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I am flying to Alask soon.

I am flying United, and thier website says that the hard sided container is to be in a "hard sided suitcase".

I have the standard suitcases you see today. The outer cordura type material/roller wheel stuff.

Will this suffice, or would you recommend something different?

Thanks!

Asking the wrong folks.... the only answer that matters is the Airline company folks at the departure location.
It wont matter what we have experienced at a different airport, even with this company.. Or at your airport and this company 2 years ago..

I can say for certainty, even flying United,, I've never been required to have my guns in a hard sided suitcase.. Locked hard sided case yes of course, but not the outer suitcase. I don't even own one of those.

But that may have been just the United employees at the locations I few from, you need to know what the United employees are going to do at this time at the airport your departing from (both directions)

I'd contact them, ask to send um an email with pictures of your gun case and suitcase... If the United employee responds that those cases, packing arraignments will work.. Print that off and away you go.

chuckybrown wrote:I am flying to Alask soon.

I am flying United, and thier website says that the hard sided container is to be in a "hard sided suitcase".

I have the standard suitcases you see today. The outer cordura type material/roller wheel stuff.

Will this suffice, or would you recommend something different?

Thanks!

A hard sided container (locking gun box etc) packed inside your codura bag will suffice. I have a little one that has a combo lock on it and a cable that I run through the frame inside my cordura rolling bag. Works fine. Ammo must be in the original box and no loaded magazines. Declare the firearm at the check in counter and fill out the little form they give you, and the United agent will most likely summon the TSA, they will Xray the bag....swab for explosives and otherwise take up about 15 to 20 minutes of your time. The TSA agent will then return the bag to the counter to be checked in.

Long guns go in TSA approved cases (IE Pelican etc) and checked the same way. Southwest verifies the guns are un;oaded at the counter, so pack with bolts open or removed. The lock on the cases is NOT a TSA lock....you need to be the only one with a key or combo.

This is based on my experience with United..... Other airlines do things about the same way but it varies as to who checks the bag etc.



On a helpful hint, if you or your gun boxes spend any time in oil fields, farms etc where any kind of explosive or Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer is used, WIPE DOWN you gun boxes with some soap and water and wash your hands again after handeling the boxes before going through securtiy at the airport. Boots too.
Might save you a few minutes being swabbed and questioned. Happend to us after dove hunting in New Mexico last year. Lots of dust on the boxes and it was "hot" per the TSA guy.

Thank you Blackdog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You should call the airline to confirm.

In my experience (all with AA and Delta), a hard locked box inside a cordura piece of luggage is fine. That's how I do it. I don't own any hard shell luggage.
My assumption when I read "hard luggage" is that it would exclude a simple zippered nylon bag with no fixed shape. A sports gear bag, for example.

RoyGBiv wrote:My assumption when I read "hard luggage" is that it would exclude a simple zippered nylon bag with no fixed shape. A sports gear bag, for example.

And that is why I too suggested calling the airline at the departure location. Soft side zipped bags like you describe is all I fly with.. and my gun case inside them have never been an issue... many dozens of times.

BUT, if you can read the policy that way.. so can an airline person...

E.Marquez wrote:

RoyGBiv wrote:My assumption when I read "hard luggage" is that it would exclude a simple zippered nylon bag with no fixed shape. A sports gear bag, for example.

And that is why I too suggested calling the airline at the departure location. Soft side zipped bags like you describe is all I fly with.. and my gun case inside them have never been an issue... many dozens of times.

BUT, if you can read the policy that way.. so can an airline person...

Ha.! Well there you go...
Correct answer: Call the airline for clarification and record the conversation (or ask for written confirmation).

Thank you, keyboard warriors, for I would NEVER have thought to have called the airline. Wow, how ignorant am I that I might ask others their real life travel experiences?

Shame on me, for I should have had the forethought to have called and gotten ahold of somebody that doesn't work the counter....to ask a question about checking a a weapon....AT THE COUNTER!

Sorry for my sarcastic response. Meh, not really......

Again, thanks Blackdog8200 for sharing your experiences.

Don't flame me.....

I won't ask again.

chuckybrown wrote:Thank you, keyboard warriors, for I would NEVER have thought to have called the airline. Wow, how ignorant am I that I might ask others their real life travel experiences?

Shame on me, for I should have had the forethought to have called and gotten ahold of somebody that doesn't work the counter....to ask a question about checking a a weapon....AT THE COUNTER!

Sorry for my sarcastic response. Meh, not really......

Again, thanks Blackdog8200 for sharing your experiences.

Don't flame me.....

I won't ask again.

Your welcome, ...

Though you seem unwilling or unable to understand the help you have been provided.
To each his own.. enjoy your trip, hope the trip goes well regardless of your inability to see reasonable response to your question.

E.Marquez wrote:

chuckybrown wrote:Thank you, keyboard warriors, for I would NEVER have thought to have called the airline. Wow, how ignorant am I that I might ask others their real life travel experiences?

Shame on me, for I should have had the forethought to have called and gotten ahold of somebody that doesn't work the counter....to ask a question about checking a a weapon....AT THE COUNTER!

Sorry for my sarcastic response. Meh, not really......

Again, thanks Blackdog8200 for sharing your experiences.

Don't flame me.....

I won't ask again.

Your welcome, ...

Though you seem unwilling or unable to understand the help you have been provided.
To each his own.. enjoy your trip, hope the trip goes well regardless of your inability to see reasonable response to your question.

Whatever! LOL......

Peace.

mrs surv and I will be flying to Alaska the end of July also ... decided I'm not even gonna get my Bp up over the TSA nonsense by carrying. Besides, I don't trust the baggage handlers to keep up with my stuff anyway, so anything of real necessity will be in the carry on...except for maybe a small "disposable" pocket knife or two in the checked bag (only one ... we're traveling lite)

I'll find myself a nice pointy stick while there and make do. It's like living life on the edge for a few days

I am flying Southwest out of Houston Hobby to visit my SLC police officer son and his family next week. I will secure my unloaded firearm, empty magazines, and factory boxed ammo in the gun manufacturer's hard-sided plastic case with two keyed locks and secure the case to the soft side suitcase with a gun lock cable passed through a hasp bolted to the suitcase. It was not clear to me as to whether the Southwest ticket agent had to verify by physical examination that the declared unloaded firearm was unloaded, so I e-mailed Southwest with that question. Here is their June 20, 2013 response:

Dear David,
Southwest Airlines will transport firearms such as sport rifles, shotguns, and handguns, on a controlled basis provided all acceptance requirements are met. Customers are responsible for knowing the firearms laws of the state(s) they will be traveling to, from, and through. Each revenue customer is entitled to check firearms in place of one of the free pieces of luggage at no charge. The customer must declare the firearm to the Customer Service Agent at the ticket counter (no firearms will be accepted curbside). The Customer Service Agent accepting the weapon must verify verbally with the customer that the weapon is unloaded. A firearms inspection tag (WN-308) must be completed by the Customer Service Agent and signed by the customer. The WN-308 is placed inside the checked baggage and proximate to, but not inside of the hard-sided, locked container. Firearms must be encased in a hard-sided, locked container that is of sufficient strength to withstand normal handling. A firearm in a hard-sided, locked container may be placed inside a soft-sided, unlocked suitcase. Or a firearm placed inside a hard-sided, locked suitcase does not have to be encased in a container manufactured for the transportation of firearms. The locked container or suitcase must completely secure the firearm from access. Cases or suitcases that can be pulled open with minimal effort do not meet the locked criteria. Only the customer checking the luggage should retain the key or combination to the lock. No exceptions will be made. Passengers may be summoned to assist Transportation Security Officers(TSOs) in the visible screening of firearms and firearm parts.
We look forward to seeing you onboard soon! Sincerely, Gracielyn, Southwest Airlines

I have a small hard case and lock that goes into a cordura sided bag. You're welcome to use it if it will fit your pistol. I kept a Kahr 380, 2 mags, and a 20rd box of ammo in it.

I have used the same type of suitcase you describe below and never had a problem. My flights were with Southwest and AA.
Hope this helps. I wouldn't think you'd have any problems.

chuckybrown wrote:
I have the standard suitcases you see today. The outer cordura type material/roller wheel stuff.

Will this suffice, or would you recommend something different?

Thanks!

The problem with calling or emailing the airline is that there's no guarantee the person checking you in will follow the procedures exactly the way the person on the phone/email says, or even that the person on the phone/email is providing you the most accurate information. The TSA as well as the airlines have the "official" information on their website, so that's the best place to look. And bringing a printout of those policies also will be more helpful in the case of a misinformed agent rather than just saying you spoke to somebody on the phone who told you so-and-so.

For instance, the note above about Southwest verbally confirming the gun is unloaded is not accurate based on my personal experience. I've checked a handgun on both Southwest and United, and 3 out 4 times the ticket agent wants visual confirmation that the gun was unloaded, requiring me to open the lockbox and show them (I always hate doing this with all the people around).

There's also nothing in the TSA or most airline guidelines saying that the ammo must be in the original box. It just needs to be in some sort of box or container that protects it from impact. If there are no visible cartridges in your lockbox or luggage you should be fine. So far I've had no problems with loaded magazines in neoprene magazine pouches. (It could be that they just didn't notice the magazines, I don't know). I do bring the empty ammo box in my luggage just in case a particular agent insists, but it hasn't come up so far. To me the loaded magazines in the padded pouches are not only a safer way to transport, but they make arming/disarming at the airport rental car lot much quicker and easier. I don't want to be fumbling with unloading magazines at the rental car dropoff if I can avoid it.