The Definitive Information To Flying With Weapons

Written by: Greg Ellifritz

I journey by air fairly a bit.  Final 12 months I took 49 flights with weapons. Within the 4 years since my police retirement, I’ve flown with firearms over 250 instances.  Though every airline and airport is barely completely different, after quite a lot of trial and error I’ve found out find out how to fly with firearms trouble free.

As I used to be going via the airline firearms check-in procedures on my most up-to-date journey, it struck me that a lot of my readers won’t know that it’s authorized to hold weapons in checked airplane baggage or find out how to do it.   Right here’s what you need to do to be authorized:

-Unload the weapons.

– Place the unloaded weapons right into a locked, onerous sided case.  The case have to be utterly sealed.  If a TSA agent can manually pry open a nook of your case sufficient to slip a finger inside, you possible gained’t be allowed to test the gun. 

After listening to frequent studies of TSA brokers attempting to pry open a nook of the gun case (to say it was unsuitable for correctly securing your gun), I additionally switched to carrying a Journey Armor gun case.  With its distinctive latching mechanism, there is no such thing as a technique to entry the case when correctly locked.

Journey Armor double pistol case

Additionally, a strict interpretation of the legislation appears to mandate that the lock in your gun case should NOT be TSA-accessible.  In apply, I’ve not discovered that to be the case.  The TSA itself has a special interpretation of the legislation on its web site.  They instantly state: “You could use any model or kind of lock to safe your firearm case, together with TSA-recognized locks.”

Nobody has ever even talked about the truth that my gun case is secured with a TSA lock.  In reality, it has sped up the check-in course of a couple of instances for me. 

I’ve wavered forwards and backwards over time about utilizing non-TSA locks on my gun case as appears to be required by the legislation.  After this expertise two years in the past, I’ve chosen to lock the case up with TSA-accessible locks.  My weapons are insured.  My gun case is just not.  I can’t afford to purchase an $80 gun case each time I fly when the TSA decides to interrupt it to achieve entry.  I put two non-TSA locks within the gun case with the weapons in case the agent needs to quibble about particulars.  I’ve by no means had to make use of the additional non-TSA locks I carry.

I even have my cellphone quantity taped to the skin of the case together with a duplicate of my LEOSA retired cop nationwide carry authorization.  In case my flight will get diverted to a much less “gun-friendly” metropolis, that legislation enforcement credential may save me some hassles.

-Place the hard-sided case into your locked (with TSA-approved lock) suitcase.

-While you test your bag, inform the ticket agent that you simply want to declare a firearm.  Don’t say “I’ve a gun” or one thing equally silly.  Say one thing like, “I’ve an unloaded pistol in my checked bag that I have to declare.”

– The ticket agent gives you a bit white or orange kind to signal and should ask to examine the gun to see that it’s unloaded.  That will depend on the person airport and airline.  Most ticket brokers simply wish to see a locked, onerous sided case, however I’d estimate that on 10% of my flights final 12 months, they’ve requested to bodily see the weapons contained in the case.  Be prepared for that in the event that they ask. 

If the ticket agent does ask you to point out that the gun is unloaded, I place my suitcase on the luggage scale and use my physique to dam the view of the gun from my fellow passengers in line.  I open the case and inform the ticket agent: “You possibly can see that the weapons are unloaded.  I signed a kind testifying that the weapons are unloaded.  I’m uncomfortable dealing with the weapons in a public space like this.  Should you’d wish to name a police officer over to confirm the weapons are unloaded, I’ll permit him to deal with the weapons.”

That line has labored each time I’ve used it.  They’ve by no means referred to as an officer to confirm the unloaded standing of the weapons.  It might assist to insert a chamber flag into the weapon to show it’s unloaded.

Persons are loopy in airports.  I’d hate to be shot by a CCW provider or native cop as a result of I used to be waving a gun round on the airline ticket counter, even when it was on the agent’s request.

– Every airline has completely different procedures for placement of the shape.  Southwest will tape it to the skin of your case.   Others will instruct you to position the shape into your gun case and lock all the pieces up.  Another airways let you know to position the shape on high of the case in your baggage.  Simply do what the ticketing agent tells you to do.  You might be then theoretically are good to go, however in apply, you’ll have a couple of extra hurdles to clear.

– Each airport has a special process after the luggage declaration.  Some don’t require something extra.  In that case, your complete course of provides lower than 5 minutes to your test in time. 

Different airports would require you to have your baggage inspected by the TSA earlier than loading it onto the airplane.  Some will need you to attend within the ticket counter space for 10-Quarter-hour till the baggage are inspected.  Others require your presence in the course of the inspection.  There isn’t a lot consistency throughout the nation and even between airways.

With that stated, after greater than 25 years of flying with weapons, I’ve by no means had any critical points in any respect.  I’ve had one gun case damaged by TSA, however I’ve by no means had weapons stolen.  A lot of my mates are actually putting Apple Air Tags into their baggage (and even contained in the magazine effectively of the cased pistol) to have an extra monitoring possibility.  I feel that’s a good suggestion and have been doing that for the final couple years.

Air Tag monitoring gadget

A few different stuff you may wish to know….

– You aren’t allowed to test a firearm on the curbside baggage test in counter outdoors the airport.

– Most airways restrict ammunition to 11 lbs and and require that it have to be carried in a field or container that’s designed to carry ammunition.  Some airways permit loaded magazines if the bullets are utterly lined by caps or {a magazine} provider.   I simply unload my mags and carry the ammo in a manufacturing unit cartridge field.  I preserve the ammo field separate from the gun case, however TSA rules say that it’s OK to maintain the gun and ammo collectively.

-Unloaded magazines are alleged to be boxed or locked in the identical case because the firearm.  I truly didn’t know this till final 12 months.  When instructing my lessons, I often fly with a variety bag stuffed with eye and ear safety, boxed ammo, and unloaded magazines in my suitcase.  It’s by no means been a problem, but when your mags slot in your locked gun case, you need to most likely transport them there.

Screenshot from TSA web site (linked above).

Make certain your ammo is all boxed, or in an enclosed case.  Test the pockets of your garments for spare cartridges.

– Should you carry pepper spray, it have to be in a four-ounce or smaller container and positioned in your checked bag.  I normally carry mine inside a Ziploc bag as a result of canisters can leak because of the airplane’s various air pressurization.  For what it’s value, I carry pepper spray in my checked bag on each journey I take.  In tons of of flights during the last 25 years, I’ve by no means had a canister explode or leak throughout a flight.

Southwest Airways formally prohibits the carry of pepper spray in checked baggage.  With that stated, I’ve carried my pepper spray in my checked bag on each Southwest flight I’ve taken.  It’s by no means been a problem.  The spray has not been seized, nor has my baggage been delayed.

Screenshot from Southwest’s web site

– Every airline has completely different procedures about the way you decide up your bag with a checked firearm.  As of January 2025, you probably have a handgun case inside one other piece of baggage, Southwest and United will simply throw your bag on the bags carousel with all the opposite luggage and there’s no particular process to select them up.  On those self same airways, in the event you test a stand alone lengthy gun case, you’ll have to decide it up on the airline’s baggage declare workplace.

Each American and Delta now ship all of your baggage that incorporates weapons to the luggage declare workplace somewhat than putting it on the conveyor belt.  You’ll have to point out your ID to get the bag.  On a pair flights I took final 12 months, my gun bag which clearly stated “RETURN TO BAGGAGE OFFICE” on the bags label was positioned on the identical conveyor with Gen Pop suitcases.

As I’m ready for my luggage,  I normally decide a spot the place I can see the luggage conveyor belt and the luggage workplace door.  That method, if I see the bag was improperly paced on the conveyor, I simply seize it and head out.  If it doesn’t come up on the conveyor belt, I can see when the luggage handler delivers my bag to the airline workplace.

Delta additionally often zip ties the baggage closed earlier than releasing them to you.  That processes is completed by particular person airport coverage and/or on the discretion the particular person working within the baggage declare workplace.  They don’t need a passenger to right away open up the bag and start taking pictures up the luggage declare space (that occurred in Ft. Lauderdale in 2017). 

Consequently, once I fly Delta I all the time pack a small pair of trauma shears (blunt factors and underneath 4 inch blade size) with the primary help provides I’ve in my carry-on baggage.  These shears are allowed by the TSA and make quick work of their zip ties as quickly as I take possession of the bag.

Snipping the zip tie used to “safe” my suitcase.

– Be cautious together with your batteries for sights, lasers, and flashlights.  Some safety screeners freak out you probably have free lithium batteries in both checked bag or carry-on.

-Placing knives in your checked bag is allowed as effectively.  There are not any particular declarations required when checking a bag containing a knife (or a number of knives).

– Should you encounter any difficulties in the course of the check-in course of, calmly ask to talk to a supervisor.  If the supervisor doesn’t treatment the problem, the particular person to contact is the airport’s “Floor Safety Coordinator.”  That particular person is answerable for the entire safety for your complete airport.  He/She has remaining say about points concerned in transporting your weapons.

Some of us take the time to print out copies of TSA rules and airline insurance policies within the occasion {that a} ticket agent asks the passenger to do one thing completely different.  I discover that doesn’t assist a lot and simply provides time to your test in.  So long as it isn’t harmful, I’ll do regardless of the ticket agent/TSA inspector tells me to do, even when it’s “flawed.”  I’d somewhat not miss my flight.  I’d somewhat my luggage not be delayed.  In my thoughts, it’s higher to get to my vacation spot on time and with my luggage than to argue with senseless bureaucrats and be “proper.”

-It doesn’t matter what your airline app says, in case your gun bag is delayed, they won’t ship it to your location.  You’ll have to return to the airport to select up your bag in particular person.  Don’t count on the airways to name you and allow you to know  the place your luggage are or what you could do to  full the re-unification course of.  The apps will point out that your bag might be transported to the deal with you specify.  It won’t.  Decide it up on the vacation spot baggage declare workplace.

-Watch out with cable locks.  Earlier final 12 months, American airline didn’t permit handgun instances to be secured with cable locks.  I not see that restriction on their web site, however some agent could not have been educated on the replace.  I don’t use cable locks on my instances.

Locks like this will not be allowed in your gun instances

-Deliver further locks.  Some airline or TSA brokers will need a lock positioned on each accessible locking gap in your case (particularly rifle instances).  That’s not a authorized requirement (as long as TSA officers can’t get into the locked case from the skin) but it surely may prevent an enormous trouble in the event you discover the agent who doesn’t perceive the principles.

– Test airline guidelines for the utmost variety of firearms allowed in a checked case.  Delta solely permits 5 handguns and 4 lengthy weapons.

I primarily fly the massive home legacy airline carriers.  I’ve a lot of expertise flying Delta, American, United, and Southwest with weapons.  I’ve zero expertise flying the finances airways like Spirit, Breeze, WOW, or Jet Blue.  I perceive that their insurance policies are related, however I’ve no direct expertise with them.  I’ve additionally not flown with weapons to a international nation.  The recommendation above applies to flights inside the USA solely.

If you’re touring to a state that has reciprocity together with your CCW, why not take your weapons?  Even in the event you don’t assume you’ll want them at your vacation spot, it doesn’t damage to have them alongside.  Think about vacationing in Louisiana as Hurricane Katrina hit.  Wouldn’t you wish to have a gun in the event you had been subjected to that chaos?  What in the event you get stranded in your travels after one other 9/11- type terror assault stops all airline journey for a couple of days?  If you need to hire a automotive and drive throughout the nation to get house, wouldn’t you need your pistol?

Some issues are out of our management.  It’s sensible to be ready, even if you’re visiting an space the place you don’t assume you’ll “want” your gun.

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