Flying hassles

[drdank]

You can ask that they tag go inside the luggage, that is legal.!

Doesn't that completely defeat the purpose of having a tag in the first place? However, on the other hand, I am happy to hear that passengers in CA can rest easy from the threat of suction-cup dart attacks.

[astcell]

Putting the tag on the luggage saying there is a gun inside is not too smart IMHO. Once the airline knows it is there, why does anyone else need to know? And you can bet that the baggage handlers may not be 100% honest. Hell, we have felons in TSA, imagine what the baggage handlers must be like.

[noid]

What kind of special arrangements do you have to make for that?

Its easy. When you check your bags, declare that you have the firearm. Like ASTCell said it has to be in a hard sided and lockable case. This can either be a locking pistol box that goes inside your regular luggage or it can be something large like a Pelican case. Something else to note, in the event you are transporting silencers, even without a firearm, you have to declare and check it just like it was a firearm. Depending on the airport and airline they may want you to show them the weapon to verify that it is unloaded (by unloaded I mean no ammunition inside the locking container either in a magazine or loose, but its ok to have ammo outside of the box provided its in a 'proper container'). Most dont ask as the folks working the counter dont tend to be gun savy. You fill out a declaration/afidavit that the gun is unloaded, sign it, then place it INSIDE the locked case. Back in the day they used to make you stick it on the outside of the bag, but after enough lawsuits they stopped the practice. After you are done checking in, most airports will then make you carry the bag with the weapon over to the TSA and their big gas chromatograph so they can scan it. Now, if you are nice and they arent busy you can usualy poliely ask that after they scan the bag to let you lock the bag the firearm is in up.

Something important to remember, the case the firearm is in must be locked at all times. You must be the sole posessor of the key or combonation. Sometimes clueless TSA goons will ask you for your key or combonation when they go to scan your bag. Inform them that its against Federal law for them to have it, and if for whatever reason they need to see the piece, they'll have to bring the bag over and let you unlock it. If that does happen, do not let the case leave your posession till you lock it up again.

As far as transporting ammunition goes, check with your airline first. They all seem to allow different things. I know alaska allows 11lbs of ammunition per traveler.

Hope that clears things up

[noid]

Doesn't that completely defeat the purpose of having a tag in the first place? However, on the other hand, I am happy to hear that passengers in CA can rest easy from the threat of suction-cup dart attacks.

The tag is purely CYA* for the Airlines. The declaration basicaly states 'I Joe Bob, certify that this firearm is unloaded and is being transported in accordance with FAA regulations'. The purpose of this isnt so that they know how many and what kind of firearms are on the plane, but rather to protect them if the gun goes off in transit (you said it was unloaded!). When scanning the bags they will see the gun on the x-ray and may want to see the declaration (hence the reason they ask you to stand by while they scan it, as mentioned in my last post). But the main purpose of the card is not public safety, but to protect them from liability



*Cover Your Ass

[Nibowin]

is this law applicable to 12 gauge shotguns and slug ammo and do i have to have the gun disassembled? or can i just keep it whole?

[noid]

Ah. another gem from Nibowin. No, theres a special exemption for you and your 12 gauge. Disregard my previous post.

[astcell]

Nibowin, if you have a hunting permit, flannel shirt and a hat with earflaps, you can carry your shotgun on the plane if you are wearing dark green socks.

[Qu|rk]

Nibowin, if you have a hunting permit, flannel shirt and a hat with earflaps, you can carry your shotgun on the plane if you are wearing dark green socks.

That's quite true, but only qualifies if you're from Kentucky, Tennessee, Minnesota, and Michigan. One of the better laws out there, it allows those who have enough guns and ammunition to take over a small country to assist with the air marshal bit, and control chaos. It's a hell of an idea if you ask me!

Qu|rk-

[astcell]

I think we should fire TSA, then on every airplane we turn the first class seats to face backwards. As folks board the plane, all active duty, reserve, or retired military take the first class seats to protect the copckpit.

Did you read that a Secret Service agent got tagged for the random search while boarding a plane. He had no weapon on him but one would think he is probably a good guy!

[noid]

Did you read that a Secret Service agent got tagged for the random search while boarding a plane. He had no weapon on him but one would think he is probably a good guy!

If I remember correctly,he was also of Arab decent, so there was a bit of a political flap since he felt that he was being singled out because of his race.

[astcell]

If I remember correctly,he was also of Arab decent, so there was a bit of a political flap since he felt that he was being singled out because of his race.

That was another incident. The Arab dude was on the Presiden't security detail and he pitched such a hissy fit at his treatment that the pilot did not want him on the plane.

The one I recall, the dude was cool with the search, he just thought it was a waste of time. I mean think about it. Would you not expect Secret Service training to slightly exceed TSA training? The guy could have snuck a bazooka by TSA had he wanted to, I am sure he'd had such training.

[Gadsden]

That was another incident. The Arab dude was on the Presiden't security detail and he pitched such a hissy fit at his treatment that the pilot did not want him on the plane.

The one I recall, the dude was cool with the search, he just thought it was a waste of time. I mean think about it. Would you not expect Secret Service training to slightly exceed TSA training? The guy could have snuck a bazooka by TSA had he wanted to, I am sure he'd had such training.

They searched Al Gore for fuck's sake! Even if he was bitter about losing the election, I really don't see him hijacking a plane. I would think it is safe to say that searching the former vice-president is a goddamn waste of time and resources, not to mention just plain silly...

[astcell]

You probably knew that Homeland Security has a list of names to watch for of people who may fly. OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS NOT ON THE LIST. Which is good because he would probably scream "racial profiling" anyway and threaten to sue.

[phobal]

I have a bike chain on my wrist, obviously construing that I am a cyclist. When I departed for Hawaii in Calgary, the damn detector beeped due to the braclet. The friendly CASA people scanned me and let me go. However, in SFO, it was a different story. They swabbed my shoes for explosives, swabbed my bag for explosives, wanded my leg (even though I was wearing shorts), and gave me 5 minutes of hell.

Damn nation making our skies secure! I'm the victim.

[dmz]

Not to say that one would shout "lookie here! I'm a hacker" in an airport, I meant more along the lines of being found on some list of "subversive/shady types" consistently and given the riot act every time you wanted to hop on a plane.

I have not flown since 9/11 and wonder if anything aside from the nail clipper/ninja sword-as-carry-on would put one on their hot list (i.e. - 2600 magazines, etc).

I fly way too much, and the inspectors don't have time to browse what magazines you are carrying or what color panties you chose to pack (note: not me here, you, or at least Che :); they are too busy looking for the next pair of nail cutters to protect the other passengers.

Other notes for those flying: check your equipment! Life is much easier if you are taking more than a carry-on to just check your bag and let them deal with inspecting it. You can't lock your bag prior to flying anymore (in most airports) but just have an inventory and keep track of what your shipping (don't put confidential stuff in-check, those should be carried by hand). And if you are checking bags, don't put them in boxes, use approved luggage bags. They don't guarantee boxes won't be distroyed in transport...