To those who fly often and also carry.

[Kutnupe14]

Bear in mind that even a legally transported firearm will get you jail time if you are diverted to New York or New Jersey. Google the stories about guys whose flights were diverted there and then tried to pick up their bags for transfer to the next flight or for the overnight. If you get diverted to those locations, I recommend you do not claim your bag. Let the airline forward it to your home address.

Has this actually occurred? And if it has, who is employing the idiots that make the arrests?

 

[critter592]

Has this actually occurred? And if it has, who is employing the idiots that make the arrests?

It is true and it's a mess. So many cases there is a cottage industry to handle just these instances.

 

[Trigger Time]

Has this actually occurred? And if it has, who is employing the idiots that make the arrests?

The brothers in blue in the commie states of New York and New Jersey. So the states employ them. It's not the trash man who's arresting good Americans for exercising their rights
Airports should be neutral ground. Not subject to that states Communist laws

 

[Drail]

If weather or mechanical issues forces your plane to land in one of our commie states - don't claim your bags. Leave them with the air carrier. If your bags are in the air carrier's possession - no problem (other than they may lose them). But if they're in YOUR possession YOU could get thrown in a cage. And it's been going on for some time now, mostly New York City and New Jersey. This IS a potential problem if you have no control over where you may land (and you don't) or you can't memorize ALL of the absurd laws in this country. Kinda like playing the lottery except if you lose you go to jail and support some lawyers for a long time. Be very careful kids.

 

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

Yep. JFK, LaGuardia and Newark. Don't get you luggage. Ever.

 

[Stang51d]

I carry WHILE I'm flying. My pilot told me that I could

 

[EOD Guy]

Be aware that if you check a firearm of any type, you will be added to a tracking "List". I do not know what sort of list thisis or what this means, but I understand that when you check a firearm there is a permanent record of the carry and possibly places you into a higher security risk list.

FYI, there is no "tracking list". You notify the airlines you're transporting a firearm, not TSA. Remember there is a law that prohibits federal registry.

 

[Drail]

No one would ever violate a law, right?

 

[EOD Guy]

No one would ever violate a law, right?

I understand your concern but a "list" like this would be too big and controversial to keep it in the "secret squirrel" department. People tend to think all gov't employees are out to screw over citizens and want to put a boot on their neck while stripping them of their rights...you'd be surprised at the number of gun loving, ex-military types in federal service who wouldn't stand for it. Now if you're referring to the shadow government, all bets are off...I hear they need a "list" just to keep track of their "lists"! Hahah!

 

[JettaKnight]

Bear in mind that even a legally transported firearm will get you jail time if you are diverted to New York or New Jersey. Google the stories about guys whose flights were diverted there and then tried to pick up their bags for transfer to the next flight or for the overnight. If you get diverted to those locations, I recommend you do not claim your bag. Let the airline forward it to your home address.

Has this actually occurred?

Sort of. The issue was a delay of some sort and the passenger took possession of his bag. I believe the tripping point was when he tried to check it back in. The girls behind he counter at Newark/JFK/etc. don't see many guns...

And if it has, who is employing the idiots that make the arrests?

Chris Christie.

If weather or mechanical issues forces your plane to land in one of our commie states - don't claim your bags. Leave them with the air carrier. If your bags are in the air carrier's possession - no problem (other than they may lose them). But if they're in YOUR possession YOU could get thrown in a cage. And it's been going on for some time now, mostly New York City and New Jersey. This IS a potential problem if you have no control over where you may land (and you don't) or you can't memorize ALL of the absurd laws in this country. Kinda like playing the lottery except if you lose you go to jail and support some lawyers for a long time. Be very careful kids.

QFT.

 

[Midskier]

The following is regarding a recent flight my wife and I took on Southwest from Chicago Midway to Tampa and back:
so simple it was almost ridiculous - after studying the process, printing the rules from both TSA and Southwest, and purchasing a hard sided case ( basically a locking tool box with foam inserts )
I packed 4 handguns - each semi auto, each with a empty chamber flag, my "mag bag" small zippered bag I use for mags and ammo - Southwest allows up to 11 pounds of ammo, I had 8 mags, 200rds 9mm and 400 rds .22. (ALL ammo must be in factory type organized containers and not loose) arriving @ the airport we head to the ticket counter, we check our luggage with cloths and state the case contains a firearm, all 3 pieces of luggage get the big white destination strip through the handle - 2 pieces get tossed on the conveyer, the counter agent has me fill out 2 cards 1 with red lettering my name to be printed and signed, airport to and from - it goes inside the firearm case, the other paper is a signed confirmation that the packed firearms are in fact unloaded - that paper went into my carry on backpack. The counter agent then walked us over to the TSA counter, I carried the gun case, TSA agent swiped some paper thing around the perimeter opening of the case while it was closed to read for some type of residue (?) then asked if the case was locked - I said no , he said lock it - I did - 2 latch locks and padlock not TSA locks - I hold the keys - the case was only opened to toss in the card, never were my firearms exposed as they were packed under the foam, never were my firearms removed from the case to be inspected. After I was instructed to lock the case it was then tossed on the conveyor .......... In Tampa - our 2 pieces of luggage popped out on the carousel - and my firearm case was "in a roped off section" with golf clubs etc and required me to show my matching stub to retrieve my case. Off to the range, Shooters World in Tampa was very nice.

Flight back - somewhat the same deal as above - we check a total of 3 pieces 1 being my gun case - tell the counter agent it contains a firearm - fill out the same 2 pieces of paper as in Chicago, 1 in my backpack one in my gun case, he has us wait for an escort - the escort carries my gun case - we follow to TSA , I state the case is not yet locked - they have me lock it - I do - they run it through x-ray and give me a thumbs up - enjoy your flight, they put a "TSA Inspected" strip of tape on my case. Back in Chicago I find the "golf club area" just in case, our 2 pieces of luggage pop out on to the carousel and not a minute later so does my gun case............ out there with the general luggage population. I grab it and head to the parking lot. NO ONE checked our stubs vs our luggage -

Thee End

piece of cake

Dan T

 

[singlemalt]

Could you Fed Ex your gun and ammo to yourself at your destination for pick up upon your arrival? That way you'd never need worry about being diverted through a commie state like NY or NJ.

 

[THE BIG SITT]

I'm sure you could, once you found an FFL to deal with in your destination and paid for their fees as well as your local FFL's fees to get your gun back.

 

[Lebowski]

Step 1: Secure unloaded firearm in pelican case.
Step 2: Tell the nice lady (or sometimes man) at the check in counter that you're traveling with an unloaded firearm locked in a hard case.
Step 3: Depending on the airport they either fill out the firearm declaration form or you do. It just has a place for you to put the date, flight number, and signature. This goes inside your bag and glows when going through the x-ray machine to alert TSA.
Step 4: This is different depending on the airport. In Indy you'll be given a piece of paper for your special item and when going through the TSA security checkpoint like the cattle you are you'll then go speak to the supervisor in his box. Super simple. "Hey there, I was told I needed to come over here and let you know I'm traveling with a special item today." Guy looked at me and just said, "A handgun?" I said, "Yep, that is correct." He then asked me for my name, typed it in, and like 20 seconds later said, "You're good to go!"


It's easy. I also run zip-ties through my barrel as shown in the image to make it clear it's not loaded. I suppose a chamber flag could work... if you have any. I don't, so improvised.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

I'm going to a wedding in Georgia later this year, and I was debating between flying and driving due to the stress of bringing a gun while flying.

You guys make it sound pretty easy, so I might give it a shot with one of my less expensive firearms. Thanks for the tips.

 

[Markus]

I used to fly almost every week. Decided to buy a new Tumi briefcase. Emptied out my old one and found two 45Cal rounds in it. Both live. I have no idea how many times that briefcase went through TSA at gosh knows how many different airports and never once was I stopped. It was one of those "Holy Crap" moments for me.

 

[Mark 1911]

If time allows I will always choose driving. No TSA, cheaper too.

 

[Joniki]

I fly often and it really isn't that difficult to take a carry piece along.

 

[singlemalt]

I'm sure you could, once you found an FFL to deal with in your destination and paid for their fees as well as your local FFL's fees to get your gun back.

So if I read your reply correctly, a FFL must be involved on both ends. You can not just ship it to yourself, go in and sign for it and walk out of the shippers with it.

 

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

I fly with my gun wherever I'm allowed to have it at my destination.

Easy peasy. Just do it.