Guns are not the only casualties, check out this diddy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo

Havn't had to travel with guns yet, but i somewhat dread the day i need to. I'm glad you've somewhat "figured out the system". Merry Christmas

I'm all for public safety and know the TSA has a huge job to do but when they confiscated my fly box this summer out in California I began to think they've crossed the line between reason and insanity.

It's too bad El Al does not have more routes, When I to to & From Europe I always tried to find a way to make the long flight with them.

Back in the days when hi-jackings were rampant that had less than anyone else (as opposed to TWA & Cheese eating surrendeer monkee run Air Chance) The best food in the air and beautiful, polite, stewardesses . Very few hassles either.

Jim in nc,
Part of the problem is the individual at FedEx may not know the regulation. Here is what works for me, and I have shipped and received from all over the US.
If I am sending, I go to the FedEx office who is at least considering handling the shipment. You must ship to a holder of a current Federal Firearms License. Have a copy of this permit and ship to the holders address of record. Make sure the license number is on your bill and their mailing instructions, insist they put a copy of the permit in the shipping box. Insure, insure the firearm. I also take with me a copy of federal and state regulations so they can read and feel somewhat comfortable with the shipment.
If the firearm is being sent to me (no FFL). It must be sent to a dealer who is willing to accept the delivery and has the proper current license. They will usually charge you for this service, and often refuse to to accommodate you. So make this arrangement in advance.
This works for me in Los Angeles, but check your own state and federal regulations.

As an industry insider of sorts, I always stay off of United and US Airways and not too wild about NWA either.

Living in Georgia I have flown out of Hartsfield/Jackson (worlds busiest airport) with firearms a number of times. In hunting season they even have a special line outside on the curb for checking firearms. TSA for the most part has been courteous and the guns have made it to the destination just fine...so far...knock on wood. However, Delta seems to love to put my duffels and assorted baggage on other flights. One trip out to Montana resulted in a "cool" morning hunt without my parka! I will say that Delta did get the bag out to the ranch the next day at no charge.

I think shipping necessary clothing and other items is advisable when time tables are tight (when are they not) and you want your stuff on the ground where you are when you are. With the airline baggage surcharges you just might save a few bucks.

Shipping the guns might not be such a bad idea either. On a hunting trip with all the plunder that tends to go along a "third bag" charge might end up costing more than shipping the gun!

One of my favorite rotten-airline acronyms was SABENA, the former Belgian national airline which had routes to Africa, and was dreaded by all who flew it. "Sabena," I was told, stood for "Such a bloody experience. Never again!"

Mercifully, SABENA went out of business in 2001.

Just so you know. Alaska Airlines is FAN-Tastic about guns.

Dave:

For several years now, we have traveled from JFK to Buenos Aires with shotguns for dove hunts in Argentina and Uruguay. This typically involves 6 to 12 guys with 2 shotguns each on American Airlines. Up until a couple of years ago, the only stupidity came from TSA guys who were clueless about firearms and who wanted to swab the outside of our gun cases for explosive residue. DUHHH.

In any event, as you know, you now have to wait for a Port Authority patrolman to inspect each gun to be sure it isn't loaded. Most of them have been pleasant, but totally inexperienced with shotguns. They are curious about the hunting, but basically rely on our telling them that the guns are secured. They have never removed one from its case. American Airlines has never given us a problem, and we have been flying with them for almost 10 years while making these trips. The only warning is that when leaving Argentina, the counter personnel will confiscate any gun oils or solvents that you have in your checked bags, if you declare it to them. So don't.

Dave claims to be retired? Well, so am I and I wish Dave all the best. I also wish he took whatever web server this blog runs on with him . In that was F&S might spring for one with a bit more horsepower. The current beast seems to 'hang' during every logon and most posts. As to airlines ... if you can find the one rank and file airline employee who has extreme distaste for management and their screw the passenger rules ... Zoooooooork! miracles can happen. I tripped to Australia in 1981 ... not hunting but a diving and photo trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Two of us ... lots of gear ... lots. Flew Pan Am to Sydney then some Aussie line in country no problems ... none. The Return ... Quantas Sydney to Aukland NZ connecting with PanAm to Honolulu ... therein the screw job. PanAm wanted $100s in excess and overweight fees ... a nearby Quantas baggage handler overheard our discussion and winked? So, we broke off with PanAm for a faux potty run and had a chat with the Aussie lad. He had an extreme distaste for 'them buggers'... told us to leave the stuff and he would personally get it on the flight. And he did!

As far as I know it is not illegal to ship a long gun to yourself. When I hunt in AZ I ship my rifle to myself at my hunting buddy's house in TUS.
No problems. I also insure it for enough to replace the weapon and to buy a new Swarovski scope for it, so if it is lost by USPS there will be minimal angst.

I love seeing bad service get publicly punished (your knock on United). If all of us were as bad at our jobs as people in the service industry these days, only the Second Coming could bail us out.

I often flew into a small airport in Louisiana. At the luggage pickup they lift the doors so you can see out onto the runway. A friend watched while they unloaded his plane and drove the cart across the runway. His brand new Ping golf clubs fell off the cart and were run over by another cart. Driver went back and picked up the bag and just dropped them off at the baggage pickup. They were a mess. Airline claimed prior damage. He was, understandably, furious. Plenty of witnesses, though. It's not just United.

To Joe FLyrod: The Port Authority cops have always been nice, although a fair number have no clue how a rifle operates.

My all-time-favorite airline encounter happened to a friend of mine who put his compound-bow case up on the check in counter.
"What's in there?" said the airline lady.
"A bow," said my friend.
"Is it loaded?", she snarled.

I could relay some horror stories about how some of their engineering and ops personnel have been treated, so attitudes are not a surprise.

Central America provides a few more for DP's acronym file-
El Salvador gives us TACA a/k/a Take a chance airlines, but my Favorite is Honduras' SAHSA a/k/a Stay At Home, Stay Alive!

They actually give good, smiling service, almost punctual actually. They've never delayed scuba gear or fishing tackle. And the flight attendants? Aiiieee!

sorry---agan'em
Ken

If I have to travel more than 30 hrs. driving, I will ship via UPS, guns AND cloths.
Sent a letter to the imbeciles at "Useless Air" after an absolute fiasco, that when I die, if the only way to get to Heaven is on "Useless Air" I would just go to hell!
Have not shipped international but if I could figure out how, I would!

The airlines have conned another way to rob us again. Now it cost l5.00 for first bag, 35.oo fir 2nd and 100 for 3rd.;If bag is over 62b lin, inches another l00 bucks, if weiht is over 50lbs another l00,00. Now total all this up for man and wife and see what you gt, plus lousy servie and lst minuted canceling of your flight and you must be some place to catch the ccomumter flight to your hunt sight. LAst 2 trips I swoe i would never fly again, lst time was a disaster.I take a lot of medicine, and you can only fly 3 oz of liquid. I requie 64 oz for a month hunt. So I shipped by PP 2 weeks in advance to make sue arrived. Now, my new (2 ys ago) guncase cost me l50.00 and when I got it looked as if had been dropped fom 40K feet. I too wish and pray that Amtrack will get their act together and take us hunters, guns, dogs ( if necessary) without such a hassell. I can;t ride a vehicle 2500 miles , so got to fly or go by train if that pans out. Let all us hunters who travel to hunt get behind the train business and hopefully they will add us to their list of priority clients. I will be in line to board come next Oct. going to MT and Canada,.On guns, about decided, best to got to a Wally world or some huge box stoe and buy a new gun and let it take the beating or beter yet, rent from your outfitter a gun from him. After a few rounds, you will get the feel for he different gun, as 9 out of 10 times, the airline has beat and banged our gun case so you got to re-zero again. Any you guys go info on the rain deal, please share with us. Shoot-um-straight and often. One last quetion, will a holly point bullet zeroed in at 200 yds in a B/P gun, hit the same bull usig a Spiral point same wt bullet at sae distance, or will the pointed bullet fly higher. I just missed a dandy deer by changing ammo ( was out of the Spiral pointed) and had to use the hollow point. Bullet hit just under his belly about 8-10" low. Does the hollow point hold the air as causes the pointed one to fly straighter and flatter. I guess to sum up my question, does the hollow point put a drag on the hollow point of same wt bullet to cause it to drop 8-10" at 200 yds using l00 grs of Pyrodex? Please help guys. I know on my 06,using l80 gr bullets, zeroed in for 200 yds,tht when I go to a l50 gr bullet,the bullet hits higher by 2-3". Thanks for any help.

I do travel from time to time, some times I have fly. I have had some much trouble flying and shipping my firearms, I drive when I can. I know it takes more time but my guns are still mine and not been stolen or lost.

Tom
Gunsellers.com
8520 S 1300 E
Sandy City Ut, 84094