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Traveling to Phoenix


mwb9122

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I haven't flown to Sky Harbor (Phoenix airport), but have flown to many airports with my firearm (out of both OHare and Midway). It's not a big deal. Just have it unloaded in a locked gun case (almost any decent case will do.) You can have the gun case separately (e.g. for a rifle) or just inside your regular checked suitcase (for a handgun.) When you get your ticket / check your bags, you need to "Declare" it to the Check-in agent. (Say "I have a firearm to declare" or something similar). They give you a form to fill out and take your bag to get scanned. You walk with it and they scan it, and you're done. For smaller airports that don't have a bag scanner, they will have a TSA agent manually look at it instead.

 

For the ammo, airlines all have slightly different rules. But generally if the ammo is in the cardboard box it came in, you're fine. You can lock it in the same case as the gun or a separate one.

 

Just give yourself an extra 15 min in case they're slow. :)

 

Here's a few links in case you're bored...

 

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/firearms-and-ammunition

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/baggage/firearms.jsp

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/baggage/before-your-trip/special-items.html

http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/baggage/special-luggage-pol.html#baggage_special_luggage_pol_tab_list_tab_7_scroll

http://www.united.com/web/en-us/content/travel/baggage/sports.aspx

http://www.usairways.com/en-US/traveltools/baggage/specialitems.html

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I flew into Phoenix (out of O’Hare) twice last year, once for pleasure (one handgun), once for training (two handguns) plus self-defense ammo, both on American Airlines. Rules may vary slightly based on the airline. Big issue is that the weapon has to be in a hard sided lockable case using locks that only you have the key for (don’t use TSA approved locks for your weapon case). If your case has two padlock holes (one on each corner) you should use two padlocks; they don’t want the cover to be able to be pried open. Ammo needs to be in a secure box, either original box or other hard side container (no lose rounds). Some airlines allow loaded magazines, some don’t, and I’d avoid potential problems and leave the magazines unloaded. Ammo box can be in the same locked container as the weapon. As mentioned in another reply when you arrive at O’Hare you will tell the ticket agent that… “I need to declare a firearm” (don’t say “GUN”). Note: You cannot use the self-service kiosks to check in, you will need to go to the counter for check-in; if the airline “greeter”, in the aisle, tries to direct you to another line, tell them you need to declare a firearm, and they will direct you to the correct line. The ticket agent will ask to see the case, and ask questions about the condition of the weapon and ammo; you will sign a form and then follow the TSA agent to another location where they will open your suitcase and scan/inspect the weapon container. They may ask for the key(s) to open the container. Once they finish their inspection the TSA agent will walk your suitcase back to the conveyor to load luggage. I typically follow the agent, just to make sure it gets onto the luggage conveyor. When you arrive at Sky Harbor your luggage (with the weapon case) will not arrive on the regular carousel with the rest of your checked luggage from the flight. You will need to go to the Customer Service office to claim your bag (don’t lose your claim ticket). It usually takes longer for the luggage requiring special handling to make it to the office, than the rest of the luggage. On your return flight, you will not be able to obtain your boarding pass electronically, because they know you are traveling with a firearm. If you try, you will get a message that you need to check in at the airport. Allow extra time for both airports. That was my experience at Sky Harbor; your experiences may vary but probably not by much.

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All good advice. I've flown into PHX with a firearm without a problem. Two more bits, leave the chamber open so you can easily show the agent that it is empty without racking it - mostly they don't know what they are looking at anyway. I put my small case into a larger case and then open the larger case with

the cover shielding the view from the people in line behind me - again, most people don't care but theremight be a feeble-minded person out there.

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When you arrive at Sky Harbor your luggage (with the weapon case) will not arrive on the regular carousel with the rest of your checked luggage from the flight. You will need to go to the Customer Service office to claim your bag (don’t lose your claim ticket). It usually takes longer for the luggage requiring special handling to make it to the office, than the rest of the luggage.

 

That must be specific to Sky Harbor. Everywhere I've ever flown, my bag with the firearm showed up on the baggage carrousel along with any other luggage. Interesting that they handle it differently in Phoenix.

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When you arrive at Sky Harbor your luggage (with the weapon case) will not arrive on the regular carousel with the rest of your checked luggage from the flight. You will need to go to the Customer Service office to claim your bag (don’t lose your claim ticket). It usually takes longer for the luggage requiring special handling to make it to the office, than the rest of the luggage.

 

That must be specific to Sky Harbor. Everywhere I've ever flown, my bag with the firearm showed up on the baggage carrousel along with any other luggage. Interesting that they handle it differently in Phoenix.

 

Even coming back into O'Hare, October and December 2017, my luggage with the weapon was routed to Customer Service, Maybe it's an American Airlines issue. Only flew one other time with weapons, using Alaska Air... don't remember what happened there.

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When you arrive at Sky Harbor your luggage (with the weapon case) will not arrive on the regular carousel with the rest of your checked luggage from the flight. You will need to go to the Customer Service office to claim your bag (don’t lose your claim ticket). It usually takes longer for the luggage requiring special handling to make it to the office, than the rest of the luggage.

 

That must be specific to Sky Harbor. Everywhere I've ever flown, my bag with the firearm showed up on the baggage carrousel along with any other luggage. Interesting that they handle it differently in Phoenix.

 

Even coming back into O'Hare, October and December 2017, my luggage with the weapon was routed to Customer Service, Maybe it's an American Airlines issue. Only flew one other time with weapons, using Alaska Air... don't remember what happened there.

 

 

Must be. I've flown with United & Southwest + some of their codeshare partners. Every time, my bag is on the baggage carrousel, just like every other bag.

 

I guess the message to the OP is : It depends. If you bag isn't on the carrousel, check with customer service. :)

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AZ rawwks! ...regarding firearms....at least when I was there many moons ago...(Many..many years before our FCCL days)

Funny story...

I drove the Route 66 thang. Peeled off into AZ..(I refused to head into commiefornia to 'officially' wrap up such a trip.)

Along the way...I had a few firearms in the car. Stashed them under the spare tire cuz I didnt want to deal with any problems.

Visited a friend in Chandler. Wanted to go shooting.

Went to the local guns shop to buy ammo. Being from IL I was a bit 'shy'... whipped out my license and IL FOID.

The guy looked at me funny and said..just pick what you want! I bought 'alot'.

Chatted a bit with the shop owner..I had intentions of heading out into the sticks and having fun

His sage advice was..."have fun..but whatever you do...DO NOT shoot any catus..they are protected".

I had a blast...also found a range up in hills..

It was my first experience of enjoying a 'gun friendly' culture.

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I have flown into and out of Sky Harbor many times with a firearm. As noted above, It must be unloaded, in checked baggage, etc., per TSA and airline rules.

 

I haven't been asked to show the firearm to a ticket agent in at least 10 years (my first trip with a firearm). If it's not unloaded, it will be detected by TSA and you will be in deep doo-doo. No reason to delay the ticket agent, nor to expose the firearm, other than to TSA or law enforcement.

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Perhaps the forum could share a little knowledge with me. I am now a Michigan CPL and resident and find myself having to traverse Illinois to visit family in North Central Arkansas. As I was at one time an Illinois resident with CCW, I have tried to stay current on Illinois firearms law. I seem to recall reading something about a non resident being able to transport a weapon through Illinois in battery as long as it remains in the vehicle. Since I am only traversing Illinois, must I ungun? I could carry a case and disarm at the Indiana line and regun when I pass into Missouri. Thank you for your thoughts.

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Perhaps the forum could share a little knowledge with me. I am now a Michigan CPL and resident and find myself having to traverse Illinois to visit family in North Central Arkansas. As I was at one time an Illinois resident with CCW, I have tried to stay current on Illinois firearms law. I seem to recall reading something about a non resident being able to transport a weapon through Illinois in battery as long as it remains in the vehicle. Since I am only traversing Illinois, must I ungun? I could carry a case and disarm at the Indiana line and regun when I pass into Missouri. Thank you for your thoughts.

Yes you can have a firearm on you when traversing Illinois

 

From 430 ILCS 66/40

 

 

(e) Nothing in this Act shall prohibit a non-resident from transporting a concealed firearm within his or her vehicle in Illinois, if the concealed firearm remains within his or her vehicle and the non-resident:

(1) is not prohibited from owning or possessing a

firearm under federal law;
(2) is eligible to carry a firearm in public under
the laws of his or her state or territory of residence, as evidenced by the possession of a concealed carry license or permit issued by his or her state of residence, if applicable; and
(3) is not in possession of a license under this Act.

If the non-resident leaves his or her vehicle unattended, he or she shall store the firearm within a locked vehicle or locked container within the vehicle in accordance with subsection (B) of Section 65 of this Act.

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Reading the rules/regs for Southwest, it states

 

"firearm placed inside a hard-sided, locked suitcase does not have to be encased in a container manufactured for the transportation of firearms."

 

Does this mean the suitcase must be the hard/plastic type or can it be a normal fabric type one? Anyone have experience with this?

 

I haven't flown to Sky Harbor (Phoenix airport), but have flown to many airports with my firearm (out of both OHare and Midway). It's not a big deal. Just have it unloaded in a locked gun case (almost any decent case will do.) You can have the gun case separately (e.g. for a rifle) or just inside your regular checked suitcase (for a handgun.) When you get your ticket / check your bags, you need to "Declare" it to the Check-in agent. (Say "I have a firearm to declare" or something similar). They give you a form to fill out and take your bag to get scanned. You walk with it and they scan it, and you're done. For smaller airports that don't have a bag scanner, they will have a TSA agent manually look at it instead.

 

For the ammo, airlines all have slightly different rules. But generally if the ammo is in the cardboard box it came in, you're fine. You can lock it in the same case as the gun or a separate one.

 

Just give yourself an extra 15 min in case they're slow. :)

 

Here's a few links in case you're bored...

 

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/firearms-and-ammunition

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/baggage/firearms.jsp

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/baggage/before-your-trip/special-items.html

http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/baggage/special-luggage-pol.html#baggage_special_luggage_pol_tab_list_tab_7_scroll

http://www.united.com/web/en-us/content/travel/baggage/sports.aspx

http://www.usairways.com/en-US/traveltools/baggage/specialitems.html

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Reading the rules/regs for Southwest, it states

 

"firearm placed inside a hard-sided, locked suitcase does not have to be encased in a container manufactured for the transportation of firearms."

 

Does this mean the suitcase must be the hard/plastic type or can it be a normal fabric type one? Anyone have experience with this?

 

 

I've had direct experience with this on Southwest. As long as your pistol case is hard-sided, your suitcase can be soft-side / fabric.

Per "A firearm in a hard-sided, locked container may be placed inside a soft-sided, unlocked suitcase."

 

If you don't have a pistol case, then you must have a hard-sided suitcase.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I concluded this trip from Midway to Phoenix Sky Harbor and the reverse back. My first time flying with a firearm and it went without a hitch. I purchased a travel box for both my firearm and a seperate box for my ammo which I included links to below. TSA was very friendly. I didnt have to open the lockbox for the gun at all. They just swabbed the inside of my suitcase and around the pistol case for explosives and on we went. It only added about 10 minutes tops to the overall check in process.

 

Thank you guys for the feedback.

 

Pistol Case : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075RNVQ18/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ammo Case : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q04NKW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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I'm a big fan of the Pelican cases - my latest has dual combo locks so I don't have to mess with a key. Pluck out the little foam cubes in the shape of your open chambered firearm, your ammo box and your magazines - very professional.

Just flew out of ORD to TUS in AZ and everything was a non-event. The guy checking in next to me at ORD had a Pelican case. The two gals behind the counter were joking around and one said he's got a WAY better case than me. That's true. His case can fall out of a plane at 20,000 feet and the guns are good. (My two handguns were in a locked container inside my soft-sided suitcase.) Then the TSA guy shows up, and they take you down to what seems to be a special xray machine, and then they say you're good to go. It is NO BIG DEAL. Carry on, everyone!

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