SF airport and firearms

[xd675]

With all the shenanigans pulled in that God forsaken city, I am a little concerned over checking firearms on the return trip. I will be bringing two XDs one was purchased in CA the other here in PA. I will be staying 11 days, so an I correct that I do not need to register the other handgun?

Any extra hurdles in flying out of SF International with firearms? I have less than 11 pounds of ammo in factory boxes. All mags will be 10 round mags, unless you guys know a legal way for me to bring them. Ammo mags and pistols will be locked with a non TSA approved lock, my name and cell number will be attached to the case. Case will be placed in my checked luggage. Any other hoops I need to jump through at SF?

Looking forward to the trip!

[BonoVox]

Originally Posted by xd675

With all the shenanigans pulled in that God forsaken city, I am a little concerned over checking firearms on the return trip. I will be bringing two XDs one was purchased in CA the other here in PA. I will be staying 11 days, so an I correct that I do not need to register the other handgun?

Any extra hurdles in flying out of SF International with firearms? I have less than 11 pounds of ammo in factory boxes. All mags will be 10 round mags, unless you guys know a legal way for me to bring them. Ammo mags and pistols will be locked with a non TSA approved lock, my name and cell number will be attached to the case. Case will be placed in my checked luggage. Any other hoops I need to jump through at SF?

Looking forward to the trip!

I will give you a first hand experience tomorrow afternoon. I am flying out of SFO tomorrow morning with my CDP.

[spc]

Originally Posted by xd675

With all the shenanigans pulled in that God forsaken city, I am a little concerned over checking firearms on the return trip. I will be bringing two XDs one was purchased in CA the other here in PA. I will be staying 11 days, so an I correct that I do not need to register the other handgun?

Any extra hurdles in flying out of SF International with firearms? I have less than 11 pounds of ammo in factory boxes. All mags will be 10 round mags, unless you guys know a legal way for me to bring them. Ammo mags and pistols will be locked with a non TSA approved lock, my name and cell number will be attached to the case. Case will be placed in my checked luggage. Any other hoops I need to jump through at SF?

Looking forward to the trip!

If you owned any full capacity magazines (over ten rounders) in California and they were legal before they left the state I do believe they can return to the state.

You would be highly advised to have proof of purchase and ownership in California to verify their legality to return.

I have taken my AR-15 with 30 round mags and my 5906 S&W 9mm with 15 round mags to Nevada and returned with them. The 5906 has been there several times for obtaining my CCW permit and renewals.

spc

[x-ricer]

i flew out of SFO about 3 months ago on United.

I printed out the airline rules in regards to checking in your firearm from thier website just in case.

I declared at the counter, and was taken downstairs to TSA to have the gun inspected by them.

Then i had to follow my bag back up to the counter and watch them check it in.

Talk about making a scene! Much different from Orange County airport.

It can be done, but there are a couple of extra stepts that have to be taken.

YMMV

[AMS MIKE]

I am sure when BV returns he will post his story "while flying to and from SF with his CDP"

I know he used a C-O-M locked box. I am curious to how it went as well.

[Spicy McHaggis]

Originally Posted by AMS MIKE

I am sure when BV returns he will post his story "while flying to and from SF with his CDP"

I know he used a C-O-M locked box. I am curious to how it went as well.

I just hope the ticket person enters it in to the computer correctly.

[BonoVox]

Ok I made it!

Having clam chowder inside the security zone.

Here is how it went. United. Declared unloaded firearm to counter person. Guy said "oh have not done one of these for a while". He handed me bright orange slip. Then had a baggage person walk me and bag downstairs to baggage claim office. Where you would go for lost baggage.

They had a TSA guy down there sitting at little desk. The guy was so cool. He was happy to have some business. LOL First thing. "let me guess you have a Sig" Me "nope" Him "ok Kimber 45" Me cracking up "yes" he opens bag and sees my Center of Mass lock box. him "oh you have the compact version" me "yep Ultra" he opens COM, him "oh NICE if I carried that is the exact gun I would carry" then digs through bag comes across Surefire, him "oh back out the cap in that so the batteries are not touching, don't want that to turn on later my good friend fried his bag doing that one time" I was laughing.

Guy was very very cool. Took an extra 7 to 8 minutes to go through it. Counter guy who was well...ok I was in San Fran you know what I mean....he did not even freak.

Experience A+

BTW if you go through LAX on United go to counter 39 "oversize baggage" there TSA took my keys and bag behind the counter to secret area. after about 5 minutes he returned with my keys said I was good to go.

I carried handgun in COM lock box. Had 50 rounds of ammo in a factory box. COM has it's own lock. I also suypplied TSA approved lock for outside of main bag. TSA guy in San Fran asked if I had lock and when he saw I did he said lock it up after he finished his inspection. At LAX I handed them lock and they locked it for me behind the scenes.

[BonoVox]

Originally Posted by Spicy McHaggis

I just hope the ticket person enters it in to the computer correctly.

Yeppers. No cavity check this time!

[xd675]

Nice real time experience. Congrats on the trip, and thanks for taking the time to give me a heads up!

Hope you have a safe trip back!

xd

[Bombard]

I'm shocked there's someone in SF that knows what a compact Kimber is.

[RAD-G27]

I think that if I were flying I would take my old Colt 1991A1 Compact, not my Ultra CDP II, just in case it does not make it there.

[BonoVox]

Originally Posted by RAD-G27

I think that if I were flying I would take my old Colt 1991A1 Compact, not my Ultra CDP II, just in case it does not make it there.

Had to go with what is listed on CCW. All three are close to the same value.

If I was going out of state I would have chosen something different.

[jcn0903]

what about other airlines in CA. I frequently fly Horizon (Alaska commuter) from Arcata/Eureka to LAX. Never had a problem in either place. Though in LA I once had a counter person tell me I couldn't take ammo on the flight. I had printed out policy. They backed down. No special inspection, nothing unusual. Other than she wrapped the bejezzus out of my ammo into a sticky mess of packing tape.

[Mike6br]

FYI, the San Francisco air port AKA (SFO) is not even in San Francisco city or county, and is under the law enforcement control of the San Mateo county sheriffs office, and has its own sub station there.
In the late 60s I was a Deputy with the San Mateo County SD. And worked there. And they haven't moved it.

[EM2]

Originally Posted by BonoVox

Ok I made it!

Having clam chowder inside the security zone.

Here is how it went. United. Declared unloaded firearm to counter person. Guy said "oh have not done one of these for a while". He handed me bright orange slip. Then had a baggage person walk me and bag downstairs to baggage claim office. Where you would go for lost baggage.

They had a TSA guy down there sitting at little desk. The guy was so cool. He was happy to have some business. LOL First thing. "let me guess you have a Sig" Me "nope" Him "ok Kimber 45" Me cracking up "yes" he opens bag and sees my Center of Mass lock box. him "oh you have the compact version" me "yep Ultra" he opens COM, him "oh NICE if I carried that is the exact gun I would carry" then digs through bag comes across Surefire, him "oh back out the cap in that so the batteries are not touching, don't want that to turn on later my good friend fried his bag doing that one time" I was laughing.

Guy was very very cool. Took an extra 7 to 8 minutes to go through it. Counter guy who was well...ok I was in San Fran you know what I mean....he did not even freak.

Experience A+

BTW if you go through LAX on United go to counter 39 "oversize baggage" there TSA took my keys and bag behind the counter to secret area. after about 5 minutes he returned with my keys said I was good to go.

I carried handgun in COM lock box. Had 50 rounds of ammo in a factory box. COM has it's own lock. I also suypplied TSA approved lock for outside of main bag. TSA guy in San Fran asked if I had lock and when he saw I did he said lock it up after he finished his inspection. At LAX I handed them lock and they locked it for me behind the scenes.

Very good information, Thanks.

A couple of questions.
I will be flying out to Michigan to get my daughter set up in college in August. I will fly out of SFO by Southwest airlines.
From what I have read on the TSA web site, all I need do is lock the firearm in a hard sided lockable case and can place the case in my checked in luggage. I did not see in the rules where I need a TSA approved lock for my luggage. Any thoughts?
I also found it interesting that you can store the ammo in the same case as the firearm.
Sounds like LAX TSA also violated TSA rules as highlighted.

TSA rules: TSA: Traveling with Special Items

"The key regulatory requirements to transporting firearms, firearm parts or ammunition in checked baggage are:

You must declare all firearms to the airline during the ticket counter check-in process.
The firearm must be unloaded.
The firearm must be in a hard-sided container.
The container must be locked.
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 present during screening to take the key back after the container is cleared. 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.
You must securely pack any ammunition in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging that is specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
You can't use firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition unless they completely and securely enclose the ammunition (e.g., by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder, holster or lanyard).
You may carry the ammunition in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as you pack it as described above.
You can't bring black powder or percussion caps used with black-powder type firearms in either your carry-on or checked baggage."