How dumb of an idea is this? Flying with a firearm (United)

[CKWY97]

Up front, I'll post a disclaimer that this is a weird question/scenario but I can't seem to find a good answer elsewhere on the internet. Figured maybe someone on here may have some insight. Or just tell me that this is a bad idea lol. Curious to hear what thoughts you all have.

I'm traveling back to WY (where I grew up) in October for a rifle elk hunt. I'm military currently stationed in NC. I got a pretty good deal on a rental F150, picking up at the airport in Billings and driving it back to NC (just over $250 for 2 days) so my flight there is one way. Because of that, one of my checked "bags" is going to be a cooler to hopefully carry some meat back in (with the addition of couple more cheap coolers).

Anyways, based on baggage prices alone I opted not to check my 1750 pelican case with my rifle and am instead using one of my old man's rifles. I'll be getting there a few days before season so plenty of time to verify zero on the range on his property. I put a lot of time and effort building out this range with steel targets growing up and decided since I'll be there early and since all the ranges within a reasonable drive of where I live in NC won't allow much beyond static shooting on a flat range, I'd bring with my 11.5 AR to do a little training/running and gunning.

My thought is to use my cooler as my "hard sided case", separate the two halves of my rifle and then get creative with my thermarest to pad it/take up extra space. The cooler has a couple of hasps for padlocks so in theory could serve as a hard sided locking case. My biggest concern is having to deal with some airport agent that believes a cooler doesn't qualify as a hard case. Obviously the other alternatives are just not to pack the AR or to ship it to myself. I already have two checked bags with my ticket though and plan on bringing a cooler.

Anyways let me know how restarted of an idea you think this is or if anyone has done or experienced anything similar. Picture below for my idea.

 

[bojangles808]

I've flown with firearms maybe 15-20 times over the last decade. as long as the cooler has legit locking tabs and locks securely where you can't reach in and grab it out of there I think you should be fine. I thought the case needed to be "TSA approved " but I can;t find anything about that on the TSA site. There is a TSA email for questions about checked lugggae you may want to email your pic to them and ask "this works right?".

I'd get there a little earlier than normal to the airport and have a copy of the TSA website related to checking firearms saved on your phone as you may have to educate the gate person politely. Most don't have a clue and get a little nervous bc it's a gun. I have locks for every lockable spot and carry extra locks both key and combo (non TSA) just in case. I normally use combo but if TSA want the combo to do a further inspection in the back (some shady California airports sometimes pull this, "we have to inspect in the back and you can;t come in", they should be inspecting in front of you) I swap to the key locks. I'll ask for the supervisor and get their names and let them no nothing better be messed up but ultimately its their rules which sucks. (luckily when I did have this issue everything turned out fine) If Gate person asks why you don't have TSA locks show them the TSA regs that state you can use normal locks and let them know you should be only be opening and closing the case. probably not a bad idea either to put and airtag in the case too. I used to have to open the bolt to show the gate person the rifle was clear when checking but now its as simple as signing a paper that you swear its clear and they just put in the case.

Transporting Firearms and Ammunition | Transportation Security Administration

Learn how to properly prepare, pack and declare firearms and ammunition in checked baggage when flying. Review TSA rules, airline policies, and legal requirements.

www.tsa.gov

 

[Floated_down]

I think you should be fine but I would definitely get to the airport plenty early to deal with potential pain in the ass scenarios

 

[Ecampbell25]

I’ve put a hand gun in a cooler but that was traveling from Anchorage to Southern Alaska.

They had no problem with it. Disclaimer Alaska sees lots of guns checked through the airport so I’m not sure this is true of every airport.

 

[CKWY97]

I've flown with firearms maybe 15-20 times over the last decade. as long as the cooler has legit locking tabs and locks securely where you can't reach in and grab it out of there I think you should be fine. I thought the case needed to be "TSA approved " but I can;t find anything about that on the TSA site. There is a TSA email for questions about checked lugggae you may want to email your pic to them and ask "this works right?".

I'd get there a little earlier than normal to the airport and have a copy of the TSA website related to checking firearms saved on your phone as you may have to educate the gate person politely. Most don't have a clue and get a little nervous bc it's a gun. I have locks for every lockable spot and carry extra locks both key and combo (non TSA) just in case. I normally use combo but if TSA want the combo to do a further inspection in the back (some shady California airports sometimes pull this, "we have to inspect in the back and you can;t come in", they should be inspecting in front of you) I swap to the key locks. I'll ask for the supervisor and get their names and let them no nothing better be messed up but ultimately its their rules which sucks. (luckily when I did have this issue everything turned out fine) If Gate person asks why you don't have TSA locks show them the TSA regs that state you can use normal locks and let them know you should be only be opening and closing the case. probably not a bad idea either to put and airtag in the case too. I used to have to open the bolt to show the gate person the rifle was clear when checking but now its as simple as signing a paper that you swear its clear and they just put in the case.

Transporting Firearms and Ammunition | Transportation Security Administration

Learn how to properly prepare, pack and declare firearms and ammunition in checked baggage when flying. Review TSA rules, airline policies, and legal requirements.

www.tsa.gov

Ok that's good to hear. And yeah I've flown with my carry pistol in a small case inside of a duffel without significant issue, this scenario was a little different though. I'll definitely try to track down that email address to get an opinion though. More information on my side if the airline or TSA want to make it difficult.

 

[Floated_down]

Also what airport will you be flying out of? Assuming somewhere in NC? You'll prob be ok down there, but I certainly wouldn't try this in Mass or similar type states where TSA dweebs might freak out at the sight of a firearm

 

[Macintosh]

I think there is at least a chance they will not let you fly with a rifle in a cooler. Functionally theres no issue, but Ive seen several cases with “tsa approved”. The law simply states they must be in a lockable hard case, but there is considerable leeway between airports and airlines, so it will not be uniform everywhere. Worth verifying with united at your airport (and maybe in billings) before you’re committed.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Ship your AR ahead of time. That way its there when you get there

 

[ThorM465]

The only time I've ever had a problem was when a TSA agent crack the latches and because he could gets his fingers in the pistol case decided I needed a different lock. You said stationed, so I'm assuming you're active duty in Lejeune, Brag, or one of their satellite bases. I'd call the airline and ask what the pelican would cost you if you were traveling on active duty. I'd be surprised if they even charged you extra for it.

 

[CKWY97]

Also what airport will you be flying out of? Assuming somewhere in NC? You'll prob be ok down there, but I certainly wouldn't try this in Mass or similar type states where TSA dweebs might freak out at the sight of a firearm

Raleigh. I've flown out of there with my handgun before and didn't have an issue. Not as "scary" to some though as an AR might be.

 

[CKWY97]

The only time I've ever had a problem was when a TSA agent crack the latches and because he could gets his fingers in the pistol case decided I needed a different lock. You said stationed, so I'm assuming you're active duty in Lejeune, Brag, or one of their satellite bases. I'd call the airline and ask what the pelican would cost you if you were traveling on active duty. I'd be surprised if they even charged you extra for it.

That's an idea too. I was thinking about my pelican but their oversize baggage prices are insane. But yeah I'll look into that because I may be able to get a discount or even free with active duty. And yeah, at Bragg.

 

[CKWY97]

I appreciate all the ideas. I contacted the TSA help desk so we'll see what they have to say. Next to contact is definitely united in Raleigh.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Lockable hard case. My samsonite counts with a lock. Your cooler as long as it locked and can’t be pried open. As in. I fingers can get in. You will be fine. But I’d not risk it.

 

[CKWY97]

Even when the lid is unlatched and pried up, there is a lip protruding downward from the lid that prevents any access into the inside of the cooler (when padlocked). After playing around with it I would just use my sleeping bag to fill the bottom of the cooler and my sit pad to stabilize the upper and lower in there.

 

[hereinaz]

Even when the lid is unlatched and pried up, there is a lip protruding downward from the lid that prevents any access into the inside of the cooler (when padlocked). After playing around with it I would just use my sleeping bag to fill the bottom of the cooler and my sit pad to stabilize the upper and lower in there.
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That works. I pull the foam and pack my rifles in clothes and sleeping bag to take fewer bags.

Put a lock in every hole. Get a lock with a shorter hasp, that will avoid problems. If you can open it a crack, they can make an issue even if you could not get a finger in or gun out. I saw it happen once.

Do not use TSA locks. Only you are supposed to be able to open it. And, it prevents airline employees from accessing the box. I put all my optics and expensive gear in my carry on or in the gun case to keep sticky fingers out of my good stuff.

Some airports TSA open and swab when you deliver it up, some do nothing, and others scan with a machine.

Right or wrong, do everything you can to avoid problems. There are good people and idiots working there. Fortunately having idiots has worked in my favor most of the time, lol. And, most employees and TSA have been great. I had fear the first couple of times, but it is no big deal to me now.

 

[go_deep]

I'd wrap it with some bubble wrap and tape it up. Get to the rent place, or a gas station just throw the bubble wrap away

 

[hereinaz]

Ship your AR ahead of time. That way its there when you get there

This was another suggestion I had. Ship it to yourself. I have done that before. Then you could fly without a checked TSA bag.

Also, I would consider leaving my heavy coooler at home and buy a cheap cooler to drive back with. Could be less than a checked bag.

Or, if you fly with the AR, get one of the smaller plastic hard cases and check it instead of flying with the heavy cooler.

In the end, whatever you choose will be less complicated than you are making it. The TSA won’t care what case it is as long as it is hard sided and locked.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

The thing with shipping is it’ll require two seperate boxes if being mailed with usps. That is considered a pistol or a firearm that is concealable on yourself if in same package.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Even when the lid is unlatched and pried up, there is a lip protruding downward from the lid that prevents any access into the inside of the cooler (when padlocked). After playing around with it I would just use my sleeping bag to fill the bottom of the cooler and my sit pad to stabilize the upper and lower in there.
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That looks solid, and I’d give it a go.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Even when the lid is unlatched and pried up, there is a lip protruding downward from the lid that prevents any access into the inside of the cooler (when padlocked). After playing around with it I would just use my sleeping bag to fill the bottom of the cooler and my sit pad to stabilize the upper and lower in there.
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Use a smaller length padlock too. Then there is even less play for them to try.