Flying with declared firearm

Must be in a hard sided case/box. Some (IE Southwest) require 2 padlocks, some may not.

Factory case or aftermarket doesn't matter as long as it locks.

Ammo must be packed separately (same checked bag, just not in the pistol box, in a factory cardboard or aftermarket case made specifically for ammo.
Ammo actually can be in the same locked box, I fly that way all the time. Rifles and handguns and ammo all in one box, locked off course.
 
Did they escort you to TSA for the scan or it was all easier than that? I've heard cases where people end up getting locks getting cut off and s*** like that for more than one person but that seems to be some weird airport specific thing.....
Flying for years out of Boston, never had an inspection, they look at what’s in the box, ask if they are unloaded and sometimes where am I going to which I always say vacation. Seems like cutting locks off after it’s checked in would be illegal since you cannot give your key to anyone.
 
Did they escort you to TSA for the scan or it was all easier than that? I've heard cases where people end up getting locks getting cut off and s*** like that for more than one person but that seems to be some weird airport specific thing.....
No scan just check in the luggage as usual except I informed baggage agent that I would like to declare a firearm and she said she needed see if it was in a proper container, which it was and unloaded and she attached a tag on the outside handle of my pelican box all is 2 minutes all done within 15 feet of a nearby trooper. I travel at least 4 time a year and have never had a problem at Logan …..easy as 1 2 3 oh and by the way… white tag with blue lettering on JB tags. American tags were orange last time
 
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Must be in a hard sided case/box. Some (IE Southwest) require 2 padlocks, some may not.

Factory case or aftermarket doesn't matter as long as it locks.

Ammo must be packed separately (same checked bag, just not in the pistol box, in a factory cardboard or aftermarket case made specifically for ammo.

I’ve always had the ammo in the factory box, inside my pelican with my pistol and magazines. Only flown out of Logan a few times like that but it’s never been an issue.
 
Seems like cutting locks off after it’s checked in would be illegal since you cannot give your key to anyone.
Seems like. Unfortunately, it occasionally happens. (E.g., deviant ollam had them replaced with cheap TSA locks once.)

That's why my locks have hardened shackles that are almost inaccessible when mounted.
 
No scan just check in the luggage as usual except I informed baggage agent that I would like to declare a firearm and she said she needed see if it was in a proper container, which it was and unloaded and she attached a tag on the outside handle of my pelican box all is 2 minutes all done within 15 feet of a nearby trooper. I travel at least 4 time a year and have never had a problem at Logan …..easy as 1 2 3 oh and by the way… white tag with blue lettering on JB tags. American tags were orange last time
I had trouble just getting into Logan last year.
The Terminal B parking asshat did the "We need to look inside your car" thing and asked what was in the locked black box.
I said "Firearms, properly stored and secured for transport"
He said I was not allowed to bring firearms into the Terminal B parking structure.
I let him know I did this often and it was 100% allowed.
He said that "The Law changed and now it wasn't"
I asked "What Law?"
He said "Logan Security Policy Law"
He then said he had to call the state police due to my suspected attempt to bring a firearm into Logan
State Trooper came over and asked for my license, my LTC, and my flight information/travel plans.
Handed them over, he asked me to unlock and open the box.
I did the unlocking part, but said I was more comfortable with him doing the opening, given the circumstances.
He said that was a smart move.
He ran my DL and LTC, which (shockingly) came back to me.
He then verified everything was unloaded (considering I packed them with open actions, this was easy)
Told him I was flying to Colorado for a trade show then meeting some friends for a day of shooting.
State trooper apologized for the "security theater" and mentioned he would have a talk with the parking folks again.
He then waved me through while the parking attendant just mean mugged me the whole time.
 
Seems like. Unfortunately, it occasionally happens. (E.g., deviant ollam had them replaced with cheap TSA locks once.)

That's why my locks have hardened shackles that are almost inaccessible when mounted.
Which locks do you use?
 
Just checked them out.

Any reason you chose those over their granite locks?
When I first fell down the lock rabbit hole, Abus and Assa were the two names that kept coming back to the top. Since then, I've heard good things about Pacloc (mostly from LPL). I don't know anything about Granite, but I'm hardly an authority.

At some point, it's basically "anything but Master." Ironically, I have four of theirs, keyed alike, that I use on my hard rifle cases for transport to the range. That's basically malicious compliance, though...and for when I want to get back into picking.

Edit - that granite line I think was newer when I bought the pucks. They'd be fine for the purpose. (They're also expensive)
 
When I first fell down the lock rabbit hole, Abus and Assa were the two names that kept coming back to the top. Since then, I've heard good things about Pacloc (mostly from LPL). I don't know anything about Granite, but I'm hardly an authority.

At some point, it's basically "anything but Master." Ironically, I have four of theirs, keyed alike, that I use on my hard rifle cases for transport to the range. That's basically malicious compliance, though...and for when I want to get back into picking.

Edit - that granite line I think was newer when I bought the pucks. They'd be fine for the purpose. (They're also expensive)
The Granite is a line ABUS offers.
They look good. I have been searching for quality locks.
 
The Granite is a line ABUS offers.
They look good. I have been searching for quality locks.
Yeah. Just looked to refresh myself. I'm sure they're great locks.

They're also twice as expensive (or more) as the 20/70 pucks. In not sure I want my locks to cost as much as my suitcase, but that's my risk tolerance. I could toss another pair of the pucks in my case, in case they destroy the ones I've mounted, and still be ahead.
 
That almost happened to me at DFW. The "supervisor" who was a complete A-hole sent the case containing the firearms (not inside a suitcase) on to TSA without letting them know that there were firearms inside. TSA was, uh, curious about an orange Pelican case with two Master padlocks going through as checked badges.

The alleged "supervisor" called me on my phone and told me to get to TSA ASAP or they would cut the locks off. WTF? I got there and initially the two TSA guys were not at all friendly. Once I opened the case and they saw the Orange Card, they relaxed quite a bit. Turns out the alleged" supervisor had not told the person who hand carried the case to TSA to tell them that there were declared firearms inside.

The alleged "supervisor" came over to chastise me and we had quite a discussion in front of the two TSA guys. He finally admitted that he hadn't told the person. He also finally agreed that my back pack could go as a checked bag at no charge since I now had to go back through security. The TSA guys laughed at him as he left and told me that he was always screwing simple shit up.

Other than that at every other airport, it's been straightforward.

One problem with having nationwide rules is that no two airports are constructed the same. When SWA was at Terminal E way back when, the TSA violated their own rules by bringing me back into a secure area to open a locked case inside my suitcase. In Pensacola I wasn't allowed to go to the secure area, but had to hand my key off to a SWA employee so she could bring it to TSA.

They seem to do a lot less of that these days. The last few times I flew SWA out of Boston, they didn't even ask me to open the case when I checked in and declared the firearm. The young lady seemed to be afraid that if I did that the gun would jump out, load itself, and start shooting. American follows the TSA rules pretty closely, but my impression is that at Logan they don't see all that many firearms checked in.

American also sends the baggage to the baggage office when you land. That happened in Austin last year. The problem being that they don't tell you that, they just assume that you'll know it.

Unlike in NY/NJ the airlines at Logan don't notify the police when bags are checked in or being picked up. The only ID I've ever needed is my DL.

Did they escort you to TSA for the scan or it was all easier than that? I've heard cases where people end up getting locks getting cut off and s*** like that for more than one person but that seems to be some weird airport specific thing.....
 
Yes, that
Apache case with a combo lock?
Apache is similar, and km assuming a separate "bag?
Yes, that is what I use, with 2 Masterlocks on it. Then it goes inside checked luggage after being declared/paperwork. Save the little tags they have you put in the case. Someone gave me that tip and it paid off one time on a return flight. Ticket agent questioned something and I pulled out a stack and showed her. She stated "Well, you seem to know what you're doing!" ;)
 
I don't know if anyone mentioned it yet, but I always cable lock the box to the frame of the suitcase. Just one more thing to slow down potential thieves. The longer it takes to steal something, the more likely a thief is to move on to an easier target.
 
I flew from Boston to Dallas and back a few years ago. No issue going down, coming back I almost missed my flight because TSA in Dallas didn’t know how to proceed and had to wait for a supervisor to come in on his day off.

When I picked up in Boston there were pry marks on my pistol case and someone had smashed the lock with a hammer or something. Just glad I had it cable locked through the frame of the luggage as someone mentioned earlier. I think that saved it from “Walking off”
 
I'm not a frequent flyer. The few times I've flown with a checked pistol, I had no problems on either end (MHT to either DAL or LRA).

I mostly fly carry-on only, and the only time I'm unarmed on the other end, is between the airport and the first place I can buy a knife. (Which I carry until I have to toss before getting on my return flight, but I prefer to pay karma forward by leaving it in the rental car console for the next person.)
 
how was ur experience as i fly with delta in like 8-9 days flying out of logan ?

Print the Delta rules, read them and take them with you. Go early and relax, don't add stress to the situation. If the person at the counter doesn't know the rules, show them. If you still have issues ask for a Delta Red Coat. Their Red Coats are the senior staff who should handle the situation. Although, that service has gone down hill the last time I talked to a red coat for another issue.

I haven't flown with a firearm in a while, but the last time it was no big deal. I used to fly a lot though and got to take advantage of the priority check in desks, so that may have helped.
 
I am preparing to fly to New Orleans and was reviewing the advice in this thread on flying with firearms. I printed out the TSA regulations and one discrepancy I found was about retaining possession of the key/combination of the locks on my gun case. TSA says "Only the passenger should retain the key or combination to the lock unless TSA personnel request the key to open the firearm container to ensure compliance with TSA regulations".

I see many comments about TSA agents insisting on handing over the keys and people pointing out to them that this is not the per the regulations and pointing it out to them. Is this a recent change in their regulations or am I looking in the wrong place for the regulations ?
 
It's a recent change because of the very issue you point out. Early on, the TSA often checked the firearm box in a semi public place outside the "sterile zone." Now, it's all done on the other side, at least that's what I've seen. Passengers are not allowed into the secure area where they do that check. This happened to me a few years ago at Logan. What they finally did was allow me to stand in the doorway and observe them open the firearms box.

They don't check as much as they used to. Only if the box alerts to explosives or some other contraband. Gun powder residue doesn't trigger any alarms.

I wouldn't worry about it.

I am preparing to fly to New Orleans and was reviewing the advice in this thread on flying with firearms. I printed out the TSA regulations and one discrepancy I found was about retaining possession of the key/combination of the locks on my gun case. TSA says "Only the passenger should retain the key or combination to the lock unless TSA personnel request the key to open the firearm container to ensure compliance with TSA regulations".

I see many comments about TSA agents insisting on handing over the keys and people pointing out to them that this is not the per the regulations and pointing it out to them. Is this a recent change in their regulations or am I looking in the wrong place for the regulations ?
 
What happens if you fly with a pistol and plane has to make an emergency landing or due to weather, your connecting flight doesn't happen and you're stranded at an airport in the great state of NY where your gun is illegal?
 
What happens if you fly with a pistol and plane has to make an emergency landing or due to weather, your connecting flight doesn't happen and you're stranded at an airport in the great state of NY where your gun is illegal?
As far as I know, you leave your bag on the carousel and walk away. The airline is responsible for getting your bag to it's final destination.
 
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