DFW airport & declaring your firearm experience?

[Carolina Cajun]

I am planning on taking a family vacation and I will be flying out of DFW airport. I am also planning on taking my concealed carry firearm with as well. Now I have been on the TSA site and specific airline site that I will be flying with. I know that I will have to declare my firearm & ammo at the counter when I go check my bag, firearm must be unloaded and in a locked case. I also read that my ammo will have to be in the original box that it came in according to the airline site. I plan on putting the wire lock that came with my handgun on it as well (just as an extra precaution to show the firearm is unloaded and clear). I have a Gunvault nanovault 100 that I use for my vehicle, so that's what I will have it in. Does anyone have any experience or advise about DFW and TSA as far as firearms go? I have a link to the nano

http://www.gunvault.com/nano-vault-100.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[LabRat]

I am planning on taking a family vacation and I will be flying out of DFW airport. I am also planning on taking my concealed carry firearm with as well. Now I have been on the TSA site and specific airline site that I will be flying with. I know that I will have to declare my firearm & ammo at the counter when I go check my bag, firearm must be unloaded and in a locked case. I also read that my ammo will have to be in the original box that it came in according to the airline site. I plan on putting the wire lock that came with my handgun on it as well (just as an extra precaution to show the firearm is unloaded and clear). I have a Gunvault nanovault 100 that I use for my vehicle, so that's what I will have it in. Does anyone have any experience or advise about DFW and TSA as far as firearms go? I have a link to the nano

http://www.gunvault.com/nano-vault-100.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've flown out of DFW numerous times with a firearm. You're on the right track to review the TSA site as well as the airlines site to be in compliance. I've had a couple of ticket agents that didn't understand the rules as well as I thought they should; believe it or not, TSA agents we had come to the counter were very helpful.

I don't know about the nanovault, but if it meets the requirements it should be OK. The TSA will pull on the top of whatever you have the gun locked to see if they can pry it up. if not, then your good to go. I wouldn't try to use the original case the gun was in when bought. Even my Kimber case top and bottom could be separated enough to disqualify.

Overall, i think you'll have an uneventful experience. Just remember to be helpful to the folks you interact with and keep a sense of humor.

LabRat

[Carolina Cajun]

Labrat,

Thanks for the response. Yeah according to the website, my nanovault meets TSA guidelines. What I am thinking of doing also, is going to speak to a TSA agent here at my local airport and show them my nanovault (empty of course) and explain to them what I am doing.

[RoyGBiv]

Many threads here about traveling through DFW. Did you try the search function?

1. I use the nano... I run the cable around the metal parts inside my rolling luggage. They might be able to steal the whole bag, but not just the gun.

2. DFW is easy.... when you approach the counter politely tell the agent "I am checking an unloaded firearm" and then follow their instructions (do a search for the details).

2a. Ammo should be in original box. DFW gives me grief about ammo stored in magazines. Of course, no loaded guns.

3. Where are you going? You may get specific feedback about your destination airport if you tell us what location.

4. If you happen to get detoured and land in a gun-unfriendly location, New York City, New Jersey, etc) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER take possession of your luggage. Find the head of baggage services and let them take your bag for safekeeping. You don't ever want to check a firearm in at a NYC airport.

[steveincowtown]

Take to TSA special checkpoint where I open case and show ammo and locked breach firearm. Lock case, take key, lock suitcase and then they tag it....done

No need to show them anything. Hand them the locked case and they will swab it for an alarm. If the alarm doesn't sound that are not allowed to open it. If they ask to open with no alarm I ask for a supervisor. Supervisor will no the rules/law.

Not trying to be hard on the TSA agent, they just don't need to now that I have $6,000 worth of guns in my rolling case.

[kragluver]

I have checked a pistol with AA on a couple of occasions. Be sure and check the AA website on their policies. As already stated, use a locking Nano style metal case (it is TSA approved). No ammo in magazines. Simply put your ammo in an approved ammunition box (if handloads, put them in a box you saved from a previous ammo purchase). Technically, the plastic MTM cases used by handloaders should work and are better, but the gate agent might give you some grief due to ignorance on the issue. Just play it safe and put any ammo you're carrying in a commercial box that you've save aside from some previous ammo purchase.

In each case, I was asked to open the gun case and show the agent that the gun was unloaded. I lock the slide back when I store it in the TSA case so that its obvious and I don't have to remove the gun from the case at the ticket counter. Then, you take your bag with the gun and ammo to the X-ray technician and tell him you are checking a bag with a firearm. They will x-ray it and give you the thumbs up and you're good to go. They SHOULD NOT put any tag or indicator on the bag indicating that it has a firearm in it.

All of this is handled at the ticket counter. Do not approach a TSA agent and try to ask questions. The airline counter personnel know what they are doing.

[harrycallahan]

I purchased a pelican case for when I travel and a non TSA lock. Follow the Airline and TSA rules. Know your destination gun laws as well as anywhere you might land unexpectedly before you take possssion f your firearm.

[harrycallahan]

I purchased a pelican case for when I travel and a non TSA lock. Follow the Airline and TSA rules. Know your destination gun laws as well as anywhere you might land unexpectedly before you take possession of your firearm.

[n5wmk]

Last December, I flew from DFW to Tucson on AA with my handgun. What I discovered is that not all gates will deal with the matter. The first gate agent said only some agents are allowed, and he sent me up the terminal a bit to one of the more active gates near the ticket counter. The lady there didn't need (or want?) to see inside the case at all - she just asked me if it was unloaded and if the ammunition was in a separate box. She had me fill out the declaration form in front of her, and told me to put it inside the Pelican case with the handgun. Then she had me take my luggage over to the TSA door. That lady there verified that the Pelican case was securely locked, had me wait while she did the explosive swipe test, and then sent the bag on its way.

Returning from Tucson was similar - the gate agent didn't look inside the case to verify it was unloaded or that the ammo was separate. Had me include the declaration form inside the Pelican case, lock the bag, and they took it to TSA. He did ask for my cell phone number in case the TSA had any need to contact me. They didn't - all went smooth as it should.

[jrene]

I use a lockable Glock gun case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L4Cmtaw3E8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I use a TSA lock for the outside of the luggage (required).

[steveincowtown]

Last December, I flew from DFW to Tucson on AA with my handgun. What I discovered is that not all gates will deal with the matter.

I think you discovered that not all the gate AGENTS will deal with that matter. I fly out of DFW very, very often and have never had an issue at any gate, with any airline.

I will say the range of reactions form the agents is amusing. I would say 9 out of 10 are completely indifferent, but that 10th one, whoa.

[The Annoyed Man]

I fly Toyota 4Runner, and nobody ever gives me any grief. Also, being the pilot, I never get detoured into gun-unfriendly states..... oh, and nobody pats down my crotch.

[kragluver]

I like your solution TAM. Flying is such a pain in the neck (and the rear, shoulders, knees...) these days. The only reason I get on an airplane anymore is for business because I have to.

[troglodyte]

I have taken my firearm to Florida out of DFW many times on American. I carry ammo in its own box and the firearm is cable locked and placed in a locked Pelican case. I go to counter and declare to get the form. Sign it and place into luggage. Take to TSA special checkpoint where I open case and show ammo and locked breach firearm. Lock case, take key, lock suitcase and then they tag it....done

I could have written this. I secure my firearm the same way. I also print out a couple of copies of the policies for the airline and TSA. That way if there is a discussion I have the reference in the case and on my person. I've never had a problem with the few times I've flown with a firearm. Anymore it seems very commonplace and nobody bats an eye.