A consideration when boking travel for the ccw'er

2099 Views 61 Replies 23 Participants Last post by lankyyankee, Oct 30, 2010

Trailboss60

Discussion Starter · Oct 25, 2010

I am flying in a couple of days to Kansas that has reciprocity with Arizona, although the tickets were super cheap ($40.00 each way Mesa Az.- Wichita), they charge $40.00 for any checked luggage. That ends up being an $80.00 fee if I want to pack my gun, or knife...since it is only a four day trip, that works out to $20.00 a day to carry.

Fed-exing my gun to the hotel would cost about the same, and I really don't like having a gun floating around out there unless it is on it's way to a Smith or the factory.

I hate making a tradeoff when it comes to personal security, but for this price it was too good to pass up...

Maybe I will buy a crossman air pistol and coat the bbs in pepper spray when I get there....:biglaugh:

21 - 40 of 62 Posts

Doug M again

· #21 · Oct 27, 2010

I avoid flying unless forced. There is nothing I like about the experience, and the gun transport stuff makes it worse. I need to get a good case (Silvercorvette, would like your recommendation - PM to avoid thread drift if you care to). I have to fly at Christmas time this year due to time constraints, but have already gotten the links to the TSA and Airline (I think SW) pages related to firearms and will print and carry the regs in my carry on. Frankly, it is less of a PITA now than it was 10 years ago.

Seldomseen: WRONG. Every place has the potential to require carry, unless you are clairvoyant, in which case you need to open an investment business.

ADC

· #22 · Oct 27, 2010

monetrey said:
I don't travel all that much so my opinion is a little skewed. But is your life worth $80? I know mine is......

I always hate these innuendos.... Life is a risk-period.. You are 10,000 times more likely getting killed in an auto accident then being shot. Putting on a helmet when you are driving would be 1000 times the benefits of having a pistol for a couple days. Everything in life a benefit vs risk. A little common sense in activities on the trip makes the risk very minimal.

A X E

· #23 · Oct 27, 2010

ADC said:
I always hate these innuendos.... Life is a risk-period.. You are 10,000 times more likely getting killed in an auto accident then being shot. Putting on a helmet when you are driving would be 1000 times the benefits of having a pistol for a couple days. Everything in life a benefit vs risk. A little common sense in activities on the trip makes the risk very minimal.

Exactly!

Trailboss, good to hear your daughter is working at Gateway. They have did a lot with that airport in the last several years and it is becoming a very nice little airport. I am sure it will continue to prosper.

I hate to complain about Allegiant, but I fly for work a lot and it is the only time I can remember where I was so taken back by the exerpience and customer service. Hopefully they can improve on their service. They do have a loyal following because of the low fares. I know a lot of friends and relatives that fly down here from North Dakota to visit. Sad thing is, I will probably have to fly them again, as I can't seem to get airfare into ND for less than $600 a ticket anymore and it is usually upwards of $800-1100. That makes for a $3000-4000 trip to get the family there..............ouch!

Out!

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guntotin_fool

· #24 · Oct 27, 2010

ND is not that far away, rent a nice suburban and drive, might cost you all of a grand.....

I fly a lot. I find that the major airlines all have the travel with guns thing down. I will not fly near Logan or NYC, and I have never had trouble, Florida, Mn, Indiana, Ala, GA, Tx and a few others have all been great as far as dealing with the process. I just walk up, present my ticket or reservation, declare the gun, get the little card that goes in the luggage and and lock it all up and leave. maybe 90 flights since the changes, and only one issue. I was diverted to Midway in chicago for weather. I rented a car, before I claimed my luggage and got my gear and got the heck out of chicago as fast as possible. A friend got diverted there and had to spend the night in a motel, he refused to accept his luggage back from the airline. They just put it in a secured storage area for the night.

As to traveling with a beater. I have a Glock that stays locked in florida at my house there, which is really a left over from when traveling with a gun was tough, and I carry a springer Mil spec on flights. its a 600 dollar gun, its nice, shoots nice, but its a 600 dollar gun, and if it goes, its only a hundred more than Glock and I trust it. I can not see my self trusting the "Thousands Standing Around" with one of my Colt's

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A X E

· #25 · Oct 27, 2010 (Edited)

ND is about a 1500 mile drive for me from AZ, which is 25+/- hours to drive. I wouldn't need to rent a vehicle, as I have a Tahoe and Duramax to carry my family and all the necessary goods. I really just don't have time to dedicate 4 days to driving with kids, so I fly. I drag my firearms along occasionally, especially when I am taking my dog hunting, but usually not on business when I am doing short 1-2 day trips.

I have never had much of a hassle flying with firearms. I have definitely noticed some variability in how the airlines and TSA conducts their checks for baggage containing firearms, but never a real hassle and everything arrives intact. I had a young TSA nerd at Denver International freak out when he pulled a leather holster out of my bag that I bought in Wyoming. Had to clear it with his supervisor, I guess if it ain't on the sole of your boot you hit the panic button.

By the way, the lock on your hard case to be stored inside your luggage needs to have TSA approval. You can now buy them at all the hardware stores and some sporting goods stores.

Out!

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silvercorvette

· #26 · Oct 28, 2010

SWinokur said:
Federal code prohibits the placing of any kind of marking on the outside of your luggage that would indicate the presence of a firearm It's part of Title 18 of the USC.

When I flew from TX to NY 3 years ago I had to have my gun checked at the curb / sidewalk outside the building. They put some kind of tag on the suit case toverfy it had been inspected and properly packed.

silvercorvette

· #27 · Oct 28, 2010 (Edited)

Doug M again said:
I avoid flying unless forced. There is nothing I like about the experience, and the gun transport stuff makes it worse. I need to get a good case (Silvercorvette, would like your recommendation - PM to avoid thread drift if you care to). I have to fly at Christmas time this year due to time constraints, but have already gotten the links to the TSA and Airline (I think SW) pages related to firearms and will print and carry the regs in my carry on. Frankly, it is less of a PITA now than it was 10 years ago.

Seldomseen: WRONG. Every place has the potential to require carry, unless you are clairvoyant, in which case you need to open an investment business.

The case is approximately 18 inches by 12 inches by 8 inches thick, the size makes it impossible to hide under a coat and it is sturdy enough that it would be hard to break into without attracting attention. The label says Style number BV444

I mentioned in this thread and another thread that ran a few months ago that the case was packed inside a suitcase.

PS I bought it in a big sporting goods store in TX but I don't remember the name of the store

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Doug M again

· #28 · Oct 28, 2010

Thanks. I take it that the brand is one of those labels?

silvercorvette

· #29 · Oct 28, 2010

Doug M again said:
Thanks. I take it that the brand is one of those labels?

I am not sure but I think the brand is flight proof and the model bandito vaguero

Trailboss60

Discussion Starter · #30 · Oct 29, 2010 (Edited)

http://www.amazon.com/Pelican-09320...HS/ref=sr_1_48?ie=UTF8&qid=1288327811&sr=8-48

Another case to consider is a Pelican case, good pricing (as low as $25.00 from Fry's electronics) the pull and pluck foam makes customization a snap if you have the poles on the inside of your luggage that houses the telescoping handle, an additional cable and lock tethering tour case makes pilferage too time consuming.

A buddy of mine that travels extensively in humid climates swears by the Pelican dessicant...
http://www.amazon.com/Pelican-1500D-Peli-Desiccant-Silica/dp/B0018O035O/ref=pd_rhf_shvl_2

silvercorvette

· #31 · Oct 29, 2010 (Edited)

Trailboss60 said:
http://www.amazon.com/Pelican-09320...HS/ref=sr_1_48?ie=UTF8&qid=1288327811&sr=8-48

Another case to consider is a Pelican case, good pricing (as low as $25.00 from Fry's electronics) the pull and pluck foam makes customization a snap if you have the poles on the inside of your luggage that houses the telescoping handle, an additional cable and lock tethering tour case makes pilferage too time consuming.

A buddy of mine that travels extensively in humid climates swears by the Pelican dessicant...
http://www.amazon.com/Pelican-1500D-Peli-Desiccant-Silica/dp/B0018O035O/ref=pd_rhf_shvl_2

To me it looks easy to break into, and small enough to hide, but that's just my opinion.

The weak point are the back hinges which look easy to break, I'll post a picture of the back of my case later
===========================================================

OK picture added, look at the construction of the hinges in the back, you get what you pay for. It will be a lot harder to break the hinges in the back of mine, IMO the hinges in the cheap one are it's main weak point.

Check out this sales video

Another link with more info

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dcmdon

· #32 · Oct 29, 2010

silvercorvette said:
When I was living part time in TX and part time in NY I kept a couple guns in a safe in each state. that worked out well for me for the most part but one trip to NYI brought two guns on the plane and almost had them stolen.

They were legally checked in and tagged but someone broke the suit case lock expecting to find guns inside. But what they found inside was a very large sturdy case with locks that were a lot harder to break than regular suitcase locks. Trust me on this when I say gat a large box that is so big it can't be hidden under a coat and locks that would require bolt cutters or a hack saw to open. Putting the box inside a suitcase provides extra security.

Federal law prohibits any external markings or tags from being put on checked cases containing firearms.

Knowing this part of the law could have prevented this from happening and probably avoided the attempt at pilfering.

Don

silvercorvette

· #33 · Oct 29, 2010

dcmdon said:
Federal law prohibits any external markings or tags from being put on checked cases containing firearms.

Knowing this part of the law could have prevented this from happening and probably avoided the attempt at pilfering.

Don

This happen about 3 years (correction 4 years ago because I had already sold the house in TX and was living in SC 3 years ago) ago on a flight from TX to NY with a change of planes at an airport I don't recall. I don't recall the details but am 1005 sure that I checked in the guns at a table / podium on the side walk outside the building. I don't know what the tag said on it, maybe it was just a regular tag that they put on all suitcases when you check in but it was done outside the building. For all I know the tag is still on the suit case. If I come across the suitcase I'll post a picture of the tag. I move to SC 3 years ago and the suitcase could be in the storage space over the garage or in the Attic

SWinokur

· #34 · Oct 29, 2010

dcmdon said:
Federal law prohibits any external markings or tags from being put on checked cases containing firearms.

Knowing this part of the law could have prevented this from happening and probably avoided the attempt at pilfering.

Don

If the case containing your firearms is also your suitcase, then your statement is true. If the case is inside your suitcase, then your declaration goes on the outside of the hard sided firearm case so if TSA conducts a secondary search they can see the firearm has been declared.

Is this what you meant?

silvercorvette

· #35 · Oct 29, 2010

SWinokur said:
If the case containing your firearms is also your suitcase, then your statement is true. If the case is inside your suitcase, then your declaration goes on the outside of the hard sided firearm case so if TSA conducts a secondary search they can see the firearm has been declared.

Is this what you meant?

That is correct, I put the gun case in side the suitcase as an extra level of protection. When I landed in NY the suit case lock was broken but that gun case inside the suit case was safe.

crabbybum

· #36 · Oct 29, 2010

silvercorvette said:
To me it looks easy to break into, and small enough to hide, but that's just my opinion.

The weak point are the back hinges which look easy to break, I'll post a picture of the back of my case later
===========================================================

OK picture added, look at the construction of the hinges in the back, you get what you pay for. It will be a lot harder to break the hinges in the back of mine, IMO the hinges in the cheap one are it's main weak point.

We use Pelican cases to protect very high dollar TV gear. The US military also uses some of their cases. Most professional photographers also use the cases. I am also familiar with the Anvil style cases. You would have to work at breaking a Pelican case.

silvercorvette

· #37 · Oct 29, 2010

crabbybum said:
We use Pelican cases to protect very high dollar TV gear. The US military also uses some of their cases. Most professional photographers also use the cases. I am also familiar with the Anvil style cases. You would have to work at breaking a Pelican case.

I am just going by what I see in the picture, the rear hinges seem to be a weak point of entry, a screw driver or small prybar in the back and the case seems like it would fail.

I have had no experience with the Pelican cases and never saw one in person.

SFSMedic

· #38 · Oct 29, 2010

Pelicans are very difficult to break there are no weak points. We use them often for transporting such items as described.

Also as for the pilfering, there was a news article several years ago when the FFDO (Federal Flight Deck Officer) program started stating the percentage of their guns that had been stolen from the belly of the plane (i.e. cargo). The FFDOs are not considered LE officers anywhere but in the secured flight deck of a plane they are working mission on so when traveling outside of that status they were mandated to check their guns in their luggage and viola missing firearms. It was something like 65%.

SWinokur

· #39 · Oct 29, 2010

In regards to putting any kind of tag on the exterior of luggage containing a firearm the following is from 27 CFR 478.31

b) 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 indicating that such package, luggage, or other container contains a firearm.

dcmdon

· #40 · Oct 30, 2010

Exactly. It doesn't matter if its a bag in a bag. The declaration/affidavit goes INSIDE the case, with the gun.

Its been that way for at least 12 or 13 years.

I remember because I got into an argument with a check in clerk at JFK when I was going to visit my ex-father-in-law to do some hunting about exactly this issue. A supervisor set the clerk straight. I married her in 95, divorced in 97. So it was sometime in that time frame.

One other thing. I don't check guns in at the curb. I wait in the often crappy, terrible line at the ticket counter.

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