Account of Flying with Firearms

Matt S. A flight to the most anti-gun spot in the nation... and all went swimmingly, thanks to smart preparation and a savvy traveler.
COS --> DWF --> IAD 2009-06-17	IAD --> DWF --> COS 2009-06-22

Luggage & Gear
On this trip from Colorado, through Lone Star State, and to our nation's capital Matt flew with his own version of my "surplus mortar case" luggage, using a hasp that was simply JB-Welded on. Matt has stated that time was a factor and this was a quick fix. In the future, he plans on making the setup even more robust with the use of some bolts and more welding... however, i think that overall he did quite well. Additionally, Matt packed the mortar case inside of a standard rolling suitcase so that it had the appearance of normal luggage. For added protection of his steel during transit, the handgun was packed in a Pelican 1120 series case with custom cut foam.

None of the staff whom he encountered said anything about just locking the inner case, even though this may have been possible. For locks, Matt was able to source an ABUS 28/70 Buffalo for this trip. In future versions of this setup he plans on using even more robust locks than that. I am very impressed with this setup, as it offers both ruggedness as well as concealment of the firearm from baggage handlers.

Outbound Travel
The American Airlines staff at COS airport were calm and nonchalant about the firearm declaration. So calm in fact they did not even ask to see Matt's firearm, they simply asked if it was unloaded, had him sign the declaration form and weighed the bag. American has a requirement that there be no more than three pounds of ammo per bag. Fortunately, Matt was traveling with 2.6 lbs in one bag... but they did not ask him to weigh it separately, or even look inspect how much was there. He surmises that he probably could have had 15 lbs of it with no issue. The declaration tag was handed directly to Matt for him to place in his luggage where he saw fit. At no time did he notice any other external markings on the tag or anything of that nature.

The secondary area was maybe ten yards from the check-in desk. It was basically a cubicle setup with a table and electronic screening equipment that was not utilized. Matt rolled his bag there himself. The TSA screener was great explaining everything he was doing (which matched up perfectly with the law). When he saw the lock he asked asked the passenger to unlock it and allowed Matt to look over his shoulder as he searched the bag. When he opened the Pelican case he did not touch the weapon only asked if it was unloaded, no demands were made to physically demonstrate that the action was clear. After putting everything back per Matt's instructions he asked for the bag to be re-locked and then it was taken back to the counter. The TSA screener did affix two "cleared and inspected" seals on his luggage tag (as opposed to simply a single one) but it is unknown if that is out of the ordinary. Matt went off to passenger screening, happy and confident in his luggage's safe status. Matt was present during the whole process and the keys never left his hands. According to this very satisfied traveler, the screener was very polite and followed the law perfectly as we understand it. Not to mention his allowing the asking of questions and attempts to make ensure Matt remained comfortable about the whole process.

Baggage came out on the carrousel in Washington, DC. (or, more accurately, in Virginia... as both DC airports are actually located in the Old Dominion) and there were no signs of tampering. The locks were still in place and Matt saw no sign of attempts to bypass them.

Homebound Travel
Interestingly, when Matt departed Washington, DC the traveler checking-in right in front of him was declaring a firearm, too... but doing it in a very foolish fashion. This individual had a small lock box placed in an unlocked duffle bag… Matt gave him the address of this web site... awesome. Thus, if the staff had exhibited any unfamiliarity with the process, it is likely that these issues were out of the way by the time Matt was checking in. As in Colorado Springs, the American Airlines staff had no interest in seeing the gun, they merely asked if it was unloaded and properly locked, which it was. The luggage was locked at all times during the check-in process. No external indications regarding firearms were affixed to the outside of the luggage.

As Dulles International is a much larger airport, the screening area was a lot larger and busier. The bag was taken by someone else to the area and put through some large screening machine, almost certainly a piece of x-ray equipment. After that it was brought to a table and opened. Since this table was behind a rope Matt had to give up the keys but the bag was in full view at all times. It seems like the only reason they opened the bag was to check out the two boxes of ammo since again they barely looked at the weapon. In this case the TSA people seemed a little short tempered and Mat was not able to lock or relock his bag personally. He did visually inspect it afterward to make sure the bag was indeed locked properly, though, and as stated above, it was never out of his full view while it was unlocked.

Matt's flight home was not especially noteworthy and all bags arrived on-time and without incident.

Final Details & Thoughts
"Everything went smoothly, I would say." - Matt S.

We thank you for your support, Matt... both your support of this site and your support of a citizen's right to travel freely with their firearms in the United States of America. Taking the time to share your story with others is greatly appreciated and we wish you good fortune in the rest of your future travels.

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...

Four Stars	check-in - no hassle, no delay screening - in full view, lock and unlock yourself luggage - all on time and intact
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