I tend to be long winded. If you're up for a little read, I offer the following. Also I would appreciate your comments and hearing about your experiences. I've been flying with firearms in checked bags for a long time.
Recently I flew on an airline for the first time since Covid. We (wife and I) flew with another couple This couple were flying with handguns in checked luggage for their first time.
I had previously referred them to the airline's website and the TSA website for guidance, providing links to the appropriate information. I also sent them a photo of my system which I have used many times with no problem or questions. It is a hard plastic case with two small keyed padlocks to lock it closed and a keyed cable lock to attach it to the inside structure of the suitcase.
Well, this couple contacted their CCW Instructor/Firearms Expert Guy and he told them No, the TSA will not allow that. It has to be TSA locks on the gun case. According to him the TSA has to be able to open the case and inspect the gun. When they showed him the airline guidelines, he said well the airline has not updated their website yet but according to TSA it must be TSA locks. (Since returning from our trip I checked the TSA website. It says you can use any lock you want, TSA approved or not).
So they arrived at the airport in Cleveland with TSA locks on their gun cases as well as luggage. I told them, in my opinion, there's two problems with that; one, it does not comply with the TSA regulation that only you posses the key or combination therefore it may be a problem, and two, anyone who handles the bag and also has a TSA key (not hard to get) potentially has access to your firearm to steal it. Since we had time, the wife went out and bought some small padlocks at a local store and they replaced the TSA locks on the gun cases. The process of checking in, declaring the firearms, and so on went as usual.
When leaving Orlando is when the questions started. When checking my bag and declaring the firearm the ticket agent asked “Is it locked with TSA approved locks?” I answered yes (since my locks do, in fact, comply with the guidelines stated on the website). She says, open the bag and place the case on top of the contents, which I did. She then looked long and hard at my locks, turning them and inspecting. She hesitated, as if thinking, and I was ready to argue. Then abruptly she wrapped the red tag around the handle of the case and told me to repack and set the bag aside. First time that series of events happened to me. Previously agents have simply given me the tag and told me to place it on top of the case. This includes Orlando which I've flown out of several times previous and this airline as well.
As we were all flying together I waited and watched as the other couple checked their bag. When asked if the locks were TSA approved, they said no. The agent said, well they must be. The couple said no problem, we have TSA approved locks with us and they switched the locks as the agent watched. Then the agent attached the red tag through the handle, said repack the bag and set it aside.
After all the business at the counter was done she says, bring your bags and follow me. We went down and around and around and down to a little room with a short roller and little window/door. We placed our bags one at a time on the roller, the door opened, she pushed the bags in and presumably they were X-rayed and/or inspected by TSA personnel. She was visibly annoyed as there was some lack of coordination. She then took us around to a doorway where she looked through a window, got a thumbs up from a TSA agent, and then we went back up to the check-in where she told us what gate and all that and cut us loose. Again, all this was a first time for me. In times passed, the bag simply was checked in at the counter and placed on the conveyor along with everyone else's bags.
The End.
Recently I flew on an airline for the first time since Covid. We (wife and I) flew with another couple This couple were flying with handguns in checked luggage for their first time.
I had previously referred them to the airline's website and the TSA website for guidance, providing links to the appropriate information. I also sent them a photo of my system which I have used many times with no problem or questions. It is a hard plastic case with two small keyed padlocks to lock it closed and a keyed cable lock to attach it to the inside structure of the suitcase.
Well, this couple contacted their CCW Instructor/Firearms Expert Guy and he told them No, the TSA will not allow that. It has to be TSA locks on the gun case. According to him the TSA has to be able to open the case and inspect the gun. When they showed him the airline guidelines, he said well the airline has not updated their website yet but according to TSA it must be TSA locks. (Since returning from our trip I checked the TSA website. It says you can use any lock you want, TSA approved or not).
So they arrived at the airport in Cleveland with TSA locks on their gun cases as well as luggage. I told them, in my opinion, there's two problems with that; one, it does not comply with the TSA regulation that only you posses the key or combination therefore it may be a problem, and two, anyone who handles the bag and also has a TSA key (not hard to get) potentially has access to your firearm to steal it. Since we had time, the wife went out and bought some small padlocks at a local store and they replaced the TSA locks on the gun cases. The process of checking in, declaring the firearms, and so on went as usual.
When leaving Orlando is when the questions started. When checking my bag and declaring the firearm the ticket agent asked “Is it locked with TSA approved locks?” I answered yes (since my locks do, in fact, comply with the guidelines stated on the website). She says, open the bag and place the case on top of the contents, which I did. She then looked long and hard at my locks, turning them and inspecting. She hesitated, as if thinking, and I was ready to argue. Then abruptly she wrapped the red tag around the handle of the case and told me to repack and set the bag aside. First time that series of events happened to me. Previously agents have simply given me the tag and told me to place it on top of the case. This includes Orlando which I've flown out of several times previous and this airline as well.
As we were all flying together I waited and watched as the other couple checked their bag. When asked if the locks were TSA approved, they said no. The agent said, well they must be. The couple said no problem, we have TSA approved locks with us and they switched the locks as the agent watched. Then the agent attached the red tag through the handle, said repack the bag and set it aside.
After all the business at the counter was done she says, bring your bags and follow me. We went down and around and around and down to a little room with a short roller and little window/door. We placed our bags one at a time on the roller, the door opened, she pushed the bags in and presumably they were X-rayed and/or inspected by TSA personnel. She was visibly annoyed as there was some lack of coordination. She then took us around to a doorway where she looked through a window, got a thumbs up from a TSA agent, and then we went back up to the check-in where she told us what gate and all that and cut us loose. Again, all this was a first time for me. In times passed, the bag simply was checked in at the counter and placed on the conveyor along with everyone else's bags.
The End.
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