I'm getting ready to book my flight for an Oct. Wyoming hunt and AA seems to be the cheapest by $125 over the other airlines.Anyone have any bad experiences lately with them concerning traveling with a rifle ?? I've flown Delta, Northwest, and America West, but never American.Thanks.

I flew to LA and back this month on AA. I took a Colt 223 Commando and 3 Colt 45 ACP pistols.
No problems.
My bags were seroiusly overweight on the way back, but I was not charged any extra.

On the way over the TSA did have a good time looking at my stuff.

I flew AA w/ guns twice last year and had no issues.

-Lou

That's good to hear for me. I'm leaving next week for Alaska - Sheep and goat and flying AA. Hopefully, I have a similar positive experience.

Did you have to put trigger locks on the guns? I am taking a few rifles to NM in a couple of months. Seems like I read somewhwere you had to lock the triggers. I didn't have to do that the last time I flew with guns in 2002.

Catmandu

I have a copy of the TSA regulations and they don't specify a trigger lock. However, they do state that you should check with the airline for any other restrictions they might have.
Paul B.

On four recent flights (in US on NW & Delta) the procedure was always diffirent. Some times TSA checks firearms at the counter and other times they check them "in the back" somewhere (may be x-raying them). TSA seems to like bolts removed from the guns so I remove and zip tie them to the sling and tape a business card around the barrel to prevent loss if the case is opened. Also gun cases are no longer picked up through the baggage office but come out with the golf clubs. Last year after waiting at the baggage office to claim my gun case I was informed they are handled as general luggage unless specifically insured and found it sitting off on the side by the "ski and golf club" door in general baggage (and no one checked my claim ticket when leaving). Hell of a way to handle weapons. Do your best to CYA as the "rules" seem subject to change.

I flew to the DRSS hunting in DFW from DCA on AA and had ZERO issues--and this is flying out of the nation's capitol!

Just declare your guns at the counter, sign the form and stick it in your gun case.

Coming back, the TSA guys in DFW opened the case and spent a few extra minutes checking out my DR--probably more out of curiosity than anything.

haver have had any problems with american - now delta - thats another story

I fly all the time with guns and have never had a problem on any of the airlines...I fly AA, Delta and KLM a lot both domestically and foriegn...Carry 11 pounds of ammo in your suit case in factory or factory like boxes, not with your guns, and guns in a gun case..never a problem....Most folks that have problems create them...

Due to a drop in fares today, I ended up on Northwest. I got good flights out and back from Hartford to Denver for $237 including all fees. The best I could do with a travela gent was $274 plus the extra fees bringing it up to about $315 or so. I've flown Northwest before, just never with guns. I hope it all works out ok.

I have several friends that work for Northwest. They are on the verge of a strike by several different unions which would definetly ruin your travel plans. Northwest is cheap for a reason.

I never had any problem with the airlines, but at the airport in Denver while transferring planes, they threw a bitch fit over half a bottle of bore solvent in my cleaning kit. They said they had to get a supervisor,as it was flammable, I said sure just like the 400 cans of hair spray that are already in the plane's hold. Rather than wait for a supervisor I told them to throw it away. This was in a kit that had already been to BC and back and made a trip to Namibia and back the year before. I could have put it in my carry on bag and nobody would have cared. I had some people behind me who were on their way home from shooting prairie dogs in SD, they raised hell with them too, since they had some loose rounds. Turned out they were dummies used to set up their seating dies with that didn't have powder or a primer in them, those are pretty dangerous.

quote:

BUTCHLOC - never have had any problems with American - now Delta - thats another story.

Same here.

L.W.

i live outside detroit; it is their hub. we call them northworst. they went on stike yeserday. i strongly suggest you fed ex your firearms to a sporting goods dealer with the help of yur outfitter...insure it big time...allow at least 2 weeks in advance to dust off any problems before the hunt.