Apologies for the poor video quality – I’m traveling with a laptop and a camera, no lighting equipment.
I travel a lot, and sometimes this travel is by commercial airline. In this video, I share some of the federal regulations, airline policies, and general tips regarding the proper way to bring firearms with you when you travel by commercial air carrier.
FAR 108.11
NRA Link with Airline Policies
Why do you suggest non-TSA compatible locks? I travel with firearms as well (probably not as much as you) and always use TSA locks. Because my airport doesn’t actually inspect the firearm in my presence having a TSA lock allows TSA to inspect it without having to call me over the intercom at the airport (which I’m guessing can be awkward). Is there an advantage (other than potential sturdiness of the lock) to travelling with non-TSA locks?
FAR 108.11 states that only the passenger checking the bag shall have the key or combination to the lock. In other words, no TSA approved locks. This is also TSA’s own policy.
I’ve traveled by air a number of times over the last several years. In and out of Minneapolis, Orlando, Key West, couple others. Interpretation by gate personnel has universally been pistol in locked case with non-TSA lock inside suitcase which should have a TSA lock. They can still inspect suitcase, but they cannot access the pistol without my presence. I’ve had zero problems following this. I use a pistol sized combo lock case cabled to the frame of suitcase, run a cable pistol lock through the gun. Upside is my suitcase seems to come out pretty quick at baggage. Usually in the first dozen or so bags.
I have flow with fully loaded pmags with the dust cover locked on the top as well as with fully loaded pistol mags. The pmags were just in an inside pocket of my range bag and the pistol mags were inside the pistol mag pouches in one of the outside zipper pockets. My range bag was packed into my large suitcase with all my other gear like my holster, belt rig, nylon etc (I was on my way from a class and all the ammo was extra that I didnt shoot). I stood there and watched the TSA agent take EVERYTHING out of my range bag, she looked at all of the pmags, pistol mags, my cleaning supplies, ears and all the other bits and then put everything back in its place. I think I had like 3-4 loaded pmags and 6 20rd 9mm mags in there. My bags continued on, no questions asked, I think the reg says that the container must be designed to hold ammunition and also protect the primer. So a loaded and capped pmag fits that reg and so does a pistol mag inside a mag pouch. I also had a couple loaded pmags inside my pelican case with my rifle and handgun.
The regs are provided in the links below the video – it says nothing about the primer. This is why I provided them, so that we could avoid the “I think the rules are…” gag.
The problem with using an anecdote to say that one may fly with loaded mags is that while that agent may be okay with it (or may be unaware of it), they are written in a way that another agent may (and, in fact, most likely will) read differently. The purpose of the video was not to say “here’s what you might be able to get away with,” but to say “if you do these things, you are completely in the right and should not be hassled.”
Sorry for the confusion, the primer clause is a Southwest Airlines policy, which is the airline I fly. Just goes to prove that you should check both the TSA and your airline guidelines.
Good info, Deviant Ollam did a good presentation on the same topic. Thought the link would be worthwhile. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGjddG5Owsc
Print out a copy.of.the TSA regs which state that you may have loaded Mags as long as they are in a secure pouch
The Deviant Ollam video on YouTube that Matt pointed to is a little shorter than the one Deviant has on Vimeo, which is here.
He also has a website that covers much the same info, which is here.
Yeesh, I just don’t have the patience to watch a 40 minute video…
It’s pretty good information. Most of it roots in using firearms as a way to fully secure your luggage, but there’s a lot of good information in them.