Domestic Flights - Guns in checked bags

by RoyDean 7/28/2024, 6:58 pm

During the past 5 years or so of travelling in the USA with guns in checked bags I faced a wide range of "inspections" at many airports, with some very unsatisfactory outcomes, very much dependent on the "gun/owner friendliness" of the specific TSA inspector. I was so disgruntled by those experiences I attempted to establish "sets" of guns at the three primary locations where I regularly shoot. That very expensive endeavor has now turned out to be a fool's errand!

In 2024 I have flown three times from three different departure airports. All no problem. It seems that the checked luggage scanners at most airports have been upgraded (or maybe procedures have been revised?) allowing the TSA to inspect the contents of "firearms declared" bags much more quickly and easily.

Returning to Oregon from Ohio a few days ago I packed a lot of handguns into two locked (TSA Compliant) suitcases and checked them in at Columbus. No case opening or individual inspection, as far as I know. Just had to complete the simple declaration forms and pop one into each suitcase.

I was not carrying any ammunition in checked bags on any of the three trips this year. IMHO the best policy is to UPS ammo direct to the venue, if you can. If you must carry ammo then I recommend putting all ammo in a separate locked bag (and, in any case, it is a standard requirement that all ammo must be in proper boxes - I recommend re-boxing stuff like the current AA Elite 38spl which is 50 loose rounds in a flimsy carton. And put a strip of masking tape on every box, just in case, keep the tape to use for target repair!).

Huge improvement in personal firearm logistics, thank you TSA! (I never thought that I would ever be saying that!)🤪

by mbmshooter 7/28/2024, 7:24 pm

Roy,

This good to know. I am aware that the AMU and many others fly with their firearms to various matches with no problems.

My experiences when I have chose to fly with my match pistols had been less satisfactory but that was many years ago.

I hope you've had an enjoyable shooting summer so far.

Mike

by targetbarb 7/28/2024, 9:41 pm

My limited experience with flying with firearms includes only Ontario, CA and Cleveland Hopkins airports, both with Alaska Airlines. Both last year and this year checking in at ONT, I was asked to sign and date the "Firearms Declaration" card and then place a copy in my locked pistol (Pelican) case. Ammo was in my second checked bag which I secured with a TSA approved padlock. Smooth experience at Ontario.
Different story at CLE - checking in both years, I was required to remove each gun from my case for inspection to assure unloaded condition. My voiced concern about alarming other travelers fell on deaf ears. The "Firearms Declaration" was taped to the OUTSIDE of my case thus advertising its contents. Both years TSA searched my second checked bag and this year it was clearly done in the rain. Not impressive. I have submitted a complaint to Alaska Airlines regarding the process at CLE; awaiting response.
Starting to rethink - perhaps driving next year. It's SUCH a long way! Crying or Very sad

by mbmshooter 7/28/2024, 9:51 pm

targetbarb wrote:My limited experience with flying with firearms includes only Ontario, CA and Cleveland Hopkins airports, both with Alaska Airlines. Both last year and this year checking in at ONT, I was asked to sign and date the "Firearms Declaration" card and then place a copy in my locked pistol (Pelican) case. Ammo was in my second checked bag which I secured with a TSA approved padlock. Smooth experience at Ontario.
Different story at CLE - checking in both years, I was required to remove each gun from my case for inspection to assure unloaded condition. My voiced concern about alarming other travelers fell on deaf ears. The "Firearms Declaration" was taped to the OUTSIDE of my case thus advertising its contents. Both years TSA searched my second checked bag and this year it was clearly done in the rain. Not impressive. I have submitted a complaint to Alaska Airlines regarding the process at CLE; awaiting response.
Starting to rethink - perhaps driving next year. It's SUCH a long way!

Barb,

Your experience at CLE was almost identical to what I had flying from ORD to DTW. Northwest plastered the "FIREARMS" sticker on the outside! Even though I've been in AZ for 17 Perry seasons I still make the three-day drive each way, except this year.

Mike

by bruce martindale 7/29/2024, 5:24 am

Roy, did you have anything confiscated?

Otherwise, w hy “sets”?

by RoyDean 7/29/2024, 5:43 am

Bruce, no, nothing confiscated, but on a few occasions the TSA officer would not let me re-pack my travel case and just stuffed everything back in. That led to impact damage to Ortho grips, etc., during baggage handling.

I now know to remove grips from (for example) Pardini's and pack those grips separately.

From Barbara's comments it does seem that some airports are still a problem.

The objective of "sets", was to eliminate putting guns in checked bags entirely. Whilst that seemed feasible at the time, I realized this summer that it is quite hard (and very expensive) to perfect that plan. I've now brought almost everything back to Oregon and will decide on best plan for future travel.

by **Wobbley** 7/29/2024, 10:42 am

I think it’s time that this was acted upon by TSA.
If you want to complain directly to TSA

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/firearms

I’m sure that the firearms policy organization has the will to have it unified nationwide.
https://www.firearmspolicy.org/hotline

It’s long overdue.

by **Wobbley** 7/29/2024, 6:46 pm

Here is a person who has experienced it all. And some of the things that he has done.

https://youtu.be/l0IwVrC56tc?si=7ejfwtzZLQjF8wmA

by targetbarb 7/29/2024, 8:10 pm

Wobbley wrote:Here is a person who has experienced it all. And some of the things that he has done.

https://youtu.be/l0IwVrC56tc?si=7ejfwtzZLQjF8wmA

Just unbelievable - except it sadly makes total sense. Crying or Very sad

by xmastershooter 8/4/2024, 12:24 pm

I've only traveled by air 5 times. I guess I've been lucky with TSA as they've always been cool, calm and collected. After arriving at Cleveland during my 1st Camp Perry trip, every piece of luggage came through the carousel except my case with all my pistols. This was a "H--- ---t!" moment. My buddy and I went to the luggage claim area and I was annoyed and realized that I would not be able to shoot at Camp Perry after all the preparations. I would have never suspected it but the young kid said that they put aside my "special case" for safety as they knew it contained "special sporting equipment." I believed TSA made sure the airline staff would treat my case with the proper care it deserved.

On the negative side during my 3rd trip leaving Cleveland, I believed I was targeted as a suspected terrorist by the check-in counter clerk. She went "off" on me only and not my other 2 traveling buddies who were not persons of color. She freaked out after seeing my pistols as I declared my firearms, and not my buddy's. There were a number of ways the situation could have been handled. In retrospect, it didn't look good that I didn't shave for a week, my CP tradition. A friend from Hawaii while at Camp Perry said he didn't recognized me as I appeared have to turned 5 shades darker from the Midwest sun during the matches.

On my next CP trip, I decided to wear a loud Hawaiian shirt through the airport and it worked. Instead of the high alert suspected terrorist, I was considered the cool guy from Hawaii. The counter clerk came aboard as a flight attendant and kept saying "Aloha!" to me. Something to consider while at the airport, have the airline policy regarding traveling with firearms printed and in your hand and not tucked away inside the luggage. This will become handy as you assist the check-in clerk with information that no staff would ever have training with.

by Dockokol 8/6/2024, 8:59 am

So, just to show how very old I really am.... I was a member of the 81st ARCOM pistol team and was selected to shoot in the interservice match at Ft. Meade Maryland. I was traveling with orders. It was an Eastern Airline flight and our check in was telling the ticket agent we had firearms and we were traveling under orders. The check in involved giving the gun boxes with the guns in them to the pilot who kept them in the cockpit until we landed and we retrieved them. Yep... it used to be different.

by Jack H 8/6/2024, 10:33 am

Dockokol wrote:So, just to show how very old I really am.... I was a member of the 81st ARCOM pistol team and was selected to shoot in the interservice match at Ft. Meade Maryland. I was traveling with orders. It was an Eastern Airline flight and our check in was telling the ticket agent we had firearms and we were traveling under orders. The check in involved giving the gun boxes with the guns in them to the pilot who kept them in the cockpit until we landed and we retrieved them. Yep... it used to be different.

Here is old from Maryland. From my coach and mentor, LTC Miller
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