Checked bag tips - flying commercial
Contributors to this thread:Equipment
From: Jasper
02-Aug-21
Haven’t flown on a destination hunt in years. Never had an issue but I know others have. Flying to Fairbanks in 5 weeks, checking a bow case with a Glock 20 and Boundary Waters bag. Carrying my pack on. Lessons learned? Thanks!
From: Shug
02-Aug-21
You should put the Glock in your carry on luggage… don’t trust them to be careful with it below
From: greg simon
02-Aug-21
Maybe don’t listen to firearms tips from folks on a bow hunting site!!!
From: Bob H in NH
02-Aug-21
Put the glock in the bow case. Check as a firearm. No TSA locks, use real locks, one on each place for a lock. You will have to sign that is unloaded which goes inside case.
Then hope
From: bigeasygator
02-Aug-21
You may want to put your gun in a small hard sided case within your bow case as well, especially if it’s made of a thinner plastic material. If it’s something like a Pelican case you should be ok, but there are some small lockable cases that are pretty inexpensive as a bit of added insurance with TSA. Other than that, make sure your ammo is in its original packaging or an enclosed container. Beyond that you should be good.
From: Katahdin
03-Aug-21
Mostly good advice so far. You should check the airlines website and TSA website to get up to date rules. When I used to travel with a sidearm I would have it in a small pelican case inside my bowcase. The non TSA lock on the case is sometimes not recognized by some TSA agents so I carried spare locks for both situations.
From: keepemsharp
03-Aug-21
Trying to put it in your carry on is a recipe for disaster.
From: White Falcon
03-Aug-21
Not in carry on. It will be taken by TSA. You might go to jail.
From: JTreeman
03-Aug-21
Shug was joking fellas, it’s OK, take a breath.
—jim
From: Kevin Dill
03-Aug-21
The first thing you need to do is read the TSA requirements for flying with a handgun. Second thing to read is your commercial airline's rules about transporting firearms. If you know those 2 by heart, you'll be good. When you bring your bags into the airport, go to the check-in line and let them know you have a firearm in your checked bag. They'll walk you through the process which is easy. If you forget to tell them about the gun, you're in trouble...so do it FIRST. You could miss your flight, lose your gun, suffer a large fine and maybe miss out completely on the hunt.
From: cnelk
03-Aug-21
cnelk's Link
See link
All set in my Pelican
From: Kevin Speicher
03-Aug-21
Cnelk - the ammunition that you have on the stock of your rifle is not a TSA approved method of storage! I had ammo in a soft case that attaches to your belt confiscated, as it wasn't in the original container. They gave me the case back but took the ammunition.
From: Norseman
03-Aug-21
Ammo needs to be separated and in original container.
From: Shug
03-Aug-21
No I wasn’t Jim… well maybe
From: g5smoke21
03-Aug-21
Don't use TSA locks. Have a copy of TSA regs in hand stating only you should have the key or combination. Tape your name and number on the case. Have ammo in a separate hard locked case in your checked baggage. Due carry a set of TSA approved locks in case you have a run in with a stubborn agent. That is what has worked for me
From: Bob H in NH
03-Aug-21
I agree, TSA rules say only you should be able to open the case, so no TSA locks, however I usually have some on my other bags, or in the gun case and if needed, I'll swap them. You usually won't win an argument with them. You could ask for a supervisor, but if you still get the "wrong" answer, just be ready to go with it
From: rock50
03-Aug-21
Never argue with an idiot with a badge...................
From: MathewsMan
03-Aug-21
Jasper I sent you a PM
From: JohnMC
03-Aug-21
So if you reload your ammo how do transfer that in it "original container"?
From: rock50
03-Aug-21
AA's website say ammo must be "In the original packaging from the manufacture or in packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition (made of fiber, wood, or metal).......................Ammunition is not accepted loose or in magazines or clips"
From: JL
03-Aug-21
^....that. Keep you factory ammo containers, put your reloads in those and roll. FWIW.....ya can't do 4 bricks (or 1) of primers either. :-)
From: JohnMC
03-Aug-21
So would Brad's on his stock not be in packaging designed to carry small amounts of ammunition and it made from a fiber?
From: smarba
03-Aug-21
Not all airlines require original ammo package, most only require they be secured (i.e. a similar box to original or one of the plastic ammo storage containers) but as stated earlier "never argue with an idiot with a badge". Saving ammo boxes or scavenging empty boxes from friends may be worthwhile. I doubt seriously anyone would go to the extent of checking whether the caliber (of reload) matches the caliber on a box, but on the other hand if they were to do so a discrepancy might be a red flag...
From: smarba
03-Aug-21
Also as noted a brick of primers can't go. Doesn't work well when traveling with muzzle loader that uses primers without a complete shell, per a friend of mine that had primers confiscated.
From: Meat Grinder
03-Aug-21
Give yourself some extra time at check-in as well. Different airports have difference processes for travelers carrying firearms. On my way home from Denver in 2019 my checked bag and I were escorted to a distant room to have my bag x-rayed. By the time I got to my gate, boarding had already started. Enjoy your trip.
From: Jasper
03-Aug-21
Thanks guys!
From: ARROW
05-Aug-21
Has anyone traveled with a muzzleloader? how would black powder be transported?
