We will be traveling to JNB in July on Delta. I would like my 12 y/o to check a case with shotguns since Delta restricts checked gun cases to one per person. I perused their site and TSA's site but found no mention of minimum age requirements to check weapons. Is there a universal one that is so well known that it's not listed because everyone should already know?

Great question. I travel with my boys (ages 14 and 16 now) all the time and we check guns all the time. But I've always just used my Tuffpak and put three rifles in it and we've been covered.

But I'd like to know, because if I ever need to take a fourth rifle I'd want to check a second case on one of their tickets.

I've never seen any mention in the TSA regulations, advisory opinions, or airline proprietary rules of correlating the age of the traveler with what the traveler could or could not carry in his checked baggage.

In the past I have had airlines place all of the baggage for my family under my name and staple all of the baggage claim checks to my ticket folder. Of course, in these instances this did not involve any gun cases, so the airline ticket/baggage agent might have been somewhat less formal.

One thing is for certain: If you don't ask prior to attempting to check a gun under the ticket of a minor, then you risk refusal at the last minute, placing your trip in jeopardy. If you do ask beforehand, you risk getting an answer you didn't want. Asking somewhat beforehand allows you to get the answer you don't want, then pursue the answer you do want. Once (and if) you get the answer you do want, be sure that it is in writing and on officially recognized media from the airline, because you always have to contend with the individual personnel at the time of check-in who may have a different opinion.

My best guess is that you will not get an answer, either yea or nay, from TSA. It is not (to my admittedly limited knowledge) a part of their regs and they most likely leave it up to the airline to follow the airline's own policy.

BTW: Many, if not most, airlines limit the number of guns in a single gun case to two. I have never seen an explanation of the rationale behind this; they just do it and if that's their written company policy there's nothing you can do about it.

The one person I talked to at Delta has no clue. Interestingly Delta allows you to pack up to four rifles in one gun case, allows one "gun case" per person but you can check up to 2 "shotgun cases" per person. Their regs are confusing at best.

As far as I know when firearms come into play the relevant authorities confirm legality of their export and release. The counter clerk observes the weight limitation the group is entitled to and may apply a surcharge for any excess regardless of the ages of the passengers. The clerk may however object if the passengers are not a family group.

I'm not 110% sure if they still allow it and consequently, I'd recommend you check this with the airline concerned but as with all things airline, it usually depends on the individual check in agent but you should be able to do a group check in where all of your group are checked in under the name of one group leader and the seat allocations & bags etc will be under 'txlonghornx3' or whatever....... and that should solve your problem.

Dear TX

In Aussie I check all the gun/rifles in my name.
As they are regestered to me.

Although he is 12 and holds a permit to use it, must be under supervision.

At the check in line at the air port is not a good time to find out the regulations.

I have played it safe.

Regards Mark

Just a guess here but I think one would have to be 18 since you have to have a 4457 showing who owns the firearm and you have to be at least 18 to own a rifle or shotgun and 21 for a pistol.

But like I said just a guess on what you might encounter.

txlonghorn,

Gracy Travel says you son is not old enough to check a gun case in his name nor is he old enough to have the 4457's in his name. In reality if RSA is your final destination you can take 3 long guns in your name in one case.

Mark

Thanks Mark and all who replied. Very helpful this site.

Here's what Delta has to say on the subject:

Rifles and Shotguns
Delta will accept firearms and shooting equipment packaged as follows:

One gun case containing up to a total of four rifles or shotguns, plus shooting materials, and tools
One gun case containing up to five handguns, one scope, and tools
One bow and quiver of arrows and maintenance kit enclosed in a case or container of sufficient strength to protect the bow and quiver from accidental damage
One gun case may contain up to four rifles or shotguns and will be counted as one bag. An excess baggage fee will apply if checking more than one gun case. You can check up to two shotguns and two shotgun cases. Ammunition is limited to 11 lbs. (5 kg).

The important sentence here is An excess baggage fee will apply if checking more than one gun case. This directly infers that the traveler is not limited to a single gun case, but rather is limited to a single gun case within the regular baggage allowance.

However, the next sentence is both confusing and troubling: You can check up to two shotguns and two shotgun cases. If this is read as modifying the previous sentence and using the term "shotguns" generically and inaccurately as meaning "any long gun", then the Delta policies would arguably seem to limit a traveler to two gun cases and a total of four guns.

Such are the incredible vagaries of rules/policies written by people who don't know what they're talking about.

I think your best bet is to dedicate a couple of days on the telephone finding someone near the top of the Delta chain of command who is prepared to make an Executive Decision on this matter and put it in writing for you. There are so many ways that their written policy could be interpreted as to make relying on it essentially impossible.

Here would be my presentation to Delta: "I wish to carry baggage that is within the regular baggage allowance for my party of two, i.e. two gun cases (one per ticketed passenger), each containing four or fewer rifles/shotguns. All firearms belong to me and will be listed as mine on the customs form(s). Once reaching our destination, the use of some of those firearms will be loaned to the family member accompanying me. Since we are traveling as a party, my request is to have one of the gun cases charged to my baggage allowance and the other charged to my traveling companion's baggage allowance and not be charged for excess baggage. Is this reasonable? If so, I would appreciate your providing me with a written statement to that effect so that there will be no misunderstanding with your baggage agents at the time I check in. Thank you."

there is no minimum age to OWN any firearm that I am aware of. There are minimum ages to buy guns/ammo.

troy

quote:

Originally posted by DTala:
there is no minimum age to OWN any firearm that I am aware of. There are minimum ages to buy guns/ammo.

troy

Correct: If I die and leave my estate to my 8 year-old grandson, he is the owner of my firearms and there is no legal prohibition to his becoming the owner.

Under U.S. federal law (and perhaps many state laws) there is a minimum age for a person to whom you may transfer a firearm (as "transfer" is defined, which usually has to do with physical delivery, not sale or ownership).

In most jusrisdictions there are legally defined circumstances under which a minor may be in possession of a firearm; those circumstances vary with jurisdiction from very restricted to virtually unrestricted.

All of the baggage checked under a minor's ticket who is traveling in the company of an adult guardian is typically considered to be in the possession of the guardian. This would logically apply to a firearm as equally as a suitcase filled with t-shirts and bluejeans.

I think the bottom line is that checking a gun case as the baggage of a minor child accompanied by a parent is not prohibited by any law or regulation; and being allowed to do so is, like so many other things, a matter of the discretion and cooperativeness of the airline personnel in charge.

Looking a little further down, here's a gem that I found in the Delta policies:

Ammunition in excess of 11 lbs. per passenger or that contains potential projectiles is not allowed.

So, if traveling on Delta, be sure your ammunition doesn't have any bullets in it.

The first time I went to Africa i brought my 14 year old son with me. The police in the check in office would not allow him to even toouch the gun case let alone a gun. If he was correct, you must be 18 to get a firearm license in SA. Put all of the gun cases in your name and all of the regular luggage in your sons.