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I'm planning on traveling out of San Antonio to every gun owners worst nightmare via Southwest Airlines. I plan to take a handgun so my friend can finally get some shooting in.

I called Southwest and they stated that a handgun being placed into a suitcase does not count as it's own checked bag. Does this match up to what you have experienced? Basically my fear is showing up at the ticket counter and getting hit with an extra bag fee even though I'm technically only going to have 2 bags (one checked and one carry-on). Their website doesn't make a distinction between a rifle in a long hard case vs a handgun going inside of a suitcase. The Southwest rep with southern accent was reassuring but I still want to double check.

Now a more general question. Is there anything I can do aside from locking it and the suitcase to make sure it isn't stolen?

To your first question.... You get charged based on the number of baggage tickets they generate. Since your handgun will be inside your suitcase, you get charged for the suitcase only. If you were bringing a long gun in a separate case, that would be charged as a second piece of checked baggage. There is no additional charge for a handgun inside another checked bag.

I use a Nanovault when checking my gun. I open the inner liner of my rolling bag (mine zips) and loop the cable around the internal frame of the luggage. They can steal the whole bag, sure. But it's much more difficult to only steal the gun, since they can't take the case by itself without a tool to cut the cable.

RoyGBiv wrote:To your first question.... You get charged based on the number of baggage tickets they generate. Since your handgun will be inside your suitcase, you get charged for the suitcase only. If you were bringing a long gun in a separate case, that would be charged as a second piece of checked baggage. There is no additional charge for a handgun inside another checked bag.

I use a Nanovault when checking my gun. I open the inner liner of my rolling bag (mine zips) and loop the cable around the internal frame of the luggage. They can steal the whole bag, sure. But it's much more difficult to only steal the gun, since they can't take the case by itself without a tool to cut the cable.

Thank you for the quick response and for easing my worries. My suitcase also unzips so I can access the frame, and the Nanovault is a great idea so I guess I will be doing some shopping!

Any tips ammo wise? I was thinking of just placing the ammo box inside of a boot sock and rolling it over tight.

The gun must be unloaded in a hard sided, locked case. The lock(s) must be non-TSA locks that only you have the key or combination to. The case containing the gun should be in a (preferably) hard sided suitcase which is also locked. I use the box the gun came in.

When you arrive at the ticket counter, request a "firearm declaration" which you will fill out and sign. The agent will either have you open the hard sided case and put the declaration in it, or tape it to the outside of the box. They will either ask you to stand by for 10-15 minutes in a certain place, or have you wait for a TSA agent who may have you join him/her in the inspection room. The precise procedure has varied over the years in my experience.

Ammo is carried in a separate container not the hard locked case, and the box it came in is fine.

Whatever else you do, do NOT have any magazines of more than 10 round capacity in your possession in CA, or anything that may look like an assault rifle with evil features. If that is what you are thinking about, I would spend some time on Calguns.com to be sure what is legal and not. I can't think of a pistol off hand that is a problem.

Ammo...

I have had mixed results shipping ammo in a loaded magazine. Safest bet is to transport ammo in the original box or some other box that is not a magazine. IMO, it's best to store ammo in a way that prevents anything from knocking into the primer, just because you never know. I don't know whether an airline would allow you to transport ammo loosely stored in a box.... never looked into it because I always thought it would be a bad idea.

Ammo can be shipped either in the suitcase, outside the locked gun case, or inside the locked gun case, but again, in a separate box that is not a magazine. If you have room inside the gun case, no reason that I know of that you can't store the ammo in there too. Otherwise, I just set it securely between piles of clothing.

I fly with only two magazines worth of SD ammo... so... I've not spent any time checking about quantity limits. I just buy ammo where I'm landing if I plan to shoot while I'm there... Check with your airlines rules regarding limits on the quantity of ammunition you would be allowed to check......

ETA: http://www.cabelas.com/product/hunting/ ... 187780.uts

ETA 2: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting ... ammunition

Ammunition

Firearm magazines and ammunition clips, whether loaded or empty, must be securely boxed or included within a hard-sided case containing an unloaded firearm.
Small arms ammunition, including ammunition not exceeding .75 caliber for rifle or pistol and shotgun shells of any gauge, may be carried in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as described in the packing guidelines above.

Ammo:

Small arms ammunition for personal use (provided it is properly packed) is permissible in checked baggage only.
The ammunition may be placed in the same container as the firearm and must be securely packed in cardboard (fiber), wood, or metal boxes, or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
When checking ammunition, Customers are limited to 11 pounds gross weight (ammunition plus container) per person.
Magazines or clips containing ammunition must be securely packaged (placed in another small box or in a secure cutout in the carrying case, in order to protect the primer of the ammunition).
Make sure guns are unloaded and definitely never transport a gun in your carryon baggage!
Gunpowder (black powder) and primers or percussion caps are not allowed in checked or carryon baggage.
Loose ammunition or loose loaded magazines and/or clips are not allowed.
Paintballs must be packaged in a leak-proof container and will be subject to limited release.

JALLEN posted the text above... here's the link..
https://www.southwest.com/html/customer ... e-pol.html

Click "Guns and Ammunition" on the left side. SWA Ammo Limit? 11 pounds, including the weight of the container.

JALLEN wrote:
Whatever else you do, do NOT have any magazines of more than 10 round capacity in your possession in CA, or anything that may look like an assault rifle with evil features. If that is what you are thinking about, I would spend some time on Calguns.com to be sure what is legal and not. I can't think of a pistol off hand that is a problem.

I'm planning on taking my Bersa Thunder CC. Meets the mag requirements, fits in my case and it won't ruin my trip if it gets disappeared. I won't even bother with the hassle of trying to get a fun rifle into California. I don't want it to be an extended stay

Thanks! I appreciate the links and text.

RoyGBiv wrote:Ammo...

I have had mixed results shipping ammo in a loaded magazine. Safest bet is to transport ammo in the original box or some other box that is not a magazine. ...

TSA (federal) rules allow ammunition to be in magazines as long as the mag is enclosed in some fashion, no exposed rounds. However some airlines require ammo to be in manufacturer's box. I have frequently put my loaded mags inside a regular off-the-shelf ammo box and had no problems,

BUT:

some states considered loaded magazines anywhere near a gun to be a "loaded gun", and I was told (by a TSA inspector) that some of the eastern states will consider the loaded magazine all by itself to be a "loaded gun" for the purposes of putting your butt in jail.

When I lived in California, ammo and loaded magazines in close proximity to a gun (e.g. both magazine and handgun in glove box, or in passenger area of vehicle) was legally a loaded gun and you could be prosecuted for that if you didn't have a permit to carry.

So I would not put loaded mags into luggage going to California or any of the other unfree territories. The TSA itself won't go after you, but they or the airline agents may very well alert the local police, and the locals will charge you. This type of thing has happened frequently in NY/NJ.

^^^ This.

Yes, you need to be aware of the requirements for transporting a firearm in CA. Unloaded, locked in a case or bag, or locked in the trunk, not in the back seat, center console or glove box, not readily accessible. No matter where you are going, you are en route to a shooting range, or returning.

Your CHL(s) are no good there, no matter how many you have or where they are from.

JALLEN wrote:...The lock(s) must be non-TSA locks that only you have the key or combination to. ...

This used to "the rule" but it changed a few years ago. Just for fun I quizzed them about it again and they emailed me this:

Thank you for contacting the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Contact Center regarding travel with firearms using TSA-recognized locks.

On flights that originate in the United States, passengers may transport a firearm in accordance with 49 CFR §1540.111 under the following conditions:

• The firearm must be unloaded;
• it must be in checked, not carry-on, baggage;
• it must be in a locked, hard-sided container; and
• it must be declared to the airline.

Travelers may use any kind or type of lock for securing firearm cases, including
TSA-recognized locks. However, TSA does not recommend or endorse any specific brand or type of lock to use on firearm containers.

ELB wrote:

JALLEN wrote:...The lock(s) must be non-TSA locks that only you have the key or combination to. ...

This used to "the rule" but it changed a few years ago. Just for fun I quizzed them about it again and they emailed me this:

Thank you for contacting the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Contact Center regarding travel with firearms using TSA-recognized locks.

On flights that originate in the United States, passengers may transport a firearm in accordance with 49 CFR §1540.111 under the following conditions:

• The firearm must be unloaded;
• it must be in checked, not carry-on, baggage;
• it must be in a locked, hard-sided container; and
• it must be declared to the airline.

Travelers may use any kind or type of lock for securing firearm cases, including
TSA-recognized locks. However, TSA does not recommend or endorse any specific brand or type of lock to use on firearm containers.

The Southwest website says "Only the Customer checking the luggage should retain the key or combination to the lock. No exceptions will be made."

Anybody can get a TSA key or combo, the cheesiest locks known to man, so I deem it that Southwest means a non-TSA lock.

Like most things left to government, it soon becomes a farce of incompetent buffoonery. If you want your gun to actually stay locked up, forget TSA locks.

Bad as it is, I'll still put New Jersey, Maryland, NYC, and DC ahead of it in "worst nightmare" category.