Every year we have people that would like to attend the hunt in Globe, but they aren't willing or able to drive. The obvious answer for those in that position is to fly. I've flown with guns many times and have never experienced a problem, but the idea of flying scares some folks. So, those of you that have flown with firearms, what has your flying experience been? Let us hear the good, the bad, even the ugly. It's my bet that most guys will report positive flying experiences and it just might convince some folks to fly with confidence....

WELL THIS MAY NOT BE WHAT YOUR LOOKING FOR BUT

We flu with 4 guns in heavy duty travel cases , I spent the first day of the hunt fixing guns. Lost 2 scopes total.
Will i fly with guns again?? YOU BET!
It's better to be there with broken guns then not be there at all.
guns can be fixed, missing good times with good people cant!!


And thats all i have to say about that

Nice meeting you mike

George, did the airline take care of you?

I took one AR and one shotgun in a heavy duty case. In PHX I saw my gun case go tumbling........anyway i checked zero and the loppy was still spot on. When I got back into OKC. A fine gent from Southwest CARRIED my guncase out to me.
Killed a coyote aftr work yesterday with it... guess the Loopy is still on.

The case has a few new dents and dings, but still in pretty good shape. it did its job.

I will fly with guns again.

I am sorry you had trouble George. I am also interested how you made out with the airlines....
Kelly

No I didn't even call them ,, I was afraid I would just get even more upset.
At this point in my life I try and stay calm
After the fiasco of just getting to globe and there attitude with that I figure what's the point.
I spent my first 14 hours of the trip sitting in a air port do to ice storm that hit the night before
then when we arrived in Phoenix 5 hours latter and 19 hours into are trip are guns didn't make it they went to Vegas so we had to wait 2 hours for them to catch up with us in Phoenix then the drive to the casino, that we didnt get to to after 1 in the AM
it may have taken us 20 some hours to get there but the hunt was worth every min,

things that happened that got me upset where the little thing like US Air's employee thought prose's
like the way they continued to call my home to let me know my flights where canceled as I was sitting at the air port And checked in
And when I asked them 6 hours into my long day of waiting for my new 4PM flight not my 7AM flight
why I wasn't on stand by on another flight to phoenix, they told me that they didn't realize there where other flights going there ( as the load speaker barks in the back ground (flight 1546 leaving for PHOENIX boarding at terminal A 22 )
and as for them being rude lets just say they don't have the best people skills,,,
IF they would of told me i should of gotten flight insurance one more time I was going to let Murphy loose on them.

So long story short i will eat the loose of my scope
and fly again next year if thats what i have to do to get the the next hunt

Well actually I was trying to reassure people that they can fly with little in the way of trouble. I've flown with guns about about a half dozen times. I've never experienced any troubles. The airline people were helpful and polite at every step in the process.

George - I would have spoken to them right away. One bright spot though. Your scopes were Leupolds, they might be fixed free of charge.

One thing I noticed many years ago. Most people put their guns upside down in their gun cases. Think about how you put a gun in a case. With the case open you lay the gun with the scope away from you. When the case is closed the scope is actually on the bottom where it takes ALL the hits and abuse. I put my guns in with the scope toward the case handles. I figure the scope is a little more protected that way.

I've flown several times with firearms on different airlines and have NEVER had a problem. Lucky me, I guess...

A good thing to look into before you fly is to check on TSA's website for current requirements for packing your gun(s) and ammunition. Then following up with a courtesy call to the airline you are flying so see if they happen to any any different requirements. So far, all of them have used TSA's guidelines as their own...

With respect to potential damage to your firearms en route, I do my best to pack the guns securely in a high quality hard gun case. Also, customizing your gun case a bit to hold your guns snug goes a looong way in preventing damage. A layer of closed cell foam usually comes along with each case when you buy it. You can cut it out to form fit your guns profile & keep them from banging around inside the case when the baggage nimrods are playing knock hockey with it.

I actually purchased a LARGE sheet of 1.5" closed cell foam online & cut out forms specifically to fit my case and different gun combos. Saw a "how to" online somewhere and got it done using an electric fish filleting knife to cut the foam cleanly. It's easy to do...just takes a little time is all.
Lay out a large piece of scrap paper & trace out a template of each gun on it. Then lay out your template on the foam for sizing and cut accordingly...

Now my guns are cradled in a snug layer of thick foam. The benefits are obvious when you've got a nice chunk of change invested in your stick and plenty more in the hunting trip itself.

I was sorry to hear of your ordeal, George. Good thing you found an "angel" along the highway to get you straightened out!

Truth be told I fly with my bow or guns 4 to 5 times a year and have been doing that for about 10 years or so and this is the first time I ever had any trouble,,

and I will fly again !
I don't sweat the little things on life.

Last years hunt I had business in Las Vegas so i flew there and then drove a rental to Globe and hunted then drove back to Vegas and flew home without a hitch. This year I flew to Denver and then later from Billings ,Mt without any problems all. The last two hunts were combination bow hunts for elk and coyote hunts while I was there. I did what Knock'emDown said I used a heavy duty case and cutout foam to fit my gun it worked great.

The big issue is to find a case that will protect your firearms from everything short of the plane falling out of the sky or being in a fire. Currently, the only cases I know of are the hard themoplastic cases either made by Pelican or Starlight. I am currently the owner of a double rifle case by Starlight and I used it for the PM 2008 hunt and I'm in the process of doing some extra "stress testing" and video taping of the tests.

When I flew out of Newark, I had to take the gun case with a ticket agent to the TSA baggage inspection area, in the Continental baggage check in area. I gave the key to the padlock to the TSA agent who opened the lock, pulled everything out of the case, repacked the case, closed, locked and put the luggage tag on the case. When I arrived in Phoenix, my case was in the Continental oversize office waiting for me.

When I flew out of Phoenix, things weren't so easy. They put my locked gun case on the conveyor belt. I had to wait. I had to send my key, when TSA asked for it. Later a ticket agent had to go retrieve the key and return it to me. When I got to Newark, I had to wait in in line for ONE agent serving all airlines in Terminal C at the Oversize baggage counter. It was beyond stupid. It was enough to make one not ever want to do something like this again. But this may just be something "special" that happens in Newark.

I have special TSA combination locks now that TSA can open with special keys that will make things much easier in that area.

Quote:

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The big issue is to find a case that will protect your firearms from everything short of the plane falling out of the sky or being in a fire. Currently, the only cases I know of are the hard themoplastic cases either made by Pelican or Starlight.

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Anyone who has served in a rapidly deployable military unit understands this wisdom from Songdog1, crystal clear. Anyone who has not, take notice! Songdog1 just gave you one of those little free nuggets in life that will make your hunting life better!

AND...

Do exactly as Knock'emdown instructs and customize your firearms case with the cut to fit closed foam, each trip

I use a Pelican and cut the foam. I have never had a problem and never lost a zero on a rifle from rough baggage handling.

As far as the checkin with the airlines and TSA I have never had a problem at all. Knock'emdown gives you the info on how to avoid last minute surprises on TSA and airline procedures.

When flying west, I have flown into strong headwinds. These headwinds have made me miss connecting flights. I have been really fortunate because my baggage is always waiting in the airline's special baggage area with a human waiting for me to pick it up. The airlines know that there is a firearm in it and do not let it leave an employee's custody. When this has happened a couple of times, as I am arriving and exiting the aircraft, I was being paged to report immediately to the special area.

Some airport checkins are done right there on the counter or you may be asked to go to a central TSA check area. I personally feel that if you are checking in at an airport that sees alot of firearms then those tend to be right there on the counter. People patronizing the airport tend to be more accustomed to it and it is not such a sensitivity issue.

Good luck with your flights and go for it! It has worked for me.

Edited to add...I should also mention that the Pelican I use is the "carbine" size case. I can fit my AR carbine fully assembled or I can fit my Benelli shotgun and one of my bolt rifles disassembled. So, as such, this does not get charged or placed as oversize luggage. Also, when I went to the Globe hunt last year, I got a counter check at Phoenix. Everything was conducted at the ticket counter. Sounds like this may have changed.

Redhound80

Good advise Songdog1, you are correct each airport will have it's own set of rules to play by depending on the situation at hand.

Don't expect any airport to be the same in its procedures that involve certain items, one being firearms.

No doubt nothing less than a nightmare for most.

Glad you made it to Globe and glad you scored your first predator there...

My first experience of flying with guns was the Globe hunt last year. I checked into TSA requirements and followed them to the letter. I did the same this year just in case something had changed. I have not been given the least problem.

I have to admit, I was a little alarmed when I reached Phoenix last year and my gun didn't roll out on the luggage carosel. However, when I went to the Southwest luggage office to work it out, my gun was waiting there. When I came back to Kentucky, it was with the other luggage.

This year, with Delta, it was held until last in Phoenix but in Kentucky came out along with everything else. They may be a little less diligent in Kentucky since it is such a small airport compared to some of the others.

I guess the thing I have been most surprised at is the fact that this year and last year, I have carried on my FX 5 with remote in a camo bag and no one has even asked to look at it.

Both times, my case has not been any worse for the wear and seems to have been treated well.

Thus far, my experiences of flying with guns have been positive.

I was unable to make it to Globe, but i live in Phoenix and just recently came to MI to visit family. The only firearm i brought was my carry gun. As you can imagine, i dont have a scope on it, but they didn't hassle me at all and my gun arrived in Detroit with no problem. I hope that it goes just the same when i return to Phoenix in a few days.

FYI - I flew Northwest.