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If you’ve ever tried to fly with a firearm, you know that it is a massive pain in the butt. Or at least it used to be. Recently, when traveling to Fort Smith, Arkansas from Baltimore Washington International, I carried my custom Remington 700 LTR and Glock 23, and the situation was much improved from the last time I made the attempt.
In 2014, I attempted to fly from Dulles International in D.C. to Louis Armstrong International in New Orleans, Louisiana, and that was a headache. At that time and in those airports, the procedure was as follows. Stand at a counter for two hours while the single customer service rep slogged through the customers in front of me at a glacial pace. Inform that rep that I needed a firearms declaration, to her shock and dismay, then recite to them their own airline’s firearms policy. Continue by reciting the TSA regulations, while the TSA officer standing two feet away agrees. Fill out the form, then open the case for a visual ‘inspection’ by the same TSA officer after which he places an inspection card in the case, watched me lock the case, and places a bright orange sticker across the case labeling it as inspected. Get on my flight.
Arrive at destination to the case not being there. Apparently, there was a need to remove the case from the plane during my layover and ‘re-inspect’ it.
When I did receive the case the next day, my locks had been removed and TSA locks had been put on, but no keys were produced, so I was forced to remove them manually.
This experience did not inspire confidence, to say the least. But time passes, security improves, and technology is updated. Before flying this trip, I contacted the TSA and my airline a week before departure and verified the necessary procedures, which I recommend you do as well. Either way, hopefully this handy guide will make the trip a little easier.
Pack Your Weapon in a Hard Sided Case
The guidance here is a little vague, so let’s narrow it down. A hard sided case means something sturdy, which latches closed to the degree that nothing inside can be accessed while it is closed and locked. The best bet here is Pelican, or something similar. Just ensure that the structure of the case isn’t flimsy, and you can’t squeeze your fingers in there.
Pack Your Weapon Unloaded
As a Marine would say, Condition 4; no ammunition source such as a magazine inserted, chamber empty, weapon on safe. While ammunition can be transported with your firearm, it cannot be transported in your firearm. The best technique here is to pack the weapon in such a way as to make it obvious that it is clear of ammunition during visual inspection.
Pack Ammunition in Approved Containers
Ammunition up to .75 caliber can be carried in any checked baggage that meets the same requirements of a firearm, to include with the firearm in the same case. The ammunition can be in a magazine, but that magazine must be ‘securely boxed’ and ‘completely enclose’ the ammunition. This essentially means the magazine must go in a box, pouch, or similar container to secure the rounds inside. Additionally, ammunition can be transported in any fiber, wood, plastic, or metal box specifically designed to carry ammunition, to include the manufacturer’s box, as long as it is inside the hard case mentioned before.
Use Solid Locks
TSA does have some ‘approved’ locks, but most standard key locks will do. Make sure you have a lock for each lock slot on your case, and that you have a key on you at all times. I recommend a cylinder lock if your case can fit it, they make cutting them off much more difficult.
Declare Your Firearm to Airline Staff
Don’t get cute and say ‘I have a weapon’ or you are not going to make your flight. Walk up to the customer service rep, hand them your ID, and say “I have a firearm to declare.” At this point they will hand you a card to sign and place inside the case along with the firearm itself. They will tag your case, and… Well, that’s it for now. It goes on the belt with everything else.
Previously there would be a step including a visual inspection, but as it happens that isn’t needed any more due to improvements in scanner technology. That being said, keep that key handy and an ear out; if TSA has questions they will call you over the public address.
Pick Up Your Firearm
When you arrive at baggage claim at the end of your trip, make your way to the baggage office for your airline to pick up your case, and make sure you have your ID handy for verification and scanning. Walk out of the airport and on to adventure.
Considerations
A few caveats to all of this well-meaning advice.
- Each airport has a few tweaks to how the TSA operates, so be sure to call the information number at the airport you are flying out of, and returning from to be sure you aren’t caught off guard.
- Airlines can sometimes have increased restrictions due to a number of factors, so call about your specific flight.
- When flying with a firearm, don’t rely on the app-based boarding passes, get hard copies. More often than not the reps will give them to you anyway with your baggage claim chit.
- Be polite. Customer service is a crap gig dealing with unreasonable mutants, so don’t be one. Not to mention they aren’t typing a novel back there, the computers are just trash. (I couldn’t help it, I asked.)
Keep an eye out for our upcoming videos on American Grit, which include an interview with TSA and with American Airlines regarding your frequently asked questions about flying with firearms.
