Commercial flight w/ my pistol

[1rightguy]

I am flying Continental and plan on packing my carry pistol in my checked luggage. I have a lockable hard case that I will pack in my suitcase. Having never traveled commercial with a gun, I am a little concerned. Anybody have a tip, warning or heads-up?

[TriggerTime]

You have to check it in with Continental. I'd suggest giving them a call to confirm their current requirements. The last time I flew with a firearm, it was on Southwest and I just had to unlock the case and let them inspect to make sure that it was unloaded and verify that the case locked, etc. Don't just check your bag with the pistol in their. You will get pulled off the plane and questioned -- if not arrested.

[1rightguy]

Good suggesestion. It seems that every airline has a differant policy.

[BurkGlocker]

I used to fly with a checked bag of tools everytime I went to a different job and everytime I had to either go and pick up my tool bag or give the airline an address to drop off my belongings, but they always left a little note inside stating that my luggage was suspicious and it was checked for safety. Little things like this gives airlines a pucker like no other, and I can only assume packing a firearm without first checking with the airline will either constitute you being put out of time or doing time. To be safer than sorry, call the airline and make sure of their policies before taking flight.

Rock on and have a safe flight!

Brad L.

[majormadmax]

It's a breeze! The policy from Continental's web site on "sports equipment" (which includes firearms) pretty much covers it:

Firearms

Continental accepts one item of shooting equipment per customer as checked baggage. One item of shooting equipment is defined as one hard-sided shooting equipment case containing up to five firearms, with or without scopes, 11 lbs (five Kgs.) of ammunition and articles used in the firearm sport.

• Firearms will be accepted only from a customer who is 18 years of age or older.
• International firearm regulations vary by destination and transiting country. Contact appropriate consulates or embassies to obtain specific entry requirements applicable to destination(s).
  • Firearms are not accepted to/from Israel.
  • Firearms are not accepted to/from Denmark
  • For travel to/from the United Kingdom, pistols, rifles and shotguns must be packed in a hard side rifle case.
  • Customers traveling to/through Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) with checked firearms/ammunition must obtain permission from the Netherlands Consulate/Embassy in their country of origin prior to departure. Weapons are subject to confiscation in Amsterdam unless the owner can show all required permits. Customers traveling on military orders with checked firearms may do so without prior consent from Dutch Customs. Checked military ammunition is forbidden. For your convenience, the application for permission is available for download in Adobe PDF format.
• Curbside check-in of a firearm is not permitted.
• The firearm must be packaged in a hard-sided container capable of being locked. The container must be locked and the key or combination must remain in the customer's possession. If a hard-sided container is needed, see the container section of this site.
• Handguns must be packed in hard-side lockable luggage. Baggage containing handguns must be locked at the time of acceptance by Continental Airlines and the key or combination retained in the passenger's custody.
• The firearm will be transported in a section of the aircraft that is inaccessible to the customer. Proof of registration is not required.
• Firearms carried in addition to the free baggage allowance will be assessed at the current excess baggage charge.
• No more than 11 pounds of ammunition may be carried. The ammunition may be packed in the same container as the firearm or in a separate container. Ammunition must be packed in the manufacturer's original package or securely packed in fiber, wood or metal containers. The ammunition inside the container must be protected against shock and secured against movement. The ammunition may be packed in the same container as the firearm or in a separate container.

If applicable, the first ($20) or second bag fee ($30) applies to checked firearms.

Documents may require the Adobe Acrobat reader, available for free from Adobe for Windows, Macintosh, UNIX and other platforms.


Continental is not liable for damage to firearms that are not contained in hard-sided cases.


Excess Valuation may not be purchased for firearms that are not contained in hard-sided cases.

Note: Customer must sign a Firearm Declaration Tag.

(Source)

All you have to do is declare it to the person working the check-in counter (you cannot utilize curbside check-in), you fill out a form, they verify the gun is unloaded and include a card within your luggage. I would advise using a cable lock on the gun in addition to the locked case.

Both I and my wife have flown with firearms, it is not as scary as one might expect.

Cheers! M2

[CharlieBear]

Per a Post I did a couple of days ago...

I travel with my Rifle and Pistol to MN out a corpus for the past 9 years. Continental Airlines

Invest or borrow a well made, sturdy, hard side lockable gun case. I've a metal cabelas case and another metal gun case with small wheels and they get banged around (i can see the scars) and I only have one wheel left.

I always take the bolt out of the rifle to show its empty and store it in my other bag. You can keep the bolt with your gun in the case if you want. (thinking about it if they loose my bag but I get my gun, I can't shoot) (never happened, but who knows)

per pistol, my clips are stored in my other bag. The slide is back and locked to show that it is empty. I'll store my pistol in the same case as my rifle.

All rounds must be stored in a box! If I remember its a one pound limit on all rounds. The box of rounds is packed in the my normal checked bag along with my clothes. Dont' forget the heavy bag rule on most airlines. Buy rounds where you are going if you plan to light things up and do alot of shooting.

You must check in 2 hours prior to departure time! (I learned that lesson the hard way)

Basically, you present your case at check in, open it when the TSA person shows up, they'll eyeball it and ask a simple question or two, make you sign a red gun tag, they;ll put the tag in the case and they will usually close it and lock it for you. They've always let me stand by and watch them lock it and give me back my key or spin the locks for my benefit.

I've never bought insurance, I am more worried about lost more than I am about damaged goods, my Cabelas case is bad ass and very sturdy. Plus, I can really raise a stink if they loose a gun via transit. That would have TSA shitting bricks about a lost gun in an airport.

[randmplumbingllc]

Originally Posted by CharlieBear

Per a Post I did a couple of days ago...

I travel with my Rifle and Pistol to MN out a corpus for the past 9 years. Continental Airlines

Invest or borrow a well made, sturdy, hard side lockable gun case. I've a metal cabelas case and another metal gun case with small wheels and they get banged around (i can see the scars) and I only have one wheel left.

I always take the bolt out of the rifle to show its empty and store it in my other bag. You can keep the bolt with your gun in the case if you want. (thinking about it if they loose my bag but I get my gun, I can't shoot) (never happened, but who knows)

per pistol, my clips are stored in my other bag. The slide is back and locked to show that it is empty. I'll store my pistol in the same case as my rifle.

All rounds must be stored in a box! If I remember its a one pound limit on all rounds. The box of rounds is packed in the my normal checked bag along with my clothes. Dont' forget the heavy bag rule on most airlines. Buy rounds where you are going if you plan to light things up and do alot of shooting.

You must check in 2 hours prior to departure time! (I learned that lesson the hard way)

Basically, you present your case at check in, open it when the TSA person shows up, they'll eyeball it and ask a simple question or two, make you sign a red gun tag, they;ll put the tag in the case and they will usually close it and lock it for you. They've always let me stand by and watch them lock it and give me back my key or spin the locks for my benefit.

I've never bought insurance, I am more worried about lost more than I am about damaged goods, my Cabelas case is bad ass and very sturdy. Plus, I can really raise a stink if they loose a gun via transit. That would have TSA shitting bricks about a lost gun in an airport.

ONE POUND ! I think you mean 11 pounds.

Thats what the prior reg. posted earlier said. Must be a typo

[CharlieBear]

I am going to look that up! Nevertheless, I had the TSA person look me straight in the eye and told me "one pound", Then the Continental agent confirmed "one pound".

If It is eleven pounds, I'll print it up for future use and weight my rounds.

C

[CharlieBear]

TSA's website rules on firearms is so terrible, I found this: TSA: Traveling with Special Items it also ask you refer to the rules of the carrier. Nevertheless, Continentals rules are 11 pounds. Your right, I was wrong. My apologies to the forum.

I am going to print that rule out and have it handy next time I fly with my weapons.

[diverjml]

Check out the state regs. on your arrival spot. Mass. has some strict laws on guns. Best to have a CHL and only travel to those states that honor a Texas CHL. Plus most ports won't let you in with any kind of weapon. You'll get arrested for even trying. Ignorance is no defense, do good research and travel safe!