Account of Flying with Firearms

W A very detailed account of airports that don't understand security and TSA staffers who think they're above the law.
FLL--> HOU --> DAL 2010-05-20	DAL--> HOU --> FLL 2010-06-02

Luggage & Gear
W's last flight involved traveling with a firearm and was smooth as silk on Southwest. He went with the same carrier this time, and had his Pelican 1560 case with two Abloy PL321 Executive Travel padlocks.

W sent me a wonderful, detailed write-up. I'll include the full text of his summary here, In his own words...

Outbound Travel
My experience from point of airport entry until receiving my boarding past was superb. The airport was relatively desolate, thus no one was around to react adversely to my mention of traveling with a firearm. The agent assisting me knew exactly what to do with a traveler declaring a firearm and checked me in promptly. No criticisms were made of my locked bags. No markings or designations were made that flagged my luggage as carrying a firearm (at least that I noticed)."

This is where I experienced some trouble. After checking in my bags and everything going smoothly, I proceeded through security. Almost immediately as I cleared security an associate paged me over the airport PA asking me to speak to the agent at our boarding gate. When I arrived at gate, the attendant informed me that they needed to inspect my case and wanted to know if I had the key. When I informed them that I did, they asked me to wait at the desk for someone to come retrieve the key from me.

A baggage claims assistant named Sherri soon arrived and informed me that they needed the keys to my case in order to inspect the contents. I replied that I had a print out of Southwest's rules for traveling with firearms which states that "only the customer checking the luggage should retain the key or combination to the lock. No exceptions will be made." She then requested I come back through security with her to the baggage office, and that should would have them bring the case to the baggage services office for inspection (here's Southwest's policy page by the way: http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/guns.html).

When we arrived in the baggage office, she called back to whomever was in possession of the case and asked that they bring it to the office. The person on the end of the line was clearly confused (or lazy) and seems to have asked the agent why they needed to bring it to the office. She mentioned what I had told her, and actually went one step further to emphatically state that she agreed with me and that she wasn't going to force me to relinquish the key.

After maybe 5-7 minutes of waiting, a TSA agent and a Southwest supervisor showed up to the baggage services office without my case. The Southwest supervisor explained to me that they needed to inspect my case because of a computer that I had packed inside of it and that they couldn't open it in order to perform the inspection because of my locks. He then went on to say that without inspecting it my bag wouldn't be able to travel to my destination with me. I responded that I didn't have an issue with them inspecting it, but that Southwest's guidelines clearly stated that I was to retain the key at all times, no exceptions, and that I would be happy to open it for them, but that I didn't want to break the airline rules or federal law and be held responsible if something happened to the weapon. The TSA agent scoffed at the idea and the Southwest supervisor told me that it was OK because the TSA was part of the government and they were apparently an exception.

I disagreed and told him that everything I had read on the matter was very explicit that I was to lock my firearms with locks that only I possessed the key for and that I was not to relinquish the key to anyone. The TSA agent interjected and said that it was actually OK for me to use TSA locks on cases containing firearms. I disagreed with him again.

At this point, I asked the Southwest supervisor if we could perform the inspection in the baggage services office or if I could go with them to the inspection area and supervise the inspection, which would be acceptable because I would still be able to ensure that the case was re-locked properly and that they keys were always within my immediate possession. He told me that it wasn't possible, but that he would supervise the inspection for me and ensure that nothing went wrong and that it was re-locked properly. Being that I had no other alternative other than not travel with my bag (or travel at all), I accepted his proposal. He took the keys and returned quite promptly afterwards, ensuring me that everything was fine. He echoed the TSA agent and suggested I use TSA locks next time. Since it was all said and done at this point, I didn't push the issue further and thanked him. I believe his name was Rick, but I could be wrong.

After he left, I thanks Sherri again for her assistance and for standing up for me on the matter. It was very refreshing to have her on my side and backing the airline's printed policy rather than automatically defaulting to the judgement of her superiors. I will likely call Southwest on my next day off and find out who I can write to give her a good review.

The part that I found most humorous is that this all allegedly occurred because of the laptop packed in my case. They weren't the slightest bit concerned about my firearms, but rather that there was a laptop in a case that they couldn't access.

A final note: I don't know if you've checked the TSA's website lately, but immediately after this encounter I pulled out my phone and checked the TSA's guidelines for traveling with firearms. Two things caught my eye. The first was:

* The container must be locked. A locked container is defined as one that completely secures the firearm from access by anyone other than you. Cases that can be pulled open with little effort do not meet this criterion. The pictures provided here illustrate the difference between a properly packaged and an improperly packaged firearm.

The second, which is contrary to the first, was:

* We recommend that you provide the key or combination to the security officer if he or she needs to open the container. You should remain in the area designated by the aircraft operator or TSA representative to take the key back after the container is cleared for transportation. If you are not present and the security officer must open the container, we or the airline will make a reasonable attempt to contact you. If we can't contact you, the container will not be placed on the plane. Federal regulations prohibit unlocked gun cases (or cases with broken locks) on aircraft.

I'm not sure when they added the above verbiage, but I don't recall it being there during my last travel experience that I reported to you. They also use vague language when they say they recommend that I provide the key or combination to the officer. Everything else on the page uses very clear that cannot be misunderstood (must, can't, etc.). Does this mean I have a right to refuse to relinquish the key and that they must provide a way for me to unlock and supervise inspection of the case? The bullet just above this one states that no one other than me should have access to the container. There's no way to know for sure as a result of the contradiction. I may follow up with the TSA on this as well, and I'll certainly let you know what they say if I do. Here's the TSA link by the way:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1666.shtm

Ultimately, everything arrived fine and seemed to be in the condition I left it.

Homebound Travel
The check-in assistant during my homebound departure was equally (or more) helpful and knowledgeable than during my initial departure. She even checked to be sure that I wasn't using TSA locks and noted that I should wait a few minutes by the counter rather than proceeding through security in case they wanted to inspect the bag. I chose to pack the laptop in carry-on luggage this time around, and I was not asked to visit a second screening area on my way back. Whether or not this was because I didn't have a laptop in the case is unclear. The luggage arrived just fine, with no signs of tampering at all.

Final Details & Thoughts
W also stated to me that he'll "follow up later regarding my call about my compliments to Sherri and criticisms of the supervisor/TSA agent's lack of knowledge regarding their own policies."

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