ARTICLE ARCHIVES

Airline Carrier Transportation of Firearms

INTRODUCTION

The following is a guide to legal transportation of personally owned firearms for hunting, competitive shooting, vacationing, and changing residence between states. This guide does not cover the lawful carriage of concealed firearms.

Federal law does not restrict individuals (except convicted felons, persons under indictment for felonies, mental defectives or incompetents, illegal users of controlled drugs, illegal aliens, veterans dishonorably discharged, those who have renounced their U.S. citizenship, fugitives from justice, persons convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, and persons subject to domestic violence restraining orders) from transporting firearms across state lines. Thus, there is no federal interstate transportation permit for firearms.

Many states have laws governing the transportation of firearms. Also, many cities and localities have ordinances restricting their transportation. Travelers must be aware of these laws and comply with the legal requirements in each jurisdiction. There is no uniform state transportation procedure for firearms.

Firearms and Ammunition

Firearms - There are specific regulatory requirements to transport a firearm:

The firearm must be checked with the air carrier as luggage. Firearms are prohibited from carry-on baggage.
The firearm must be declared orally or in writing in accordance with the air carriers procedures (contact your air carrier for their specific procedures).
The firearm must be unloaded.
The firearm must be carried in a hard-sided container.
The container must be locked and only the passenger may retain the key or combination.
All checked baggage is subject to inspection. If during the inspection process it is necessary to open the container, air carriers are required to locate the passenger and the passenger must unlock the container for further inspection. The firearm may not be transported if the passenger can not be located to unlock the container. If you are traveling with a firearm, pay close attention to airport pages and announcements. If requested, provide the cooperation necessary to inspect your firearm.

Ammunition - Ammunition is likewise prohibited from carry-on luggage. Ammunition may not be carried loose. It must travel in the manufacturer's packaging or other packaging suitable for transport. Consult your air carrier to determine quantity limitations or whether the ammunition must be packed separately from the firearm.

Airlines Firearm Rules

The following is a list of some of the major airline rules for transporting firearms as checked baggage. We recommend that you confirm the airline’s rules prior to traveling as these rules may change at any time without notice. It is also recommended that you print a copy of their particular rules from their website to have on hand when checking and reporting firearms as their own employees at ticket counters may not be fully aware of their own rules. If their rules are not available on their website you should request them in writing from the airline directly.

America West Airlines

http://www.americawest.com/services/travelpolicies/sv_specialitems.htm#gun

Firearms

America West will allow passengers to transport firearms in accordance with Federal Law. The following conditions must be met:

• Items of shooting equipment will be accepted as checked baggage only.
  
• A passenger who presents baggage containing a firearm must declare and demonstrate that the weapon is unloaded.
  
• All firearms must be in a hard-sided container for transport and the container locked.
  
• A Firearm Unloaded Declaration form must be signed and placed inside the bag or gun case.
  
• Ammunition must be packed in the original manufacturing package or metal/wood box, with a maximum of 11 pounds per passenger.
  
• Ammunition and firearms must be placed in separate bags.
  
• The number of firearms is limited to
  
  • Not more than two rifles, with or without scopes, one shooting mat, noise suppressors, and small rifle tools or
    
  • Two shotguns and two shotgun cases or
    
  • One pistol case containing not more than five pistols; noise suppressors, one pistol telescope, and small pistol tools or
    
  • One bow and quiver of arrows and maintenance kit enclosed in a container of sufficient strength to protect the bow and quiver with arrows from damage.
    

American Airlines

http://www.aa.com/content/travelInformation/baggage/restrictedArticles.jhtml

Firearms and Ammunition may not be carried by a passenger on an aircraft. However, unloaded firearms may be transported in checked baggage if declared to the agent at check in and packed in a crush-proof container manufactured specifically for the firearm or a hard-sided suitcase. Firearms must be in a locked container. Properly packaged small arms ammunition for personal use may be transported in checked luggage. Amounts may vary depending on the airline.

ATA (American Trans Air)

http://www.ata.com/traveler_resources/before_you_fly/firearms_hazard.html

FIREARMS
Federal regulations permit the transportation of firearms as checked baggage only. Firearms must be unloaded, in an approved case, and declared in writing at the time of check-in. Contact ATA for regulations regarding transportation of firearms.

Continental Airlines

http://www.continental.com/travel/policies/baggage/sports.asp

Firearms
Continental accepts one item of shooting equipment per customer in lieu of one piece of free baggage. All items must be properly encased in a suitable container. One item of shooting equipment, whether presented in a single container or not, is defined as one of the following:

• Rifles - 1 rifle case containing not more than 2 rifles (with or without scopes), 11 pounds of ammunition, 1 shooting mat, noise suppressor and small rifle tools.
• Shotguns - 1 shotgun case containing not more than 2 shotguns and 11 pounds of ammunition.
• Pistols - 1 pistol case containing not more than 5 pistols, 1 pistol telescope, noise suppresser and small pistol tools.

The following are firearm restrictions:

• Firearms are not accepted to/from Israel.
• For travel to/from the United Kingdom pistols must be packed in a hard side rifle case.
• Firearms will be accepted only from a customer who is 18 years of age or older.
• Curbside check-in of a firearm is not permitted.
• Customer must demonstrate in an isolated area that the firearm is unloaded.
• The firearm must be packaged in a hard-sided container capable of being locked. The container must be locked and the key or combination must remain in the customer's possession. If a hard-sided container is needed, see the container section of this site.
• For travel to/from the United Kingdom, pistols, rifles and shotguns must be packed in a hard side rifle case.
• The firearm will be transported in a section of the aircraft that is inaccessible to the customer. Proof of registration is not required.
• Firearms carried in addition to the free baggage allowance will be assessed at the current excess baggage charge.
• No more than 11 pounds of ammunition may be carried. The ammunition may be packed in the same container as the firearm or in a separate container. Ammunition must be packed in the manufacturer's original package or securely packed in fiber, wood or metal containers. The ammunition inside the container must be protected against shock and secured against movement. The ammunition may be packed in the same container as the firearm or in a separate container.
• For domestic travel, no more than 11 pounds of ammunition may be carried. The ammunition may be packed in the same container as the firearm or in a separate container.
• Continental is not liable for damage to firearms that are not contained in hard-sided cases.

Excess Valuation may not be purchased for firearms that are not contained in hard-sided cases.

NOTE: Continental employees will not physically handle any firearm during the inspection. After inspection has been completed, the customer must sign a Firearm Declaration Tag.

Delta Airlines

http://www.delta.com/travel/plan/baggage_info/special_baggage/sporting_goods/index.jsp

Dangerous Goods
The items below are considered hazardous and, by federal law, are prohibited from all Delta flights. If you have questions or concerns about a specific item, please contact Delta Air Cargo at 800-DL-CARGO (800-352-2746).

Weapons

• Ammunition (accepted if boxed small-arms ammunition, less than 11 pounds, and in checked luggage).
• Firearms (accepted if unloaded, declared to agent at check-in, and in a suitable container in checked luggage).

Northwest Airlines

http://www.nwa.com/services/shipping/cargo/luggage/faq.shtml#knives

Guns, Firearms
NWA accepts handguns/BB guns/rifle/shotgun type firearms only as checked luggage, with certain limitations and requirements. KLM accepts sports guns only, handguns are not accepted. Passenger must obtain and comply with regulations governing the transportation of firearms for all countries on the itinerary. All firearms must be in a suitable container/crush proof container manufactured specifically for firearms or in a hard-sided suitcase. Passenger must verbally declare firearm is unloaded. NW requires firearm unloaded tag be signed by passenger. Tag must be placed inside of luggage containing firearm. No exterior tag nor notice of firearm may appear on case. Case must be locked and only the passenger may retain the key or combination. NW/KLM personnel will not unload or handle firearms. Gun and ammunition may be in the same piece of luggage. However, ammunition must be within its own packaging which should be in factory carton or rigid shock proof shipping container. Note: gun powder is not permitted as checked luggage including propellant charges for muzzle loading firearms such as pyrodex, etc. Maximum ammunition per passenger: 11 pounds or 5 kilograms.

International shipment of arms/ammunition:
Passengers must obtain and comply with regulations governing the transportation of firearms for all countries on the itinerary. Passengers should check with Northwest or KLM for current policies, requirements and restrictions on firearms and related items in checked luggage when traveling in the U.S. or internationally.

Southwest Airlines

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/guns.html

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). Paint guns and BB guns are considered the same as all other firearms.
  
  
• Firearms must be encased in a hard-sided, LOCKED container that is of sufficient strength to withstand normal handling, as follows:
  1. A firearm in a hard-sided, locked container may be placed inside a soft-sided, unlocked suitcase.
  2. A firearm placed inside a hard-sided, locked suitcase does not have to be encased in a container manufactured for the transportation of firearms.
  3. Only the Customer checking the luggage should retain the key or combination to the lock. No exceptions will be made.
     
     
• The Customer is entitled to check sporting firearms in addition to his or her normal free baggage allowance. 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.

Ammunition

• Small arms ammunition for personal use (provided it is properly packed) is permissible in checked baggage only.
• The ammunition may be placed in the same container as the firearm and must be securely packed in cardboard (fiber), wood, or metal boxes, or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
• When checking ammunition, Customers are limited to 11 pounds gross weight (ammunition plus container) per person.
• Magazines or clips containing ammunition must be securely packaged (placed in another small box or in a secure cutout in the carrying case, in order to protect the primer of the ammunition).
• Make sure guns are unloaded and definitely never transport a gun in your carryon baggage!
• Gunpowder (black powder) and primers or percussion caps are not allowed in checked or carryon baggage.
• Loose ammunition or loose loaded magazines and/or clips are not allowed.
  

United Airlines

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,1360,1035,00.html

Firearms
Federal regulations require that firearms in checked baggage or in their own shipping case be unloaded and declared. Firearms are not allowed in carry-on bags. Firearms in checked baggage must be packed in a hard-sided bag or gun case. A maximum of 11 lbs. of small arms ammunition is allowed in checked luggage in the original manufacturer's box or securely packed in a fiber, wood, or metal box to prevent movement of cartridges.

SUMMARY

You can transport a firearm in your checked baggage subject to state and local restrictions, but you should first check with your airline or travel agent to see if firearms are permitted in checked baggage on the airline you are flying. Ask about limitations or fees that may apply at this time.

Few gun owners could forget this, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) wants to remind all travelers that attempting to bring firearms onto a plane in carry-on luggage is a serious federal violation. This is a “strict liability” offense, and TSA says violators can be, and have been, convicted regardless of criminal intent, or even if they simply forgot they possessed a firearm. TSA is obliged to enforce all the existing laws within its jurisdiction and will do so vigorously.

Firearms carried as checked baggage must be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container and declared to the airline at check-in. Only the passenger may have the key or combination. Small arms ammunition must be placed in an appropriate container: "securely packed in fiber, wood, or metal boxes, or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. " Under TSA regulations, ammunition may be packed in the same locked container as the unloaded firearm, but airline rules may differ.

Following Congress’s mandate that all checked baggage must be screened for explosives, many travelers have become concerned by announcements that passengers should leave bags unlocked to allow hand inspection. This suggestion, the TSA made clear, does not apply to baggage containing firearms. All gun containers must still be locked after they are declared at the ticket counter.

Checked bags—including those containing firearms—will then be screened for explosives by various means. Depending on the airport, methods may include high-tech "sniffers" that analyze chemical vapors, X-ray machines, trained bomb detection dogs or a combination of these systems. Not all of these methods can differentiate explosives from the gunpowder residues on a fired gun or in loaded ammunition.

If the screening detects explosive materials other than those associated with ammunition, or if screeners can’t determine the exact nature of the alarm, and if all means available (such as X-rays) cannot rule out the possible presence of explosives, TSA screeners, working with airline representatives, will make every effort to contact the passenger so that the passenger can supply the key or combination to open the case, eliminating the need to break locks.

Cases will not be labeled as containing firearms. That practice was outlawed almost 10 years ago. Federal law now states: "No common or contract carrier shall require or cause any label, tag, or other written notice to be placed on the outside of any package, luggage, or other container that such package, luggage, or other container contains a firearm." [18 USC Sec. 922(e)] TSA will warn any airline that is marking cases that it is in violation of the law.

As always, since some airline counter clerks may have little training or experience in these procedures, gun owners should contact the airline in advance, obtain a written copy of the airline policy from a reservation clerk or the airline’s website, and bring it to the airport in order to answer any questions that arise at check-in. For further information, see: www.tsa.gov.

DISCLAIMER - This information is provided by Fuerte Cases ~ The Waterproof Case Company for informational purposes ONLY. We are not responsible for anyone’s interpretation of federal, state and airline rules and regulations and any consequences thereof. We encourage anyone using this information to confirm any and all information from its source directly. Rules and laws can change at any time with little or no notice.