Flying with handguns

A

ArmySon

Staff Alumnus
Hello,
In August, I'll be flying to another state with several of my handguns. Do they still stick the "steal me" stickers on the cases? How much will my handguns be insured for? Can I buy optional insurance? I plan on bringing close to $14,000 worth of high-end 1911's. It would suck royally if they got stolen.

How many guns can I pack in one case?

This is what the airline I'm flying with stated on their firearms policy:

Firearms
Federal regulations require that firearms in checked baggage or in their own shipping case be unloaded and declared. Firearms are not allowed in carry-on bags. Firearms in checked baggage must be packed in a hard-sided bag or gun case. A maximum of 11 lbs. of small arms ammunition is allowed in checked luggage and must be packed separately from the firearm in the original manufacturer's box or securely packed in a fiber, wood, or metal box to prevent movement of cartridges.

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Son
1911 Addiction
"The tree of liberty will grow only when watered by the blood of tyrants."

[This message has been edited by ArmySon (edited July 18, 2000).]
 
Alot depends on the individual airlines. The tag WILL go on the inside of the cases, but there may be a limit on the amount of supplemental insurance per bag. Generally it is about $1250-$1500 then $1 per $100 value after that. Some airlines have a $2500 limit, United was a $4000 or $5000 limit. I will pack guns in separate suitcases and buy additional insurance on both suitcases if flying with a lot of guns or some guns of unusually high value.
 
Fellows,

I have a specific firearms supplement to my Homeowners policy. I suspect this covers losses in transit, as well as those incurred at home. Obviously, I am responsible for the deductible and the carrier would pursue the airline for their payments. However, I should get near-to-complete depreciated reimbursement a lot sooner through my insurer then through the carrier.

You may want to check your Homeowners policy.

Hope this helps.
 
Good advice here. I have the supplemental policy for firearms also. I fly quite a bit these days, Northwest, and can give you only their procedures. The tags only go INSIDE the bag as Jeff OTMG stated. I would call the specific airline you are planning on using and get a detailed listing of their policies and procedures.

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John
 
I would offer a few tips.
First off, ask to go to the back room to clear the weapons. I hate to flash around my stuff in the middle of the check in line.

They still tag the bags but not with the orange "steal me" tag. However, I always put the case back into another bag so it doesn't matter to me.

They don't tell you much about the case or how you pack it except that it MUST lock.

I have also found that these people know little about the situation. I have had to tell them their own policies on several ocassions.

You might want to break up the cases so you won't get wiped out if somehting happens and I think some extra insurance would be in order.

Good Luck with it.

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He who dares wins.
NRA Life Memeber
 
Well, I found out that I can only take ONE case that contains a maximum of 5 handguns or one rifle case that contains a maximum of 2 rifles. They will only insure the cost of the bag and up to $500 for the contents. No optional insurance is available. I guess I'll have to check with my home owners insurance.
 
I do it all the time. Granted, almost all of my experience is on American. First... know the rules. Don't expect the agent to know them. IF the agent doesn't get it, ask for a supervisor.

1.) The firearms MUST be unloaded and in a lockable hardshell case. Here is where you COULD get into trouble with someone who doesn't know the rules.. Some agents have interpreted this to mean the LUGGAGE must be hard. NOT! The case for the gun is all that must be hardsided. That said, you may STILL want to make the bag a hard shell.

2.) You MUST declair them... and they will be tagged. But as was mentioned.. the tag goes inside the firearms case. NOT on the outside of the luggage. Do NOT let someone bully you into tagging the OUTSIDE! IF they try, tell them you want their name and phone number along with their supervisors name and phone number to turn over to the FBI, the FAA and the ATF WHEN your guns get stolen because they did not know the rules.

3.) Ammo is limited in weight (on American it is also 11 pounds) and must be in the original containers and in a separate bag from the firearm. (Note: reloading boxes qualify as "original containers" and I stuff the tops of these with newspaper to cut down on the ratteling) *** This was a problem very recently for a friend of mine going on a safari. He knew the law well enough to push back. *** If you HAVE the option of shipping ammo ahead of you, do so. 11 pounds is not much.

Note... most of these folks will NOT know enough to be able to tell if the firearm is unloaded. Personally, I carry my pistols to the airport in the locked case with the slide locked back. When I get to the counter, I open the case WHEN I am directed by the agent. Sheeple get antsy when they see guns at airports. I drop the tag inside and lock the hardshell case. I then put the case inside my lugage and then lock THAT up.

All in all... I have had very few problems traveling to matches all over the country with my pistols. Knowing the rules better than the agents is the key. That and always being nice and friendly with a big smile.

Bubba
 
There's a FAA rule about this somewhere...somebody toss a friggin' bone? I' don't know what it is off the top of my head. Anyway, it's perfectly LEGAL, but since their private companies, they can make their own rules, too. However, just watch out for the desk clerk paranoia. OH MY GOD HE HAS A GUN!!! can happen with these folks. Have it in a locked case, inside of another locked bag. Set it on the counter and say, "I have a LOCKED and UNLOADED firearm in this case and I'd like to check it with the rest of my luggage." You'll probably have to say it twice (I did last time) since the first time you say it, their eyes will get big and they'll be ready to scream "GUN!!" It's so stupid the way it goes. Oh yesh, your question! The FAA rule also states that the tag DOES NOT need to be on the outside of the container. Most times, the tag goes into the gun safe.
 
Actually you don't always have to SHOW clear. The FAA regs say that you must only transport UNLOADED firearms and that you must DECLARE them to be unloaded to the carrier. I have flown United to and from Indianapolis to Denver and San Antonio in the last two months and no counter personel every want to see the guns. The tag you sign is the FAA required declaration that the firearms are unloaded. Southwest, American, and TWA have all inspected my guns, though I did have a Southwest agent in New Orleans and an American agent in Burbank choose not to inspect as well, but that does not seem to be the norm for them.
 
Good info here. I have had my firearms inspected at bigger airports like LAX, and not inspected in places like Billings, MT (guns are no biggie there).

Here's an idea: I think you can download all the regs on flying with guns either at the FAA www.faa.gov or ATF http://www.atf.treas.gov websites. Maybe a good idea to keep a printout of the rules when flying, to instruct counter agents who are ignorant of them? you might also want to check the websites of the airlines you fly, for specific demands they make.



[This message has been edited by Covert Mission (edited July 19, 2000).]
 
One tip I will give you is too get some Zap Straps/Flexicuffs, put them thru the barrel and zap them so they know the gun is not loaded.

get the appropriate lenght, 5" bbl will take a 14" strap.

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PROUD TO BE CANADIAN
 
Since I'm taking five, I have an aluminum gun case that locks. Can I just check the case or do the guns have to be inside a locked container AND inside luggage? I've traveled like that before but with only one gun.
 
They just need to be in a locked hard case. I frequently use a rifle case to transport a number of handguns with no problems. I only do a locked hard pistol case inside a locked hard suitcase to hide the fact that I am travelling with a handgun or two. A 5 foot long rife case full of guns is hard for a baggage handler to hide plus they assume that there are rifles in it which are not as desirable as handguns.
 
They only have to be inside one locked container, but itf you stick THAT in a suitcase, the baggage handler's won't know what's in there. (They're the real threat)
 
Yes, definitely put your gun case INSIDE another suitcase. A gun case is pretty obvious to a baggage handler. It's either gonna contain guns, or camera equipment(in their eyes), and both are easy to pawn or sell. FWIW, I've only flown Delta with HG's, and only once with more than one. There was no problem, and I pretty much did as Frontsight described. Good Luck.
 
Damn, my gun case is 5' long. I'll have to buy two smaller cases to fit inside my luggage. What about magazines? Am I allow to have them in the same case? Am I allow to have them in my carry on bag?

Thanks!
 
It is hard to smuggle a 5' long gun case out under a shirt. As I said that is how I carry mine sometimes. Handlers think it is rifles, not desirable like handguns. If you break it down into two separate pieces of luggage though you could jack the insurance on the two bags IF you were flying an airline that would allow the additional insurance. The mags are not a problem, they can be in the gun. THEY MAY NOT BE LOADED. You may NOT transport ammo in a magazine. Magazines are firearms parts and while technically not a firearm so would not be restricted from a carry on, I would not attempt to carry gun parts through the secured area of an airport. I was even hassled for carrying handcuffs in my carry on.
 
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