Flying with Guns

[OmniaMors 0]

Hey, (first post woot!)

So i have a question on flying with guns.

 

First, here is my situation. I just recently (within the week) got my Firearm Purchasing ID Card for New Jersey. Now this winter break i intend on going home to visit the family, which entails flying to California, then Arizona, then back to New jersey. The plan is, while in Arizona, to go gun shopping, then fly back to New Jersey with it. The reason is because my mom agreed to go shooting (shes in Arizona) and the last thing i want to do is buy a gun in New Jersey and try to travel in California with it. Now i dont mind waiting to buy the gun, i do however want to minimize the number of times i get tackled by TSA.

 

I did my research, both on this site and off, and i found this old thread and this site online. Basically what i got from them was this:

Gun should be

• locked in a hard case to which only you have access
  
• unloaded
  

Ammunition should be

• stored in original box
  
• separate from firearm
  
• under 11lbs
  

Procedure at airport

1. go to check in counter (no carry on)
   
2. give bag to attendant, claiming a firearm
   
3. show firearm and that its unloaded
   
4. re-lock and sign appropriate papers
   

Basically my question is, does this cover everything?

and for the record, i just genuinely want to travel with a firearm, this isnt me attempting to bypass NJ laws, i wouldnt be going all the way to Arizona for that haha

[johnp 45]

I haven't personally done the whole transporting while flying, but from everything I've read it sounds as if you have the process correct.

 

Just an FYI, if you buy a handgun in AZ it has to be shipped to a NJ dealer before you can take possession of it.

[Jon 264]

Flying with a gun is very very easy, especially through Southwest. The only thing that I would change from your OP is the need to have ammo separate. So long as it's in a container designed to hold it(IE, the box ammo comes in) it can be packaged in the case with the firearm. Just make sure the lock does not allow access to anything inside the case and you are G2G.

 

ETA: Also, you may or may not be asked to show that the gun is loaded. I was asked at PHL to show an empty chamber right at the check-in desk(woman at the counter really impressed me), but at STL the case was never opened, and I was instead escorted to TSA, who ran the gun through the x-ray machine.

[OmniaMors 0]

thanks for all the replies! i really appreciate the help. and to clarify im only transporting long-guns. (not 21 unfortunately)

[mcbethr 42]

I've never had a problem with it. You have to remember that airlines have had customers flying with guns ever since there were airlines. They are used to the procedure. My only suggestion: when you approach the counter say: "I am checking and unloaded firearm" with the emphasis on unloaded.

[voyager9 3,434]

I think you've got it right. I had to fly a long gun back from Maine in August and followed the same procedure. At the airport the attendant at the check-in desk made me verify it was unloaded, escorted me to the TSA where it was run through the XRay, and waited with me chatting until we were sure the TSA had no questions. It was actually easier to check the case with the firearm at the gate then it was to get my non-firearm-related carry-on through security.

 

In PHL, if I remember right, it came out the normal baggage carousel. The only thing I noticed when I got it back is that one of the padlocks had been removed. The other was fine. The only thing I can think of is that it didn't relock correctly after opening at the desk and was removed by TSA. Thankfully I had two locks on the case.

[mcbethr 42]

Thankfully I had two locks on the case.

 

+1. I almost forgot about this. When you fly, pack extra locks. If you first one gets cut, you still have a backup so you aren't running to Wal Mart or Home Depot in the middle of your vacation to get locks.

[Dewhitewolf 8]

Print out a copy of TSA's page on traveling with firearms here and take it with you in case there are problems at the airport:

 

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/firearms-and-ammunition

 

Do the same with your airline's webpage on traveling with firearms policies.

 

It used to say that firearms must have either a key lock or combination lock, with the key or combination only held by the traveler. Now it doesn't seem to say that, but I would still stick with a padlock or cable lock (don't use TSA locks--they are not approved for firearms cases).

 

I flew out of Newark airport with a firearm once. Fortunately it was a very smooth process--I declared it with the airline agent, who handed me a declaration form for me to fill out and sign. Then he carried my luggage directly to the TSA station, where the TSA agents there put it on the x-ray machine. After they gave me the okay, I simply went to my airline's gate. While I was prepared to open the case for them to show it was unloaded, but they didn't ask me to.

[Pizza Bob 1,488]

Since you are purchasing a long gun in AZ, presumably as a NJ resident, print out a couple COE's from the NJSP website. The AZ dealer may elect not to use them, but you should fill out one for your own records. Stupid, but a CYA move. Have a good trip.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

[Sandy 44]

I don't know about with the flying with them part..but :

 

Long guns or handgun? If it is a handgun , if you are a NJ resident , they have to ship it to an FFL in NJ and that is where you use your pistol permit and present your FID .

 

Long guns you are good to leave with it from a gun store , but if it is a private face to face I *think* you still have to have it shipped to an FFL.

 

And of course , make sure everything is NJ legal before purchasing.

 

Have a fun trip , happy shopping

[leadunderpressure 52]

You forgot 1) Call your air carrier to get procedures specific to them prior to arriving at the airport. Some airlines are antigun (USA3000) and won't allow firearms to be checked at all. Some others add minor restrictions such as type of case it can be in.

 

LUP

[robot_hell 72]

Just checked a handgun at EWR on a JetBlue flight for the first half of my trip. It was a very smooth and quick process. They had me sign a declaration tag and put it in my luggage. My laptop gave me more trouble; it had to go through the scanner three times.

[Displaced Texan 11,752]

I fly with a rifle several times a year when I go to my ranch in TX.

 

Rifle is in a Pelican hard case with 2 locks.

I delcare it at the airline check-in counter. Do not try to check it in at the outside bag check. The airline employee will ask you to fill out a declaration form, demonstrate that the weapon is unloaded. Ammunition can be transported in the same case as the weapon as long as the ammunition is in the original box. Empty magazines cannot be in the firearm, they have to be stored outside the magazine well.

I re-lock the case, keep the keys in my posession, and my firearm is taken to the TSA checkpoint to be x-rayed by the airline employee.

In every instance, my firearm was delivered to me at baggage claim by a baggage handler, and I had to show ID to receive it.

 

The first time a traveled with a firearm, I expected a nightmare. I found that it is a fairly no hassle experience and have now done it dozens of times.

 

I DID encounter one airline employee at PHL who asked me to remove my AR-15 from the case and demonstrate it was unloaded. I suggested to him that it might draw a LOT of attention, and he decided that I could show him it was unloaded with the weapon remaining in the case. Lol

[Ten Tenth's 0]

I'll add by suggesting discreetly disabling the firearm by removing the firing pin or slide lock pin on a pistol and packing it elsewhere. In case it gets stolen I would feel a better that a scumbag can't fire it immediately.

[mipafox 438]

Ammunition does not have to be separate from the firearm except on US Air as far as I know. Ammunition does not have to be in the original box. It can't be "exposed." Loaded in a magazine is fine but the mag would need to have a mag cover.

 

Why are you afraid to fly to CA with a firearm? As long as it is legal there, they are way better with firearms than jersey. I've taken handguns to CA several times. I would never take a handgun to jersey and tell anybody that I did.

[dbldune 8]

Never ever fly into or out of LaGuardia or Kennedy unless you want to go to jail.

[TheDon 3]

I took my CCW pistol with me to Arizona and had two issues at PHL.

 

1. It took a full 45 minutes from the time the baggage lady called TSA until I was cleared to go. The TSA officer took forever to show up, then inspected my gun case, complained that it was not labeled by the manufacturer as "TSA Approved", checked with his supervisor to see if it was OK, searched my bag in its entirety, questioned why I was only transporting 37 rounds when the original ammo box held 50, and basically made sure I knew that my fate was in his hands.

 

2. My checked bag did not make the flight and was sent on the next flight. The airline delivered it to the hotel the next morning.

 

Zero problems flying from PHX to PHL.

 

Moral of my story: Add at least a 45-minute buffer to your check-in time. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

[mipafox 438]

Moral of my story: Add at least a 45-minute buffer to your check-in time.  Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

 

Moral of the story, never fly out of Philly.

 

 

I leave my house 45 minutes before I get on the plane at ABE.

 

 

I've never had a gun check take more than 5 minutes flying home from California several times, San Diego, LA, and Ontario (The Valley). Usually 30 seconds.

[TheDon 3]

Moral of the story, never fly out of Philly.

 

 

I leave my house 45 minutes before I get on the plane at ABE.

 

 

I've never had a gun check take more than 5 minutes flying home from California several times, San Diego, LA, and Ontario (The Valley). Usually 30 seconds.

 

Have you ever considered updating your profile pic?

 

[mipafox 438]

You say the moral of the story is to ad 45 minutes to your trip if you are flying with firearms. I've NEVER had that experience. And I won't have that experience the next time I fly. Was it wrong of me to mention that?

[Displaced Texan 11,752]

I've never experienced a delay because of checking my firearm either.

Even at baggage claim....they hand deliver it to me and it beats the other bags off the plane.

 

 

[TulsaJohn 1]

Has anyone flown out of EWR recently with a handgun? I have a trip comming up, Flying american.

[njpilot 671]

Has anyone flown out of EWR recently with a handgun? I have a trip comming up, Flying american.

 

Last April, but on United. No problems, but unlike other airports where you do it at the check in counter, someone from the airline walks you to TSA so they can check the bag. Usually adds about 10 minutes.

 

Don't know if American is any different.

[GRIZ 3,369]

Has anyone flown out of EWR recently with a handgun? I have a trip comming up, Flying american.

Follow the TSA and airline rules and its never taken me more than 10 minutes out of Newark. That Includes the one time TSA wanted to look in the bag.

[bhunted 887]

Dang, thought you said Flying with Nuns...

 

[ryan_j 0]

Moral of the story, never fly out of Philly.

 

 

I leave my house 45 minutes before I get on the plane at ABE.

 

 

I've never had a gun check take more than 5 minutes flying home from California several times, San Diego, LA, and Ontario (The Valley). Usually 30 seconds.

 

I LOVE that airport. Best kept secret in the NE. 

[ryan_j 0]

Also anyone who has taken the Utah class at GFH - Charlie does a funny impression of how not to check a firearm...

 

"Best way is to say, I have an unloaded firearm I would like to check. Don't go up and say, I HAVE A GUN!!!" 

[Tango Charlie 0]

One thing that I'm afraid of, if I was flying with my handgun, is that an airline employee will walk away with it. Am I able to place the gun case inside of something else like a luggage bag or a guitar case?

[Jon 264]

One thing that I'm afraid of, if I was flying with my handgun, is that an airline employee will walk away with it. Am I able to place the gun case inside of something else like a luggage bag or a guitar case?

 

The case SHOULD be inside your luggage, and your luggage should not be marked in any way to indicate that a firearm is inside.

[Tango Charlie 0]

So should the luggage bag be padlocked with my own locks or with a TSA approved lock? I know that the gun case itself should be padlocked with me being the only person with access to it.