FAA/American Airlines Regulations for Flying with Handguns

[Anthony]

Hello,

Can anyone explain or point me toward a website detailing the specific policies and procedures the FAA and/or American Airlines has for flying with a handgun?

I know it has to be checked in with your luggage, but that's about it.

Also, can anyone on the board who has travelled with firearms extensively give me some idea of the ins and outs of doing so?

Thanks for the help.

- Anthony

 

[TheeBadOne]

It's been quite a while since I've flown & I have heard things have changed a bit. One thing in the "old" days was a nice big steal me orange sticker they use to put on the luggage containing your firearm. Now I'm told they no longer do that. You must have a locking case.

 

[alan]

Being curious, I spoke with U.S. Airways the other day, regarding the transportation of handguns in checked luggage. The lady I spoke with told me that the airlines policy was unchanged, from hat it had been previously. Unloaded, declared handgun, in checked luggage was fine with them.

When I asked about TSA's "don't lock your case" and "hope for the best", the foregoing from TSA spokespersons, the US Air rep allowed that there could be a problem. She also indicated that the airline remained responsible for lost luggage, and that additional coverage insurance was available for purchase by travellers.

She also said, and this was her opinion only, that she didn't think that TSA's "dictates" would last long. She might or might not be correct.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

Last I heard the TSA's direction to leave your baggage unlocked went against the FAA's direction that firearms MUST be locked.

I'd probably lock the case, and let them yank me from the plane if necessary.

 

[Anthony]

Yes, but does anyone know the full list of rules I must follow?

- Anthony

 

[Cliff]

Anthony,
This is a recap of my experience flying 2 pistols,and 2 longguns home the weekend after Thanksgiving. Hope this helps. Topic: Flew my guns from Missouri to Maryland


Member posted December 02, 2002 03:17 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just wanted to recap my experience flying 2 long guns & 2 pistols home over the past weekend,but some thank you's need to be said first.

Fellow sigforum member Sonny Dryer,Sonny it was a pleasure meeting you,and thanks for sending me to the Bullethole.Although we didn't get a chance to talk as much as I wanted to Wednesday evening,( I had to hurry back home and prep 2 turkeys for frying),it was great meeting a fellow forum member and thanks for letting me handle one of your .45's also.

The Bullethole shooting range in Overland Park,Kansas. Thanks to Jim Dodd and the staff at the Bullethole for the great consideration and service.
Sig members, if your ever in the Kansas City area,and need to get some range time in,The Bullethole is to place to go to.

Frank at American Airlines
Thanks for the info,and help in easing my mind and getting my guns home,now if I can get you to put down those damn Glocks and pick up some real shootin iron.

I had heard many a horror story about transporting guns by airlines as opposed to FFL transfer,or driving them in a car trunk,but I didn't want to pay the FFl fees and didn't feel like a cross country drive either so I decided to fly them home,but I did my homework first.I talked to American Airlines,which flew us home,and was reassured twice that it would be no problem flying the guns.The second time I talked to a representive named Frank who happened to be progun and a Glock man. After talking to him I felt a lot better about the process. I purchased a hard lockable double long gun case at the bullethole,four latches,2 for padlocks and a combination lock in the middle,I decided 1 case would do it,1 shotgun,1 rifle,and 2 pistols,all fit in the padded case with no problems.
Our flight was leaving out of KCI at 5:57AM,and we were first in line.At this point I was somewhat nervous.I had been assured everything was gonna be OK,but you never know.The agent called us up for checkin.I put our three pieces of luggage on the weight counter,then told him,I was declaring a case full of firearms.I waited for that stare and the hand to go up for me to be sorrounded,but it never happened.He said "Sure thing Mr Beck,I just need you to fill out this card after I look your case over".He stepped over the weight counter eyeballed the case and said looks OK to me.
I then had to fill out a 3 by 5 card stating that I'm shipping guns with my name,date,and flight number,open the case,and slip the card inside the guncase without showing any guns.
That was it. . I never had to open the case and show each gun as unloaded,I was not carted off to a little room for a stripsearch,the case was not searched for other items that I might want to sneak onboard,thought he did say we do not put any stickers or signs on your case showing it to have firearms in it,our baggage handlers will know what it is.
OK,the flight left KCI,we switched planes in St Louis,and arrived at BWI 20 minutes ahead of schedule.I was on pins and needles till I saw that case coming through the luggage bin, and after about 15 minutes it came through the luggage bin with the other luggage. No stickers,no marks,nothing. I examined the case after arriving home,no scratches on the locks,no marks on the combination lock,no type of forceful entry.the sewing thread I had placed on the corners of the case on the padding were not disturbed,everything was fine.

If you ever have to fly your guns in the future I'd say consider American Airlines.They did me justice in getting my guns home,plus their seats are good and wide,and you get good leg room also.

 

[treeprof]

I posted this from the TSA website on another thread:

http://www.tsa.dot.gov/public/display?content=658

The last Q in the FAQ is what you're looking for, albeit worded a bit clumsily.

 

[alan]

Derek:

You wrote:
Last I heard the TSA's direction to leave your baggage unlocked went against the FAA's direction that firearms MUST be locked.

I'd probably lock the case, and let them yank me from the plane if necessary.

Seems as if, re the bureaucrats, the right hand says one
thing, the left says something else, with neither speaking with the other. Nothing new there, except that here, the innocent traveller is caught in the middle.

As to you getting pulled off the plane, re your locked bag going beep, beep, or causing something else to do that, depends on how your chosen airport works. At Pittsburgh International, bags are screened at or near the airline checkin/ticket counter, in the presence of the traveler, as I understand. Any questions that might come up could easily be answered. After your bag is checked, you can lock it. Who knows how this business is done at other airports though?

 

[Coltdriver]

So the basic sequence is:

1 - Declare to the ticket agent that you have a hand gun in your baggage.

2 - Be prepared to show it to the ticket agent (ie dig it out of your checked bag and be ready to unlock the container to show that the gun is unloaded) if requested (I have had it happen both ways) You definitely need to have the hand gun unloaded and in an approved hard side case. Usually the case the gun came in has a provision for a little pad lock.

3 - Get the orange firearms tag to put on your firearms case. Sign and affix the form to your case. Stuff the case back in the bag.

4 - If you have any ammo, it can not be in the same case as the firearm and the ammo must be in an approved BATF container. The box you bought the ammo in (assuming factory ammo) is an approved BATF container

5 - Some airlines limit the amount of ammo you can pack. Some airlines may want the ammo in a locked box too. Check their policy.

Just my humble opinion but the TSA can go to hades regarding locking my bag, if I have a firearm in my bag, that bag is going to be secured from the typical bag handling pilfering that goes on. Some airports are worse than others.

It is a good idea to call or check the airline web page a day or two before you fly because in todays environment the rules are changing fast and with no notice.

 

[treeprof]

You CAN pack ammo w/gun. No FAA rule on that, it's an individual airline thing.

SHIP YOUR GUN(S) AHEAD!!!