After reading everything related to air travel on this forum, I almost decided not to carry while on Christmas vacation. I was stressing big time after reading all the horror stories. The closer the time came to leave, the more naked I felt so... I decided on bringing my wheelgun.
The flight to Vegas from Houston was normal. I was expecting major delays after declaring my firearm to the airline. The check in lady ask to visually see it that it was unloaded, checked the lock, made me fill out the form, (forgot to have me sign it on the back); stuck it to the gun case and off it went. I ask her if TSA was supposed to some over and check it and she they would "down stairs". I was concerned after reading some of the reports on this forum so I went to some TSA guys and ask if this was right and they said yes. Gun arrived in Vegas without any problems. (I didn't carry in NV but did as soon as we entered AZ on the way to the inlaws).
This morning in Phoenix a different policy. (I didn't know what to expect after the Christmas day failed attack) I declared it to the check in lady, she called over a guy who took me and the suitcase over to TSA where they ran it thru the xray machine. They put a little orange sticker on the outside of baggage tape that the airline put on. Never opened my bag (except to stick on the form to the gun case) and they never ask to open the lock and visually inspect the gun to see that it was unloaded. Arrived back in Houston with no problems. To different airports (same airline), two different policies.
My advice: read the airlines policy and follow to a T; read and bring copies of the airline and TSA requirements; have a copy of your CHL handy; use plastic ties on the barrel/chamber; use your own lock on the gun case (I used the original case the gun came in with a small combination lock. I did not lock the suitcase or cable lock it to the frame of the suitcase); say something like "I have an unloaded, locked firearm (not weapon) to declare in this suitcase"; use a non descript suitcase and be ready for each agent and each airport to put their own spin/twist to the whole process. There doesn't seem to be a uniform process which caused me to stress a little but all in all, it was a hassel free process which maybe added five min's to check in.
There was one idiot on the trip... and that was me! I used the barrel cable lock that came with the gun but didn't bring the key! Off to Home Depot to buy small cable cutters and I was back in business. OK... I'm an idiot:tumbleweed:
Good luck to those travelling. I hope it goes as well for you as it did for me.
The flight to Vegas from Houston was normal. I was expecting major delays after declaring my firearm to the airline. The check in lady ask to visually see it that it was unloaded, checked the lock, made me fill out the form, (forgot to have me sign it on the back); stuck it to the gun case and off it went. I ask her if TSA was supposed to some over and check it and she they would "down stairs". I was concerned after reading some of the reports on this forum so I went to some TSA guys and ask if this was right and they said yes. Gun arrived in Vegas without any problems. (I didn't carry in NV but did as soon as we entered AZ on the way to the inlaws).
This morning in Phoenix a different policy. (I didn't know what to expect after the Christmas day failed attack) I declared it to the check in lady, she called over a guy who took me and the suitcase over to TSA where they ran it thru the xray machine. They put a little orange sticker on the outside of baggage tape that the airline put on. Never opened my bag (except to stick on the form to the gun case) and they never ask to open the lock and visually inspect the gun to see that it was unloaded. Arrived back in Houston with no problems. To different airports (same airline), two different policies.
My advice: read the airlines policy and follow to a T; read and bring copies of the airline and TSA requirements; have a copy of your CHL handy; use plastic ties on the barrel/chamber; use your own lock on the gun case (I used the original case the gun came in with a small combination lock. I did not lock the suitcase or cable lock it to the frame of the suitcase); say something like "I have an unloaded, locked firearm (not weapon) to declare in this suitcase"; use a non descript suitcase and be ready for each agent and each airport to put their own spin/twist to the whole process. There doesn't seem to be a uniform process which caused me to stress a little but all in all, it was a hassel free process which maybe added five min's to check in.
There was one idiot on the trip... and that was me! I used the barrel cable lock that came with the gun but didn't bring the key! Off to Home Depot to buy small cable cutters and I was back in business. OK... I'm an idiot:tumbleweed:
Good luck to those travelling. I hope it goes as well for you as it did for me.
