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Week before last, I traveled to Tucson. Like the previous 4 times that I have gone there recently, I carried my unloaded handgun properly packed per TSA and AA requirements. No problems with the ticket agent or TSA, but there was difference on this last trip compared to the other trips. Previously, the AA agent taped the declaration form the outside of the hard case inside my checked bag, and escorted me to the TSA x-ray location, where I waited while that person opened the bag, viewed the hard case and form, did an explosive residue wipe, and said all was OK.

This last trip, the ticket agent tied a 3x5 (approx) orange card to the handle on my bag. In large black letters were the words "Return to BSO". That bag was routed to the TSA for scanning, and then went onto the plane. I figured (wrongly) that the orange card would be removed after TSA was finished, or by AA when they got their hands on it again. But when I retrieved my bag at the carousel in Tucson, there was the orange card still attached.

When I repeated the process in Tucson for return to DFW, that ticket agent also attached the same kind of orange card. So I asked her what BSO meant - she said Baggage Service Operations. Then I said "So, now everyone knows that my bag contains a firearm?" She said "No, it doesn't mean it has a firearm, we put that on all bags with high-value items."

She said it's a new policy with AA. I haven't traveled with any other airline while checking a firearm, so I don't know how others handle this.

To me, it's an indicator that this particular bag might be worth stealing, since it contains something valuable, whether it's a firearm or something else. But how many people check in a bag with something expensive in it and tell the ticket agent, unless they're required to like when checking an unloaded firearm? I really don't like that my bag is flagged to indicate that there is anything special inside. But maybe I shouldn't worry, I'm sure that no one who touches anyone's bag would think of stealing it.

To quote a famous fictional character, "Stupid is as stupid does."

so while it doesn't specifically say "GUN", it DOES say "steal this bag" to everyone from baggage handlers and maintenance personnel right down to anybody at the arriving baggage carousels who are closer to the chute than you are.....

My next question would be, "what items other than firearms are declared to the airline and would receive this same tag?"

I've declared a firearm in my baggage on Southwest Airlines two times. Most recently was the week before Labor Day.

They never affixed anything to the outside of my bag.

Interestingly some airports they asked me to open the box and they placed the "Firearm declaration tag" inside the box. And at another one they told me that they aren't required to open the box and see the firearm, they just taped the tag to the outside of the box. They did have me wait with the bag until TSA came to run the bag through the scanner.

I've only flown with AA once. Didn't take my gun, but it was still a joke. Poor service. Never again. We have enjoyed EVERY time we've used Southwest.

I'm going out on a limb and guessing that bags with that tag were _supposed_ to have been pulled and kept in the cage where you have to talk to an attendant to retrieve it (i.e., BSO)--but they only implemented half the process.

Every time I have used AA & declared a firearm they tagged my luggage & had to pick it up at the BSO,was told it would never go to the carousel . I was surprised when I picked up my bag they just asked for my name but did not ask for any id. I thought the same when they tagged my bag that it would mean there was a firearm in there & hoping it would not get stolen.

n5wmk wrote:Week before last, I traveled to Tucson. Like the previous 4 times that I have gone there recently, I carried my unloaded handgun properly packed per TSA and AA requirements. No problems with the ticket agent or TSA, but there was difference on this last trip compared to the other trips. Previously, the AA agent taped the declaration form the outside of the hard case inside my checked bag, and escorted me to the TSA x-ray location, where I waited while that person opened the bag, viewed the hard case and form, did an explosive residue wipe, and said all was OK.

This last trip, the ticket agent tied a 3x5 (approx) orange card to the handle on my bag. In large black letters were the words "Return to BSO". That bag was routed to the TSA for scanning, and then went onto the plane. I figured (wrongly) that the orange card would be removed after TSA was finished, or by AA when they got their hands on it again. But when I retrieved my bag at the carousel in Tucson, there was the orange card still attached.

When I repeated the process in Tucson for return to DFW, that ticket agent also attached the same kind of orange card. So I asked her what BSO meant - she said Baggage Service Operations. Then I said "So, now everyone knows that my bag contains a firearm?" She said "No, it doesn't mean it has a firearm, we put that on all bags with high-value items."

She said it's a new policy with AA. I haven't traveled with any other airline while checking a firearm, so I don't know how others handle this.

To me, it's an indicator that this particular bag might be worth stealing, since it contains something valuable, whether it's a firearm or something else. But how many people check in a bag with something expensive in it and tell the ticket agent, unless they're required to like when checking an unloaded firearm? I really don't like that my bag is flagged to indicate that there is anything special inside. But maybe I shouldn't worry, I'm sure that no one who touches anyone's bag would think of stealing it.

Yeah that does sound like they put a flashing sign on it saying "Steal Me!" "Steal Me!"

Glad you were able to make to Arizona and back without a greedy baggage handler,(or anyone else who knows about the orange tag) becoming the owner of your gun. Evidently that is an airline policy, and not TSA.

Consider also that the tag increases the visibility of the bag to supervisors and other handlers, so that it receives more scrutiny, and makes a thief less likely to act if they think they are being watched?

oohrah wrote:Consider also that the tag increases the visibility of the bag to supervisors and other handlers, so that it receives more scrutiny, and makes a thief less likely to act if they think they are being watched?

How about I tear off the bright orange "steal me" tag and then steal it?

TSA takes personal responsibility for that bag with the gun. If someone steals it there will be hell to pay with TSA.

It wouldn't look good for them to lose a gun by theft from an airliner they are charged to protect especially after taking custody of the bag.

Tex

thetexan wrote:TSA takes personal responsibility for that bag with the gun. If someone steals it there will be heck to pay with TSA.

It wouldn't look good for them to lose a gun by theft from an airliner they are charged to protect especially after taking custody of the bag.

Tex

Good luck holding a government agency accountable.

It's probably just as likely that the airline would lose the bag. At least I can protect against a quick grab of my hard-sided safe by running the cable through the chassis of my luggage.

To be clear, in both cases when I arrived in Tucson and DFW, I did not have to go to the special area where over-sized luggage like golf clubs or skis would go to get my bag. Both times, my orange tagged bag came off the carousel just like every other bag. And I was not told by the ticket agent that I would need to do anything special to pick it up at the other end.

I've flown to Savannah, Jacksonville and Charlotte with weapons (SA's) and had no real issue. Apparently the TSA Boss in JAX was a new transfer from New Jork and had a woody for guns and their owners. I had to purchase an extra set of locks in the gift shop so the Pelican Case with the firearm couldn't be cracked. Now, I keep the extra locks under the foam in the Pelican Cases just in case... Also, I use a really small (1720 I think) Pelican for my ammo which seems to be fine in the view of the Airlines and TSA.

Flying is part and parcel of my job. I do 120 legs per year, at least every year and in order to maximize the benefit to me, fly AA almost exclusively. They treat their Business Customers very well and have been successful in retaining my loyalty. For me, Southwest is a miserable experience. I don't like the cattle call line up to board or the lack of assigned seating. Add to that, Love is a lot further from the house than DFW and the parking is worse.

Jeff B.

mr1337 wrote:

thetexan wrote:TSA takes personal responsibility for that bag with the gun. If someone steals it there will be heck to pay with TSA.

It wouldn't look good for them to lose a gun by theft from an airliner they are charged to protect especially after taking custody of the bag.

Tex

Good luck holding a government agency accountable.

....

[emphasis added]

Exactly. TSA is not even held accountable for massively failing to detect smuggled weapons in carry-ons when tested by inspectors. As for theft itself, the TSA pretty much absolves themselves of any responsibility. If they happen to trip over an employee in the act, they might fire him, but that's about it.