XD in checked baggage

[Philadelphia]

Originally Posted by FunkyD

I'm traveling alone, so I was planning on 1 carry-on and 1 checked-in garmet bag. I was planning on stowing the XD in the case it came in (which has a hole for a lock to go through. The case would be in the garmet bag.

Not to sound stupid here, but I don't fly much. Can I have the checked bag (and thus the XD case) inspected right at check in, then lock it up and take the key with me?

Also, I've never heard of a TSA lock, although that makes sense. Are those available at the airport?

FWIW, I recently flew US Air to Vegas and back with an XD. Pistol was packed in its original box, with my own lock (not TSA) and placed inside a soft sided duffel with the rest of my stuff.

I put the chamber flag in the chamber to indicate it was not loaded. At the philly side, I was asked to sign the form declaring it unloaded, place the form in the case with the gun, lock it with my lock, and hang out until the TSA guys could xray the whole shebang. Once they said all was OK, I could leave and go to the gate.

At the Vegas side coming back, the lady at the ticket counter asked me to indicate (show) it was unloaded and I pointed to the chamber flag. She started sort of pawing at the gun in the case (which to this day I don't really understand) while saying something like "is it unloaded" (paw at a gun while at the same time announcing out loud you don't know if it's loaded !?!?!?). I was like, "careful, it is a firearm." I lifted the butt upwards and put my fingers in the mag well and that's what satisfied her it was unloaded. Point being, (a) not surprisingly, the ticket counter folks have not had any training as to what it is they are supposed to look for, (b) you don't have to remove the gun from the case to show it's unloaded (if I can avoid having gun in hand in a public place, I will) and (c) not only every airline but every airport has things slightly different.

As an aside, does anyone else think there should be some sort of special handling for luggage containing guns? I was very uncomfortable knowing that all the people on line around me knew my duffel had a gun in it, and these would be basically the same people who could grab it off the luggage carosel and take off at the other end if I couldn't get there first and keep an eye on making sure I ended up with my bag. Given the kaos at most luggage carosel's, I was never really satisfied with the way they have things set up. On the one hand, you don't want every baggage handler to know it's in there, but on the other I'd be happier if the bag was kept secure until I could claim it.

[gridboy]

Originally Posted by djturnz

Maybe this was mentioned but you can't use a skycap, you must check your baggage at the regular counter.


DO NOT USE A TSA LOCK!!!

Once the check in guy gives you the card to put with the gun, it stays locked until you arrive at your destination. They are not allowed to open it without you present. Make sure you have the key on you, not in your luggage. If they feel they need to inspect it further, they must locate you and take you to it. TSA IS NOT ALLOWED TO OPEN YOUR DECLARED GUN CASE.


For the rest of your luggage, TSA locks are avalable at wal-mart in the luggage section. They have a red triangle or circle or something right on it.

I thought that they were not supposed to unlock without you present,
but I can't find that on the TSA web page. Do you have a URL for
that anywhere?

gridboy

[Chapie+]

Originally Posted by FunkyD

I will be flying out of town next week, and was checking the TSA web site for regulations on taking the XD with me. For you BTDTs (been-there-done-that), is there anything else I need to do?

Here is a link to a thread about this: Flying XDs?

Short version (what worked for me / what I learned from the thread) I printed out 2 copies of the TSA and the airline's regulations regarding guns. One copy goes in the luggage with the gun case and the other is with you to remind the pretty lady of the regulations.

I had a TSA lock on the gun case - which they require - both a lock and that they have a key to open it (at least that's what I was told). In addition, I had TSA locks on the exterior of the luggage. I got the TSA locks at walmart by luggage - the TSA locks are clearly marked.

I disassembled the gun and had a the barrel and guide rod spring assembly in the padded area where the cleaning rod and cable lock come. So when asked I could lift up the "empty" slide and seperate frame and show it was empty. I also had a quality combo trigger lock on the gun. I know it sounds like a lot - but it brought some peace of mind and it worked - i.e. I got there and back with gun intact.

Plan on getting to the airport early. Lines are long and when you have a firearm to declare things get busy.
Chapie+

[pballman19]

i didnt know you could fly with firearms. if i would have known that i would have brought them down with me to florida 3 years ago. man, i miss out on all the good stuff

[Philadelphia]

Originally Posted by pballman19

i didnt know you could fly with firearms.

Me either. I usually use aircraft.

[ugh -- sorry, I just couldn't resist. Stay safe ]

[Engloid]

Originally Posted by TTT

I would recommend when you check your gun, have them do their search of your luggage at the same time, and LOCK YOUR GUN CASE IN YOUR LUGGAGE.

Makes sense, but you don't always have the option. You're not always there when they do searches of luggage. In other words, they will often search luggage after the point of check-in.

You will need to have a HARD case, and it must be locked. Put it inside a checked bag.

[pballman19]

yea, i suppose you might get farther in an aircraft

[Cumminalong]

My experiences flying with my stuff.

I put my shotgun and 2 XD's in a Pelican case. The shotgun gets a cable lock through it and the XD's have the chamber indicators sticking out.

Extra Suitcase

I put my ammo in another Pelican case and that goes in my luggage. DO NOT lock your ammo case. It is considered HAZMAT and needs to be easily accessible. They will cut your locks off the ammo if they inspect it. Again, it is considered HAZMAT.

Ammo Case

I usually fly Delta and they allow in any one case, 2 rifles, 2 shotguns or 5 pistols and up to 11 lbs of ammo.

The way the weapons are "suppossed" to be handled is this:

1 - You declare the weapon at the counter.
2 - Counter person DOES NOT inspect the weapon, they direct you to the TSA folks, who inspect the items.
3 - You and the TSA person verify that they are unloaded.
4 - You and TSA person sign the unloaded statement and this goes in teh case.
5 - TSA person takes control of the weapons and must physically bring the weapons and case to the ramp officer that is in charge of your flight. The case IS NOT suppossed to be touched by baggage handlers.
6 - The plane captain is notified and upon landing at the destination airport, notifies the ramp officer that weapons are on-board.
7 - The ramp officer is "suppossed" to physically collect the items and bring them to you and you sign for the items.

I've had my case come out the baggage claim on numerous occassions. It's actually a security violation for baggage handlers to have possession of the case and the airlines can be fined big time for not informing the ramp office that a firearm was on the plane.

[Se2002]

And of course we have heard the storys of guns being gone when you get to your destination. Scares the hell out of me.

[gridboy]

Originally Posted by Cumminalong

My experiences flying with my stuff.

...

I've had my case come out the baggage claim on numerous occassions. It's actually a security violation for baggage handlers to have possession of the case and the airlines can be fined big time for not informing the ramp office that a firearm was on the plane.

Do you have a URL for the security rules? The TSA info page says nothing
about not having baggage handlers possess the case. I'd like to print
those rules out for the next time I fly.

gridboy