Flying with Firearms.

FP1201 · Mar 24, 2025

First thing: Place firearms individually into TSA approved (usually hard plastic factory Box or hard sided case that external padlocks can be applied to) ensure they are unloaded and the action open. Any ammunition must be inside a Factory type packaging (MTM Case Guard boxes are ok so long as they don't pop open) in the case of a pistol, place the hard case inside your suitcase along with ammunition, once you arrive at the Airline Counter tell them you have a Firearms to Declare, upon which they give you a tag to fill out and certify that will go into the pistol case, and TSA will verify and in NY they'll likely call local PD doing security to verify a Handgun Licenses and the handgun being transported is on said licenses. Most Airlines will place a special Tag on the suitcase so on arrival a Baggage Agent will bring out the tagged case and verify the name against I.D.
Rifles really aren't any different and in both cases you have to supply some sort of padlock so the cases can be secured. Otherwise it's not any different than bringing your Golf Clubs.

Saltwater60 · Mar 24, 2025

I did it a while back and it was easier than I thought. I had the gun in a metal lockbox and ammo on original box, mags stored in lockbox with hub were empty. I walked up to check the bag, handed her my ID, and my pistol permit and stayed there is one in the bag to not scream hey there’s a gun in my bag. She said why are you handing me that all I need is your ID. I stated agin there’s one in the bag but she didn’t get it. I said there’s a pistol in the bag. She asked if it was unloaded and I said yes so she asked me to show her. I said guns in a bag with an orange flag in the chamber so she just said that’s ok, here is a tag to state it’s unloaded, sign it and put it in the baggage. No one came over to look. I got to my destination and I had to show ID to pick up the bag.
On return flight same, stated gun in bag, sign this and they took the bag away. Only issue I had was return flight was late at night and the baggage office was closed so they put my bag with my pistol on the luggage carousel even though it was tagged not to do that. That’s a concern because it’s tagged with something like sensitive item do put on baggage carousel

Parzival · Mar 24, 2025

I put an AirTag under the foam of the gun case. Gun case has a combo lock, you should not use TSA locks.

I fly into SYR 2-3 times per year and have never had to do anything but tell them at the counter that I had a handgun in the bag. Opened the bag, she put an orange tag that I signed on the gun case and another tag on the suitcase itself. (Las Vegas actually had me open the gun case, only time that has ever happened.) They put the bag on the conveyer and off it goes.

I’ve never had to show ID to pick up the bag, it just comes out on the belt with all the other bags. I’ve have never been asked for or had to show a pistol permit, police have never been called.

The part I worry about the most is remembering to swap 15 round mags for 10 round mags when I head to NY.

Rondo223 · Mar 25, 2025

m1a_scoutguy said:
Thanks for the info, guys! Now can I or should I put both guns in the same Pelican case? I have a smaller pistol case that I have never used so just wondering if 2 cases are required.
Parzival what locks would you recommend? I thought they have to be TSA-approved, can I just go buy a bunch of Master locks that are keyed alike?
Thanks again guys for the info.

They should not be TSA locks. You should be the only one with the key or combination. A good idea is to place your name and email or ph # on the case in the unlikely event that they want to open the case before they load it on the plane. I do this when I have my locked case in my suitcase.

You should be able to transport both the long and side arm in the same case as well as the ammunition in the same case. Check with your airline for their own restrictions on transporting firearms and ammunition. Most restrict the amount of ammo you can carry in your checked luggage and some state the ammo must be separate form the firearms but the TSA does not state this.

Transporting Firearms and Ammunition | Transportation Security Administration

Learn how to properly prepare, pack and declare firearms and ammunition in checked baggage when flying. Review TSA rules, airline policies, and legal requirements.

www.tsa.gov

Rocpo · Mar 25, 2025

Generally, I also tell people to print out the TSA/Airline regs as well as the safe harbor provision of the FOPA and put a copy in the case with the handgun especially.

FP1201 · Mar 25, 2025

Rondo223 said:
They should not be TSA locks. You should be the only one with the key or combination. A good idea is to place your name and email or ph # on the case in the unlikely event that they want to open the case before they load it on the plane. I do this when I have my locked case in my suitcase.

You should be able to transport both the long and side arm in the same case as well as the ammunition in the same case. Check with your airline for their own restrictions on transporting firearms and ammunition. Most restrict the amount of ammo you can carry in your checked luggage and some state the ammo must be separate form the firearms but the TSA does not state this.

Transporting Firearms and Ammunition | Transportation Security Administration

Learn how to properly prepare, pack and declare firearms and ammunition in checked baggage when flying. Review TSA rules, airline policies, and legal requirements.

www.tsa.gov

International Airline Transportation Association (IATA) publishes a manual with the individual Airlines own travel/Baggage restrictions and provisions...I expect you can find yours on their Web Site: IATA

Saltwater60 · Mar 26, 2025

m1a_scoutguy said:
You guys have been great, thank you! Last thing (maybe) do you guys have insurance, will the airline cover it if a worse-case scenario happens? Or do you guys have private firearms insurance and if so, who do you recommend? I know the NRA has always had it so I'm just wondering, Thanks.

I believe baggage loss protection is standard up to a certain point. I just flew with 4 fishing poles valued at about $1,000 and about $2,000 in other fishing gear so I checked the amount of baggage loss to make sure I didn’t need extra. If I remember correctly it was $4,800 for my airline per bag. Now would it be easy to get that all replaced if lost? We did put AirTags in our expensive bags as a precaution. I also took pictures of what I was putting in my bags. Check what the reimbursement is for your airline as it might differ. Also look to make sure firearms are covered under baggage losses but they should be.
Also case must be locked.

Parzival · Mar 26, 2025

m1a_scoutguy said:
Thanks for the info, guys! Now can I or should I put both guns in the same Pelican case? I have a smaller pistol case that I have never used so just wondering if 2 cases are required.
Parzival what locks would you recommend? I thought they have to be TSA-approved, can I just go buy a bunch of Master locks that are keyed alike?
Thanks again guys for the info.

I use a Surelock portable safe with a combo lock for putting a handgun inside my suitcase.

If I was taking a rifle case…Yep, regular old Master Lock 140s will be just fine.

Robin · Mar 27, 2025

My arms get tired enough as it is.
Robin

zorro · Mar 27, 2025

TSA must be able to get into the suitcase if they wish - which is why if locking the case it should be a TSA approved lock

THEY CANNOT BE ALLOWED INTO YOUR GUN CASE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES…………..unless you are present and open it for them upon request

That is why on the gun case you need to have NONE TSA LOCKS and only you have the key - they are not even allowed to ask you for the key to allow them to open it - you are the only one who should open it if requested to do so

I fly monthly from Sarasota to Westchester - never been asked to show my permit and have never had any cop come over to inspect

Just make sure it is unloaded - nothing in the chamber and no rounds in the mags and no loose rounds lying in the gun case

My luggage always comes out on the normal baggage carousel along with all others

Only other thing I do when my bag comes out is to open it and check my gun is still inside my bag, before I leave the airport………just in case!

Anything else, just ask

Flying with Firearms.

m1a_scoutguy

.40 S&W

FP1201

.338 Win Mag

Saltwater60

.950 JDJ

Parzival

.44 mag

m1a_scoutguy

.40 S&W

Rondo223

.357 mag

Transporting Firearms and Ammunition | Transportation Security Administration

Rocpo

.44 mag

FP1201

.338 Win Mag

Transporting Firearms and Ammunition | Transportation Security Administration

m1a_scoutguy

.40 S&W

Saltwater60

.950 JDJ

Parzival

.44 mag

Robin

.577 Tyrannosaur.

m1a_scoutguy

.40 S&W

zorro

.44 mag

m1a_scoutguy

.40 S&W