Seeking advice: Flight AA DFW-PHX w/CHL

[daniel2002p]

I am hoping someone here can pass some wisdom my way as this will be the first time for me traveling by air with a firearm. Most of my business travel takes me to New England and the foreign county of California so I never bother to take my EDC with me since I won't be able to carry it and probably get arrested for possession of it . I have looked through and read handgunlaw.us for Arizona over and over again and understand the rules there. I won't be open carrying that is for sure the 26 will be tucked under my pants on my ankle.

My question is regarding the flight itself. I looked on AA website and have all the required equipment and know how to store the firearm as needed and the ammo. Since this trip will be for three weeks I wanted to have my 26 with me. Since I never had to check a firearm at DFW airport or at Sky Harbor I am kind of nervous as hell of what I have to do not to be looked at like a criminal. I assume I don't just go the counter and announce that I have a gun in my luggage bag as I am sure this will scare someone especially if they are not used to CHL'ers. Is there some code like "I need to declare this and this" or something similar like that. Next what is the process once declared do I have to accompany my checked bag to the TSA checkpoint or will they call someone to escort me somewhere? Lots of questions I know but I want to take my 26 with me and hopefully someone can chime in.

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

--Daniel

[KRM45]

Checking a firearm at DFW is simple. Pack it appropriately (unloaded, hard case, ammo separate, etc.) and declare it to the ticket agent. They will ask you to complete an orange card (or 2... I don't argue, I just follwo their instructions). They will likely send you and your bag dow to TSA for a bag check. TSA may ask you to open the locked container to inspect the weapon. Just follow their instructions, and you'll be fine.

I have flown in and out of many airports in restricted states (CA, MA, RI, CT, etc.), and never had a problem. I am legally allowed to carry in those places, but was never asked for evidence of that.

Enjoy your trip.

[jmorris]

I was checking in at San Antonio when there was a long line and a ticket agent out front helping. She tried to direct me to the electronic check-in but I leaned over and quietly told her I needed to check-in at the desk because I had a firearm. She turned around and called out to the agent behind the desk, "this one's going to need the orange firearm card". Couple of looks but nobody ran screaming for the exits.

[polekitty]

As I understand the rules (which are hard to find because they differ) unloaded gun in locked case, in locked suitcase. Ammo must be in the original box in a separate suitcase locked. This is to prevent a baggage handler from having access to both gun and ammo if in the event he/she decides to break into your suitcase. If you're staying for a extended period of time you might think about buying ammo after you arrive if you don't have two bags to check. During check in at the unsecured portion of the airport, you need to inform the agent you are declaring a weapon, fill out the orange card, you will be asked to place the card in the suitcase. The suitcase will be checked baggage and your on your way. No need to declare the ammo in the other checked bag and nothing to report to the TSA upon entering the secured area of the airport. Hopes this helps.

[ELB]

Mostly ditto to KRM45.

When I get to the counter I just say "I need to declare a firearm in my checked bag" or something similar. I've never sparked a panic. They usually ask if it is unloaded and locked in a hard container. Sometimes the gate agent will ask me to demonstrate that the gun is unloaded, sometimes not. If asked, I set the bag down flat and "backwards" so that when I open it, the lid is against my legs blocking view from behind. I just open the case, open the slide, and show the mag well. Usually the gate agent just has be fill out the card (sometimes orange and sometimes white) and put it with the case (sometimes inside, sometimes outside), and sends me over to TSA. They used to just xray it, but last few trips they always wanted to open it and swab the case.

As I recall AA wants ammo in separate from the hard locked case. I carry a dop kit that I put the ammo, knives, shaving razors and the like into, so I can find my EDC stuff quickly at the other end.


As to Occupied America: Despite its totalitarian attitude about guns, people who fly through Chicago don't seem to have any problems, and I guess most of the New England states' airports are OK, but I would not go anywhere near a New York (or New Jersey) airport with a firearm. If you show up at the counter and declare a firearm, the gate agents will alert the local cops and if you do not have a New York license for that particular firearm, you will have a bad day. The Firearms Owner Protection Act was supposed to protect us from this kind of crap, but the Federal judges in that region, all nominated by NY Senators I'm sure, have gutted the FOPA by ruling that if you are the beginning of a trip you are not "traveling," and if you got diverted to a NY airport overnight because of weather or broken airplane or whathaveyou, then you are still not "traveling" -- they consider it a break in your journey, even if it was the airline or the weather's fault and you are scheduled to complete your journey on another flight.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01 ... eme-court/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ELB]

As I understand the rules (which are hard to find because they differ) unloaded gun in locked case, in locked suitcase. Ammo must be in the original box in a separate suitcase locked. This is to prevent a baggage handler from having access to both gun and ammo if in the event he/she decides to break into your suitcase......

I have never read of a requirement for checking gun and ammo in separate checked bags in TSA or airline rules. I have flown many times with my firearm(s) and a single checked bag. I am not up to chasing down every airline's rules on the internet right now, but I do not believe that is true.

However, it is true that some airlines require ammo to not be in the same hard case with the firearm. TSA is ok with ammo inside the gun case (as long as it is not in the gun) , but I think AA is one of the ones that requires ammo to be outside the gun case. It can be in the same checked bag tho, as long as the firearm is inside another case.

TSA is also OK with ammo in magazines as long as the magazine is secured so that there is no exposed ammo. Airlines like original packaging. So I just stuff my magazines inside an ammo box, shove some padding in to keep it from rattling, and tape it shut. Everybody's happy.

[ELB]

I was checking in at San Antonio when there was a long line and a ticket agent out front helping. She tried to direct me to the electronic check-in but I leaned over and quietly told her I needed to check-in at the desk because I had a firearm. She turned around and called out to the agent behind the desk, "this one's going to need the orange firearm card". Couple of looks but nobody ran screaming for the exits.

One time at the San Antonio airport I counted at least nine (9) firearms being checked at the same counter I was lined up. And that was just the number of rifles whose cases I could see. Who knows how many handguns? (At least two that I knew of. )

[JALLEN]

I've traveled many times with a pistol. I get to the ticket counter and ask for a firearm declaration. The person behind the counter fiddles around underneath the counter, finds one, hands it to me to fill out and we go from there. It is never the same. Sometimes they ask if it is unloaded, sometimes they want to see. The firearms declaration usually goes inside the locked case with the firearm, but sometimes they merely tape it to the outside. The idea is to let TSA know it's been dealt with, not just missed. Sometimes they ask me to wait near the TSA door for ten minutes in case TSA has some issue, sometimes not.

The only time I had a problem is when I flew out of San Antonio without a pistol. Unfortunately, I had 3 loaded 9 mm 10 round magazines in my briefcase, forgotten about since I had flown to San Antonio without a pistol, quick trip, etc. etc. They had been in the briefcase when I left San Diego, but not discovered, thankfully. Anyway, I was discovered, investigated, interrogated, checked out as a solid citizen. I figured I would be led away in handcuffs, perp walked in disgrace to the hoosegow, but I didn't even miss my flight. The TSA fellow even helped me buy a pistol hard case to put the magazines in and got Southwest to retrieve my luggage so the case with said magazines could be put in the checked luggage. The FAA wrote me a hate letter asking for any explanation I might wish to offer. Being a private pilot for many years and having had some experience with FAA, I told them the truth, as this is always sure to befuddle them.

Later, they replied, saying that for $200 they would forget the whole thing. So I paid. The government needs the money, even though they just waste it.

[jimlongley]

I've traveled many times with a pistol. I get to the ticket counter and ask for a firearm declaration. The person behind the counter fiddles around underneath the counter, finds one, hands it to me to fill out and we go from there. It is never the same. Sometimes they ask if it is unloaded, sometimes they want to see. The firearms declaration usually goes inside the locked case with the firearm, but sometimes they merely tape it to the outside. The idea is to let TSA know it's been dealt with, not just missed. Sometimes they ask me to wait near the TSA door for ten minutes in case TSA has some issue, sometimes not.

The only time I had a problem is when I flew out of San Antonio without a pistol. Unfortunately, I had 3 loaded 9 mm 10 round magazines in my briefcase, forgotten about since I had flown to San Antonio without a pistol, quick trip, etc. etc. They had been in the briefcase when I left San Diego, but not discovered, thankfully. Anyway, I was discovered, investigated, interrogated, checked out as a solid citizen. I figured I would be led away in handcuffs, perp walked in disgrace to the hoosegow, but I didn't even miss my flight. The TSA fellow even helped me buy a pistol hard case to put the magazines in and got Southwest to retrieve my luggage so the case with said magazines could be put in the checked luggage. The FAA wrote me a hate letter asking for any explanation I might wish to offer. Being a private pilot for many years and having had some experience with FAA, I told them the truth, as this is always sure to befuddle them.

Later, they replied, saying that for $200 they would forget the whole thing. So I paid. The government needs the money, even though they just waste it.

When I was a TSA screener at Love Field I kept a list of the local gun stores (DFW Gun Range was almost walking distance) and places where people could get cases, with phone numbers. People who ran into issues like yours, we would often give them the list and suggest that they call in advance. Some of the local cabbies would even take someone to the store and wait while the purchase was made and bring them back. We suggested that the store start selling gun cases, but they were a franchise and didn't want to stray from the company line. Not all TSA have always been bad guys, but most of us who couldn't take anymore of the public's flak besides the incompetent management have since left.

[polekitty]

ELB, It was AA that told me how I needed to handle this when I was flying up north. OP, Here is the link for the TSA
http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information ... ammunition" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[trentwhite778]

I agree with what everyone else is saying but you don't have to have the ammo stored in a separate case. It can be in the same case as your firearm as long as it's in an approved container like the original packaging.

The way I bring it up seems to work for me without causing any alarm.
I just say, "I'd like to check this bag and I also need to fill out an unloaded firearm declaration."

So far (5 times) nobody has batted an eye.

[tommyg]

There are several scams going around creeps claiming to be feds and they claim to drop
charges for a couple of hundred dollars They ripped you off they were unscrupulous air port employees

[ELB]

ELB, It was AA that told me how I needed to handle this when I was flying up north. OP, Here is the link for the TSA
http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information ... ammunition" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I believe someone at AA told you that but I don't believe it is a "rule." I have run into confused agents before, or occasionally someone who thinks he knows the rules but doesn't. It's good to keep a printout of both the TSA and airline rules.

Here's AA's actual written rules. http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformatio ... rearms.jsp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TexasCajun]

I've flown a couple of times with my handgun. Here's what works for me--

1. Field-strip the pistol & place it in a lockable container. I field-strip because I have this recurring nightmare vision of some gate agent waving around my gun and sweeping the entire counter. For a container, I use my cabled lock-box that I normally keep in my car.
2. Print out 2 copies of both the TSA firearms regulations and the firearms regulations of the airline. I keep one copy of each with me & have the other to give to the gate agent if there's a question. As demonstrated earlier in this thread, the individual airline regulations can be confusing.
3. I loop the cable of my lock-box through the frame of the suitcase that is to be checked. Most suitcases have the built-in retractable handles that can work as an attach point.
4. I've carried ammo both in the original packaging and in a plastic shell box in the suitcase but outside of the lock-box without incident.
5. Unloaded magazines go in one of the suitcase pouches on the side.
6. I make sure and get to the airport with lots of extra time.
7. When I get to the gate, I calmly ask for a firearms declaration for my checked bag.
8. From there, it's just a quick game of Simon Says. They ask you to do something, you do it. Don't do anything else until they ask you to.
9. It's rare, but make sure that they don't try to put the firearm tag on the outside of your suitcase. Calmly refer to a copy of the printed regulations if they try to do that. The tag needs to be inside the suitcase either on or in the lock-box.

The main thing is to stay calm & act like it's no big deal.

[RoyGBiv]

There are several long threads about this very subject.. I assume you've done a search?

1. Try not to be nervous. Many people do this every day. I even flew through Dulles (NOVA/DC) with a checked gun, and it was no problem.

2. You need to go to a full service line at DFW to check a gun. You cannot use the kiosk and/or the bag-check-only lines.

3. When you approach the counter and hand over your ID, simply smile and say "I am checking a firearm today". Then be prepared to follow whatever instructions you are given. Some agents are clearer than others, but by now most are familiar with the process. Honestly, I don't care who hears me at the counter. I am not doing anything illegal. if some folks get uptight about it, it's not my concern. Smile & wave.

4. The agent should know to hand you a bright orange card, which you will sign and date and put inside your luggage. There is some debate about whether the card goes inside your luggage but outside the firearm container, or inside the actual firearm container. I have experienced both. just follow whatever instructions you are given by the agent. Only once have I ever been asked to show clear. I always thought that was a little odd, until I realized that they could see it on the x-ray, and handling a weapon at the ticket counter would probably cause alarm. I've done it once, because the agent asked me to do it. I didn't get nervous about it, because I wasn't doing anything wrong. Smile & wave

5. After dealing with the signature card, you will take your bag for screening by TSA. Someone from the ticketing counter will accompany you to the TSA checkpoint. TSA will check your bag, lock everything up and send your bag on to be boarded. You go to your gate the normal way from here.

Never flown through Sky harbor, but I imagine it's pretty much the same... Just ask the ticket agent to clearly tell you where the TSA checkpoint is if they are not planning to accompany you.

Enjoy your trip.