Are you new to flying with a gun on a commercial flight in the US? Hopefully this article will help.
Disclaimer: you have to do your own research for your specific airline, airport and the TSA. This article is generic and is not to be interpreted as the law or policy, it is only my experiences. We are not responsible for changes or incorrect information in this article and or links from this article.
I have been flying with a gun (firearm) for many many years. The first thing I will say is there is nothing consistent when it comes to traveling with a firearm. The only thing consistent is to always expect nothing to be consistent. There may be a difference between traveling with a handgun versus a rifle, though recently they have been treating them the same at some airports.
I think it is good that there is no consistency when it comes to traveling with a firearm. If there was consistency it would be easier for bad guys to find a way to circumvent the security policies. So keep in mind when you travel with a firearm to expect the unexpected.
The first thing you need to do when you want to travel with a firearm is to check the firearm rules for your airline. Some airlines make it difficult to find their firearm policy. I don’t fly those airlines. I have the links below for some of the larger airlines.
- American Airlines
- Delta Airlines (under Sports Equipment)
- United Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
Once you find the airlines policy I would print it out and have it with you when you check in at the airport. I have found many airline employees do not know their own policy. Be ready to show them the policy and be ready for a supervisor to be called.
When you check in at the the airport you typically will have to check in at the main ticket counter. You will probably be able to check in at a kiosk on your outbound flight but when you check your bags they will not take them at the kiosk checked bags section. They will make you go to the main ticket counter. I have found the reason for this is they only have the declaration paperwork at the main ticket counters. Plus kiosks are for quick processing and filling out paperwork slows things down.
On return flights some airlines flag your ticket with “traveling with firearms” so you can’t check in online or at the kiosk. American Airlines does this. Keep in mind if you have multiple parties on the same itinerary they will not be able to check in when returning either. My wife makes me aware of this every time we travel together as she hates not being able to check in.
What case I use when traveling with a handgun
I have a very specific process when I travel with handguns. I have tried many ways but found this is the best way with little to no hassle. I have a dedicated hard case for my handguns. It does count as an extra bag but to me it is worth it. The case is also big enough so the airlines do not try to force me to put it inside my regular luggage. If you put a case inside your regular luggage you are almost guaranteed for your regular luggage to get searched. A good percentage of the time my regular luggage is searched something is missing or broken. So I try to limit that risk by not putting my gun case inside my luggage.
Here is the case I have been using for 15 years for my handguns. It is an SKB handgun case, it looks like it is discontinued now. But there are many like this by SKB and Pelican. You need a really good, strong and tight case. We all know how luggage is handled by the airlines. It needs to have locks on it or allow for pad locks to be put through it.
The TSA has specifics that you will want to read and be aware of when it comes to approved containers / luggage. You can find that information here. From the TSA website “Firearms must be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container and transported as checked baggage only. As defined by 49 CFR 1540.5 a loaded firearm has a live round of ammunition, or any component thereof, in the chamber or cylinder or in a magazine inserted in the firearm. Only the passenger should retain the key or combination to the lock unless TSA personnel request the key to open the firearm container to ensure compliance with TSA regulations. You may use any brand or type of lock to secure your firearm case, including TSA-recognized locks.”
How I pack my firearms for travel
The way I pack my items in the case is very specific. First I carry more than handguns in my case. I carry knives, flashlights and other “tools” that I carry everyday on me. The case I use has a few layers of foam. The knives, flashlights and tools I place under the first layer of foam. Then the only thing I place on the main foam are gun related items. Handguns, magazines and the ammo in the original box. The magazines are not inside the handguns.
I do not lock the slide back on my handguns. I also do not put anything in the chamber like a chamber flag. The reason why I don’t lock the slide back is it most likely won’t stay that way. When they toss the luggage around it most likely will go forward. I found this out multiple times. Second, I don’t put anything in the chamber because they will x-ray the case. And if it looks like there is something in the chamber you will hear your name over the loud speaker. So I make it very easy for them to verify the chamber is empty. The same reason I keep the magazines out of the handguns. Easy for them to see via x-ray that it is unloaded.
What to expect at the ticket counter
As I already stated, expect anything. I have so many stories about checking in with firearms and airline employees. The worst ones are the anti-gun employees that seem to purposely make it difficult. You may find there are a decent amount of these people working at the airlines. One airline and airport has one of these employees that I’m pretty sure hates me. Every time I travel there I get the same hassles from this person. It is almost a game now.
This is the time to be on your game, prepared and focused. Make sure the common sense is flowing when you walk up to the ticket counter. Make sure you understand and have printed (I find printed better) or on your phone the airline and TSA policies.
I place my regular checked luggage on the scale first. When they ask how many bags I tell them, which includes my handgun case. I then tell them I have a declaration. This is when things get interesting. If the employee knows how to deal with firearms they will hand you the declaration form. They will typically ask what luggage it is in. I tell them it is in this case. They usually tag all your regular luggage and send it on its way.
You have to sign the declaration form which states that your firearms are unloaded and meet the travel policies. Depending on the airline and the employee dictates what happens next. Most of the time they will want you to open the case. They want to look to see what is in it and how it is organized. They should not be touching anything inside your case. It is not their job to physically check to see if your firearms are unloaded. I did have this happen one time and I immediately asked for a supervisor and the TSA. The TSA came and told the airline employee not to touch the firearms.
When I open my case I do it so other people can’t see what is inside it. Because the way I organize my case it is very easy and quick for the employee to see I know what I am doing and it is proper. Most of the time when I travel now they quickly look and then place the declaration inside the case and tell me to close it. I never let the case out of my control during this process. Once I close the case I immediately lock it. That is when I will let the employee have it.
Each airport and airline is different when it comes to the next part. Recently, they have been putting the case on the conveyor belt like normal luggage. Years ago, you would have to take it to a TSA checkpoint for inspection. Sometimes an airline runner would walk with you and other times you would walk it to TSA.
It is not uncommon for the TSA agents to ask you for the keys or to unlock the case. I think most the time they just want to see what cool stuff you have. I have never had an issue with the TSA agents and my firearms. Most the time they will ask if I really carry all that stuff. My response is “don’t you?” 🙂
If the airline employee (ticket agent) put it on the conveyor belt this TSA process will happen in the background. So you need to listen for your name over the loud speakers. Typically, this will occur shortly after you check the bag. The reason they are calling you is so you can open the case. Ever since I have been following the process outlined in this article I don’t get my named called.
If you don’t hear your name and or the TSA took your case from you, you should be good. Next, what to expect when you land.
What to expect when you go to baggage claim
Once again it depends on the airlines and more so the airport for claiming your firearms. At some airports your firearms will come out with the regular luggage. It always blows my mind when this happens. It happens often. Sometimes your case will go to the oversized counter so they can verify your identity. This does not happen that often. At some airports they will walk your case from the airplane to the security office. It takes forever, maybe 30 minutes longer. You will hear your name and to go to the security office. You will have to show your ID to get your case.
I won’t state what airports do which for obvious reasons. And sometimes those airports are inconsistent. Just be aware and start with the regular luggage claim area and wait. If all the bags come off and your case is not there, it most likely is going to the security office. Also, check the oversized area. Then just wait for your name to be called over the loud speaker. If my bag is not with the regular luggage I just go to the security office and stand outside. When I see the person walking with it I know it is mine.
I get asked what I do once I get my case. The thing I don’t do is open it up in the middle of the airport and start loading my magazines. Typically I will rent a car, once I’m in the rental car I will load and holster everything. My holsters I put in my regular luggage.
Other things and thoughts
When checking in I have had some strange things happen. I have been escorted to secure rooms. One airline employee thought I was a federal agent by default. Of course I never said anything, pretended or implied I was. I’m pretty sure it was the way I was dressed. I was waived through security one time when a TSA agent escorted me. Every time this has happened I immediately stopped them and told them I think something is not right.
If this happens I recommend not to make a scene and to make it easy for them to not look bad. I have heard similar things from other people who travel with firearms. I will say it has not happened recently but I am also not traveling as much as I use to. So be prepared and use common sense. If they take you through a side room to bypass security you should say something. If TSA takes you to the security line separate from everyone else and they are going to check your case, there is probably something wrong. If you end up with a firearm on the secure side you are going to have some issues.
Some airlines will put a tag on your case that identifies it as a firearm. Some airline employees will not put it on the case. Some will put it inside and others will put it on the handle. I just deal with it.
When I pack my case you will notice I keep a decent amount of space between items. If you don’t want your stuff scratched and dinged you need to put it in the case so if they touch from bouncing around it will not hurt them. I can’t tell you how many times I have opened my case and everything is touching. I have different cases I could use so there is foam between each gun but I like this case. To me they are tools and have scratches and dings from traveling.
Traveling with a rifle and rifle case is not much different. Some airports and airlines it is exactly the same as above. Other airports they treat it as oversized luggage. And some places they treat it like regular luggage minus the declaration and put it on the conveyor belt but make you take handguns to the TSA inspection.
Lithium batteries. If you notice my guns have Trijicon RMR’s on them which take lithium batteries. You need to follow the airline and TSA rules. You may need to remove the batteries and carry them on with you.
One last thing, you need to make sure where you are traveling to is legal for you to bring your firearm. Some cities and states have very restricted laws. Just traveling to those places could get you in big trouble once you step off the plane. Think about layovers and connecting flights too. What if you have a layover in New York City at JFK?
