Skip to content
The Firearm Firm Logo
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in posts
Search in pages
video_post
Filter by Categories
Ammunition
Animals
Background Check
Boating
Bump Stock
camping
Car carry
Carry Laws
Carrying at work
Castle Doctrine
Children
Church Carry
Concealed Carry License
Defending Others
Emergency
Firearm Firm News
Firearm Storage
First Aid
Fishing
Gift
Good Samaritan
Gun Laws
hunting
Inheriting A FIrearm
Legislative Update
Mailing
Mailing firearms
mailing guns
Medical Marijuana
Minor
Moving
National Parks
NFA / NFA ITEMS
Other Weapons
Ownership
Purchase Law
Red Flag Laws
School Zones
Self Defense
Selling Firearms
Seminars
Shipping
Shipping
Stand Your Ground
State Parks
Stolen Firearm
Transporting
Travel
Uncategorized
Use of Force
Vehicle Carry
Visiting Florida

More results...

  • About the Firm
    • About Us
    • David S. Katz
    • Risa Katz
    • James D. Phillips
    • Chuck Hughes
  • Florida Carry Laws
    • Overview of Carry Laws
    • Reciprocity
    • Open Carry
    • Vehicle Carry
    • Carrying at Work
  • Self-Defense
    • Overview of Self-Defense
    • Stand Your Ground
    • Good Samaritan Law
    • Castle Doctrine
    • Immunity
  • School Zones
  • Gun Ownership
    • Overview of Ownership
    • Firearm Storage
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Shop Now
Menu
  • About the Firm
    • About Us
    • David S. Katz
    • Risa Katz
    • James D. Phillips
    • Chuck Hughes
  • Florida Carry Laws
    • Overview of Carry Laws
    • Reciprocity
    • Open Carry
    • Vehicle Carry
    • Carrying at Work
  • Self-Defense
    • Overview of Self-Defense
    • Stand Your Ground
    • Good Samaritan Law
    • Castle Doctrine
    • Immunity
  • School Zones
  • Gun Ownership
    • Overview of Ownership
    • Firearm Storage
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Shop Now

Flying With Firearms

With the holiday season underway, it is important to know the law if you will be flying with a firearm and/or ammunition. 

All Firearms MUST Be In Your Checked Baggage

All firearms MUST be in your checked baggage.  Firearms are not permitted in any carry-on baggage. You cannot bring a firearm, even unloaded on to a plane with you.  Further, firearm parts, including magazines, clips, bolts and firing pins, may be transported in checked baggage only. Replica firearms, including firearm replicas that are toys, may be transported in checked baggage only. Occasionally, people accidentally carry a firearm into the TSA screening checkpoint. To learn what you should do if this happens to you, click here.

When Flying with Firearms, They Must be Unloaded

Unload and secure all firearms in a locked, hard-sided gun case.  According to the TSA unloaded means: no live ammunition, nor component thereof may be in the chamber, cylinder, or in a magazine inserted in the firearm.

What If You Are Flying With Firearms and Ammunition?

Package ammunition in a fiber (such as cardboard), wood, plastic, or metal box specifically designed to carry ammunition. Ammunition may not be loaded into any magazines, even if the magazine is not inserted into the firearm.  Typically, the original box the ammunition was sold in meets this requirement. Hand gun and rifle ammunition must be under .75 caliber.

Locked in a Hard Sided Case

When flying with firearms and ammunition, the firearms and ammunition (packaged as described above) can be placed in the same locked, hard-sided gun case, unless the airline you are flying specifies otherwise.  The key must be made available so that the bag/firearm can be searched by the airline/TSA if requested. 

You Must Inform the Airline

When you check your bag, inform the airline of the firearm in any checked baggage. Do this every time you check the bag containing a firearm or ammunition. Be aware that airlines may charge a fee for transporting firearms or ammunition. However, it is illegal for any airline to mark a bag containing a firearm with a visible “firearm” sign.  If you see an airline employee do this, report the incident immediately, as this is a violation of the law.

Always, check with your specific airline before heading to the airport for your flight.  You can call or check their website to learn of any special requirements your airline may have. Some airlines may require a special check-in procedure or further paperwork/documentation.  Additionally, you want to make sure you know where your bag will be when you arrive in your destination.  Further, some airlines separate bags that contain firearms. Ask where you will be able to retrieve your baggage. In some cases the airline will return your baggage on the baggage carousel with all the other passengers bags. Conversely, other airlines require you to retrieve your baggage containing firearms from their baggage office.

Know the Laws in the State Where You Will Be Flying With Firearms.

Make sure to investigate the firearm laws of the State(s) that you are traveling to. If you are a member of U.S. LawShield, give them a call. U.S. LawShield will send you a travel guide for your destination written by their Independent Program Attorney in that state. 

You must know the laws of the state you are traveling to and through.  Additionally, you should know if your state has reciprocity with your destination state or states?  Recently, a federal court held that the interstate transportation protections of the McClure-Volkmer Act of 1986 only applies to vehicular travel. Consequently, if you have a connecting flight through a state that restricts possession of a firearm, you could face local prosecution.

Flight Diverted? DO NOT Claim Your Bag!

If your flight is diverted do NOT claim your bag! When flying with firearms, there is always a chance that your flight will be diverted. This may be cause by bad weather, mechanical issues, or other reasons. If your flight lands in a state you were not intending to travel to and you do not know for sure that you can lawfully possess a firearm in the new state, under no circumstances should you claim your bag. Go to the baggage office and make the airline retain the bag for you until you reach your ultimate destination. If you claim your bag, you may find law enforcement moving in to arrest you. Law enforcement has access to the list of passengers traveling with firearms. They have been known to watch as diverted travelers claim their bags. Then law enforcement moves in to arrest them for possession of a concealed firearm.

Below are links related to flying with a firearm and ammunition from the TSA and five (5) of the top major airlines this holiday season:

TSA Information – https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition

Alaska Airlines – https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/baggage/special-baggage/transporting-firearms

American Airlines – https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/baggage/firearms-and-ammunition.jsp

Delta Airlines – https://www.delta.com/us/en/baggage/special-items/overview

Jet Blue Airlines – https://www.jetblue.com/help

Southwest Airlines – https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/baggage/special-luggage-pol.html

To learn more about driving interstate with your firearms please click here.

David S. Katz
Submit Your Legal Case To Firearm Firm
Text The Firearm Firm
Call The Firearm Firm Now

Have a Question you want Answered?

get the answers that you need to

Carry with Confidence

search our knowledge base
SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY
GET U.S. LawShield

Why choose us?

The Firearm Firm is dedicated to the defense of Florida Firearm Owners. We believe in the Second Amendment to the Constitution and fight every day to protect the rights it bestows upon you.

ABOUT

  • About the Firm
  • David S. Katz
  • James D. Phillips
  • Risa Katz
  • Chuck Hughes

LAWS

  • Reciprocity
  • Carry Laws
  • Good Samaritan Law

SELF DEFENSE

  • Self Defense
  • Stand Your Ground
  • Castle Doctrine

MORE

  • School Zones
  • Ownership
  • Storage
  • Legislative Updates

OFFICE LOCATION

144 West Crystal Lake Ave

Suite 1000

Lake Mary, FL 32746

PHONE

  • 321-332-6865

FAX

  • 321-422-3457

© 2019 The Firearm Firm All rights reserved

Content Protection by DMCA.com
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Site Map
Menu
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Site Map