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Type Of Bag For Airline Travel With A Firearm.

MarlboroLts5150

MarlboroLts5150

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2009
Messages
407
Location
San Antonio
Getting ready to take a flight from Hawaii to LAX. Never thought about this before as I've always had an actual suitcase. Unfortunately, it got crushed in storage....oops. :D

I know the requirements for the firearm itself....hard-sided, lockable case, non-TSA lock, etc. Question is, do they (TSA or the airlines) frown on soft bags, ie seabags, duffels, etc?

If I use my seabag, it will be packed full with the case in the center, but near the top for access. And yes they can be locked with a TSA-approved lock. Can't find anything thats states anything about the type of "suitcase" the gun case must be packed in.

Previous experiences? Thoughts? Links? All appreciated.
 
S

SIGguy229

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
349
Location
Stafford, VA, , Afghanistan
I've used a duffle bag or large backpack almost exclusively for the last 17 years while transporting a firearm...with my hard-sided case on the inside. Haven't had a problem.

I do, however, ziptie the zippers together, and initial the ties with a Sharpie...
 
A

architect

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2008
Messages
392
Location
Falls Church, Virginia, USA
I've airline transported firearms several times with the hard case inside fabric luggage. Never a problem, although my bag has been hand-searched twice (with a TSA "we searched this bag" tag inside), once unarmed, once armed. I am fairly certain that there have been other searches that happened without the friendly announcement. I don't think declaring necessarily gets your bag on a search list.
 
OldCurlyWolf

OldCurlyWolf

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Joined
Sep 8, 2010
Messages
908
Location
Oklahoma
NavyLT said:
My gun case goes in standard, soft sided luggage. The gun case is locked with non-TSA lock, and the soft side luggage locked with a TSA lock. I have not had any problems.
Click to expand...


Not having flown since 2000, what the H is a TSA lock?
 
C

Citizen

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2006
Messages
18,276
Location
Fairfax Co., VA
What type of bag for airline travel?

Why Janet Napolitano, of course.

Bag. Ugly woman. Get it? Ahahahahahaha.

OK. That one was a little lame. I'll be quiet.

:)
 
J

JoeSparky

Centurion
Joined
Jun 20, 2008
Messages
3,623
Location
Pleasant Grove, Utah, USA
Citizen said:
What type of bag for airline travel?

Why Janet Napolitano, of course.

Bag. Ugly woman. Get it? Ahahahahahaha.

OK. That one was a little lame. I'll be quiet.

:)
Click to expand...

But ISN'T that OLD ALREADY?

So that would be an OLD BAG!

I don't believe that Janet HAS A GENDER! I know this just dropped into personal attack area, BUT IT ASKED FOR IT!
 
S

shotcop

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2010
Messages
68
Location
Colorado
Citizen said:
What type of bag for airline travel?

Why Janet Napolitano, of course.

Bag. Ugly woman. Get it? Ahahahahahaha.

OK. That one was a little lame. I'll be quiet.

:)
Click to expand...

I understand she's takes Southwest Airlines, cause bags fly free!
 
Z

zack991

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2009
Messages
1,541
Location
Ohio, USA
Last edited:
D

Daddyo

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2008
Messages
250
Location
Plymouth, MN, ,
I fly with my pistol pretty regularly.
If you omit the TSA lock or otherwise try to keep them out of your bag, they are going to either cut the lock off or call you back to the luggage check.
Here's the drill at every airport/airline I've used:
1)Go to the baggage check, while they are trying to hurry you through tell them you need a firearms declaration. They will probably have to look around to find one. I usually spot it before they do,it's blaze orange.
2)Sign and date the card. Ask them whether it goes in the bag or in the firearm case. It seems to vary somewhat but usually it goes in the pistol case.
3)Lock everything up with TSA locks (I carry mine in a hard case inside a duffle bag).
4) Very Important-You must wait for someone from the airline to escort you to the baggage screen. TSA gets very upset if you show up unescorted.
5)Make sure the guy loading the bags on the belt knows you have a firearm in your bag. Again, they get very upset if they see it on the screen unexpectedly.

I usually hang around until my bag is cleared just to make sure there are no problems.
I've also started using my Utah non-resident permit for I.D., just because I can. I find it humorous that the qualifications to get a Utah permit are the same or greater than to be a TSA agent.

So far the only rifling of my bag has occurred at Grand Rapids Michigan and I think that was basically because I tripped some sort of "automatic" inspection by not telling them (the guy putting the bags into the machine) verbally i was declaring a firearm.
 
Dreamer

Dreamer

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2009
Messages
5,362
Location
Grennsboro NC
The bag needs to be big enough to fit your Fundamental Human Rights, the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and your Dignity.

Because you sure as hell can't take any of THOSE things through a TSA checkpoint...
 
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