Traveling by air to D.C. with firearms

[mrstang01]

I know there's another thread about flying with a gun, but judging by some of the comments, it looks like it might get either locked or way off-track.

A buddy of mine is flying to see his sister for Christmas, leaving Tuesday. After some discussion he decided to not ship his normal carry handgun to her address (in V.A.) as his KY concealed carry isn't recognized there.

With the threat level raised yesterday, he called me to consult if he should try to check a weapon on his flight. He's having second thoughts about being away from home without a PDW. Unfortunately, his sister's an anti, so he can't just borrow one while there.

He's flying U.S. Air, if that makes a difference. I told him I'd see what you guys think and let him know.

Thanks!

[Bob Locke]

Since he can't carry it concealed, is he planning to carry it openly? (If he IS planning on carrying concealed even though his permit isn't valid, please don't say so.)

If he's NOT planning on carrying it at all, why bother?

As to getting the firearm checked in his luggage, I doubt he'll have any problem. I've flown in and out of Dulles and National with a handgun checked in my luggage, and never had a problem.

[mrstang01]

Thanks Bob, that's good info.

[Weimadog]

I could be wrong on this one, but it appears that the Ronald Reagan National Airport, formerly known as "National Airport" is in Virginia.

Virginia has CCW.

Weimadog

[mrstang01]

True, but as noted, VA does not recognize KY's concealed carry.

[peashooter]

And don't even think about going into DC with it.

[Chris Rhines]

I could be wrong on this one, but it appears that the Ronald Reagan National Airport, formerly known as "National Airport" is in Virginia.

You are. Reagan National Airport is in Southwest DC. Do not fly into Reagan National, with or without guns. It's the worst airport in the area.

You might have been thinking about Washington Dulles. It's in Virginia. Baltimore-Washington International is in Maryland. I've flown into and out of both Dulles and BWI without problems, but stay away from National.

- Chris

[mrstang01]

I believe that's incorrect, from the official website:

National: National airport is located in Virginia. Federal law and Virginia Code both state the airport is "situated within the Commonwealth of Virginia" (see 59 Stat. 552 (1945); 1950 Va. Code Sec 7.1-10 (1983)). There are also court decisions holding the airport is located in Virginia (see Pfister v. Director, Office of Workers Compensation, etc., 675 F.2d 1314, 1315-16 (D.C. Cir. 1982); and Bryan v. District of Columbia Unemployment Compensation Board, 342 A.2d 45 (D.C. Ct. App. 1975)).

[stevelyn]

Hmm...........Elevated terror alert, VA does not recognized KY CHL, near DC in Northern VA, sister an anti?

I don't know, may just be me, but it seems there are more reasons to stay home or choose another destination. With an elevated terror alert, anywhere around DC is the last place I would want to be. Hate to get stampeded by sheeple if anything happens.

[AJ Dual]

I admit that I don't have a political boundary map in front of me. But having flown in and out of Reagan at least 75 times, I do know it's on the west side of the Potomac and borders Alexandria, which is Virginia.

It's possible that the land Reagan is situated on is annexed by D.C. but everything else on that side of the river is Virginia.

[peashooter]

"It's possible that the land Reagan is situated on is annexed by D.C. but everything else on that side of the river is Virginia."

No, National is in the Commonwealth of Va. The land that is now the City of Arlington was once part of the District but after the Civil War the Federal Gov't had done nothing with the land so Va asked for it back, and it was returned. National is and has always been on Va soil.
I lived in Va for many years and worked in Dodge City aka D.C.

[jojosdad]

What exactly is the procedure for traveling with a pistol via air? Do you have to check it w/pilots, or stash it in your checked baggage? Do you have to notify the airline if you're putting it in your checked bag? I have a CCW (I live in the gun-friendly northern part of the PRK) and am thinking of flying down to visit relatives in the L.A. area.

[Bob Locke]

For checking your firearm with your baggage, you'll need a hard case that can be locked, and (of course) a lock.

When you get to the counter, declare to the person at the counter that you are checking a firearm with your checked baggage. Produce the case and unlock it, show them that the gun is unloaded (I generally disassemble my slide or bolt, depending on what I'm checking), and they'll give you a form to sign verifying that the firearm is unloaded (and PLEASE make sure that it is prior to arriving at the counter). That's it.

Once the form is signed, it goes into the case with the firearm, and you lock it up. Then it goes into your checked bag (or, if it's a rifle/shotgun case, it goes straight to the conveyor belt) and onto the plane.

If you want to transport ammo, I'm pretty sure it has to be in a separate bag from the firearm.

[mrstang01]

Ammo only has to be separate from the gun, and most airlines say it must be in original packaging.

[Majic]

Since he is flying in to the D.C. area I assume his sister lives in northern Va. Even though Va. has open carry laws, the closer you get to the D.C. area the more warped their thinking seem to get. It seems like a problem just getting it in his sister's house, much less having it in public. He's about to thread on thin ice.

[Jeff OTMG]

I flew this AM under the hightened security. The only difference that I noticed was that the airline counter person put big green felt tip marks all over my boarding pass and then wrote 'firearms checked' on the face of the boarding pass. They have never done that before. TSA marked my name and date in red felt tip at the ID checkpoint and I did not have to go through the 'anal probe' line at the metal detectors.

[Johnny Guest]

I flew this AM under the hightened security.

Jeff, I'm not clear about this - - Did you fly to DC. (If so, which airport?) Or to OK City, or Bergstrom, or elsewhere?

Thanks,
Johnny

[tyme]

Jeff, were you "randomly" selected for a bag/shoe search at the gate? Did you notice any other unique treatment that could be attributed to your boarding pass's markings?

[Jeff OTMG]

I was flying out of OKC. I went through the line like everyone else. I have had the random search thing done before where there is a mark like this 'SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS' on the boarding pass. Then I get the orange card and go to the anal probe line. This time was the first time the firearm was noted on the boarding pass and green highlights added at the ticket counter.