Flying out of Newark airport with pistol

[Sticky Grips 4]

Hi everyone. I am taking a trip to fl and would like to bring a pistol with me. I've looked around at various sources to try and find the best way to go about this.

 

I am considering checking a pistol in my checked baggage. Of course the case will be locked with an additional lock run through the action of the pistol.

 

Anyone have experience with this procedure? Tips, hints, advise would be appreciated.

 

I am also considering fedexing the pistol to myself...but have to look at the legality of it.

 

Thanks!!

[redwings9 5]

see below, sorry all thumbs

[Pew Pew Plates 358]

Check with your airlines website. They all list their required procedures.

[redwings9 5]

Stickey I have done this on several occassions when not on offical travel for work, what I do is place the weapon in a container that can be locked and cable ran throught the spine of the luggage bag that I use, ammo is stored apart from weapon, I leave the empty magazines in the locked container. You must declare the weapon and it will be checked and bag gets tagged then you take it down to the luggage xray and it gets scanned then hopefully it is there when you arrive, Have had good luck so far....... Never left or traveled thru CONUS from Newark so cannot help there. Do recommend that you wait for your bag to be xrayed and then put on the conveyor. They will tell you you are done, but wait until it leaves the xray area. Good luck

[Sticky Grips 4]

Hi everyone. I know typically checking it is not a problem...but I've heard horror stories...maybe myths...maybe not about newark.

[MrP 81]

Hi everyone. I know typically checking it is not a problem...but I've heard horror stories...maybe myths...maybe not about newark.

 

They are most definitely about Newark. Get there an hour earlier than you had originally planned to, in case something takes a bit longer checking the gun.

[Karatenurse 11]

I left out of Newark a couple of years ago with no issues,

 

The story goes like this.

 

Showed up early and checked in at Airline A. was supposed to have a layover memphis (cheaper flight).

After checking in handgun and placing tag in case, locked everything back up, I was told I can upgrade to a direct flight to Ft. Lauderdale, because of a storm. Catch was that they were putting us another Airline.

 

So we walked down to Airline B. I explained that I had a hand gun. TSA asked if the tag had been placed in the case already, which I said yes. The guy said they would just run it through the x-ray then I would be good to go.

 

Coming back we still had to use Airline A with a layover, No problems checking it in, no Xray, and transfer was no problem.

 

Bill T.

[Sticky Grips 4]

I believe I am ok under nj law. Correct ? I am trying to find the exact exclusion that makes this type of travel legal.

[mipafox 438]

I don't know about NJ law. If it were me, I would suggest flying out of Allentown, PA. If you show up 1 hour early, you will make your flight. Heck, I've shown up 20 minutes early and made my flight. You park right in front of the terminal and it costs $7/day to park. And, guaranteed, they won't give a crap about your handguns. Maybe in Newark they don't, but I just don't like the idea.

 

As far as what I do for the TSA is concerned (not NJ law) - If I am simply taking a couple handguns for self-defense, and not planning on doing any shooting, I pack the handgun(s) and the ammo together in a plastic pistol case that I lock with a padlock. TSA says you should not be able to easily pry it open by hand. So, when I only pack one handgun and two boxes of ammo in a Glock case, I throw some washers on the lock hasp so that it keeps it locked tight. But I don't think they would care. They DO care that there is no loose ammo or ammo in mags unless the mags have covers on them.

 

Also, your airline may have additional restrictions. Check the TSA website and the website for your airline. And, In my opinion, fly out of Allentown. No gun worries and it will probably be cheaper. You will probably have an extra connection for a long flight but you will probably arrive at your destination the same time you would have if you left your house at the same time to fly out of Newark. No lines, park at the terminal and walk 100 yards to go inside, nice people, no mobs, nobody is going to mug you or steal your car, never any worry about your guns, no smelly people, no douchebags, no panhandlers, cheap parking, what's not to like?

[Iggyort 44]

I left out of Newark a couple of years ago with no issues,

 

The story goes like this.

 

Showed up early and checked in at Airline A. was supposed to have a layover memphis (cheaper flight).

After checking in handgun and placing tag in case, locked everything back up, I was told I can upgrade to a direct flight to Ft. Lauderdale, because of a storm. Catch was that they were putting us another Airline.

 

So we walked down to Airline B. I explained that I had a hand gun. TSA asked if the tag had been placed in the case already, which I said yes. The guy said they would just run it through the x-ray then I would be good to go.

 

Coming back we still had to use Airline A with a layover, No problems checking it in, no Xray, and transfer was no problem.

 

Bill T.

 

 

Same story here.

 

Flew out of Newark back in May 2011 with two 1911s in a locked TSA approved bag.

 

Arrived at the Continental counter two hours prior to the flight to St. Louis. Once at the counter, I declared that I was traveling with Handguns. The counter person excused herself to get the FAA Red Tag that go into the Bag. I was asked to fill out the tags and put them in the TSA approved bag. I was reluctant to open the bag in front of the “Sheep” but the tags went in regardless. I was then escorted to the X-Ray Machine to verify that the guns were unloaded. The TSA guys gave me the ok sign and told me to enjoy my Flight. The only ID I was asked to show was my Driver License. Please note the PAPD was not called!!!

 

The flight back was about the same but the counter person was curious about the type of gun I was flying with.

 

Recommendations:

• 
   
  
• Have a copy of your FID and your PPP for the Guns in question.
  
• Put your TSA approved Gun Bag inside of another bag. It will draw less attention from the people handling the luggage.
  
• Do not wear or put anything on the bags that “YELLS” Gun
  

Good luck!!!

[mipafox 438]

Recommendations:

• 
   
  
• Have a copy of your FID and your PPP for the Guns in question.
  
• Put your TSA approved Gun Bag inside of another bag. It will draw less attention from the people handling the luggage.
  
• Do not wear or put anything on the bags that “YELLS” Gun
  

Good luck!!!

 

There is no TSA approved bag. And, even if I'm wrong and there is, you are not required to use it. Go to the TSA website, they have a webpage with the requirements and a few photos showing what they want to see and what they don't want to see.

[Sticky Grips 4]

Hi guys. Thanks for the help. I didn't want to run the risk of dealing with the papd, so I decided to get ny pistol down there via contract courier. Thanks again.

[GAPP 11]

Check up on TSA regs here:

 

TSA Regs

 

And here is an example of the type of thing you need to look up for your specific carrier:

 

Delta Regs

 

I traveled to UT last November and the TSA agent I dealt with was a nightmare. I would advice printing out all the laws you can regarding what you are traveling with. If the agent tries to pull some "do you have a permit to carry this gun in NJ" BS, you can show him the specific statute and what his job duties are. Btw, traveling back from UT was totally different... much much easier in free america. Good luck!!