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Sorry to add information that may not agree with what you've previously been told, but if those are TSA locks they are likely no go. As I understand it, you should have non-TSA and non-combination locks. You will take the bag from the ticket counter to the special TSA inspection area and show them the contents before locking, then you toss in the declaration form and lock it up. Only you will maintain a key and that is the important part here...they don't want anyone (including TSA agents) to have access to the contents after it has passed inspection. This is the way I've been instructed and I spend a lot of time in airports, so you may want to verify.

Thanks for posting that. It needs to be checked to make sure. You may save someone one more reason to get held up at check in.
 
What 762pilot says...TSA locks are a NO GO for the firearm case. You must have a lock that you have the key (or combination) and only you (not that anyone will know). I lock my suitcase after inspection (at PDX) with a TSA lock but I use two matching keyed padlocks on the hard case inside. I also use a steel cable to attach the case to the main bag (not fool proof but and additional step. One of the TSA folks suggested it at PDX and I've been doing this for about two years. Another thing I've been doing for the past year or so (not required) is to use one of the dozen cable lock I have laying around on the firearm itself. My thought is this is one more step to prevent someone from taking my gun and using it.

Flew out of PDX and New Orleans last weekend (just made it out)!
 
I appreciate the heads up on the locks. They are not TSA locks just strait combination. I was curious about what happened after checking my bag with the airline though. Is it a lengthy process getting the bag through the "Special TSA Inspection Area"?
 
Sorry to add information that may not agree with what you've previously been told, but if those are TSA locks they are likely no go.

I can verify this TSA locks are a no go, and some one was saying they eliminated some kind of tag as the steal me tag, uh, any airline baggage handler seeing a non tsa lock on a small high quality case, well, that is the new steal me tag as non tsa locks are only allowed on one kind of baggage GUNS.

Concerning baggage theft and guns, if your flying point to point and not going through a large hub your probably going to be fine. If you are flying from one side of the country to the other and connecting through a major hub DON'T BRING YOUR GUN AND TRY TO FLY/Ship it with the air line. Ship it to yourself at the address where you are traveling to and select the option of signature required or pick up at shipping hub or risk losing that gun.

Oh, and one more point I wish to make, NO ONE FLIES WITH GUNS, I'm flying with my gun implies you are going to walk on to the plane with your gun. IN FACT, you are shipping your gun with the air line, you are NOT flying with your gun.

I last flew and shipped a gun on the air line in 2013 when I flew down to cali to make the final arrangements when my father passed. I brought back his gun and shipped it with the air line. I found a nice small metal case and non TSA lock, as I was instructed when I called the air line and had no issues, though I was nervous as he-ll as I really did not want to lose that gun due to sentimental value. At age 9 it was the gun my father taught me to shoot with and the first gun I ever shot.

Bob

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Airports are different. My home airport is PDX. With them you take your bag to the oversized area and wait while they do the inspection. Typically I'm done in less than 5 minutes. Rare occasion 10. This is a good opportunity to ask questions to the TSA agents.

Most other airports you leave your bag with the ticket agent. Some ask that you hang around for 10 to 15 minutes in case STA has any questions or needs to get into your locked container. Most tell you to go to the gate and they will page you of needed. In 50 plus flights from these airports I've never been paged.

Hope this helps.
 
Thanks for all of the input guys. I am flying with my wife so I really would hate to miss or delay my flight. I plan on getting there 1 1/2 - 2 hours early
 
The bad news is.....the Eagle Creek fire crossed the river..........it looked like we could possibly get evacuated so we cancelled our trip until next spring. The good news is....I have all of the information and "equipment" I need for "next time".
 
So I guess it's not just what airport you fly to, it's also what carrier you use.
Checked my EDC yesterday at the airport. The ticket agent doesn't even ask to see that the weapon is clear and the ammo is properly packed.
When I'm at TSA checking it in, the agent runs over, "was your gun unloaded?" "Yes, would you like to see? You know, you're supposed to check that at the counter." She replies, "you look like you know what you're doing." I say, "that kind of thinking gets you hurt with firearms, and the mistakes are terminal."
At the destination, it just slides down the ramp like normal oversize luggage, right there with ski, and snowboard bags.
I grab it, go to the luggage office, "do I need to have you sign off on this?"
They look surprised, "What, are you transporting a firearm?" o_O
me: "yes"
Them : "that's not a Pelican case."
me : "it is a locked pelican case."
them : "we have a lot of locked pelican cases come through here. I mean it's not a rifle case -- it doesn't look like a gun case."
me : "yes, I mark them like it's business equipment, I don't want to advertise that I have a gun in my case."
This case I use could fit two pistols, and two AR Pistol/SBRs. In this one, I had instruments, ammo and my EDC gear. The instruments were easily worth 5x the cost of the Kimber.
I thank them and leave.
 
So I guess it's not just what airport you fly to, it's also what carrier you use.
Checked my EDC yesterday at the airport. The ticket agent doesn't even ask to see that the weapon is clear and the ammo is properly packed.
When I'm at TSA checking it in, the agent runs over, "was your gun unloaded?" "Yes, would you like to see? You know, you're supposed to check that at the counter." She replies, "you look like you know what you're doing." I say, "that kind of thinking gets you hurt with firearms, and the mistakes are terminal."
At the destination, it just slides down the ramp like normal oversize luggage, right there with ski, and snowboard bags.
I grab it, go to the luggage office, "do I need to have you sign off on this?"
They look surprised, "What, are you transporting a firearm?" o_O
me: "yes"
Them : "that's not a Pelican case."
me : "it is a locked pelican case."
them : "we have a lot of locked pelican cases come through here. I mean it's not a rifle case -- it doesn't look like a gun case."
me : "yes, I mark them like it's business equipment, I don't want to advertise that I have a gun in my case."
This case I use could fit two pistols, and two AR Pistol/SBRs. In this one, I had instruments, ammo and my EDC gear. The instruments were easily worth 5x the cost of the Kimber.
I thank them and leave.

This is why I have for years "tried" to warn people about flying with a gun. There is plain and simple written guidelines easily seen from both the TSA and the different airlines. The big rub here is you are not dealing with a robot when you get to the airport. You are going to deal with humans. Many of these humans are stupid, anti gun, power hungry, some times you win the trifecta, you get one who is all of these. I cringe when I read posts where someone says "hey I went to see the kids and it was a snap going both ways". That's great until others think this in going to happen to them so they show up with not much cushion time wise and run into some morons. Then they miss a flight because for them it was not a snap. It is supposed to be easy. That does not mean it will always be. Want to fly with a gun? Read everything from the airline and TSA BEFORE you pack. Then show up PLENTY early. If you followed the rules it "should" be easy. If it is take something to entertain yourself on the other side after you get checked in and relax. Don't show up with little time cushion unless it's no big deal to miss the flight.
 
This is why I have for years "tried" to warn people about flying with a gun. There is plain and simple written guidelines easily seen from both the TSA and the different airlines. The big rub here is you are not dealing with a robot when you get to the airport. You are going to deal with humans. Many of these humans are stupid, anti gun, power hungry, some times you win the trifecta, you get one who is all of these. I cringe when I read posts where someone says "hey I went to see the kids and it was a snap going both ways". That's great until others think this in going to happen to them so they show up with not much cushion time wise and run into some morons. Then they miss a flight because for them it was not a snap. It is supposed to be easy. That does not mean it will always be. Want to fly with a gun? Read everything from the airline and TSA BEFORE you pack. Then show up PLENTY early. If you followed the rules it "should" be easy. If it is take something to entertain yourself on the other side after you get checked in and relax. Don't show up with little time cushion unless it's no big deal to miss the flight.
Yeah, PDX is usually a PITA in the early AM, so I checked in 2-1/4 hours before my departure time. It was easy.
The Anti-2A mentality is exactly WHY I mark my cases like they are business equipment. I've had agents roll eyes, ask me why I have a gun, etc.
Fortunately, I haven't met anyone who expressed strong anti-gun sentiment.

My favorite time was checking in at PDX once, the agent was a roll-eyes type. The guy next to me was checking one in also, we had a great conversation about shooting - made both agents uncomfortable. :D
 
Yeah, PDX is usually a PITA in the early AM, so I checked in 2-1/4 hours before my departure time. It was easy.
The Anti-2A mentality is exactly WHY I mark my cases like they are business equipment. I've had agents roll eyes, ask me why I have a gun, etc.
Fortunately, I haven't met anyone who expressed strong anti-gun sentiment.

My favorite time was checking in at PDX once, the agent was a roll-eyes type. The guy next to me was checking one in also, we had a great conversation about shooting - made both agents uncomfortable. :D

My all time favorite was Wife one time. At counter she tells agent she has a gun to check. He flatly said "you can NOT check a gun. Some other employee standing there who I never did figure out what he did is hearing this. Wife looks at me, I step up and tell moron could you please call a supervisor. He turns red, says it will change nothing but does call. We step aside to wait and let others check. This other moron who was standing there is loudly telling other employees going by, "This guy wants to take a gun on the plane". Lot's of stares at us. When supervisor shows he goes through the procedure, gun is broken down in case, he looks, puts sticker card in case has me lock it. Lock the case it's in and gives boarding pass to Wife. I kiss her goodby and leave. I could feel the stares at my back. That was the last time I checked one through. We seldom fly but when we do now it's to see family so guns I want to take get shipped to the house before we leave. Just before we go to airport to come back they are shipped back to me and show up here a few days after we get home. To me it's just part of the cost of flying. I don't have the patience to deal with idiots any more and will pay to avoid it when I can.
 
I appreciate the heads up on the locks. They are not TSA locks just strait combination. I was curious about what happened after checking my bag with the airline though. Is it a lengthy process getting the bag through the "Special TSA Inspection Area"?

Get there EARLY in case of high volumes of travelers, it can get hectic. Do not try & BS with them, let them do their job. Yhis area of TSA are not the dufases patting people down.
 
FWIW I traveled/flew this past October with a whole case full of firearms and it was a non issue. Alaska Airlines Seattle to Minneapolis. Non-stop flight. I was flying in paid first, usually it means you won't have someone brand new checking you in at the premium counter but AS transports a lot of firearms and I have never had an issue with them. Standard Pelican case, large one containing 5 handguns and one rifle as well as a small amount of ammunition and a couple knives. Rolled up to the counter, ticket agent handed me the declaration form just based on the case before I even stated I had "unloaded firearms" to declare. From there walked 20 feet to the TSA special baggage kiosk thing, waited for them to finish up the guy ahead of me. Didn't ask a thing, just looked at the form, said good to go and off I went. Bag went with an AS employee to baggage. Total process took an extra 3 to 5 minutes.

On arrival in MSP I was instructed to retrieve my bag from the specialty baggage window. I was one of the first off the plane, arrived at baggage claim and both bags (special and regular) arrived together at the desk before the carousel even started up. They checked my baggage claim tags and ID and I was on my way. I was at my rental car while others on the flight were still waiting for bags.

Leaving MSP similar process, walked up declared that I had "unloaded firearms" to declare. Filled out form and slipped it into case. Was then escorted to a room behind the ticket counters. TSA agent ran machine into some sort of scanner. Got a green light and off it went. Again never opened nor was I asked about the contents. Interestingly I was told by a few people to make sure I clean the weapons thoroughly before my return flight. I figured it wasn't that big a deal, they expect them to get used. As it was I didn't have the time to clean them. Non-issue. They could care less and had no impact checking them in for the return flight.

On my return to SEA it was similar to MSP. My bags were arriving at Alaska baggage office as I was walking up. Checked ID and I was out the door again before the carousel started with the regular bags. All in all it was worth checking firearms just to get the bags faster. An extra 3 to 5 minutes before the flight made a 20 to 30 minute difference at the end of each flight.

I might add I was headed to Northern Wisconsin and deliberately flew into MSP to avoid any stops or plane changes to reduce my chances of things going wrong. It meant a 3 hour drive to my destination however the nearest airport still would have resulted in a 2.5 hour drive, and a 3 hour layover/plane change in Chicago. I was OK with the extra drive time to save the layover and decrease my exposure to potential problems.
 
I wonder what happens when flying with a gun and things don't go right. I recall a story where a fellow ended up with an unplanned stayover in NJ or NY and had to re-take possession of his guns. If I recall correctly, he was arrested for possession of a firearm banned in that state. I think he prevailed but his lawyers probably got a new yacht out of the deal.

That maybe what FOPA protects us from, not sure.
 
I'm interested in a case to buy....want a bigger sturdy one (pelican is only one I feel ok with right now) ....looking to pack a G26 and AR-9 pistol (>24") with 2 10rd G-mags and 4 AR 33rd mags....would love to hear what people like. I might even want to roll with a 5.56 pistol included with Pmags later (or sooner) if I can find a nicer larger case. I just want the case to be ok for optics.....my first transport will be without.
 
The Biggest problem is that even with written instructions it doesn't mean the things will be handled the same way where ever you go. I know that is what is supposed to happen but it doesn't always. Several years back I took a Winchester 94 and a Glock back to the Midwest. I had taken the stock off the 94 and placed it in a hard side suitcase. The Glock was in another. That was the rules. Went I left SeaTac I had left the ammo for the Glock in the magazines; at SeaTac that was just fine. When I was returning through East Grand Forks I had to unload the Magazines and place as much of the ammo in an "Original" ammo box and throw the rest in the Trash. The box I had wasn't the correct one for that ammo but it was acceptable to TSA. I have no doubt that the TSA clowns got that very expensive out of the can before we got off the ground.:mad::mad::mad:
 
I'm interested in a case to buy....want a bigger sturdy one (pelican is only one I feel ok with right now) ....looking to pack a G26 and AR-9 pistol (>24") with 2 10rd G-mags and 4 AR 33rd mags....would love to hear what people like. I might even want to roll with a 5.56 pistol included with Pmags later (or sooner) if I can find a nicer larger case. I just want the case to be ok for optics.....my first transport will be without.
Chief, what's the OAL of your AR Pistol broken down?
 
I think PDX is the easiest airport to fly out of with firearms. Did it again today for about the 20th time this year. Extra 5 minutes max, as usual. Sometimes it's 10 if there is a cello in front of me at oversize. SFO a few weeks ago, much more of a process, about an extra 20 minutes and they wanted me to unlock my hardsided case inside my other bag...out in the open with 100 people around. Very poor process. SJC (San Jose) has a new process and they call for your key after you are already inside security. Unfortunately you are not likely to hear them...missed my flight a few months ago because of this. PDX, much better. Along with Southwest.
 
... I wonder what happens when flying with a gun and things don't go right ...

The reason you are wondering is that this hardly if ever happens anymore. The horror stories you hear of are all old ... pre FOPA and the like. That or they are a very rare one-off situation (or the teller of the story is embellishing). Both TSA and the carriers got a ton of bad press over this back in the '80s and have cleaned up their acts. Years ago, as I was working on an MBA I did a case study with several classmates. One was a TSA process engineer. We studied traveler complaints and the steps that had been used to resolve them, focusing on two areas. The first was the human screening process and the second was shipping of special class items. So I have some insight into the history of this issue and the steps that were taken to resolve them.

It's really very simple to protect yourself from an agent who is not well trained or misunderstands the system. Go to the TSA website and the websites of any carrier with whom you are flying. Print the firearm instructions and bring the copies with you. If you get an agent that does not know the rules politely show them the pages. If a problem still exists, politely ask for a supervisor. The supervisor will take care of the situation by taking care of the customer.

This, of course, assumes you follow the instructions as stated. This means ammo in proper containers (magazines don't count), empty firearm, proper case and locks proper declaration etc. (just read the rules). Firearms are checked as baggage thousands of times a day in this country ... it's not a big deal at all. Violate a rule and all bets are off however. The same holds if you are a jerk, don't underestimate the power of an airline agent! These folks can and many times will make your life a "bit uncomfortable" if you can't act like an adult!

Having documentation hold true when checking as baggage any controlled item. PCP and CO2 air guns have special rules. Certain liquids, chemicals, perishables, items in dry ice, pressurized equipment, pets, etc. These all have special rules, so get the info on the particular item you are shipping and follow the instruction to the letter. And, again print and bring copies of the info with you.

I fly out of PDX about a dozen times per year to all sorts of places nationwide with never a problem going or coming. I have had to show the instructions on a number of occasions. It ends up with me getting on with my flight and receiving thank you's from the agents who where not quite up to speed.
 
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