Taking a handgun on vacation...Should I check it on the plane or ship it?

[71silverbullet]

Going on vacation later this year to Florida and I want to take my handgun. I've read up on the state laws and I'm fine on that part. My question is should I take it on the plane as a checked bag or ship it to myself at my destination?
Mostly just concerned with checking it on the plane. Worried about getting hassled and missing my flight or something because thats the kind of luck I have...ALWAYS
I've talked to the airline and they gave me the details on how to go about it and were very friendly, but you never know how the person I deal with on the day of my flight will act.
I know its legal to ship it to myself, it may cost a little more but may be easier.

 

[G582]

Personally if I had to fly and could check it in I would do that. You would have it on your person when you left the airport. I don't know that you could check in ammo along with it though. I used to have to go to Tampa frequently and would just make the drive in about 13 hrs. Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida all reciprocate (or did when I was making the drive)

 

[ISHOOTHST'S]

Check it.

 

[Sylvain]

I would check it with the airline.That way your gun stays with you all the time (well in the cargo) and you are less likely to lose it.
Just get to the airport way in advance to make sure you have enough time to do all that.

 

[BKExpress]

Personally if I had to fly and could check it in I would do that. You would have it on your person when you left the airport. I don't know that you could check in ammo along with it though. I used to have to go to Tampa frequently and would just make the drive in about 13 hrs. Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida all reciprocate (or did when I was making the drive)

Anybody know if this is still valid as it relates to Indiana LTC in the states listed above?

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Anybody know if this is still valid as it relates to Indiana LTC in the states listed above?

http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/indiana.pdf

Still good.

OP: I'd just check it. You won't be the first person the clerk has dealt with, its probably more common than you assume. Lots of people check guns for hunting trips and the like.

 

[grogie]

I've checked before, and as long as you follow the instructions you'll be okay.

Now if you don't.... I have a friend who travels a lot and checks his gun. He made a serious mistake not long ago and left an extra magazine in his carry on bag. He had a CCW, or otherwise he thinks he would have been arrested. They pulled his checked bag off the plane and searched it, but they let him go on his way. He was at the airport early so he didn't miss his flight. They did report him to the FBI for the incident, but so far nothing has happened (that he knows of).

 

[71silverbullet]

looks like I'll just check it. I know it has to be locked in a hard case. Can I put that hard case in my suitcase, or does it have to be separate?

 

[ticktwrter]

The last time I checked a gun it had to be in a locked hard case inside your luggage. The ammo can be in the same luggage but separate from the firearm. Make sure the weapon is empty. You might be asked to prove that it is empty.

 

[jdorp]

Actually, i hear checking a firearm has an added bonus. TSA searches your bag in front of you and the seals your bag with tamper evident tape and the TSA is no allowed to search your bag again while it is out of your site, so nothing can be "bar rowed" from your bag.

I have heard journalists with expensive video equipment use this trick to protect their investment.

 

[dbishop728]

Check it

 

[Tamara]

Mostly just concerned with checking it on the plane. Worried about getting hassled and missing my flight or something because thats the kind of luck I have...ALWAYS
I've talked to the airline and they gave me the details on how to go about it and were very friendly, but you never know how the person I deal with on the day of my flight will act.

I've checked guns through at IND four times in the past two years and haven't had a problem, not even the time I flew out to the CTC Midnight 3-gun match in Oregon and the inside of my Pelican case was stocked like I was off to join the hunt for Al Qaeda.

Once, the guy who checked my pistol case was all "Cool! I have a 22/45 just like that that I shoot steel matches with!"

 

[outnumbered]

Be ready to show the agent the firearm is unloaded and separate from ammo...no curbside check in! Stay safe and enjoy the Sunshine State

 

[Bishop]

That is interesting. I went to Jacksonville in Oct. and didn't do my homework ahead of time. Didn't think checking was even an option. Looked into shipping, but couldn't read between the lines. Ended up going naked. Not such a good thing in the ghettos of a new city.

 

[STEEL CORE]

Locked in a hard sided case or placed inside luggage that is locked. EX....your Glock box inside a locked suitcase. If TSA needs to contact you reguarding your firearm they will contact you.

Make sure your firearm is UNLOADED and DECLARED to the airlines at the ticket counter. They will give you a form to add to your luggage that has the weapon inside. The declaration states the weapon has been declared and is UNLOADED.

If a TSA officer needs to inspect your firearm for any reason, they will contact you during security or at the gate. No big deal.

Ammunition must be packaged in its original box, or a plastic container, or in a magazine seperate from the weapon IN A MAGAZINE POUCH designed for your magazine, No loose ammunition, or loaded firearms allowed in checked baggage.

Please no firearms, magazines, ammunition in your carry on baggage or person unless authorized.

PS Do not fly into (or out of ) JFK or NY Laguardia Apts with a firearm no matter what your vacation or travell plans are.

 

[Snavelybob]

Great topic. I have never taken my sidearm with me on vacation, never really thought there was "that option" . Thanks for the information

 

[Bapak2ja]

Check it on the plane. Very simple process.

 

[71silverbullet]

I'll definitely be checking it with the airline. Every time I've flown before I was going to New Jersey, I new better than to take a hand gun there.
Thanks for all the great info!

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

The TSA and the airlines will make sure that your checked luggage gets where you are going. That's one great thing about flying with a gun in checked luggage. No lost luggage.

 

[kwood]

this will step you through the process

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If39AP80xYA