Last week my wife and I flew out of OKC for our anniversary in New York City. I had read all the laws and checked both American Airlines and the TSA websites before the trip. I bought a key locked metal safe from Academy for $19.99 that had a security cable allowing me to loop it around the inside of my suitcase so the case couldn't be removed. I packed my unloaded Kahr PM9, two empty magazines and a factory box of twenty rounds inside the metal safe and locked it with the key. Then I packed the whole thing inside of my luggage that was to be checked.
When we got to the counter at 0400, the lady at the counter was super pleasant. She asked me to verbally confirm that it was an unloaded handgun then had me sign a declaration form which was placed inside of the luggage. She never asked to see the safe or gun whatsoever. The bag was tagged and sent along with my wife's checked luggage. The bag made it through our connections in Chicago and I picked it up from the baggage carousel in New York City without a problem.
When we flew out from New York City on Saturday afternoon at 1400 it was way different. I had re-packed my bag just the same and declared the unloaded handgun in my luggage at the counter. The lady was very professional and stepped away to make a "phone call." While she was on the phone, she stepped back to me and asked if I was an LEO, I told her yes and that put her at ease. It made me nervous when she shut down her counter to wait but did not say what we were waiting on. Soon two uniformed NYPD Officers showed up and were joined by a third.
The contact officer was nice and confirmed that I was checked an unloaded handgun. He then asked for my identification including driver's license and LE cards. He took down my information including my cell phone then asked to see my gun. We were still at the counter but I opened my bag and fished out the safe. He asked me to open it and watched as I produced the key which is supposed to remain only in my possession. He wanted to record the make, model and serial number but did not have me show it was unloaded nor did he look at the ammunition. He had me lock it up again and the ticket agent had me sign the same type of declaration form as I had done in OKC. Then we all waited until a porter came to assist and he carried the bag while we rode down to the lower levels of La Guardia. It was down to just the Officer, my wife and I by that time.
Downstairs we waited while the porter and Officer went with my bag to another room to meet with TSA I believe. Soon afterwards the officer returned and walked back with us upstairs. He was really nice and professional the entire time. We had been given our tickets before going downstairs and we were ready to go get a bite to eat before catching our flight.
It was interested that I did not have any "inspected by TSA" notices inside of my bag after either flight.
Andrew
When we got to the counter at 0400, the lady at the counter was super pleasant. She asked me to verbally confirm that it was an unloaded handgun then had me sign a declaration form which was placed inside of the luggage. She never asked to see the safe or gun whatsoever. The bag was tagged and sent along with my wife's checked luggage. The bag made it through our connections in Chicago and I picked it up from the baggage carousel in New York City without a problem.
When we flew out from New York City on Saturday afternoon at 1400 it was way different. I had re-packed my bag just the same and declared the unloaded handgun in my luggage at the counter. The lady was very professional and stepped away to make a "phone call." While she was on the phone, she stepped back to me and asked if I was an LEO, I told her yes and that put her at ease. It made me nervous when she shut down her counter to wait but did not say what we were waiting on. Soon two uniformed NYPD Officers showed up and were joined by a third.
The contact officer was nice and confirmed that I was checked an unloaded handgun. He then asked for my identification including driver's license and LE cards. He took down my information including my cell phone then asked to see my gun. We were still at the counter but I opened my bag and fished out the safe. He asked me to open it and watched as I produced the key which is supposed to remain only in my possession. He wanted to record the make, model and serial number but did not have me show it was unloaded nor did he look at the ammunition. He had me lock it up again and the ticket agent had me sign the same type of declaration form as I had done in OKC. Then we all waited until a porter came to assist and he carried the bag while we rode down to the lower levels of La Guardia. It was down to just the Officer, my wife and I by that time.
Downstairs we waited while the porter and Officer went with my bag to another room to meet with TSA I believe. Soon afterwards the officer returned and walked back with us upstairs. He was really nice and professional the entire time. We had been given our tickets before going downstairs and we were ready to go get a bite to eat before catching our flight.
It was interested that I did not have any "inspected by TSA" notices inside of my bag after either flight.
Andrew
