Flying and landing in Denver

[Inspector Kemp]

Interested to know from anyone here who has recent experience flying out of a CA (Bay Area) airport on Southwest checking a bag with a declared firearm. My final destination is Colorado and while I do have a valid CCW for CA plus AZ and UT, CO is a no-go for carry.

Questions are:
1. Any issues with the check-in process in CA on Southwest that I should be prepared for.
2. Any issues in CO that I can expect when claiming my luggage containing a firearm.

I will not carry in CO, the firearm will remain secured in lockbox in luggage until I reach Wyoming (final, final destination).
Firearm is a G26 with modified sights and trigger.

This will be my first time traveling by air with a firearm, so trying to gauge if I should forego it altogether.

 

[vacateCA]

Curious to hear what others say.

You flying out of SFO, SJC or OAK?

 

[Inspector Kemp]

I’ll be flying out of OAK.

 

[ikeo1]

I don’t know out of OAK but SFO you just need to go to the counter and let them know. They’ll take you to an area to check in your firearm and include the inspection card

Do not use a TSA lock on the firearm case.
Use your own lock
I recommend putting in AirTag in the case
No ammo in your mags
No mags in your firearm

No experience going to CO but in SFO when I returned they didn’t give a crap. It came in as normal luggage. It’s mainly inspected on the way out not when they unload.

 

[Inspector Kemp]

I don’t know out of OAK but SFO you just need to go to the counter and let them know. They’ll take you to an area to check in your firearm and include the inspection card

Do not use a TSA lock on the firearm case.
Use your own lock
I recommend putting in AirTag in the case
No ammo in your mags
No mags in your firearm

No experience going to CO but in SFO when I returned they didn’t give a crap. It came in as normal luggage. It’s mainly inspected on the way out not when they unload.

Thanks! Roger on the non-TSA lock - I’d planned to use my metal lockbox, so no worries there. Also planned to put an AirTag in the luggage, wasn’t sure it would work inside the metal case, but will certainly give it a try.

No ammo in mags … interesting … the TSA site indicates “magazines whether loaded or empty must be securely boxed or included in a hard sided case containing an unloaded firearm”. Then it goes on to state “must be boxed in a box designed for ammo” and finally “cannot use magazine for packing ammunition unless they completely enclose the ammunition”. Mixed messages there - could I throw ten rounds loose in the lockbox or leave them in the mag and empty in the inspection if needed?

I try hard to avoid being hassled and would prefer to buttoned up from the start - really appreciate the direction.

 

[skb720]

I am a frequent flyer from Sacramento to Vegas on Southwest and the check-in counter agents are all very chill and know the process well, goes very smoothly. I put firearms in a locked pelican case with my own lock and empty mags. I've never flown with ammunition however. Always buy ammo in Vegas when I get there. When you check-in, I just tell them I am checking in a firearm, they hand me a self adhesive card to fill out with my name, address, contact phone number and then stick to my locked case. Then they will tell me to hang around the counter for about 20 minutes in case TSA needs to talk to me. After 20 minutes I go up to the counter and they will signal good to go, then that's the end of it. Very smooth easy process. I don't fly any other airlines, so cannot comment on other airlines, but Southwest is very good at it.

 

[Inspector Kemp]

I am a frequent flyer from Sacramento to Vegas on Southwest and the check-in counter agents are all very chill and know the process well, goes very smoothly. I put firearms in a locked pelican case with my own lock and empty mags. I've never flown with ammunition however. Always buy ammo in Vegas when I get there. When you check-in, I just tell them I am checking in a firearm, they hand me a self adhesive card to fill out with my name, address, contact phone number and then stick to my locked case. Then they will tell me to hang around the counter for about 20 minutes in case TSA needs to talk to me. After 20 minutes I go up to the counter and they will signal good to go, then that's the end of it. Very smooth easy process. I don't fly any other airlines, so cannot comment on other airlines, but Southwest is very good at it.

Super, thanks! I figure I will ditch the ammo to remove that variable. I appreciate the feedback and experience.

 

[ikeo1]

Thanks! Roger on the non-TSA lock - I’d planned to use my metal lockbox, so no worries there. Also planned to put an AirTag in the luggage, wasn’t sure it would work inside the metal case, but will certainly give it a try.

No ammo in mags … interesting … the TSA site indicates “magazines whether loaded or empty must be securely boxed or included in a hard sided case containing an unloaded firearm”. Then it goes on to state “must be boxed in a box designed for ammo” and finally “cannot use magazine for packing ammunition unless they completely enclose the ammunition”. Mixed messages there - could I throw ten rounds loose in the lockbox or leave them in the mag and empty in the inspection if needed?

I try hard to avoid being hassled and would prefer to buttoned up from the start - really appreciate the direction.

Put the ammo in boxes/hard containers for minimal issues. Don't go with the FAFO model.

 

[Inspector Kemp]

Thanks all - feel like I’ve got a plan here. Appreciate all the input!

 

[smoothy8500]

Thanks all - feel like I’ve got a plan here. Appreciate all the input!

Did you also look at the airlines rules on firearms and ammunition in luggage? There are some that may require specific things on ammo like original manufacture box, or separate box.

Edit: I see you may just buy ammo at the destination.

Have a good trip!

 

[elemental]

Interested to know from anyone here who has recent experience flying out of a CA (Bay Area) airport on Southwest checking a bag with a declared firearm. My final destination is Colorado and while I do have a valid CCW for CA plus AZ and UT, CO is a no-go for carry.

Questions are:
1. Any issues with the check-in process in CA on Southwest that I should be prepared for.
2. Any issues in CO that I can expect when claiming my luggage containing a firearm.

I will not carry in CO, the firearm will remain secured in lockbox in luggage until I reach Wyoming (final, final destination).
Firearm is a G26 with modified sights and trigger.

This will be my first time traveling by air with a firearm, so trying to gauge if I should forego it altogether.

Overall, there should be no issue. The rules are managed by the airlines so check their policy, but in general the gun needs to be unloaded in a locked hard-sided container and the ammo needs to be boxed. Note this hard sided container can be put inside your other bag. Ammo has a limit normally by weight if I remember correctly.



As far as what to expect it’s always different based on the employee working that day and what changes the airport has made, but it’s all basically the same.

• You declare it at check-in. They may or may not want to verify that it’s unloaded.
• You either need to take it to the special TSA screening area where they will want to open and inspect it or have you wait around the check-in counter to see if you need to meet them somewhere to inspect it. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t. It’s important to note that you should use your own locks and not TSA ones.
• Pickup is also all over the map. Sometimes it’s at the normal baggage claim, sometimes it’s at oversized baggage claim, and sometimes they hold it at claim services so they can check ID.

All in all, it’s not really any different than checking a normal bag. Maybe give it an extra 10-20 minutes on check-in.



The only issue I’ve ever heard of has to do with the gun not being legal in either the origin or destination state, but that’s not relevant here.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I don’t know out of OAK but SFO you just need to go to the counter and let them know. They’ll take you to an area to check in your firearm and include the inspection card

Do not use a TSA lock on the firearm case.
Use your own lock
I recommend putting in AirTag in the case
No ammo in your mags
No mags in your firearm

No experience going to CO but in SFO when I returned they didn’t give a crap. It came in as normal luggage. It’s mainly inspected on the way out not when they unload.

My experience as well when flying out of SFO. It was remarkably straightforward.

 

[H1LcStB3r]

Super, thanks! I figure I will ditch the ammo to remove that variable. I appreciate the feedback and experience.

I looked into bringing several firearms and ammo to CO on a Southwest flight. I did the research and understood the packing and declaration requirements. Ultimately, the family members I was staying with said “no” to keeping guns in their residence, so I left them at home. It was a good call that saved me the hassle, but at least I know how to travel with one moving forward.

To add and answer your question about packing ammunition, keeping it in the retail box is sufficient and simplest. You can also pack the box in the same locked container as the firearm, with an 11-lb limit on ammunition and its packaging.

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Even then, I’ll agree with the others that it’s easier to buy ammo at your destination. It’s probably cheaper too.

 

[Experimentalist]

... No experience going to CO but in SFO when I returned they didn’t give a crap. It came in as normal luggage. It’s mainly inspected on the way out not when they unload.

I too flew with a pistol into SFO.

Upon deplaning I moved fast as I could to the checked luggage pickup point. No restroom, just move.

Normally I have to wait a good 15-ish minutes for my bags to show up, and that after a restroom break. Upon arrival I discovered the case containing my pistol was already on the carousel.

 

[riceman]

Harbor Freight has these and they are just as good as Pelican cases. I have a yellow one and use permanent marker on both sides with my last name and cel#. Dang, I have never had my gun case come out on the carousel, I fly SW, I always have to go to luggage return area and show ID to pick it up. My flights have just been to Montana and San Diego out of Sac.

 

[FriedChickies]

I too flew with a pistol into SFO.

Upon deplaning I moved fast as I could to the checked luggage pickup point. No restroom, just move.

Normally I have to wait a good 15-ish minutes for my bags to show up, and that after a restroom break. Upon arrival I discovered the case containing my pistol was already on the carousel.

Oh god that’s scary. I thought there was a place to show ID and pick up your checked firearms?

I’m planning on flying out to a couple competitions this year and need to read up on how to all works.