A look at how to handle air travel when packing firearms in your luggage.
Of the more than 5,000 domestic passenger flights that crisscross the sky every day, hundreds are carrying cases containing firearms. The main hang-up most people have regarding flying with firearms is that the process is unfamiliar to them. Maybe they’ve heard a horror story or two, so now are extremely cautious to check a firearm worth a significant amount of money. Further fanning these flames is that the process itself can greatly vary from airport to airport. The reasons for transportation may be as varied as the people carrying them, but all want their firearms available at their final destination.
In this article, we’ll demystify the process, drawing from the collective hundreds of times members of our staff has flown with firearms. You’ll also learn best practices for when things go a little sideways.
Before You Fly
It’s a piss-poor idea to simply show up to the airport and assume everything will go fine when you’ve done no prior research. Remember, TSA deals with firearms in checked luggage every single day. Federal law (49 CFR 1540.5) clearly lays out the requirements. These regulations have changed before (most recent major revisions happened in 2016), and it’s handy to have TSA’s own guide concerning firearms available for reference (tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition). One of the better ways to fight bureaucracy is with their own regulations.
Know the Law
While we’ve already mentioned federal law, as always local and state laws apply. Ensure that the gun you’re flying with is legal both in the departure and arrival cities/states. Further in this article, we’ll address what you should do if you unexpectedly find yourself overnight in a state where your firearms are illegal through no fault of your own.
If you’re an individual and not an FFL/SOT manufacturer, crossing state lines with NFA items such as short-barrel rifles and machine guns requires preapproval from the BATFE. Likely due to an oversight (and we’re not complaining) interstate travel with silencers can be performed the same as with any other firearm with no special permissions, provided the item(s) are legal at your destination.
TSA and the BATFE Have Different Definitions
While the BATFE may not consider an AR-15 upper a firearm, TSA will absolutely require that it be treated as if it is. That means no gun parts or ammunition in your carry-on bag and following firearms transportation rules regarding transport in checked baggage. Cross-loading optics and expensive night vision or thermal devices in your carry-on is expressly allowed, however.
Use The Right Case
All firearms have to be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container. Whatever container you use shouldn’t be able to be pried apart with fingers or have the ability to even squeeze a finger inside while the locks are installed. Pelican cases are commonly used, but Harbor Freight-brand Apache cases are an excellent budget option and are OEM’d by Flambeau. Don’t bother with a $10 plastic Walmart case that can be popped by a child with a screwdriver.
We further note that smaller, locked, hard side pistol cases are also OK inside otherwise normal luggage; this is especially common for CCW pistols that are coming along for the ride.
It should be noted that while there are no special fees specifically to transport firearms, all the same height/weight rules apply to firearms cases as regular checked baggage.
Locks
Spelled right out in the regulations, only the passenger should retain the key or combination to the case containing firearms. Non-TSA locks are explicitly preferred, though if they’re all you have, they’ll work in a pinch. While there are many a YouTube videos on padlock exploits of all stripes, a combination lock has no keys to lose or keep track of.
Ammunition
Of course, since a firearm without ammunition may as well be a heavy stick, you’re probably going to want some of that too. Ammunition doesn’t have to be in the original box, and, in fact, the original box may not even be allowed depending on how it’s packaged.
Not only can ammunition not be chambered or filled into a magazine loaded into a weapon, but it also cannot be loose packed even if it was originally sold that way. What this regulation is trying to prevent is any accidental ignition of a primer. Any old ammunition box that holds the rounds upright will be fine. MTM flip-top boxes commonly used by reloaders are an excellent choice.
When flying within the borders of North America, your ammunition boxes can be shipped in the same container as the firearm and is often preferred, which is counter to safe transportation laws in some other countries. South Africa, for example, requires a second, locked hard side container as checked baggage if you’re boarding a domestic flight — once again, always check local laws.
There are no federal weight restrictions on ammunition, but IATA, the governing body for the airlines imposes its own rules. Most domestic airlines allow for 5 kilos or 11 pounds of ammunition, though a limited number of Alaska Airlines flights allow for up to 50 pounds. We’ve never seen someone break out a scale specifically for ammunition, and while we’d never suggest splitting your ammo stash into two separate pieces of baggage if you wind up slightly over the limit, well, you get the picture.
When You Check In
Give yourself some extra time at the airport before departure just in case something goes wrong. Usually a half hour will suffice, though if you’re a belt-and-suspenders person you can opt for an additional hour.
Regardless of what you’re traveling with or what airport you’re in, you have to let the airline know that you’ll be transporting a firearm. This usually means the first step when arriving to the airport is waiting in line for assistance during the check-in process. We say “usually” because if you’re flying internationally things get a little more complicated. Of course.
We generally advise people to avoid flying via the UK if your journey involves firearms. That country’s pearl-clutching hysteria when it comes to all things ballistic extends even to guns that never leave the baggage system when you’re changing planes and requires a minimum of 72 hours advance notice. When you call British Airways’ customer service number, you’ll wind up talking to the usual Indian call center personnel who have even less of a clue than the average Brit when it comes to guns, and you’ll have to give them all kinds of info regarding your gats. Plan on the whole experience lasting at least a couple of hours, or take our advice and skip transiting merry old England entirely. Should your change of plans involved flying through the Netherlands, you’ll discover that the Dutch have been infected by a similar mental illness. The rest of Europe, however, is A-OK.
When you approach the check-in counter, pass your identification over and tell them you need a Declaration Form. You don’t have to say it’s a gun, or that you’re traveling with firearms — requesting a “Declaration Form” or “Firearms Declaration Form” let’s them know what’s happening. If you’re hauling a long Pelican case, at least half the time the airline agent will already have a declaration form in-hand to pass over.
The Declaration Form simply has basic information on the route you’re traveling (to be filled out by the gate agent), with a signature on the back confirming that you’re stating your firearms are unloaded. After it’s filled and signed, that Declaration Form physically goes inside larger cases or is sometimes taped to the exterior of a smaller case.
It’s at this point the process will change, depending on the physical layout of the airport, the equipment on-hand, and the normal procedures for dealing with oversized luggage at a given airport. In the very best airports, your case goes with general luggage with no further action required on your part except for standing around for a few minutes. The worst are the ones who demand a key or combo, but don’t want you to be present, as is required by law.
Most of the time you go somewhere like a specific TSA station used for oversized items, let someone take your locked case, and wait 10 minutes for a thumbs up. Other times they may have you unlock a case and physically step back for inspection. That’s your average experience. Sometimes you get to be in the room to watch even if they don’t physically open the case, and you’ll be on your way.
When It Goes Wrong
AKA, “When you run into an employee who doesn’t know the rules.” It’s specifically stated in the regulations that you must be able to see your case if it needs to be opened for any reason. Some employees are lazy, others just repeat what they’re told by TSA. If they ask for a key or combination so the case can be inspected without you being physically present, it becomes time to make a choice: Comply and hope for the best, or escalate.
Ninety-nine percent of the time most people just hand the key over right there. And you can if you want, provided you’re comfortable doing so. But never let someone make you feel uncomfortable asking for someone at a higher level. Remember, we’re flying with expensive, specialized equipment that’ll be difficult or impossible to replace.
When they just want the key, calmly say:
“I’m sorry, but I’m not legally allowed to do that. Those are federally controlled items and I need to be present if the case is opened for both your security and mine.” This tends to work really well. An air of “this annoys me too” demonstrates that you are very familiar with the process (this is routine) and confident about the outcome.
For anything in life, but especially when dealing with the grease of a government agency, remaining calm and entirely reasonable is key. Affable even. These people deal with John Q. Public during COVID every day, so even though this is a break of their normal routine, it doesn’t have to be actively unpleasant. I always BS with whatever agent has been told to wait with me. I’ve never ever fixed a problem with a government official in this country or any other by frothing at the mouth; I haven’t the money for such luxuries.
If showing them the law and regulations from their own airline and government isn’t enough to sway them, ask for a TSA supervisor. If that doesn’t work, ask for the TSA security manager.
Sometimes this ends with a TSA supervisor escorting you to a basement so you can watch an agent open and swab your case through a dirty window. Other times? You may have a flight to catch and can’t fight the man now if you still want to go. This is where that extra time comes in handy. Tell them the alphanumeric code is DANK6, and that your first call will be to the BATFE to file an investigation if one little thing is missing from the case.
Remember, you’ve been reasonable, confident, but earnest this entire time, which adds a bit of weight to that statement. Don’t be afraid to take down names, though announcing it loudly like a Karen is ill-advised if you don’t want to be discounted as a “problem.”
Worst-case scenario here if you decide to continue on your flight? It becomes a criminal and insurance issue.
Arrival
As with the check-in process itself, how firearms are handled upon arrival depends on the airport itself. Occasionally, they’ll come down the regular luggage ramp, especially if the firearm is in a small pistol case inside another. Other times they’re in an oversized luggage area (common in airports with ski resorts nearby), and other times they’re held in the airport baggage office. Expect for someone to confirm your ID prior to handing the case over.
Delta Airlines, in particular, has an additional step of the application of a big-assed zip-tie. This security theater, performed after arrival, is just feel-good-do-nothing nonsense. While we’ve never been able to talk them out of using it, we take some delight in cutting it off right in front of them with a pair of medical shears stashed in our carry-on. Their eyes become as large as saucer plates.
A quick pop of the case is advised here to ensure your contents arrived safely; don’t make a large spectacle of yourself, just a rudimentary inspection. Chances are everything will be good-to-go. If not? Time to call for the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Tips & Outliers
>Airline travel is fraught with all sorts of issues even when there isn’t a global pandemic. Though sometimes luggage gets lost, the number of lost or stolen firearms is fairly small. This wasn’t always the case; in fact, the new regulations implemented in 2016 were to reduce the number of TSA thefts from a smuggling ring. In the half decade since that time, TSA takes firearms far more seriously than general luggage.
>A printed inventory inside a case is no anti-theft guarantee, but it may give a sticky-fingered employee a moment of pause.
>In an extreme outlier scenario, your plane may be forced to land and deboard in a location where your firearms are illegal through no fault of your own, or a connecting flight through an unfriendly airport may be canceled. The best answer here is to not take possession of your luggage in this instance — leave it in the baggage handling office. If for some reason you’re forced to take control of your weapons in a locale where they’re illegal — DO NOT ATTEMPT to check that luggage back in after spending a night in an airport hotel. Ship the case to yourself (this isn’t illegal so long as you’re not transferring ownership) or find an alternative travel plan. Most of the time TSA doesn’t care about the local legality of your guns, but local law enforcement can be another thing entirely.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Carnivore Magazine Issue 6.
