Traveling at Sky Harbor

[thom]

I plan on taking an American Airlines flight to Kansas next weekend. I already have the TSA approved lock box for my pistol. How early should I arrive at the terminal before plane leaves to have the American check in desk inspect my lockbox? I read where American says get there 2 hours early. Is this enough time to check in and get on the plane.
Thanks for information. It has been a few years since I traveled Conus with a gun.

Thom

 

[pneuby]

Never flown American. However, 2hrs should be fine assuming flights are on-schedule and not overbooked.

 

[Azgunlover69]

I fly delta 4-6 times a year and get there 2 hrs early with plenty of time to spare. I don't fly with guns though. If it's checked in luggage I don't know why they would need to inspect anything.

 

[Manitu]

Took my son to airport at 10pm took him 2 hours to take off AA were backed for 2hours at 11 just to take off.....

 

[pneuby]

. If it's checked in luggage I don't know why they would need to inspect anything.

Dont' try it. IF it were to be found in the scan, and you didn't follow the rules about declaration....

Bad Ju-Ju would no doubt result. :naughty:

 

[thom]

I fly delta 4-6 times a year and get there 2 hrs early with plenty of time to spare. I don't fly with guns though. If it's checked in luggage I don't know why they would need to inspect anything.

I don't think it is worth losing a gun.. I read TSA X-rays all bags now.
I think this will explain easily.
I flew out of sky harbor on Sunday. Went to the American counter information woman and we bypassed the big line and went to the American counter on the right. Walked up to the woman and told her where we were headed and that I had a pistol. She asked 2 questions. Was it unloaded and was it in a lock box? Yes to both questions. Then she took my suitcase and walked me about 50 feet to the TSA security guy. He opened up the suitcase, brought the ziplock bag holding the lockbox and ammo box over to me and I opened it. He pulled out the pistol, made sure it was empty, checked the mags and made sure they were empty also.
I put the lockbox, ammo, and papers for info (American airlines and TSA traveling with a gun papers in a CLEAR ZIPLOCK BAG so everything would be kept together to find easier.
I printed the papers for backup just in case they didn't know their own rules).
The TSA agent put a sticker on the lockbox and put everything back in the zip lock bag and into the suitcase. I locked the suitcase and the American airlines agent took the suitcase away to the plane.
I picked the suitcase up at my destination at the American airlines baggage claim office, not the regular baggage claim turnstile. No problems whatsoever and it just took about 5 minutes lengthen regular standing in line.
Thom

 

[XJThrottle]

The real surprise here is that your AA flight left on time.

 

[smithers599]

Here’s the drill. Print your luggage tag at the self service kiosk. You go to the desk to check in your luggage and say “I have a firearm to declare.” There will be no alarm or dismay. They do it a hundred times a day. The agent will hand you a 3 by 5 card and a pen and say “Fill this out.” Name, address, “ I swear this gun is unloaded.” You put the card inside the gun box and the gun box inside the suitcase. Agent says “It’s unloaded, right?” “Right.” “Ok, wait over there for escort.” Baggage handler comes and takes you and the suitcase to TSA inspection place. You watch while TSA inspector opens suitcase, opens box, and frowns. Then TSA inspector closes box and suitcase and puts suitcase on conveyor belt to plane. Done. You go to boarding gate.
Not required, but to show gun is unloaded you can put in a chamber flag, or run a pipe cleaner through barrel and mag well, or if you have a Glock, separate slide and frame.
Inconvenient but not a big deal. Two hours is plenty.

 

[smithers599]

Also, remember to sign the card on the reverse side.

 

[thom]

The real surprise here is that your AA flight left on time.

The flight left at 830 am. Early morning flights not delayed as much.