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Flying out of Newark Int with a Firearm Advice

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I have to fly out of Newark to Denver on United later in the month with a Handgun.  Hard to get solid advice and impossible to get through to United customer service.  It is actually an air pistol.  I was advised to fly out of Philly, it is a non issue there, but I had to book out of Newark.  I was told to ask someone who has done it before and value their advise.  I figured this would be the best place to start.  Thanks for any help.

John

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When I lived in NJ, I flew out of Philly many times with a rifle/handgun. No issues at all. 
 

Follow the advice on the airline website. You’ll need a hard sided, lockable case. Do NOT use TSA locks. 
 

You will be required to open your case and display the weapon is clear. 
You will fill out a form, which will be locked inside the case. 
TSA may or may not desire to inspect the case and/or the bag the case is inside. That’s up to them. 

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I used to fly out of Newark with some regularity with handguns, but it's been at least 10 years.   I'd get there plenty early, and bring with me copies of the airline policy on checking guns, and the Federal law that backed up the airline policy...because occasionally you'd get a ticket agent who was convinced that it couldn't possibly be legal, and you need to be able to convince them that they need to check with a supervisor instead of just telling you 'no'.   But usually it was straightforward, at least back then.

Assuming they still use the orange 'Firearm' tags that you sign certifying the gun is unloaded, etc, those tags go INSIDE the suitcase.  Many years ago they had to go on the outside, which was like a big fluorescent 'Steal Me' sign on your suitcase.   That policy changed to inside-the bag quite a while ago, but you don't want the one agent who didn't get the memo to put it on the outside of your bag.

I wonder if shipping the air pistol is an option?  NJ would probably consider it illegal, as they pretend it's a real gun, but wherever you are going almost certainly knows better...and the Feds don't care.   But that might leave you with the problem of getting it back into NJ, if that is your intent.  If it's a one-way trip for the air pistol and if you aren't too far from PA, I'd consider driving across the border and mailing the gun, especially if you can use a non-NJ address for the return address.

It IS legal to ship long guns to yourself...not sure about handguns.  USPS and UPS both allowed it, though again the counter clerk will be convinced you can't do it, and someone is going to have to look up the law for them.   Shipping to yourself, if you are physically present from where it is sent, and then are physically present to receive, is legal because it is NOT a transfer.

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I thought of the shipping option, but this is going to be a flying deal.  My daughter is shooting in the Junior Olympics.  Too risky on shipping to an unknown place and we are leaving for the airport right after the competition and awards ceremony.  Thank you for the input, I will have every policy printed out.

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It's easy.....

 

Get to counter....

" I need to declare a firearm"

 

You fill out a tag...... place inside of luggage on top of case.....  Locked case - NON TSA lock

at Newark.,.... they then get a TSA agent to escort you and your luggage to X-Ray machine. They X-Ray to verify unloaded -  you wait there in case they need you to open case.....

Then depending on airline..... they either take luggage right there..... or walk you back to airline counter and they will take luggage there....

 

On way back..... everything is the same expect the walk of shame to get luggage x-rayed...... most airports dont bother

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On 7/4/2022 at 9:00 PM, 67gtonut said:

It's easy.....

 

Get to counter....

" I need to declare a firearm"

 

Wording is very important here: "I need to declare a firearm" = Good, "I've got a gun... and I need to check it in" = Not So Good

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Keep in mind that your luggage may not come out on the carousel when transporting a firearm. I flew to Phoenix with a pistol a few years ago and went into a big panic when my bag never came out, only to learn I had to go to the airline's counter in the baggage claim. Same thing happened for my return to PHL. YMMV.

 

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After travelling out of Newark a dozen or so many times with guns,  I always say, "I have an 'unloaded' firearm to declare."  The unloaded part can put them at ease if they aren't familiar with it all.  Locks have been an issue at times.  If a hard shell pistol case is inside other luggage, the gun case get regular lock and luggage gets TSA lock. 

If it's a rifle case it gets a regular lock, though attendant sometimes says no-go, must be a TSA lock or they will cut it off.  Just nicely inform them that guns are required to be locked separately and a TSA lock won't do the job.  Sometimes the attendant just isn't familiar with the whole process.  

Quick funny story.  Fist time I was at Newark declaring a gun in 2011, the attendant was damn near in whispers about it all to avoid rattling anyone around us.  Upon the return trip from Vegas, the attendant where you check in, almost hollering says, "Open 'er up.  Let's see what you got in there. "  Then she proceeded to oooh and ahhhh about the rifle.  Very different experiences from different states. 

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On 7/7/2022 at 2:03 PM, Carolina Native said:

After travelling out of Newark a dozen or so many times with guns,  I always say, "I have an 'unloaded' firearm to declare."  The unloaded part can put them at ease if they aren't familiar with it all.  Locks have been an issue at times.  If a hard shell pistol case is inside other luggage, the gun case get regular lock and luggage gets TSA lock. 

If it's a rifle case it gets a regular lock, though attendant sometimes says no-go, must be a TSA lock or they will cut it off.  Just nicely inform them that guns are required to be locked separately and a TSA lock won't do the job.  Sometimes the attendant just isn't familiar with the whole process.  

Quick funny story.  Fist time I was at Newark declaring a gun in 2011, the attendant was damn near in whispers about it all to avoid rattling anyone around us.  Upon the return trip from Vegas, the attendant where you check in, almost hollering says, "Open 'er up.  Let's see what you got in there. "  Then she proceeded to oooh and ahhhh about the rifle.  Very different experiences from different states. 

In 2011 when I flew out of Newark they took the case into a back room and wanted the key. I tried to explain that only I'm supposed to have the key, but their training was poor and I didn't print the regulations. On the return from Pittsburgh the agent just swabbed the case for explosives. 

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25 minutes ago, ChrisJM981 said:

In 2011 when I flew out of Newark they took the case into a back room and wanted the key. I tried to explain that only I'm supposed to have the key, but their training was poor and I didn't print the regulations. On the return from Pittsburgh the agent just swabbed the case for explosives. 

Speaking of swabbing the case for explosives….

While I’ve told this story before, I had an experience with DFW TSA agents in this regard. 
I was returning to Philly after a ranch trip, with a rifle. 
TSA in Dallas swabbed my gun case, and said, “you can’t fly with this gun case, it tested positive for gunpowder residue.”

Yep…it’s a GUN case, with a firearm inside it, of COURSE it tested positive for gunpowder residue. 
 

I had him get his supervisor, who ran the same test, and said the same thing. They wouldn’t let me fly with it. 
 

I had to get the supervisors supervisor….and he agreed with me (no shit, Sherlock!), and not only verbally bitch slapped his subordinates, but allowed my rifle to fly. 
 

TSA is useless. 

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56 minutes ago, ChrisJM981 said:

In 2011 when I flew out of Newark they took the case into a back room and wanted the key. I tried to explain that only I'm supposed to have the key, but their training was poor and I didn't print the regulations. On the return from Pittsburgh the agent just swabbed the case for explosives. 

The methods have changed over the years, and even by airlines and agents. First time I ever flew with a rifle out of Newark, the airline agent asked me to open the case to verify that the rifles were unloaded. You could just imagine the look on every other customer's face when the rifle came out.

For the most part, follow the airlines guideline on their website. Locking hard case, etc.. The agent "should" have you fill-out the orange card, and then escort you to TSA back room. They will take it, and open to take a look. If they need you to unlock it for them, they will ask you to. They may or may-not allow you into the room during the process (unless they need it unlocked). I use a keyed lock on gun cases.

Funny story. In Africa's Joburg airport, the "office" to receive your guns is within the men's bathroom. So you have seedy characters, machine-gun clad police/military and other travelers watching you pick-up your guns. And they all panhandle for a few bucks.

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Thanks for all the input and funny stories.  I apologize for not replying earlier, I just got back from 9 1/2 days at Camp Perry.  I will make sure I have all regulations in hand and cases locked inside the suitcase.  It is an early flight, I am sure they are not going to have their best on duty.

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I flown numerous times out of Newark and Philly checking a gun.  Never had an issue.  Only time anyone asked me to show the gun was unloaded was at O'Hare in Chicago.

The worst experience I had was in Kansaa City where they didn't have TSA but private security.  They wanted to inspect my bag out of my sight. They wanted me to give them the combo to open my bag. I refused to unless I was present.  I said, "I'm not giving you the combo".  They said, "You aren't getting on that plane".  I requested the private security supervisor an the airline's security supervisor. They had a conversation I was not privy to but it resulted in me being present when they inspected my gun.

One issue out of maybe 30.

Since that guy in FL opened his checked bag in the baggage area, everytime I've flown they've had me claim my bag in the baggage office. Not inconvenient AFAIC.

One time I has my bag (going to Philly) was missent to Charlotte.  They said they couldn't have it in Philly until the next day and I'd have to come and pick it up as the delivery service refused to transport firearms.

Yeah, a couple of issues but never an issue flying out of Newark and Denver.

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