Southwest Airlines ???

[Copperhead]

Traveled to Texas, declared a firearm. First time doing this with Southwest, have declared with other airlines. They made me go with the suitcase to a special area where I had to coach a guy on how to open the case, first time I have ever heard of an airlines doing this. He didn't touch the pistol, just looked at it a sec and closed the case. The luggage came out on the normal carousel in Austin.

On my return trip I declared two firearms and all they did was just tag the cases, then sent my luggage on its way which is what I expected in Phoenix.

But when I got to Sky Harbor my bags came out the on the carousel but the one piece of luggage with the firearms did not!! I was the last one there and no other bags on the carousel when a Southwest employee walked up with the suitcase in one of those tray tote things and set it on the carousel!
I was about to go to the luggage office area. I'm kinda pissed they freaked me out like that, thinking my luggage was missing. Of course I opened up the suitcase and the pistol case and loaded up and strapped it on right there. No one said a thing to me.

 

[QuietM4]

I travel a lot for work....multiple times per month. I've been to ever major airport in the country at least once, and dozens of the smaller regional airports (think Sky Harbor vs Williams Gateway).

Every airport is different. TSA is always differnet. Every rule is different. Light jacket is fine going through a metal detector in nearly every airport (TSA Pre), but don't try it in Reno. I carry a Lvl IIIA armor panel in one of my backpacks, and no other airport in the country has even mentioned it, but I was detained in Salt Lake City for nearly 3 hours. Fun fact; the TSA website specifically states body armor is allowed for any carry on and checked luggage. But good luck telling that to any TSA agent.

Red tagged bags get special handling. I'm surprised they allowed it to be placed on the carousel...you usually secure it in the luggage office.

 

[smithers599]

Every time I have checked a gun, I have had to go to the "special" area, where they look at the gun with furrowed brow (but never touch it). Then they swab the case with explosives detecting chemicals, because everybody knows that terrorists declare guns in checked luggage, and put explosives in the case with the gun.

 

[Copperhead]

I was paranoid flying American into Chicago but again the suitcase just came on the regular carousel and I did not get arrested when I picked it up lol.

 

[Copperhead]

Every time I have checked a gun, I have had to go to the "special" area, where they look at the gun with furrowed brow (but never touch it). Then they swab the case with explosives detecting chemicals, because everybody knows that terrorists declare guns in checked luggage, and put explosives in the case with the gun.

Is that just Southwest? I never had this happen before on American, Delta or United.

 

[AZ_Five56]

I think the guns are always supposed to come out at the baggage claim area. Maybe some airports/airlines are more relaxed about it, but you should have to show your ID and baggage claim ticket.

I travel with video equipment in big pelican cases, and they always send the biggest ones to the "special" area assuming that they're guns.

 

[rockbronco]

I have had mixed results at sky harbor, been bagged and tagged before and other times you get the special area and an annoyed tsa dude pretending to know what he is looking for.

 

[smithers599]

Every time I have checked a gun, I have had to go to the "special" area, where they look at the gun with furrowed brow (but never touch it). Then they swab the case with explosives detecting chemicals, because everybody knows that terrorists declare guns in checked luggage, and put explosives in the case with the gun.

Is that just Southwest? I never had this happen before on American, Delta or United.

Every time, every airline, every airport.

 

[kptaylor]

Each airline handles guns differently. Most hold them in the baggage office and you come to get them after you deplane at your destination. Some of the smaller airlines/airports let them run out on the carousels. Depends on staffing and local rules. When you check them in they more than likely do get TSA screening as declared firearms and they will do an explosives check. (Seems dumb since many bags will alarm due to gun powder residue.) Shouldn't surprise anyone there are non-enthusiasts working for the airlines, airport and TSA. Just like everywhere else. All they're looking for is locked, not loaded, etc.

 

[hairygreek]

My associate who flies a lot with handguns said he always has to go declare the gun. Then they make sure his gun case is locked and cannot be pried open or any part of gun touched. If that is ok then it gets put in checked baggage.

I recently put Russian ammo in paper packets in my checked baggage. TSA took it since it was not packed in factory cardboard packaging, according to their "regulations". No I didnt tell them, they mustve seen it in x rays. They let me have it back but I just told a buddy to go keep it since I was going across the country.

 

[fredcdobbs]

I have carried and declared several long guns from Phoenix to Columbus Ohio over the last few years with Southwest, always declared at luggage, get the tags and fill them out have a guy take the case off to the side, open it up swab for powder residue ??, well yes it has been fired and may still have residue, OK back in the case, put the locks on verify the tags are on and off to some staging area. Arrival the case is in the Southwestern customer service hut in the baggage claim area, show my tag and ID and off I am.

 

[Stronghand]

Everything time I fly from PHX to FLL its a different time story. From checking in wenches freaking out and calling the cops over once I mention my luggage contains an unloaded secured firearm per FAA regulations to cops having to escort us to the gate to search out bags in their entirety. Usually leaving from PHX with southwest isn't too bad but christ leaving FLL sucks so bad. Arriving home my stuff usually ends up on the carousel just fine. I ended up just buying my family one of my guns and set ups to just leave down there for me so I didn't have to deal deal it anymore unless I'm bringing out guns for shows or classes.

 

[oldslurrydog1]

I don't fly too often, but when I do it's with SW and it's been no big deal

I put the firearm (sidearm) and empty mags in a locked case. Rounds in a manufacture box in the suit case along with the fiearm case. Let them know I have a firearm, fill out the card, they tape it to the the firearm case, call someone to inspect it and off I go. It all comes out on the carousel at the end of the flight. Ezee pezee.

 

[jcbrown]

I have have had to go to a special area, to take out the firearm for inspection, or they just tag it. Just depends on the airport and TSA, but never an issue. The firearm case is usually one of the last bags to enter the carousel area, and is usually hand carried.

With one exception.

While leaving St Louis, the American employee asked to inspect the firearm at the desk. I suggested we do it in a closed area. He said, no, do it right here. So, I opened the case and took out my FAL, right in the terminal with people everywhere. There were gasps of horror. Many people with the "vapors". They put it back in the case and tagged it.

 

[dalleya8479]

I can say that every airport handles it differently. Some will have you get them from baggage services while others go right out on the carousel. Even saying that the same airport will do it differently depending on the fly.

 

[Joelafives]

The ironic thing is that creating TSA was supposed to STANDARDIZE the process of baggage security. I've flown into a LOT of airports in the past 20 years and the process is far from standardized.

 

[Copperhead]

Also 1st time flying with TSA Precheck, worth every penny.

 

[QuietM4]

The ironic thing is that creating TSA was supposed to STANDARDIZE the process of baggage security. I've flown into a LOT of airports in the past 20 years and the process is far from standardized.

No airport/TSA PRE I've been to has done everything the same...not even close. Often it depends on the size of the airport...sometimes Reno hasn't had the separate TSA Pre line open, and I've had to use the line for the peasants...but they always make sure to hand me a special card that designates me as TSA Pre. Seattle only has one TSA Pre checkpoint, no matter what side of the airport your terminal is on...so I end up walking more.

The discrepancies are enough to drive you mad. I don't understand why they all can't match...oh wait, the .gov is in charge of it. I've been to 100+ McDonald's worldwide locations, and every single one is works exactly the same.

 

[QuietM4]

Also 1st time flying with TSA Precheck, worth every penny.

It's worth it's weight in small rifle primers (I used to say "worth it's weight in gold", but we all know primers are worth more now).

The warm feeling of superiority that washes over me as I breeze past an hour long line of peasants waiting for the two TSA employees on duty to process them is probably the among the greatest feelings ever.