Account of Flying with Firearms
|
Deviant
Ollam & Daisy Belle
Heading down to SummerCon was a snap, and i got to give out a TTB business card to one airman who was getting a firearm-bearing bag screened next to us. |
|
PHL
--> ATL
2009-06-05   |
Luggage & Gear
While this was a short trip to SummerCon down in Atlanta where i was giving an intro to picking talk and running a small village, we were headed directly to ShakaCon straight from there. Thus, in addition to the two equipment cases needed for the above, we also transporting all of my gear for a training plus all of Gringo Warrior plus clothes to last us for two weeks in various climates. Suffice it to say, we were being really cautious about weight and we were right on the edge, with four of my 81mm mortar cases weighing exactly 50.0 lbs (two of them actually weighed 52.5 lbs with the Abloy puck locks attached) and Daisy's traditional suitcase right on the bubble, as well. I was traveling with my customary "flight" handguns... a 1911, an M9, and a pair of flare guns (since i always want to see if any airline staffer or TSA officer mistakenly treats them differently).Outbound Travel
A kindly fellow named Eric checked us in at the US Air counter in Philadelphia. We had to fuss about a little bit with weight issues on Daisy's suitcase (by pulling a couple things out and stuffing them in a carry-on... the large zipper-expansion feature on the 2009 ShmooCon bag makes it fucking rule as a flight companion for this reason) but they let my firearm-bearing cases skate, even with the padlocks putting them over. No one ever seems to notice the actual weight of a firearm bag, i have noticed... especially if the whole time that it's sitting on the scale you are fucking about with it -- unlocking it, lifting a lid, moving shit around -- all of that makes the scale not settle into a single value.We were led down to counter number 19 (as if i don't know where it is by now, hah!) for the oversize/special baggage belt. Also present there was one Airman Williams, whom i spotted wearing his ABUs. We were able to chat a bit about where he was from and the assignment to which he was headed, etc. while i passed him information about the Traveling Terabyte Project. He, too, had luggage bearing firearms. All our bags were sent (locked) back behind the rubber curtains and some shouts concerning "firearms" were heard between Eric and whatever TSA staffers were back there. It seemed as if he wanted them to stop whatever else they were sitting and doing in order to scan our luggage specifically, as we (the passengers) were waiting nearby in the event of any alerts. Nothing popped and we were all on our way.
With my leetboy status on Star Alliance, Daisy and i proceeded through the reserved passenger screening line, Studio-54 style. TSA screener Roberts sent my handcuffs through the x-ray machine twice, puzzled by how dark they appeared. When she realized that i had two sets in a single pouch, that explained things. I am always pleased when TSA officials know that these are not prohibited and do not make a fuss... still, it is rewarding to see their faces when i make up a comment like "they are for sex" if they try to give me static.
All bags arrived in Atlanta quickly and in good order.
Homebound Travel
There was no "return" leg of this particular trip, as we went directly to ShakaCon from here. Details of that trip can be found in the very next air traveler account.Final Details & Thoughts
No additional thoughts on this one... it was as smooth and successful as ever. I really love US Air and their staff here in Philly.
Air Travel Ratings
If you don't have the time or the desire to read the full text of someone's account of air travel, you can simply refer to the rating shown at the conclusion of each portion of that person's journey. The following criteria are used in assigning these ratings...
|
|
check-in
- no
hassle, no delay |
 Three Stars |
check-in
-
some delay or mild hassle screening - somewhat obscured, locking and unlocking yourself or it's done directly in front of you luggage - all on time and intact |
 Two Stars |
check-in
-
major delay or major hassle screening - in a room or area that you could not enter and could barely observe luggage - luggage opened non-destructively |
 One Star |
check-in
-
flight missed or passenger delayed from flying, properly packed items denied
as luggage screening - luggage unlocked and opened totally in another area fully removed from you luggage - destructive entry into luggage and/or tampering with firearms |
 Zero Stars |
This is a special category for outright theft, loss, or damage of firearms during air travel |
|
half-star
results are possible... naturally, they involve partial or mitigated problems
that somehow fall in-between
the above categories
|
|
