked case. if the luggage is screened, how does the screener know that the locked case has been verified unless they see the card.? Putting the card inside the locked case defeats the purpose. I still do it, if that's what I'm told to do, but.....

I've always found DFW to be easy with checked firearms. They must have a lot of them flying out.

What are the requirements and/or procedure for flying with a firearm.
I'm about to travel some for my company and it would be nice to take mine with me.

Steamboat wrote:What are the requirements and/or procedure for flying with a firearm.
I'm about to travel some for my company and it would be nice to take mine with me.

Rule #1... NEVER take a gun on any airplane that MIGHT or IS SCHEDULED TO land in NY or NJ.
All other rules are secondary.

Short version..
2. Check airline web site. Read their rules.
3. Gun goes inside locked case. Locked case goes inside luggage to be checked. Lock can be combination or key, but should NOT be TSA lock. You should be the only one that can open the locked case.
4. Ammo cannot be stored in gun. Some airlines will allow loaded magazines as long as they're not in the gun. Some will not. Second best choice is to place ammo into original container (should be racked, not loose). Ammo can be packed inside locked case if it will fit, or can be packed outside case but inside checked bag. Again, check airline rules. Some will vary.
5. When arriving at airport, go to ticket counter and tell agent "I am checking an unloaded firearm".
6. Agent will give you some instructions... Possibly ask you to open the locked case and show the gun is not loaded, maybe not. You will be given a card to sign and date and place in your checked bag. Sometimes the agent will tell you to put the card inside the locked case. Sometimes they will tell you to put it in the checked bag, outside the locked case. Just follow their instructions and be polite.
7. Some airports will then take your bag and put it on the conveyor. Some airports will instruct you to go to a special TSA screening location. Just follow directions. If you are directed to TSA screening, stay with the bag until it is cleared by TSA and TSA puts it onto the baggage system. If the ticket agent puts your bag onto the conveyor directly, keep an ear open for your name being called on the PA system to come open your locked container for TSA screening. Sometimes it happens, sometimes not.
8. Be sure to leave enough time for several lines and some waiting around.
9. Enjoy your flight
10. Pick up luggage at normal location at destination.
11. Be sure you know the rules, laws, etc for your destination airport and any other place you plan to travel http://www.handgunlaw.us" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
example: In Texas you can CHL into the non-secure portion of an airport. In NC you cannot. When I land in TX, I can go into the men's room and re-arm. When I land in NC I cannot re-arm until I have left airport property. Know the local rules. Avoid jail.

http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... 8&p=587327" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... 3&p=541770" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... 2&p=926263" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thank you for the reply!
I will be doing this on future trips.

Always check your airline rules as well.

Some of them have limits and restrictions, especially on ammo. AA and most domestic airlines will limit you to 11lbs or similar. Some will limit you to a small number like 5lb.

In any case when I'm traveling I like to carry two boxes of critical defense for the gun I'm carrying which leaves room to spare in case I come across a good deal on a brick of .22LR.

RoyGBiv wrote:......
7. Some airports will then take your bag and put it on the conveyor. Some airports will instruct you to go to a special TSA screening location. Just follow directions. If you are directed to TSA screening, stay with the bag until it is cleared by TSA and TSA puts it onto the baggage system. If the ticket agent puts your bag onto the conveyor directly, keep an ear open for your name being called on the PA system to come open your locked container for TSA screening. Sometimes it happens, sometimes not.
.......

If you're flying thru Indy something to note is that TSA will not take you back to the screening area. If they want to look in the case they will ask for the keys. You have three choices.
Give them the keys.
Argue until you miss your flight.
Abandon your bag.

I've had this happen each time I've flown thru Indy and it may have been my Sub 2000 folded up in my gun case that triggered the look-see.

I just give them the key and wait right there. They look and then lock it back and hand me the key.