quote:

That is exactly what I showed the TSA manager. His interpretation is that TSA locks are mandatory.

quote:

On my recent return trip from Zimbabwe I flew Emirates to Houston then United to Denver. I had my rifles in a tuffpak with no TSA lock. When I was checking in with United they wanted to take my case without TSA inspecting the rifles; I explained that this was not the correct procedure, but they assured me the process had changed since I was coming in from an international flight. This didn't make much sense to me, because it is not TSA inspecting the rifles on a foreign flight, but they were adamant, so I went along with it.This all happened three hours prior to my flight departing. I was flying first class and was literally about to hand the gate agent my boarding pass when I was paged. It turns out I was correct and I needed to go back and let TSA inspect my rifles. Needless to say, I missed the flight. I was furious. TSA was supposed to meet me at baggage claim, but they were not there. There was a United employee with my rifle case who tried to re-check it on the flight until I showed her TSA had written in red on the tag that it was not authorized to fly. I asked her who I could speak with and she did not know and didn't care enough to even try to find out.I took my tuffpak and went back to the ticketing area and found a manager, the manager was finally able to get TSA to come up and inspect my tuffpak; I gave my key and tuffpak to a TSA agent because they said they had to inspect it privately and I was not allowed in their area. The TSA manager who was accompanying the agent told me the reason I was delayed was because my tuffpak did not meet TSA regulations and that a TSA lock was mandatory on all rifle cases. I told him he was wrong and questioned how I knew more about his job than he did, that didn't go over well and while he was lecturing me on his knowledge of the regulations, I pulled up the TSA regulations on my iPhone and showed them to him. He just turned and walked away like nothing had happened and didn't acknowledge anything. I also showed the regulations to the United manager and she agreed with me. She said the TSA in Terminal C had actually sent a memo to United the previous week stating that they would no longer come up to inspect rifle cases, but would inspect them at their discretion when they were checked. She suggested that if I am transiting GWB with rifles that I use Terminal B because that is where TSA in located and they will inspect rifles checked in Terminal B. United got me a first class ticket on the next flight, but I'm still disgusted by the whole situation.

quote:

Only the passenger should retain the key or combination to the lock unless TSA personnel request the key to open the firearm container to ensure compliance with TSA regulations. You may use any brand or type of lock to secure your firearm case, including TSA-recognized locks.

quote:

quote:
Only the passenger should retain the key or combination to the lock unless TSA personnel request the key to open the firearm container to ensure compliance with TSA regulations. You may use any brand or type of lock to secure your firearm case, including TSA-recognized locks.


If a T.S.A recognized lock is a T.S.A. Aproved Lock this Rule COMPLETELY Contradicts it self?

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
I always put TSA locks in my gun case in case they cut mine off. Say what you will, if they want to inspect it and cannot contact you (like you are in an airline club for example), they will cut the locks.

Since TSA never replaced the rod on my standard aluminum case some years ago, I now have five places to lock it - I sometimes use a combination of my locks and TSA locks.

Bottom line: what is your plan if your locks are cut off?

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
I always put TSA locks in my gun case in case they cut mine off. Say what you will, if they want to inspect it and cannot contact you (like you are in an airline club for example), they will cut the locks.

Since TSA never replaced the rod on my standard aluminum case some years ago, I now have five places to lock it - I sometimes use a combination of my locks and TSA locks.

Bottom line: what is your plan if your locks are cut off?

That is a violation of Federal regulations:

49 CFR 1540.111(c)(2):

(c)In checked baggage. A passenger may not transport or offer for transport in checked baggage or in baggage carried in an inaccessible cargo hold under § 1562.23 of this chapter:

(1) Any loaded firearm(s).
(2) Any unloaded firearm(s) unless -
(i) The passenger declares to the aircraft operator, either orally or in writing, before checking the baggage, that the passenger has a firearm in his or her bag and that it is unloaded;
(ii) The firearm is unloaded;
(iii) The firearm is carried in a hard-sided container; and
(iv) The container in which it is carried is locked, and only the passenger retains the key or combination.



I have a set of padlocks on my case that only I have the key to. Inside the case I have four more identical locks (keyed the same) with a big sign that says "If the padlocks were cut to access this case, please re-lock the case with the locks under this sign"

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
I always put TSA locks in my gun case in case they cut mine off. Say what you will, if they want to inspect it and cannot contact you (like you are in an airline club for example), they will cut the locks.

Since TSA never replaced the rod on my standard aluminum case some years ago, I now have five places to lock it - I sometimes use a combination of my locks and TSA locks.

Bottom line: what is your plan if your locks are cut off?

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
I always put TSA locks in my gun case in case they cut mine off. Say what you will, if they want to inspect it and cannot contact you (like you are in an airline club for example), they will cut the locks.

Since TSA never replaced the rod on my standard aluminum case some years ago, I now have five places to lock it - I sometimes use a combination of my locks and TSA locks.

Bottom line: what is your plan if your locks are cut off?

That is a violation of Federal regulations:

49 CFR 1540.111(c)(2):

(c)In checked baggage. A passenger may not transport or offer for transport in checked baggage or in baggage carried in an inaccessible cargo hold under § 1562.23 of this chapter:

(1) Any loaded firearm(s).
(2) Any unloaded firearm(s) unless -
(i) The passenger declares to the aircraft operator, either orally or in writing, before checking the baggage, that the passenger has a firearm in his or her bag and that it is unloaded;
(ii) The firearm is unloaded;
(iii) The firearm is carried in a hard-sided container; and
(iv) The container in which it is carried is locked, and only the passenger retains the key or combination.



I have a set of padlocks on my case that only I have the key to. Inside the case I have four more identical locks (keyed the same) with a big sign that says "If the padlocks were cut to access this case, please re-lock the case with the locks under this sign"

Frank:

Exactly how am I breaking Federal Regs??? TSA might be but no one is prosecuting them for it.

I don't use TSA locks exclusively; I said a combination of them. If TSA cuts off my locks, they can open the two TSA locks. With respect to spare locks, I have done the same thing you have, but you know what TSA typically does when they cut your locks off? They put TSA locks on the case.

A lot of you guys claim it is violation to use TSA locks, but it is what TSA does when they cut your locks. I haven't seen anyone yet prosecuted for it. Has anyone?

I suppose a lot of folks worry that every Tom Dick and Harry is walking around with all ten TSA keys. But if a baggage handler is going to steal your gun, they are not going to take it out of the case - they will simply take the case and cut the locks off when they get home.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
I always put TSA locks in my gun case in case they cut mine off. Say what you will, if they want to inspect it and cannot contact you (like you are in an airline club for example), they will cut the locks.

Since TSA never replaced the rod on my standard aluminum case some years ago, I now have five places to lock it - I sometimes use a combination of my locks and TSA locks.

Bottom line: what is your plan if your locks are cut off?

That is a violation of Federal regulations:

49 CFR 1540.111(c)(2):

(c)In checked baggage. A passenger may not transport or offer for transport in checked baggage or in baggage carried in an inaccessible cargo hold under § 1562.23 of this chapter:

(1) Any loaded firearm(s).
(2) Any unloaded firearm(s) unless -
(i) The passenger declares to the aircraft operator, either orally or in writing, before checking the baggage, that the passenger has a firearm in his or her bag and that it is unloaded;
(ii) The firearm is unloaded;
(iii) The firearm is carried in a hard-sided container; and
(iv) The container in which it is carried is locked, and only the passenger retains the key or combination.



I have a set of padlocks on my case that only I have the key to. Inside the case I have four more identical locks (keyed the same) with a big sign that says "If the padlocks were cut to access this case, please re-lock the case with the locks under this sign"

Frank:

Exactly how am I breaking Federal Regs??? TSA might be but no one is prosecuting them for it.

I don't use TSA locks exclusively; I said a combination of them. If TSA cuts off my locks, they can open the two TSA locks. With respect to spare locks, I have done the same thing you have, but you know what TSA typically does when they cut your locks off? They put TSA locks on the case.

A lot of you guys claim it is violation to use TSA locks, but it is what TSA does when they cut your locks. I haven't seen anyone yet prosecuted for it. Has anyone?

I suppose a lot of folks worry that every Tom Dick and Harry is walking around with all ten TSA keys. But if a baggage handler is going to steal your gun, they are not going to take it out of the case - they will simply take the case and cut the locks off when they get home.

The regulation clearly states that the container must have locks with only the Passenger retaining the the key/combination.

By putting the TSA locks on, you have put on locks that other people (TSA and others) have keys to. The regulations don't differentiate between some and all locks on the case, it says that the case must be locked with locks that only you have the key or combination to.