Flying with Hand Guns

[Rumpshot]

Okay, here is the scoop. Son's wedding in Austin, TX. Flight from Phoenix to Austin. What do you all use to travel with a handgun by air travel? Single revolver only. Will acquire boolits in TX.

CC. will arrive Wed April 8 about 1 pm. The wedding is Friday evening. I leave Sunday noonish. Can you assist in some shooting fun in Austin with those constraints. There may be up to 5 others tagging along, including the groom.

[sam]

You will need a small lockable hard sided case. Put your pistol in that. Then put that into your (lockable recommended) checked luggage. When you check in, tell the agent you are declaring an unloaded firearm, not "I have a gun." That might not turn out well.

The agent will then ask you to show the firearm is unloaded. Remove small locked case from luggage, put on counter. Wait for instructions. When asked, show agent firearm is unlocked. Try apply the four rules as best you can.

You will then need to fill out a small tag, provided by the ticket agent, and then put it with the weapon, lock the small case, put that into your checked luggage, lock that, then wait until your case clears TSA (in case they need to inspect your luggage), then go catch your flight.

At your destination, you may have to go to a special area to pick up your luggage, show baggage tag receipts, show ID, or two of those, or all three.

Enjoy!

ETA: more information, and for clarity.

[Fivetoes]

May want to consider mailing the gun to yourself if you have an address to send it to. Of course you will be unarmed for a short time until you pick it up.

[Netpackrat]

There is no need to leave your ammo behind, it just has to be in either its original packaging, or some other ammo case like you would buy for handloaded rounds. IIRC, it also cannot be in the locked container with the firearm(s).

Edit to add: Sometime during the 80s, my dad checked one box of 7mm Weatherby Magnum ammunition on Alaska Airlines, without a bag. I'm not sure what the circumstances were, but I wish I had saved the box, that had the checked baggage stickers across the ends. He probably hit Great Northern Guns on his way to the airport, and only had a carry-on bag or something.

[Rumpshot]

Should have included the disclaimer we are flying with Southwest. Any experience with them and flying with guns would be appreciated.

[sam]

Should have included the disclaimer we are flying with Southwest. Any experience with them and flying with guns would be appreciated.

I've flown Southwest several times with both handguns, and long guns. In my experience, SWA is professional, and very familiar with passengers checking guns. IIRC, you are limited to checking 11lbs. of ammo without paying additional fees. Check their website.

Edited for clarity.

[arctictom]

Each airline has their own rules , In Alaska we just have the in a locked case and ammo separate rule for Alaska Airlines , suggest you call the airline and ask , asap.
And have fun and good luck with the new in laws.

[mekender]

the law is specific... you must use a locked case and only you may have the key or combination... sometimes the TSA will ask for the key, but that is against the law... up to you if you wish to make a stink over that or not.

[Dedicated_Dad]

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/guns.html

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm

Anybody know what happened to my post from Feb. 08?

DD

ETA: I carried my carry-ammo in magazines, mags in plastic harmonica cases, cases in slots in foam inside steel box with pistols, inside locked suitcase.

Print the airline and TSA stuff and take it with you. When they started nonsense, I very (VERY) politely and calmly pointed out what the regs said. They backed off.

If they hadn't, I'd probably have done what they said - being right won't keep some TSA jack-boot from ruining your trip...

HTH!!

DD

[randy]

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/guns.html

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... _1666.shtm

Anybody know what happened to my post from Feb. 08?

DD

Unless someone (like you for instance) grabbed it form the old Gun Thing forum during the window when they were available, it went into the bitbucket when GT was shut down.