XD in checked baggage

[Cumminalong]

Originally Posted by gridboy

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

I haven't found it on the TSA site, I had it explained to me by a Customs agent when my case came out the baggage conveyor one time. Try Delta's website, it's actually pretty informative for special items. The other thing to do would be actually call the TSA and see if they can send you weapon specific stuff. Not sure if they will or not, as it may be a security thing.

That's where I found out how it's "suppossed" to be and how often it gets screwed up.

You should actually get a receipt for them when the TSA agent takes them from you. You get a copy of and then the ramp officer usually comes on the plane and gives you another copy when he actually loads it on the plane. When you get off, you get the final copy showing when the ramp officer took it from the plane and when they were given to you.

[bama]

Originally Posted by Cumminalong

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.

Interesting. Over the past 6 months I have been flying a lot; usually twice per week, and usually Delta (although also Continental and Frontier). Never once has anything like this procedure been followed for me, at several different airports.

My experience has been more like what others have said, namely that you declare the firearm at the ticket counter. The airline employee verifies it is unloaded and has you sign the declaration tag. I put this on the handle of my pistol hard case, and lock the case. TSA lock or personal padlock doesn't matter. The hard case goes inside a suitcase (can be a soft suitcase, if the actual gun is inside a hard locked case). They want the suitcase locked, too (I use TSA locks for that). Then to TSA where it is x-rayed, and then bye-bye. On arrival, it comes out on the baggage carousel like every other piece of baggage.

If the TSA and airlines are doing this incorrectly, they are doing it consistently, at least.

[Cumminalong]

Originally Posted by bama

Interesting. Over the past 6 months I have been flying a lot; usually twice per week, and usually Delta (although also Continental and Frontier). Never once has anything like this procedure been followed for me, at several different airports.

The only place I have seen this actually followed is at ATL.

Once you check in there, they direct you to take the case around the corner where there is a TSA room. You and the TSA person go through the case, put the tag INSIDE the case, lock it, he gives you a receipt and he brings it to the ramp officer.

Once I get on the plane, the ramp officer has come on the plane, given me another copy of the receipt with the time he loaded it on the plane.

In Miami, I've had it go several different ways. This is where the customs guy explained the whole process to me. He said that the airline can get fined 10K for not informing the ramp officer that a weapon is on board and allowing baggage handlers to possess the weapon.

Then again, what else comes through MIA???

[Rustynuts]

Originally Posted by Chapie+

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.
Chapie+

From everything I've read you DO NOT put a TSA lock on the actual guncase. Once it's been cleared, you don't want anyone but you to have a key to it. PUT YOUR OWN LOCK on the guncase!

The TSA lock goes on the outside luggage. This allows TSA to remove the guncase from the luggage and re-screen if desired, but not allow them into the guncase after it's been cleared and locked.

[JimmieD]

"Sports Equipment"
Continental Airlines - Sports Equipment

"Dangerous Goods" is a "loaded firearm"
Continental Airlines - Dangerous Goods

JimmieD

[FunkyD]

Just returned from my trip. Got the XD checked in both times (outbound and return) without any problems.

- I packed the XD in its case as it originally came from the factory, except that I put the cable lock through the barrel so it was obviously unloaded (this is not a required step, but it does simplify matters a bit). The magazines were empty, and what ammo I carried was in its original box (although any closed container is acceptable). I then padlocked the XD case with my own Master lock (not a TSA lock)

- I declared my XD to the ticket agent at check-in time, who gave me the red "Unloaded Firearm" card to sign and date. We then walked over to the TSA agent. I then opened the case for inspection. The red card was put in the case and then I relocked it (again with the Master lock). The TSA agent then sent the bag on to the loading area.

That was about it. No problemo.

[Cumminalong]

Makes ya a bit nervous the first time you walk into the airport with your stuff though, doesn't it?

[FunkyD]

Yup, always a little fear of the unknown. But the guys here who've done it helped me be more at ease.

[XD_Hokie]

Just returned home from my first flight with firearms. I took by XD45C, Kel-Tec PF-9 and Kel-Tec P-11. NOTE: There is a 5 pistol limit. I did not take any ammo as the 50 lb. weight limit on the bag was very tight for me with other items and Delta just implemented a one bag limit with a $25 charge for a second bag. My sister and brother-in-law provided plenty of ammo while in KC with them.

I took the TSA web page printed rules and Delta airline printed web page rules with me as advised by many on this forum. A copy in my carry-on and a copy in my main luggage of each. I had the 3 handguns in a hard plastic case with my personal padlock on it locked. I also put a TSA lock on my luggage for the first time every

Going Out -

I left my small regional airport in Roanoke, Virginia where I got my boarding pass from the Kiosk self-check-in. When the Delta agent asked if I had bags to check I put my bag on the scales, and I told them one and stated I had "unloaded firearms to declare". The Delta agent pulled out a red tag with the large wording "UNLOADED FIREARM" on it, signed it, and gave it to me to sign and date. She then placed it on top of my gun case in my soft-sided luggage and instructed me to take my luggage to the TSA agent 6 feet or so from the check-in desk. Airline staff did not touch the firearms.

I took the bag to the TSA agent and stated I had declared unload firearms in the bag. I then gave her my key ring with a single key for the padlock to the gun case. I observed her open my bag, unlock the case, simply look in at the guns. She then put a special piece of paper/card in her hand that she pulled from a large machine, drug it around the outside edge of the case, put it up to a reader/sensor on the machine, looked at a read out or the card (cannot remember which) and tossed the card in a trash can. She then put the red tag in the gun case, and closed and locked the gun case, and locked my TSA lock on my luggage locks and returned my key to me. I did not have the pistols open or anything in the slide to indicate they were unloaded. I was very surprised they did not take the guns out and look in the magazines or in the chambers. They then told me I was good to go and put my bag on the conveyor belt.


Going home from Kansas City -

Same basic procedure and setup in this airport with Kiosk check-in, red tag, then short distance to TSA agent. I observed the agent hand my bag to what appeared to be a more experienced or senior agent after a short conversation between the two of them. The senior agent opened my bag, looked at the guns, pulled the foam from the top of the case to look under it, latched the case, turned it over, removed the bottom foam to look under it. Needless to say the guns were not fitting back in the pull-apart foam that I had shaped for them too well. She then left it upside down, latched it and put my lock on, locked my TSA locks back and returned my key to me.

When I got home -

When I got my luggage to the car I opened it and found an additional leaflet style paper with lots of wording to the effect of for my safety and safety of all passengers and flights,etc. my bag had been opened and checked an additional time by inspector 155 somewhere between Kansas City, Atlanta, and my small home regional airport. They apparently did not need to get into the gun case.

All in all pretty easy. Left myself plenty of extra time for check-in, but both airports were not busy when I checked in and only took me an extra 5 minutes tops each time. By the way, no attitude, surprised looks, or comments about my guns from Delta staff or TSA staff. Except the young TSA agent in KC was asking me what guns I had in the case as the senior agent searched it. I told him and he said, "Cool, I like the XDs".

[Se2002]

I am so happy to hear that your trip went well.

Thank you for sharing.