So with the new regs on not locking luggage what have you all been doing when traveling with Tuff Pak's? I really don't want to leave it unlocked but I also don't want to show up and not have it there because it was locked and was "detained". Thanks in advance for any advice.

geez I'm a moron - subject should have read "LOCKING" not licking - go ahead and make fun...

Buy TSA-approved straps and make a hole through clips and/or (after finding where you need to make 'em) both sides of strap. Slip a TSA lock through holes after tightened through or around handle(s). Found mine at W-M.

Be creative. I did the above for my SKB and got a bicycle cable wrap-style lock to wrap around the carrying handle just in case all the hasps got busted off -- didn't need to do any of the above BTW but pre-caution made me feel like I'd be ready if needed.

BNagel [Hit the edit button below your post and you'll be a genius again. I just did. :-)]

I am confused but don't firearms have to be locked? I thought only the owner could open the container. My firearms have always been checked by TSA while I observed.

quote:

Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
I am confused but don't firearms have to be locked? I thought only the owner could open the container. My firearms have always been checked by TSA while I observed.

Mine too.

The fine print in the all the TSA and also in various airline mumbo jumbo about firearms is that the owner of the firearm shall be THE ONLY one with a lock and key for the firearm case. That means TSA locks are technically not approved. In 5 trips to Africa with firearms, I have had my gun cases opened by security types only twice, and that was done in my presence. I gave them the key, they did their thing and handed me my key back.

I just returned from a hunt in Canada. I locked my gun case after the moron inspector in Canada (she had no idea what she was doing; could hardly speak English) checked my gun. I flew thru Vancouver and connected in Denver to PHX. I found the locks cut off my gun case by TSA in Denver and TSA locks put on. If they think they need to get in the case, and it is locked, then they will get in if you are not around. This is one case (pun intended) in which it might be good if a gun case looks like a gun case and is easy to inspect via the bomb detector. I had a squeeze bottle of oil in gun case and that is what probably triggered the bomb detector. My last two time thru the machine prior to that I didn't even have to open the case.

Just flew from Reno to Washington Dulles via Dallas today (enroute to South Africa and Mozambique) with a tuffpak and had no problems with TSA or American Airlines. Declared I had a firearm, the TSA swiped the bag (same as they do for golf clubs), didn't even look inside, told me to lock it up and have a nice flight.

As a precaution I carry copies of the airlines and the TSA's regulations regarding firearm and ammo transport with me in case I run into problems.

Something new to me since my last trip to Africa in 2005 was that South African Airways now requires that ammo be packed in the same case as the firearm or checked completely seperately, not just put into another checked bag.

Appreciate all the info guys - it has been a couple years since I did this - last time was no hassle but one never knows.

Jaglav
I looked on SAA website and could not find the new reglation that you are speaking in regards to ammo. I have flown West Coast via United to Dulles. Overnighted then flew out the next day on SAA for SA. Neither in 2006 or 2007 did SAA when checking in at Dulles inform me of this regulation. They checked my ammo that was in my checked luggage (suitcase) which was seperate from my Tuff Pac. Absolutley no problems. When checking in for a connecting flight on SAA after overnighting in JoBerg SAA again checked my ammo which was stil in my checked suitcase and no problems as well. If in fact this is a new regulation it could be a real problem since some airlines will not allow ammo and guns in the same case.

Look here:

http://ww2.flysaa.com/utility_navigation/FAQS/index.html

Thanks Post Driver for the info. Guess I have been lucky. Has anybody else had either their ammo taken or had to ship it in a seperate container other than their rifle case, or checked bag??

Be careful with complying with these new regs. On my last trip I had packed my ammo in the Tuffpak; in Jo'burg they took it out and just taped (!) it to the outside of the case. Nevertheless, it made it ok to Harare, but I paid the price in worries.

What is interesting about my experience flying from Vancouver BC is that there is no TSA in Vancouver (you clear US customs in Vancouver, just like most major Canadian cities). Since I was connecting thru Denver, TSA apparently wanted to see what was inside.

This illustrates a pretty large loophole in the TSA system. My gun apparently set off the US bomb detector but made it to the US just fine since there was no TSA inspector in Vancouver.

My advice: use TSA locks if you fly from Canada.

I just read these regs and it's very unclear to me if ammo can or cannot be in the case with the firearm. Is the rule spelled out clearly naywhere in these documents?

Double checked the FAQ part of the South African Airlines website. It states clearly that ammo must either be placed in the same case/rifle bag with the firearm or in a separate container of its own. A note in the FAQ adds that German regulations have changed to require a separate container for ammo.

SAA insisted that I take the ammo out of my suitcase to be tagged as hold baggage when I went from Joburg to Windhoek on 1 August of this year. Looks as if they plan to do it world wide. Problem is twofold: a) my metal ammo box is not tiny, but small enough that it was overlooked when the flight landed in Windhoek so they delivered it to me upcountry in Namibia but two days late; b) does the ammo container count as a bag among the two permitted to travelers from the USA?
Regards

Thanks Tim