Guns on a plane

[SR1911SHOOTER]

This is why I would never "lock" any of my guns in my baggage, no matter how
well the bag was protected. The airlines take special precautions with
baggage with guns inside. And that draws attention to thugs working for the
airlines.

Blackie

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2017/10/15/airport-worker-filmed-opening-passenger-bags-and-stealing-contents.html

 

[Jeepnik]

Never had a firearm disappear yet. But I am not dumb enough to take a high end firearm either.

I have a couple of old beaters that I fly with. Still, I've been known to put a few "special" reloads in with the ammo. :twisted:

 

[Cholo]

Remind me not to fly with my guns to Thailand where this happened.

 

[gramps]

The airlines don't do anything "special" with luggage that has an firearm in it once it is passed the counter. No outside markings on the luggage to indicate what is within. There are thieves everywhere, in all walks of life.
gramps, who doesn't fly anymore due to TSA

 

[Colonialgirl]

The airlines don't do anything "special" with luggage that has an firearm in it once it is passed the counter. No outside markings on the luggage to indicate what is within. There are thieves everywhere, in all walks of life.
gramps, who doesn't fly anymore due to TSA

You haven't been reading about the STUPIDITY of the airlines lately wanting the Gun containing bags to be Zip tied and when unloaded walked to the Bag Claim office to be reclaimed by the passenger.
Also note, YOU CAN USE a NON-TSA lock on your bags after they have been inspected and xrayed by a special unit of the TSA on the check in level of the airport. DO USE a HARD sided bag.

 

[mohavesam]

Remind me not to fly with my guns to Thailand where this happened.

:roll:

 

[Valmet]

I don’t hunt anymore but when I used to check guns for duck hunting trips to the Delta or deer hunts in the mid-west I never had a problem at all.

 

[blume357]

I've never has a problem if you don't count last year when the check in lady did not tell me I now had to go to the baggage claim office to pick my bag up and then the next time when the check in guy was training a newbie and it took like 20 minutes or more... neither was that big a deal. Everybody that works for the airline and has access to a computer knows there is a gun in your checked bag.... and now they put the special handling sticker on the bag to make sure it goes to the baggage claim office. The zip tie thing is just plain stupid and like most gun laws does absolutely nothing to stop a bad guy from doing evil.
We'll see how it goes the end of November... I'm flying into and out of LasVegas ....... my expectation is nothing has changed ...... especially since now everyone is watching the fires in California and has pretty much forgotten the Las Vegas shooting...

 

[mohavesam]

This story was about worldwide travel.
Here in the states, simply FedEx your guns ahead to yourself at the hotel or residence where you'll arrive. Its not complicated.

Be sure to call ahead and ensure the box stays unopened for you. Done that with guns and jewelry for years and years...

 

[blume357]

But you have to pay Fedex... does't cost a thing to put your gun in your check bag.... actually going through security even with TSA pre-check is more of a hassle.

 

[Coop]

Oh boy!

What a topic. My wife and I have gone out to Winter Range (SASS National Championship Match) for over 14 years since 2000 from Pittsburgh, PA..

We have tried all different ways to travel, (flying with 8 guns, Fed-Ex shipping all guns, USPS shipping long guns only, etc.) using various firearm shipping methods. The best way for us, in 2010, in 2011, in 2012, and in 2017, was to drive out to Ben Avery range from Pittsburgh, PA (1900 miles one way) with all our guns in tow. It is a 4000 mile round trip and two nights out and two nights back home using nice motels out and back.

Total cost for us in February 2017 for WR from Pittsburgh to Ben Avery back to Pittsburgh was $2017.00.

 

[Ruger Redhawk]

I've been to Alaska twice and both times took a sidearm. It wasn't much to getting it checked in. In Alaska it was so routine it didn't take but a minute or two once TSA came on duty. Somewhere my TSA approved locks disappeared though. I noticed that as soon as I opened my suitcase up. What I wasn't comfortable with when the baggage was unloaded it went right on the baggage carousel with the rest of the baggage. We all know how good the baggage claim tickets work. Anybody could have grabbed my luggage.Being handicapped it takes me considerably longer getting there and that worries me. Thankfully they don't put any tag or something to show it contains a firearm.

 

[blume357]

Ruger Redhawk, don't know about all the airlines but at least with Delta you now have to go to the lost baggage claim office, usually right off the side of the carousels and claim your bag with a checked gun. Delta also gives you several very large nylon zip ties to take home with you if you take the time to slip them off a little get your swiss army knife out or Gerber tool and defeat the pull thing on them so they can be reused.

 

[Ruger Redhawk]

Ruger Redhawk, don't know about all the airlines but at least with Delta you now have to go to the lost baggage claim office, usually right off the side of the carousels and claim your bag with a checked gun. Delta also gives you several very large nylon zip ties to take home with you if you take the time to slip them off a little get your swiss army knife out or Gerber tool and defeat the pull thing on them so they can be reused.

Thanks Blume357,

It's been probably about 6 or 7 yrs since we went to Alaska. The wife went on business and I tagged along. That sounds allot better. Actually we flew on Delta both times to and from. That was one of the things worrying me if someone beat me to my baggage which wouldn't be hard for someone to do. I'll feel allot better knowing this if I'm ever lucky enough to Alaska again or go somewhere taking my gun with me.

 

[blume357]

You know, I bet you could request special handling of your bag even if there is not a gun checked in it and get it delivered to the office. I've only seen a baggage check once at the bag pick up area, this was in Miami back in the early 90's.

I'm thinking about putting a locked cable on my hard gun case that goes in my checked bag.. that way the thieves will have to take the whole bag not just the case..... what I've done in the past is stenciled my name in florescent paint on both the outside of my checked bag and my gun case. I'm assuming the thieves at the airport know there are cameras everywhere and so don't want to stand out carrying a bag that has "BLUME' in florescent orange on it.

 

[Colonialgirl]

I've been to Alaska twice and both times took a sidearm. It wasn't much to getting it checked in. In Alaska it was so routine it didn't take but a minute or two once TSA came on duty. Somewhere my TSA approved locks disappeared though. I noticed that as soon as I opened my suitcase up. What I wasn't comfortable with when the baggage was unloaded it went right on the baggage carousel with the rest of the baggage. We all know how good the baggage claim tickets work. Anybody could have grabbed my luggage.Being handicapped it takes me considerably longer getting there and that worries me. Thankfully they don't put any tag or something to show it contains a firearm.

You DO NOT have to use "TSA Locks" on suitcases containing a firearm. Once it is inspected; Use your OWN lock (hopefully a good one) on the case. Too many crooks have keys for "TSA" locks.

 

[Ruger Redhawk]

Blume357 That is a good idea with the cable lock and the name in florescent orange on the outside of your bag. It would be easy to identify. I grew up in S.FL and I remember years ago @ MIA to get your baggage you had to have a claim ticket. It took a little extra time but you pretty much knew no one was going to walk off with it. Maybe they should go back to that practice. They tightened security on the wrong end.

Colonial Girl... I appreciate that info. I thought a TSA approved lock had to be used. I have plenty of padlocks but bought the TSA not knowing. I will definitely keep these ideas in mind if I should go somewhere and take my noise making, lead throwing implements.

I really appreciate it.

 

[SR1911SHOOTER]

I don’t hunt anymore but when I used to check guns for duck hunting trips to the Delta or deer hunts in the mid-west I never had a problem at all.

Valmet,
I used to do the same thing, but "used to" was before 9/11. The gun world changed that day.
Blackie

 

[blume357]

Yes, the lock on your gun case should not be a TSA lock. Now for the joke about this... the TSA can open any lock and will if they want to..... the first time I flew with a gun the TSA guy put the gun unloaded tag on top of my gun case in my checked bag... when I got to Reno and opened my suit case I had one of those nice notes saying the TSA had searched my luggage for my protection... the really odd part was the Gun unloaded tag was now inside my locked gun case.

What changed after 9/11 is we created a giant beurocrocy to make people feel safe.... that really does very little to actually accomplish that.

 

[Ruger Redhawk]

I have no doubt that TSA doesn't nose around your luggage once you leave it with TSA. I'm sure they are as corrupt as our Gov't or even more so. I'll bet they have a bunch of stuff they've confiscated that ended up at their houses. I can assure you if I fly again and take a firearm it will have different locks (none TSA) on the enclosed gun case and a cable lock around my suitcase.

 

[eveled]

I have a friend whose last name is Cash. Not sure it would be a good idea for him to paint his name on a bag!