CCW and Airport travel.

[savagemaxx]

I have a question for you guys. When you travel via airlines, once you get you checked bags, how or when do you set back up to carry. IE what practices do you use to re-arm yourself? If you are not going to a hotel for some time do you wait till you reach your hotel before retriveing, loading and holstering you firearm? Do you find a quite spot and re-arm once you are in you rental car? I have not yet traveled with my CCW and have a trip coming up to the SoCal area.

many thanks in advance

SM

[NiteQwill]

Rearm in the car and off airport property.

[BonoVox]

Originally Posted by NiteQwill

Rearm in the car and off airport property.

Good advice. Or depending on circumstances waiting until you arrive at hotel might be more prudent.

[savagemaxx]

Since I grab a rental car and head of to my appointments, rental car is going to work best for me. Nothing like looking at a project in downtown Englewood with out my carry.

[spc]

I have re-armed as soon as it was legal on the 2 trips I have taken by air. With great discretion of course.

spc

[savagemaxx]

ok, so i check my gun in Sacto, lady at the ticket counter panics, has no clue what to do, goes and get a supervisor, supervisor takes my stuff in back to find a TSA person to check it, flew into Burbank, grabbed a rental car discretely reloaded. Went to all my meetings, Burbank, Compton and Inglewood. Last meeting in Hunington cancelled, so will I get to John Wayne early. Disarm i discretely in near by parking lot, take rental car back, go stand in line, at SWA, get to front, declare, ticket person says "ok show me that its unloaded" I open the case, discretely, she says loudly "wow, thats a pretty gun, is that a glock?" Actaully ma am its a Springfield " Wow thats cool looking" and she picks it up, checks to see if its loaded and to makes sure the ammo is in a hard case. She then says "hmmm 45 acp, thats a bad boy there. I like it, bet that'll do some damage" I glance back and there is an entire line of people staring at me. I felt kinda violated LOL

[1buba]

Sac is indeed nuts.

[THE Gimper]

Haven't been through Sac yet. Have been through LAX and Oakland. The only thing I would do differently is that I never allow the airline agents to handle my guns. I will demonstrate to them that the gun is unloaded, but I don't trust them to know how to safely handle a firearm.

[1buba]

Originally Posted by The Gimper

Haven't been through Sac yet. Have been through LAX and Oakland. The only thing I would do differently is that I never allow the airline agents to handle my guns. I will demonstrate to them that the gun is unloaded, but I don't trust them to know how to safely handle a firearm.

interesting - i figured if they asked, you would have to.

[Spicy McHaggis]

Originally Posted by The Gimper

Haven't been through Sac yet. Have been through LAX and Oakland. The only thing I would do differently is that I never allow the airline agents to handle my guns. I will demonstrate to them that the gun is unloaded, but I don't trust them to know how to safely handle a firearm.

Exactly what I would do. Or I'd ask to see their Handgun Safety Certificate. Don't want to turn my weapon over to someone in a prohibited category.

And if I was flying through Oakland or LAX, I'd arm myself in the bathroom after collecting my bag before I even left the terminal.

[OCRancher]

Originally Posted by savagemaxx

ok, so i check my gun in Sacto, lady at the ticket counter panics, has no clue what to do, goes and get a supervisor, supervisor takes my stuff in back to find a TSA person to check it, flew into Burbank, grabbed a rental car discretely reloaded. Went to all my meetings, Burbank, Compton and Inglewood. Last meeting in Hunington cancelled, so will I get to John Wayne early. Disarm i discretely in near by parking lot, take rental car back, go stand in line, at SWA, get to front, declare, ticket person says "ok show me that its unloaded" I open the case, discretely, she says loudly "wow, thats a pretty gun, is that a glock?" Actaully ma am its a Springfield " Wow thats cool looking" and she picks it up, checks to see if its loaded and to makes sure the ammo is in a hard case. She then says "hmmm 45 acp, thats a bad boy there. I like it, bet that'll do some damage" I glance back and there is an entire line of people staring at me. I felt kinda violated LOL

Alright, now I like you! that was classic.

[OCRancher]

And if I was flying through Oakland or LAX, I'd arm myself in the bathroom after collecting my bag before I even left the terminal.

As funny as that is, we all know you would not! When's visiting days in the twin towers jail! (or the Fed holding pen!)

[Spicy McHaggis]

Originally Posted by OCRancher

As funny as that is, we all know you would not! When's visiting days in the twin towers jail! (or the Fed holding pen!)

Actually, no laws are being broken if I armed myself after picking up my bags. I'm not in the secure area and not attempting to enter it.

[BonoVox]

Originally Posted by savagemaxx

ok, so i check my gun in Sacto, lady at the ticket counter panics, has no clue what to do, goes and get a supervisor, supervisor takes my stuff in back to find a TSA person to check it, flew into Burbank, grabbed a rental car discretely reloaded. Went to all my meetings, Burbank, Compton and Inglewood. Last meeting in Hunington cancelled, so will I get to John Wayne early. Disarm i discretely in near by parking lot, take rental car back, go stand in line, at SWA, get to front, declare, ticket person says "ok show me that its unloaded" I open the case, discretely, she says loudly "wow, thats a pretty gun, is that a glock?" Actaully ma am its a Springfield " Wow thats cool looking" and she picks it up, checks to see if its loaded and to makes sure the ammo is in a hard case. She then says "hmmm 45 acp, thats a bad boy there. I like it, bet that'll do some damage" I glance back and there is an entire line of people staring at me. I felt kinda violated LOL

Classic!!!!

YEah had something similar happen in Eugene, OR. When the new counter lady coded me as a special person that could fly with a loaded gun. Well I was not and my gun was checked like it should have been.

Until 20 minutes before take off "commuter plane" I was finishing off a beer in the lounge accross from gate when me clad in a Toby Keith shirt and cargo shorts was called via loud speaker to gate. Arrived. Gate agent. "You are the special passenger right?" Me, "what?" Her, "You know wink wink special". Me, "uhhhhhhhhhh". Her louder so everyone within 10 feet can hear, "you are carrying a gun????" ME, "uh uh uh YES IN MY CARRY ON LUGGAGE!!!!" Her, "oh my, the counter person coded you as carrying it on you on the plane and the pilot wanted to meet you beforehand!!!!"

[THE Gimper]

Originally Posted by 1buba

interesting - i figured if they asked, you would have to.

There's nothing in the TSA or DOT regs that I've ever seen that states you have to allow the airline agent to handle your firearm. I suppose an individual airlne might have a policy stating that, but again, I've never seen one. I've flown Southwest, American, United, Delta, Jet Blue, and AirTrans. Most of them say very little on their websites. Here is an example from American Airlines:

General Information
Firearms and ammunition are accepted as checked baggage only.
Firearms will only be accepted if unloaded and in a locked, hard-sided container only (for example - rifle case).
Ammunition must be packed in its original packaging. Loose ammunition or clips will not be accepted.
Firearms may not be checked curbside.
No one under 18 years of age may check a firearm.
Pellet and BB guns are not considered firearms, and therefore, do not require any special handling or documentation

Allowance
Maximum per case is 3 rifles/shotguns or 5 pistols/revolvers, 5 lbs. ammunition, shooting mat, noise suppressors, and tools. There is no limit on the amount of cases allowed.
Ammunition is limited to 11 lbs. per passenger. Excess baggage charges may apply to each gun case if it is in excess of the free baggage allowance and/or oversize/overweight.

Southwest's is a little more specific, but again, nothing about allowing them to handle or personally inspect your firearm.

Guns
Customers are responsible for knowing and following the firearms laws of the state(s) that they will be traveling to, from, and through.
Our Customers must declare the gun to the Customer Service Agent at the ticket counter (no firearms will be accepted curbside) and prove that the firearm(s) chambers are free of ammunition and the magazine clip has been removed (when applicable).
Paintball guns and BB guns are considered the same as all other firearms.
Paintball guns are allowed in checked baggage and are not subject to the container requirements of firearms. Customers must declare the paintball gun to the Customer Service Agent at the ticket counter. Compressed gas cylinders are allowed in checked baggage or as a carryon only if the regulator valve is completely disconnected from the cylinder and the cylinder is no longer sealed (i.e. the cylinder has an open end). TSA Security Screeners must visibly ensure that the cylinder is completely empty and that there are no prohibited items inside.
Firearms must be encased in a hard-sided, LOCKED container that is of sufficient strength to withstand normal handling, as follows:
A firearm in a hard-sided, locked container may be placed inside a soft-sided, unlocked suitcase.
A firearm placed inside a hard-sided, locked suitcase does not have to be encased in a container manufactured for the transportation of firearms.
Only the Customer checking the luggage should retain the key or combination to the lock. No exceptions will be made.
Firearms may be checked and will count as one free piece of checked baggage for each fare-paying passenger. We allow multiple firearms to be transported inside one hard-sided case.
Southwest Airlines assumes no liability for the misalignment of sights on firearms, including those equipped with telescopic sights.
Firearms are never allowed in carryon luggage.

Note that it states the customer must prove that the gun is unloaded, but it does not say that they will personally inspect them, or that you must allow them to do so.

If the ticket counter employee attempts to handle my firearm, I polite refuse to allow it, and tell them that I will show them that the gun is unloaded. If they insist on wanting to personally inspect my firearm, I again refuse permission, and request that they call a supervisor.

Most of the time the agents are quite happy to follow my lead because I've done this before and it quickly becomes apparent that I know what I'm talking about. By the way, when I transport my firearms I do so with the magazine out, and the slide locked back, so it is very easy to prove that the gun is unloaded.