{"id":10580,"date":"2016-01-11T10:46:38","date_gmt":"2016-01-11T16:46:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hcstx.org\/?p=10580"},"modified":"2016-01-11T10:46:38","modified_gmt":"2016-01-11T16:46:38","slug":"travelling-with-firearms-a-three-state-trip-by-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/2016\/01\/11\/travelling-with-firearms-a-three-state-trip-by-air\/","title":{"rendered":"Travelling with Firearms \u2013 a Three State Trip by Air"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><strong>As a frequent HCS contributor, Mr E., made a trip recently to a few states and wanted to share some\u00a0<span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">observations about the TSA, airline ticket counters and the processes he encountered in various\u00a0<\/span>airports while travelling with a weapon. Pay attention all you travelling businessman with CCL&#8217;s, this will come in handy! -SF<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-10576\" src=\"https:\/\/hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/01\/firearm_air_travel_declaration_f1.jpg?w=620\" alt=\"firearm_air_travel_declaration_F1\" width=\"620\" height=\"412\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><em><strong>By Mr. E<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">First, some background. \u00a0I started travelling by air with a sidearm in my checked luggage around 2008.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">There was a long gap for me until recently. My previous work took me mostly by car to border states, so\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">I carried what I wanted \u201cas usual\u201d in CHL\/CCW mode on-my-person. \u00a0I\u2019m in the business world so\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">anything I take with me is for personal protection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">I started my trip at IAH-Bush Intercontinental. \u00a0Before the trip, I verified the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight:400;\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">My metal lockbox system, cable and key are working properly. \u00a0Keep the KEY with you if you don\u2019t use a combo lock!<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight:400;\">My sidearm is empty, the two mags are empty (checked twice)<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight:400;\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">All ammo is in a factory, original box. \u00a025 rds typically of JHP<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight:400;\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Read the specific airline policy for \u201cspecial items.\u201d Check their website, and call if you are not sure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight:400;\"><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">I keep a hardcopy of the TSA rules in my carry-on bag or backpack, in case I run into a \u201crookie\u201d in the process. \u00a0ie,<strong>\u00a0Know the Regulations!<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">I have been using soft-side baggage for years, and while a hard-sided bag with built-in locks is best for\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">tamper-resistance, there is a work-around. \u00a0Also, high-end Pelican or computer hard-cases tend to draw\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">more eyes on the baggage carousel so I go with luggage that blends in. \u00a0Think \u201cgrey man\u201d but for\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">luggage. \u00a0If you travel with $2500 worth of hardware, or are a hunter, use the good stuff! \u00a0My CHL\/CCW\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">carry gear is typically a $550 Glock, holster, ammo and 2 mags (let\u2019s call it $800 worth).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Once my personal effects are packed at home, I check once more the day of my flight that the gun and\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">mags are empty. \u00a0Then I loop the steel cable around the internal frame of the bag and lock the other end\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">into the lock box\u2026then close up my bag. \u00a0I head to the airport parking and get a shuttle ride over to the\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">main terminals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10582\" src=\"https:\/\/hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/01\/mark1.jpg\" alt=\"mark1\" width=\"404\" height=\"404\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">This is where you need to pay attention and plan for a smooth interaction with your airline ticket agent.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">You will HAVE TO see a ticket agent. \u00a0You CANNOT use the kiosks for \u201ccheck-in and print a bag tag\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">process. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">I greet the ticket agent with my ID and say \u201cHi\u2026I\u2019ll need an orange tag, please, to declare a firearm.\u201d <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Nothing more, nothing less. \u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">At IAH in Houston, they go find the orange tag (not always stocked at every agent\u2019s station) and fill it\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">out, and sign or initial (theirs). \u00a0Then they ask you to sign it, and place it ON TOP of the case containing\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">the firearm (i.e. touching it, but NOT in it). \u00a0You have to do this at the ticket counter, so make sure you are ready for this step. \u00a0Don\u2019t open the gun case unless asked. Just put the orange tag on top. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Once they hand you your boarding pass, they sent me 20 yards to the oversize\/special items line for bag\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">screening. \u00a0I carried it over. \u00a0Nobody asked if my firearm was unloaded. \u00a0There was nothing on the\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">outside of my bag to indicate it was \u201cspecial.\u201d The baggage agent asked me to wait until the bag went\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">through the scanner, then said I could head to the security line. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-10583\" src=\"https:\/\/hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/01\/mark2.jpg?w=620\" alt=\"mark2\" width=\"620\" height=\"465\" \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">At ATL in Atlanta, same process at the beginning, at Delta\u2019s ticket counters. \u00a0I walk my bag to the\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">\u201cspecial items\u201d screening room (about 2 min away) and before I could say hi, they say, \u201cyou\u2019re checking\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">a bag with a firearm, right?\u201d \u00a0I say \u201cyes\u201d and wait 2 minutes while they scan it. \u00a0They did unzip my bag to\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">make sure the orange tag was present, but did not ask me to open the gun lockbox. Nothing was added\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">to outside of the bag. \u00a0They did not ask me to verbally confirm the gun was empty. Then 2 minutes later\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">I\u2019m off to the security line.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">At STL in St. Louis, same process at the United ticket counter, resulting in the orange tag, that I had to\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">place on top of the lockbox. \u00a0Except this time they asked \u201cI have to ask you to confirm that the firearm is\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">unloaded and the ammo is in proper container.\u201d \u00a0I said \u201cyes.\u201d but I was asked to wait while the bag went\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">down the normal conveyor belt instead of me carrying my bag to a screening location, to make sure the\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">bag screening did not result in \u201cneeding the passenger to open the gun case (lockbox) with the key\u201d. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">After 15 minutes, I asked if I could proceed, but a 2<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">nd<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> ticket agent said I had to wait another 15 minutes. I<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">f I had not checked in early, this could have been a real stress factor in making the flight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">One final consideration is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">when to gear-up\/load-up<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"> once you\u2019re on the ground outside the airport. \u00a0I had\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">rental cars every time on this trip. \u00a0I chose to leave the airport, and load up the chamber and magazines\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">away from foot traffic, security cameras, etc. When you return a rental car you may want to do the\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">same \u00a0My advice, is avoid doing this at the nearest gas station, again, too many eyes and cameras. The\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">trade-off is that your firearm becomes \u201cunavailable\u201d precisely where you might need it; \u00a0at night, near\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">an airport, which often has as much crime as where your meetings take you. \u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-10584\" src=\"https:\/\/hcsblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/01\/mark3.jpg?w=620\" alt=\"mark3\" width=\"620\" height=\"465\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">If you\u2019re new to the process, prepare and take your time. \u00a0It might feel a little like the first time you\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height:1.5;\">concealed carry into a Wal-Mart.\u00a0 The adage of \u201cslow is smooth, and smooth is fast\u201d applies to more than\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">just the draw stroke! \u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\">Travel Safe and Stay Dangerous.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a frequent HCS contributor, Mr E., made a trip recently to a few states and wanted to share some\u00a0observations about the TSA, airline ticket counters and the processes he encountered in various\u00a0airports while travelling with a weapon. Pay attention all you travelling businessman with CCL&#8217;s, this will come in handy! -SF &nbsp; By Mr&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[389,1444,2045,1405,1469,1635,398],"tags":[3734,3735,3736,3737],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10580"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10580"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10580\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}