The first step before
making air travel commitments is acquiring a flight worthy gunbox.
Several years ago I read an article by well-known outdoor
writer Craig Boddington, for Guns & Ammo Magazine, where he detailed
various items one needed to address before leaving on an African hunt. A lot of
his article dealt with how to pack up your shootin’ hardware. I took it to
heart, figuring my pistols were just as valuable to me as his double-guns were
to him.
A little time passed and I was eventually faced with
the dilemma of transporting pistols by air and really needed something that
would hold up to the demands of the resident airport gorillas that typically
handle luggage. After an exhaustive search (with some help from Mr.
Boddington), I zeroed in on three different manufacturers: Pelican, Bullet
Proof/Kalispel and Flight Proof/Cape Buffalo, because they all looked as though
a truck could rollover them and still have their contents survive.
Any of the three product lines will easily handle the job.
But each of these manufacturers has taken a much different approach in
constructing their cases.
Possibly the best known, Pelican, relies on polymer mold
injection to form the shell of their cases. Kalispel uses wielded aluminum for
structural integrity of their exteriors. Cape Buffalo relies on the more
traditional ‘industrial case’ method of construction, and due to its long
tested history, has some additional features.
If you ever wanted to bypass a few hundred people in line at
a major airline counter, tell someone managing the line you have guns to
declare. Every time I’ve declared firearms in the rear of a line, an airline
employee was more than happy to whisk me out of the back and drop me off in
front of the counter. I’m certain they were lots of customers wondering what
the heck this line-cutter was doing. But many airlines are under the impression
that taking care of you—fast—is simply a method of managing their potential
liability.
TSA requirements are pretty straight forward; you need a
hard case as mentioned above, a separate hard case for ammunition (which if lite
enough can fit in either your gun’s case or other checked luggage), and the
appropriately endorsed airline declaration.
Airline specific declaration forms are generally available
at their respective check-in counters. The declaration is twofold: It’s a
notice that you’re traveling with firearms; and you’re certifying those things
are unloaded.
Airline employees are supposed to inspect arms to make
certain they’re not loaded and TSA personnel have the power to do the same. Of
the several times I’ve lugged firearms on commercial aircraft, not once has
anyone ever inspected them. The declaration is then placed inside the gun case
with the firearms while in the possession of airline personnel.
Although, the TSA may X-ray your case and consider this
their required inspection, and then apply their sticker or seal to evidence
their inspection has been completed.
You might be surprised at this, but the typical protocol
that one would assume to be universal throughout the country, changes from one
location to another.
In no way am I suggesting you shouldn’t be compliant because
the burden of any compliance failures will ultimately rest with you. The
punishment for failure can be some jail time and a $10,000 fine. Since the
process is so easy, I’m certain members of the far-left would be stunned at how
everyone involved is so at ease with it.
In the past friends have suggested that I print a copy of
both the TSA’s and the specific airline’s rules, then have them handy should
there be any questions about what is and what’s not permitted. Sounded like
simple insurance to me.
Well, what about the
other stuff?
I’ve had more than one friend tell me they’d brought a
locked Gun Ho box to the counter, had it checked, traveled in the belly of
their plane—and it somehow survived. This isn’t something I’d do. You might
consider two different paths here, such as sending some items ahead using FedEx
or UPS, or by using the minimalist approach. I’ve done both.
Being a minimalist has its advantages. One would take only
two or three guns, a pair of binoculars, safety equipment, ammo and a pen, and
then you’ll be ready to head off to the firing line. You’ll save on carrier
fees and possibly avoid an airline extra bag charge. These items can then be
placed (in the presence of airline counter personnel) inside your normal
checked luggage.
For me, I’ve come to the conclusion some of you may only
want to disrupt just so much of your typical shooting routine. If you feel that
way, you should consider sending some other items in advance like ammo and a
gunbox.
Depending on the amount of ammo you may need, the volume
will be directly related to the number and type of events you intend to shoot.
As a rule of thumb, your ammo will probably weigh from 16 lbs. to 27 lbs. And
at that rate, will more than likely exceed most airline weight limits for ammunition.
A quick stop at a local Staples at their UPS counter with a small box, your
shipping fees should cost in the neighborhood of $28 to $40; a far less amount
than the typical $50 extra bag fee many airlines change today. And then you can
decide if the cost would warrant sending other items by the same means.
Although, there are some horror stories about certain
airport locations, JFK and LaGuardia are notorious for having overzealous prosecutors and airline clerks. There have been countless situations where a
law abiding citizen from another state sought to travel to New York with a
lawfully owned and possessed gun. In many situations, the individual contacted the
airline for advice, followed all the rules regarding how to pack the gun and
who to notify. However, when attempting to enter or leave New York by ground
transportation that person is arrested—charged with a firearms violation—and
taken for arraignment to the Queens County Criminal Court.
The airports I’d try to avoid for either embarkations or
debarkations (although using them for connecting flights never appears to be a
problem) are: Philadelphia, Newark, LAX, Lindbergh, Regan National, Midway and
O’Hara. In an ideal world you’d take a direct flight to your destination.
Upon arrival at your destination, consider being the first
person nearest to the baggage chute at the carousel. The last thing you’d want
is to have someone else pick up your luggage (with guns in them) by mistake and
then try to sort out this predicament over the next several days.
If you’ve yet to acquire specific firearms insurance, do so
before buying your plane ticket. It’s not a bad idea since most homeowner’s
policies generally cover no more than $1,000 for a total loss of all firearms.
An additional policy or rider can be bound in a matter of ten days.
The NRA has an endorsed program that I use which can be
crafted to your own limits at replacement cost. And there’s an available option
for liability coverage in amounts of $100,000 and $200,000.
Flying with firearms is probably easier than you think.
Don’t let it deter you from traveling to your next big match.
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