YankeeTarheel said:
Remember: any locks on checked luggage must be TSA-compatible, which means the TSA can open it. If the lock is not compatible, they WILL cut it off--and you'll be lucky if they zip-tie it instead.
I have been told two different rules:
Rule 1: The lock on the actually gun case CANNOT be TSA compliant - it must be a rugged, non TSA lock. (Any lock on the outside of the luggage MUST be TSA compliant.)
Rule 2: The lock on the case can be EITHER TSA compliant or non compliant. (Any lock on the outside of the luggage MUST be TSA compliant.)
In the past three years, I have flown with a handgun 6 times. Each time the internal case was locked with a non TSA compliant lock. I was using a metal case, but I lost the key, so last time, I flew with a hard plastic Pelican case and the TSA inspector in Utah did not like it. They tried to pry it open hard by hand. They barely let me check my luggage.
Airports vary widely in how much actual inspection they do.
San Francisco: wait at a special counter; TSA agent comes and looks at the locked unload gun in the case; agent does not touch anything; you lock it up and they ship it
Salt Lake City: wait at a special counter; TSA agent comes and handles everything; swabs the luggage all over in every nook and cranny; tests the swab; tugs on the case; finally lets you lock the case and the luggage
Las Vegas: go to the special services checkin; the airline agent DOES NOT want to see your firearm; sign the little slip saying it is unloaded; they send it through ask ask you to wait for 10 minutes in case TSA wants to talk to you; never had TSA come and talk to me; go to flight
Santa Fe, NM: (tiny airport) one checkin agent, tell her you have a firearm - agent goes pale in the face; TSA agent gets out a checklist - looks at firearm in locked case, asks if it is unloaded; ships the luggage
IMPORTANT: Recently, they started to ask if ALL MY AMMO is packaged in the original factory container. So I now only carry in the retail box - seems stupid to me because many of the retail boxes are just cardboard. Apparently this is to keep you from carrying loaded magazines.