BDH Posted July 19, 2003 Share Posted July 19, 2003 I'm flying up to work Area 3 in a couple of days, and was also planning on shooting the match. Soooo, I decided to come here and check out all the latest flying with guns threads, etc. Nothing like reading a lot of stories of hassles, broken locks, general incompetent jackwads, etc., to get me all excited about flying our 'Friendly Skies'. I did fly with my gun to and from the Bend Nationals last year, with absolutely no hassles (but I think that must have been before all the TSA dudes came aboard to bust into everyone's luggage). Also, I know that many of you, and certainly all the USPSA 'big dawgs' are flying with guns all the time, so maybe the horror stories are just 1 in a 1000 or something like that. However, at this point, I'm not sure it is worth the hassle. I'm really going up to work it, and was just going to shoot it for fun. Am I just being a Big Wimp on this? (wow, does this ever leave me open and exposed!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detlef Posted July 19, 2003 Share Posted July 19, 2003 yes. --Detlef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilTerry Posted July 19, 2003 Share Posted July 19, 2003 My experience is limited to Continental Airlines out of Houston - on the trips I have taken my guns this year to Orlando and Charleston the Continental ground staff at Houston and both the other airports were efficient, knowledgeable and helpful. The TSA personnel are fine particularly if you leave them with the impression that you "do this all the time". One interesting detail of the rules concerning ammunition - the allowance ( which actually has never been checked in my own case) is 11# per checked firearm so in my case shooting 40 limited - I throw in a 40 Keltec and can legitimately carry up to 22# of ammunition - 11#equates to just about 250 rounds of 200 grain 40's plus packageing which is usually not quite enough for a big match but 500 is fine. Just go for it! the more of us who transport our guns to matches by air the easier it ought to get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn jones Posted July 19, 2003 Share Posted July 19, 2003 i'm curious about how the luggage is unlock, but the pistol has to be in a locked container. do we bolt the gun case in the luggage? does the ammo now have to be locked in a case of some sort? lynn jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilTerry Posted July 19, 2003 Share Posted July 19, 2003 I carry the pistols in a hard sided lockable case with a combination lock - the procedure Continental use is for the ticket agent to ask that the guns are shown to be unloaded, then you sign off the orange tag and place it in the case with the guns - depending on the location of the TSA X-ray machine or hand-search area the ticket agent takes the checked bag to the TSA or just hands it over if they are near enough, sometimes the TSA agents want to look at the guns themselves, sometimes they don't, I just ask them to spin the combination once they are finished. The ammunition just needs to be in containers of the same type as the original manufacturers with dividers that prevent individual rounds coming into contact with each other - I use old boxes out of the trash at the range - then throw them away as I use them at the match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted July 19, 2003 Share Posted July 19, 2003 take it and shoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhino Posted July 19, 2003 Share Posted July 19, 2003 You could also ship it to yourself at your destination via UPS or FedEx. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George D Posted July 20, 2003 Share Posted July 20, 2003 yes.--Detlef Don't sugar coat it. Tell him straight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm iprod Posted July 20, 2003 Share Posted July 20, 2003 I recently (May) travelled to the US to shoot the Bianchi Cup and flying seemed the best option as I can't swim for 8,000 Miles. I got the neccessary paperwork to take guns into the US (which by the way not a single official checked in the entire 3 weeks I was in the US, none of the Immigration, Customs, TSA or Local Airport Security / Police were remotely interested. Which was just as well as I had a shit load of pre and post ban hicap mags in my bag) and off we went. At Auckland Quatas just checked that they were locked and unloaded and into the suitcase they went. Got them in LA and checked them into American Airlines to go to ST Louis and the TSA asked for my keys, unlocked the bags checked the guns and ammo and locked the cases and handed back the keys. Real helpful. They even repacked 400 rounds of ammo that had fallen out of the 'factory packs' in transit. Then I flew from St Louis to Phoenix two weeks later and there were no hassles in checking in with the guns. The check in asked for the keys checked everything and escorted me to the TSA, who went through the bags and pistols again and sent them on there way. No hassles again. Then one week later I went from Phoenix to LA on the way back to New Zealand and the same thing. Except for the security check by the freindly Phoenix PD outside the Airport. The officer was real suprised when I told him that I had two hand guns and a couple of hundred rounds of assorted ammo and I was wanting to get on an Airplane. Mr Plod and his partner escorted me to the Rental Return and then the AmeriWest check in counter (they even made sure that I was not going to divert the guns anywhere else by carrying some of my gear). The friendly staff at the counter gave me the "he looks really suspect" face when the two cops brought me up to the counter, right passed the long line waiting to get checked in. The TSA were real helpful again and next thing I know I am on a Airplane for 13.5 hrs on my way home. The best part was the look on the faces of all those people in check in when we whipped two very large blasters out of the boxes for inspection. It was priceless. Nearly the best part of the trip. Just be up front, honest and very patient. Get there in plenty of time and don't try and fudge on the requirements. Get real good travel insurance on the pistols just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skywalker Posted July 21, 2003 Share Posted July 21, 2003 BDH, I understand the procedures and all other stuff are different from country to country, but here in Italy I make myself a point (whenever I get the occasion) to fly bringing with me a handgun (I'm licensed to carry). Since (generally speaking), the airlines ground employee don't know a damn thing about their duties, I try to let them learn-on-the job having them go all the way through the procedures they are unaware of. I like to think I'm sort of a teacher for them, and maybe in the future they'll end up knowing how to perform their job. The usual question I get, when I declare a handgun in my luggages, is "why do you want to travel with a gun?", and the answer (invariably) is "because it is a right of mine". BTW, is your nickname going to change to Anakin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricW Posted July 21, 2003 Share Posted July 21, 2003 Then one week later I went from Phoenix to LA on the way back to New Zealand and the same thing. Except for the security check by the freindly Phoenix PD outside the Airport. The officer was real suprised when I told him that I had two hand guns and a couple of hundred rounds of assorted ammo and I was wanting to get on an Airplane. Mr Plod and his partner escorted me to the Rental Return and then the AmeriWest check in counter (they even made sure that I was not going to divert the guns anywhere else by carrying some of my gear). The friendly staff at the counter gave me the "he looks really suspect" face when the two cops brought me up to the counter, right passed the long line waiting to get checked in. I think this means we can now award PHX the prize for most gun-unfriendly airport. Do those people even *know* they live in Arizona fer chrissakes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDH Posted July 21, 2003 Author Share Posted July 21, 2003 Okay, thanks to all for the encouragement. Like I said earlier, when I flew to Bend last year, no issues whatsoever. I'll just go for it, and see what happens. Skywalker, nope, no name change. I was just playing around with Avatars other than the standard board avatars, and that one stuck (looks sort of like a 'Junior Jedi' right?). You will probably see me change avatars a couple of times until I find the one I want to keep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm iprod Posted July 21, 2003 Share Posted July 21, 2003 You must remember that I am not a US citizen and have no rights to carry firearms or possess ammunition. I have to keep the ATF Form6 with me at all times and my passport and one other form of ID when I travel with or am carrying my firearm. I have no right to carry my firearm for defence. Considering that many people said that if I am travelling to certain places get a gun, as a tourist I would be an easy target. Under some of the changes that have occured in the last few years I can not purchase a firearm in many states from a dealer. But I had an absolute ball and met a lot of really nice people in my 3 weeks in the US, so stuff the rules and have fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skywalker Posted July 21, 2003 Share Posted July 21, 2003 BDH, it is a junior Jedi, it is Anakin Skywalker (didn't you see Star Wars Episode I: the Phantom menace?), actually Darth Vader (in his younger years), and Skywalker's father. Here you are some references. Now, lets recap: you are VP's junior jedi, but you are Anakin Skywalker, so you're Darth Vader (at least you'll become, after joining the dark side of the force), and you are Skywalker's father... Master Yoda, where are you, I need some help...l Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDH Posted July 21, 2003 Author Share Posted July 21, 2003 Skywalker, Nope, I have not gone back and watched any of the first three!! Something about watching the beginning after watching the end, never really appealed to me. As far as growing up to be Darth, well that just can not be. Time for another avatar, and this one will look much more like me! Of course, once I graduate from Junior Jedi, to 'Probationary' Jedi.... things will probably have to change again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
down0 Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 I fly out of PHX with guns about half a dozen times a year, mostly on Southwest, with no problems. They have started to put a "G" or an "F" on the luggage tag, which indicates there is a gun inside. We all know that this is not a good idea. When I asked them why, they said TSA required it. When the screening equipment is at the counter, the case remains unlocked and I follow the gun case until they check it and give me the OK. I then watch them lock it up. In places where they have to take the locked case out of sight, I wait near the counter in case they page me so that I can unlock them. Pistols don't seem to faze them, but it is fun to watch their faces when you open the case and show them that your gnarly-looking AR or 870 is unloaded . I haven't been asked why I have guns with me, but if I am I will use a line stolen from "Missouri Breaks" when a woman asks bad-guy Jack Nicholson (sp?) why he carried so many guns. His reply: "'Cause I'm a sportsman". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDH Posted July 28, 2003 Author Share Posted July 28, 2003 Just got back from Area 3, and here is the update..... Flew out of Dayton, and TSA and the big scanners are out front, so there were no issues. Actually, one of the TSA guys was pretty cool... he was asking about my gun, where I was going etc. Then he said, 'I am actually an NRA member, and I don't even OWN a firearm!' I thought that was really cool, and thanked him for supporting our rights. Return through Minneapolis was a little more problematic because most of the scanners are in back. Anyway, just declared it, the agent called a TSA dude up, he had me show clear, we locked it up and I was on my way. I was a little concerned that once they scanned my bags in the back they would bust the lock on my gun case (because I know of a couple of people that got nailed at MN on this during past trips), but everything came through just fine. I will tell you that some were not so fortunate though.... I was talking to TJ at the match and he had a problem. He was coming back from some LE conference so he had several firearms with him. TSA wanted to take a look at each of them, so they laid them out on a table. Somebody from TSA at the other end of the table needed more room, so they slid a bunch of luggage down the table. You guessed it.... not one, not two, but FOUR of Todd's guns hit the floor. Of course I don't need to tell you how happy he was...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistral404 Posted July 30, 2003 Share Posted July 30, 2003 I flew out of Phoenix last week on Southwest. Did the normal routine with the ticket agent at the counter. Southwest folks seem to be the most informed on the correct procedures. Took my bags over to the Xray machine, informed the TSA agent of the weapon, it passed through THEN, a TSA agent took the bag to a table opened it and did a swab swipe. Then asked for the combo for the the lock on the hard case, THEN open the hard case. Open the gun bag, ensure it racked the slide to show empty (left the hammer cocked). Replaced the everything, locked the hard case and I requested he lock the bag, which he did. In more than 75 flights, this has never happened before and informed the TSA agent as such. His non-responsive reply was the MACHINE TOLD HIM HE NEEDED TO INSPECT THE GUN. Personally, I believe he was showing off to a new TSA agent standing next to him. Out of 75 flights, this was a minor hassle and one major hassle at the New Orleans airport. United and Continental seem to be the least informed. DIA seems to be a bit disorganized. ABQ is ok. Dallas is fine. Phoenix generall is not bad. LAX is just strange, it depends on the alignment of the earth and moon as to whether they are clam or freaky about the gun issue. Southwest and American are pretty well trained. The Baton Rouge airport staff knew me so well, they called me by my name and prepared the tag when the saw me with a bag to check in. You can request that TSA put a tie on the bag once they inspect it but I have found them to do it inconsistently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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