Travel Advice to Las Vegas or Phoenix

[steve_k]

*** Feel free to move if in wrong forum ***

Looking for input from anyone who has flown in to either Las Vegas or Phoenix recently with firearms and wanted to see if things went smoothly while picking their luggage. This will most likely be with Alaska Airlines which has been great so far while traveling armed.

I'll be heading down to Lake Havasu to attend funeral services for a friend and will be flying in to Las Vegas or Phoenix (unless there is a better option anyone can recommend). I'll be picking up a rental car from either location for the drive to Lake Havasu for services and to pick up my friends gun collection for the drive back to Washington.


Thanks in advance,
Steve

[ShopMonkey]

well, i know brent didn't drive here for class this past weekend

[Brent Yamamoto]

So, you're flying from SEA to PHX or Las Vegas...I assume only with a pistol? And then driving back... I may be telling you things you already know.

Flying from SEA to PHX:

It's pretty easy. I fly with SWA, been awhile since I used Alaska, so details may vary. But I think not much. You check in with airline, declare a firearm. You fill out the card and put it in the suitcase (I'm assuming you have a small locking pistol case within the suitcase). Take the suitcase to Station 2 and TSA checks it out. Then the airline comes and picks it up, you don't have to wait for them and proceed straight to security.

SEA is a pain in the ass but the gun part is easy.

The signage in PHX is good and directs you to baggage. If the gun is in your regular suitcase, it just comes out with the rest of the luggage. If you bring a bigger gun case you have to go to the airline desk and tell them you've got a big gun case. There's an elevator where SWA brings the cases down...I assume Alaska does same but I don't know. Just have to ask them. Arriving and getting your stuff in PHX is no problem, it's a pretty good airport.


You're not flying from PHX, but just for awareness there's a bit of difference from SEA. Go to the airline to check in, declare, etc. Then the airline comes and takes the gun case to TSA, you go with them. Unlike SEA, you can't go back there, but you can watch the proceedings. It's been a bit more difficult than SEA but no biggie. I travel pretty heavy for the classes in AZ so I'm sure you'd have an easier time.

Can't help you with Las Vegas. But SEA to PHX is easy.

[steve_k]

Right on, thanks! Just booked out of Paine Field to Phoenix since the rates were good and it was easy to check in my firearms and suppressors on previous trip.

[LawDog]

I can't add anything to Brent's post other than a +1. PHX is pretty easy. The last time I was in Las Vegas, I worked for the airlines, and traveling with a gun for me at that time was....let's just say 'different.'

[Brent Yamamoto]

That reminds me that I need to try paine field. Never used it before

[OB-1]

Does anyone know of problems flying into and out of Dulles (IAD) with pistol? After the Jan 6 foolishness United and some of the other airlines temporarily stopped accepting firearms for transport into Dulles. United claims to have dropped that restriction. I'll be staying in VA.

[SEANSTRAIT]

As stated, PHX is easy, the airline staff never seem freaked out like at some airports, and escort you to the TSA firearm screening area. On return you go see the reps at the airline baggage assistance area and show your ID, pick up your bag. A few extra steps but no big deal.

[DogDoc]

I've never flown with a gun. What do you do with the ammo?

I assume the gun must be unloaded in the case. Can the ammo be in loose mags in the same locked case or in a separate box in the same locked case.... or does it need to be in its own separate locked case away from the gun or what?

And what if you're going to a training and need to bring several hundred rounds? Maybe the smartest thing to do in that scenario is to buy the ammo when you get there?

[Papa]

I've never flown with a gun. What do you do with the ammo? I assume the gun must be unloaded in the case. Can the ammo be in loose mags in the same locked case or in a separate box in the same locked case.... or does it need to be in its own separate locked case or what?

Different airlines have different policies, and those policies are usually available on the carrier's website. Generally, ammunition does not need to be in a separate locked container. But it may not be "loose," meaning it needs to be in original packaging, or in a container designed to hold each round separately (my interpretation) or even in magazines or speedloaders that, last couple of times I've flown, were in the same locked container as the firearm.

[45Smashemflat]

Do check out the details for your carrier as Papa states. In the past AA specifically stated ammo must be in its “original container.” I had a small carry load out in a MTM plastic box. (20 rounds, as I recall.) when asked if the ammo was in its original containers, I stupidly said “no, it’s packed better than a cardboard box.” My only option at that point was to abandon it/mail it home. Note, this was the 3rd airport on that trip, so clearly there is not a lot of consistency.)

20/20 hindsight, I should have just said yes, as no one really looked.

YMMV

[Papa]

Do check out the details for your carrier as Papa states. In the past AA specifically stated ammo must be in its “original container.” I had a small carry load out in a MTM plastic box. (20 rounds, as I recall.) when asked if the ammo was in its original containers, I stupidly said “no, it’s packed better than a cardboard box.” My only option at that point was to abandon it/mail it home. Note, this was the 3rd airport on that trip, so clearly there is not a lot of consistency.)

20/20 hindsight, I should have just said yes, as no one really looked.

YMMV

Yeah. They're just reading from the script. No one is likely to check the contents of an ammo box, and there's nothing stopping you from, say, subbing your carry load into a box that originally housed hardball.

[45Smashemflat]

Yeah. They're just reading from the script. No one is likely to check the contents of an ammo box, and there's nothing stopping you from, say, subbing your carry load into a box that originally housed hardball.

Yeah, I was the dumbass that morning…

[apamburn]

Different airlines have different policies, and those policies are usually available on the carrier's website. Generally, ammunition does not need to be in a separate locked container. But it may not be "loose," meaning it needs to be in original packaging, or in a container designed to hold each round separately (my interpretation) or even in magazines or speedloaders that, last couple of times I've flown, were in the same locked container as the firearm.

To complicate the matter TSA is inconsistent in different airports too.

I've traveled a lot with firearms.

For a while I didn't have a locking case (don't remember why) and I just kind of knotted a magwell cable lock and locked it around the handle of the case, and that sufficed almost everywhere - until it didn't, maybe flying back from Alaska.

I typically stored ammo in mags (technically separate containers) which worked for multiple flights until TSA in Norfolk VA decided otherwise. Good thing I had a spare empty ammo box.

Other variances include:

Airline wanting firearm disclosure on top of case, or inside case with firearm

Ammo in box in case with firearm vs outside of case with firearm

TSA special inspection of suitcase with wetwipe looking thing with me being present (every time flying out of Utah)

Having to retrieve bag from the airlines luggage office (coming into Orlando)

All that said it's really not a huge deal, and it's fairly easy just expect some inconsistency and go with the flow.

[apamburn]

I've never flown with a gun. What do you do with the ammo?

I assume the gun must be unloaded in the case. Can the ammo be in loose mags in the same locked case or in a separate box in the same locked case.... or does it need to be in its own separate locked case away from the gun or what?

And what if you're going to a training and need to bring several hundred rounds? Maybe the smartest thing to do in that scenario is to buy the ammo when you get there?

Ammo has to be separate from firearm to some degree. Airlines have limits to how much ammo you can fly with usually. Sometimes airline and TSA approve travel with ammo in full mags stored in same case, ammo box in same case, or ammo box loose in suitcase. Just depends on how they interpret the regs at the airport you're in, and which side of the bed the agent woke up on.



Gun must be unloaded and stored in a "locked hard sided container" to which you and you alone possess the key.

I'd never fly with several hundred rounds even if it was permitted. That would eat up your checked baggage weight restriction real fast. Buy ammo online and have it shipped to destination or buy on arrival.