Last week I went on Spring Break from TN to AZ to take my family to the Grand Canyon (will be posting pics in a separate thread in a day or so). I've never transported before, so it was an interesting experience. Decided if we are going to have the privelege, need to exercise it.
I had an old NVG case, and some foam, just the right thickness for 3 layers. In the bottom layer, I made cutouts (using an extended razor utility knife) for my Milt Sparks VM2, double mag pouch and flashlight. The second layer was just a plain piece of foam, and the top layer a cutout for my Kimber (Pro CDP II), 3 (empty) mags and a box of ammunition. One layer of wafflefoam in the lid, and two combination locks (heavy Case locks) completed the project. I also researched and confirmed Southwest's policy/proceedures, and check for reciprocity and any differences in the TN and AZ laws.
Flying out of Nashville, I got in the ticket line, and when it came my time, I went to the counter and declared the firearm. While a little surprised, the agent quickly recovered, asked me to open the case and show it unloaded (Which I did right there in front of everybody), relock the case and put back in my luggage. We then completed the declaration, taped it to the outside of my case, and off my baggage went. The agent told me to wait 15 minutes, and if they didn't need me, then I'd be free to go to the gate (waited 20 to be sure). No mess, no issues. Fairly simple.
Flying back home out of Phoenix, got in the ticket line and again declared the firearm, opened case, showed unloaded, relocked case. This time, they then took me and the bag to a private TSA area. The TSA agent actually swabbed both the outside of my case, and my luggage with a strip of something, then placed that into a chemical detector machine (I assume it tested for explosives and/or drugs). Given a pass by the machine, she initialled and placed a colored sticker on my baggage tag, wrote on a clipboard log then took the bag and let me on my way. She asked me if I'd been to the gunshow (must have been a big local one). I asked her if she did this often, her response was "all day". Again, easy peasy.
What I learned: If you properly prepare, to include a few extra minutes for the additional security, flying with your firearm is no big deal. Again, the key would be to check the airlines site for instructions, along with the laws/regulations of your destination.
Note: Locks are NOT the TSA locks that the TSA can get into your bags; The requirement states only YOU have the combination and they cannot get into the case without you being physically present.
I had an old NVG case, and some foam, just the right thickness for 3 layers. In the bottom layer, I made cutouts (using an extended razor utility knife) for my Milt Sparks VM2, double mag pouch and flashlight. The second layer was just a plain piece of foam, and the top layer a cutout for my Kimber (Pro CDP II), 3 (empty) mags and a box of ammunition. One layer of wafflefoam in the lid, and two combination locks (heavy Case locks) completed the project. I also researched and confirmed Southwest's policy/proceedures, and check for reciprocity and any differences in the TN and AZ laws.
Flying out of Nashville, I got in the ticket line, and when it came my time, I went to the counter and declared the firearm. While a little surprised, the agent quickly recovered, asked me to open the case and show it unloaded (Which I did right there in front of everybody), relock the case and put back in my luggage. We then completed the declaration, taped it to the outside of my case, and off my baggage went. The agent told me to wait 15 minutes, and if they didn't need me, then I'd be free to go to the gate (waited 20 to be sure). No mess, no issues. Fairly simple.
Flying back home out of Phoenix, got in the ticket line and again declared the firearm, opened case, showed unloaded, relocked case. This time, they then took me and the bag to a private TSA area. The TSA agent actually swabbed both the outside of my case, and my luggage with a strip of something, then placed that into a chemical detector machine (I assume it tested for explosives and/or drugs). Given a pass by the machine, she initialled and placed a colored sticker on my baggage tag, wrote on a clipboard log then took the bag and let me on my way. She asked me if I'd been to the gunshow (must have been a big local one). I asked her if she did this often, her response was "all day". Again, easy peasy.
What I learned: If you properly prepare, to include a few extra minutes for the additional security, flying with your firearm is no big deal. Again, the key would be to check the airlines site for instructions, along with the laws/regulations of your destination.
Note: Locks are NOT the TSA locks that the TSA can get into your bags; The requirement states only YOU have the combination and they cannot get into the case without you being physically present.
