Travel can be hard and when looking at the rules of how to fly with a gun, you’re adding more variables to a stressful process. Bringing a firearm with you on a flight is legal. But while it’s not impossible expect to spend more time checking bags and getting to your gate.
Flying with Firearms
Airport security is delightful. First, you get to wait in line alongside tired people wearing pajama pants. It’s kind of like a slumber party, except there is no spin the bottle because the bottle had to be thrown away beforehand. Then, you get to remove your belt and hold up your pants like they just booked you into jail. Finally, you stand inside a metal detector for a light, uplifting jolt of electromagnetic radiation.
If you’re really lucky a TSA agent will ask to inspect your carry-on luggage. You will consent because you don’t want to be taken to a special room for a while. They will proceed to stir around your suitcase’s neatly folded contents because they think it’s funny.
Why would you want to spoil so much fun by making a little mistake like attempting to take a handgun on your carry-on?
Nah, probably not, right?
That’s why you have to know the rules for flying with firearms on commercial airlines.
How to Fly With Guns: TSA Rules
The TSA has strict rules governing how passengers can travel with firearms. There are three primary reasons for this:
1. Hijacking
2. Terrorism
3. If someone accidentally fires a firearm inside of a pressurized cabin, everyone onboard will get sucked through the bullet hole like it’s a giant Play-Doh Fun Factory, probably
Per the TSA, if you want to transport a firearm it must be:
1. Unloaded
2. Locked in a hard case
3. Placed in checked baggage
You must transport firearm parts and accessories such as magazines, clips, and suppressors in the same fashion as firearms, according to the TSA rules. You may pack shotgun shells and cartridges of any caliber under .75 in the same case as a firearm, usually.
Can You Pack Ammo With Your Firearms?
In most cases, you can pack your ammo in the same case or container as your firearms. All carriers ask you secure the ammo either in the original manufacturer packaging or in ammo boxes that allow separation of the rounds from one-another.
Alaska Airlines
Yes, you can pack ammo in the same container as your firearm but they don’t allow loose pack ammo. This also means you cannot have manufactured packaged loose ammo. It must have a tray.
Allegiant Airlines
Allegiant’s policies do not specify that you must separate ammo from the firearm in a different container/case.
American Airlines
Ammo must be transported in original manufacturer packaging or in boxes specifically for ammo. You can’t store rounds in magazines or clips.
Delta
Yes, you can pack ammo with your firearm. You have to keep the ammo in a manufacturer container. No loose-pack, black powder or incendiary ammo is allowed.
Southwest Airlines
Yes, you can pack ammo with your firearms provided the ammo is in a container and not loose-packed.
United Airlines
You can carry ammo in the same container as your firearm. Ammunition inside magazines or clips is acceptable for travel provided the rounds are secured and removed from the firearm.
Air Koryo
Firearms are strictly prohibited in carry-on or checked baggage, unless you are traveling to a decadent capitalist country with the intention of overthrowing its government.
What To Do at the Airport
If you get this far with your firearm — Congrats you’ve won the TSA lottery! Let’s hope the prize isn’t a pair of handcuffs.
Flying with firearms can be pretty easy, though it can take a little bit of extra time at the airport.
When you check your bag, you have to tell the nice person at the counter what kind of heat you’re packing, and you will have to demonstrate to a TSA agent that the chamber is empty. Just tell them you have a firearm you’d like to declare and check for your flight.
You will sign a Firearm Declaration Tag. This verifies your handgun or long gun is unloaded.
You can not transport propellant, primers, or percussion caps in checked or carry-on baggage. Sure, you can bring ammunition in checked baggage, but you must store it in its manufacturer’s packaging. We suggest you use a fiber, wood, or metal receptacle designed to contain it (like an ammo box.) You should carry the ammo in in a locked, hard-sided case even if you don’t have a firearm with you too.
Rifle scopes are okay to store in carry-on, but replica firearms most certainly are not. The TSA treats Airsoft guns, BB guns, and paintball guns and their ammo like regular firearms.
You are strongly advised not to bring your firearm to a place where it is illegal. (England is well aware that three Texans with their hog hunting guns could take over the island in a couple of days.) If there are restrictions on firearms at your destination, it is your responsibility to comply with them upon arrival. You must be 18 years or older to travel with firearms and ammunition in the United States.
Potential Penalties
If you do bring your firearm to a TSA checkpoint, either on your person or in your carry-on, you better also bring deep pockets. The TSA can fine you anywhere from $1,960 to $9,800. You will furthermore have your Trusted Traveler status and TSA Pre✓ expedited screening benefits taken away, a fate worse than death. They can even arrest you. The TSA could go easier on you if your firearm isn’t loaded or stored near ammo, or if you’re exceptionally attractive.
How to Fly With A Gun
Commercial Airline Firearm Rules
The TSA sets the big rules concerning how to fly with a gun. Each commercial airline can have their own rules too. The primary guideline to keep in mind is how many firearms they allow you to store in your checked baggage.
Firearms Allowed Per Case
Alaska Airlines
No limit to the number or type of firearms per case.
Allegiant Airlines
No limit to the number or type of firearms per case.
American Airlines
No limit to the number or type of firearms per case.
Delta
Up to four rifles and/or shotguns per case; Up to five handguns per case.
Southwest Airlines’ Firearms Policy
Multiple firearms permitted per case. (Limit, if applicable, is not specified.)
United Airlines
Up to five firearms per case.
Air Koryo
Air Koryo strictly prohibits firearms in carry-on or checked baggage, unless you are traveling to a decadent capitalist country with the intention of overthrowing its government.
Please note that the airlines will (gladly) charge you extra fees for additional, oversize, and overweight bags.
How Much Ammo Can I Take?
Nearly all of the major airlines limit the amount of ammunition you are allowed to stow in your checked baggage to 11 pounds.
Alaska Airlines is more lax, however, as they will let you check up to 50 pounds of ammo on domestic flights 001-1999 and 2000-2999.
Here are links to the major airlines’ firearm pages, followed by some of their other rules they have that, to be honest, we think are neat.
You can store live clams in your checked baggage, but the airline is not responsible if they spoil en route to your destination.
There is no fee to bring your cane on board. Can you imagine how many cane-related threats old men would issue to airport employees otherwise?
You may transport an electronic cigarette in your carry-on, but not your checked baggage. You can not use your electronic cigarette onboard, however, even though it’s right there, tantalizingly close, that sweet promise of life-giving nicotine only inches away and you can’t have it.
● Delta
You can not travel with a javelin to Dublin or Amsterdam. Christmas trees are okay, as are antlers, but special fees may apply.
You can’t bring a overboard on the plane, cargo hold or elsewhere. You will have to line up another mode of transportation at your destination.
You can check one set of oars and up to three bowling balls. You can take your own life jacket as carry-on, which would make you a well-prepared traveler indeed. Flare guns, unfortunately, are not allowed in the cabin.
● Air Koryo (We can’t get this website to load!)
The official airline of North Korea is the most glorious airline company in the world, a marvel of modern air travel as conceived by Sun of the Communist Future Kim Jong-un.
Straighten up and Fly Right
Traveling with firearms on commercial airlines is easy so long as you have an understanding of the rules and a little common sense. Invest in a hard gun case with thick foam padding to protect your valuable weapon from overzealous baggage handlers. Get a solid lock as well. Finally, make absolute certain that your firearm is not loaded before you pack it away. Don’t forget to check the chamber!
Once everything is square, you can fly with confidence. You know how to fly with a gun and you’ll be able to defend yourself, win that match, or hunt when you land. If you are bringing your ear protection as well, be sure to pack that on your carry-on! There’s no better feeling than totally ignoring the lengthy safety preamble to every takeoff. To this day we do not know how to operate a seatbelt.
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