Air travel - bringing gear - connecting flights

2509 Views 35 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Kevo, Jul 29, 2005

pla930

Discussion Starter · Jul 27, 2005

I'm booked for Texas next Friday.
Flying Delta out of Newark connecting in Atlanta (Delta as well) - the delay b/w connection and changing planes is approx 30 minutes.

I'm worried that my rifle and bow will not arrive in San Antonio with me.

Considered UPS my gear to the ranch foreman's house, but never did this before.

Suggestions needed.

1 - 20 of 36 Posts

mysticguido

· #2 · Jul 27, 2005

Considered UPS my gear to the ranch foreman's house, but never did this before.

thats what I would do... UPS will have it there the next day. wouldn't want to take a chance with the airlines. They lose clothes....

Dragthor

· #3 · Jul 27, 2005

bloodtrails takes guns with him around the country (where its legal to carry)

JJoe

· #4 · Jul 27, 2005

30 minutes is tough.. A few years back, they lost my buddies fish rods on the way to Alaska. Good news was they had them at the hotel the next morning.I too am worried about losing luggage...Hate to be stuck in Alaska in 3 weeks and missing a bag!

UPS will get your things there. You'll pay extra(2 bags free when flying)but you can send a few days before you go and track the box to the ranchers door!

[smirk]

pla930

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 27, 2005

I flew with gear to South Africa in 2001 - no hitch - then 9-11 happened - haven't flown with too much gear since then.

Oddly enough - about 10 years ago I flew to Miami with a rod case and a duffel. The duffel came off the conveyor but the rod case showed up the next night at the motel I was staying.

VENISONEATR

· #6 · Jul 27, 2005

I wouldn't worry... I've flown to Canada, AK, WY many times and I've never had a problem. Your luggage should be checked all the way through to your destination.

nightstalker911

· #7 · Jul 27, 2005

Yep, shipping your clothes and gear is a great idea, but you can't ship a gun. You can only ship to a lic. dealer or to a manufacturer. UPS won't do it. And if you try to say it's a guitar in that BIG case, and they find out about, their first call is to the ATF. Something about " interstate trafficing of firearms ". They will put an extra coat of polish on their jack boots for that one.
Your best bet is to arrive at least one day early for your hunt( the earlier the better ). That way even if the airlines " lose " your gun, they have a day to find it and get it to you. ( been there , done that )

nightstalker911

· #8 · Jul 27, 2005

By the way, connecting flights are the worse.
Bet that makes you feel good !
Everytime they handle your gun case increases the chance of it being misplaced. Last year I was told that my Rifle case missed the connection at Salt Lake City. I was upset at first, but they hand delivered it to my house the next day. How does a gun miss a flight? Was in in the bar having a drink when the boarded the plane ? Wait till you feel the sense of relief when you see your gun case pop out on that luggage conveyor

pla930

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jul 27, 2005

I might just pair it down to either the rifle or the bow, not both.

Still - I'd hate to lose either.

bloodtrails

· #10 · Jul 27, 2005

Nightstalker is right. Can't legally ship to a private party.

Check the airline's website, print out the firearms rules and take them with you. Since you are checking a gun and a bow they may charge you extra.

I fly all the time and my belief of never being unarmed causes me to check most of my baggage. I have only had luggage lost once and they found it and sent it to my hotel. That's out of hundreds of trips. If your luggage misses the plane they will put it on the next flight. This doesn't happen often because security policy likes to see your luggage on your plane.

Just be careful with your ammunition. Hollow point ammunition in a NJ airport will land you in the clink and ruin your trip! Arrive early and expect to be slightly delayed.

pla930

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 27, 2005

No problem with ammo.

I'm worried about the bow - I'm picking up a hard case this weekend.

I was gonna use a double case:
1 side bow and arrows, other side quiver, boots, release, broadheads, knife, etc...

Should my broadheads be attached to the arrows or off?

Also - I'll be using a locking case - will I have to open the case at the counter prior to boarding?

bloodtrails

· #12 · Jul 27, 2005

Broadheads can be on or off. Doesn't matter. Just not in your carry on. Your bow case probably will not even get a second glance, they will be more concerned with your gun.

A locking case is a must for your gun and bow. You will be asked to open it at the check in counter and demonstrate that it is unloaded. You will close it and proceed escorted to another counter where they will again open it and give you a tag to fill out that goes inside your case. You then can lock it for the final time.

Redman

· #13 · Jul 27, 2005

Check with Delta and make sure that they do in fact transport bows. I believe that I read in Outdoor Life that Delta does not carry bows. Contact them and make sure there is not a problem.

pla930

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 27, 2005

Thanks bloodtrails,

When I did Africa out of Kennedy, the airport security was clueless. They kept asking us if we had 'paperwork' and 'are they registered?'[mad]

What a bunch of dopes. I show him my NJFID - he then asks "what is this"? My brother (a lawyer) says: "we don't need paperwork and registration, please allow us to check our bags."

"What do you need guns for?" duh

"We're hunting, what do you hunt with?"

Then they made us open the case, remove the guns and asked us for paperwork - proof of ownership with make-model-serial#!!

We asked them for paperwork - they shook their heads and one guy pulls out a note pad - takes our names, and writes down what each gun was. This was all done in the middle of Kennedy with hundreds of people in shock that someone would actually bring guns on a trip.

We get to South Africa - the clerk asks for a small bribe to get our guns out of a storage area and asks for serial#'s - we q1uickly rattle of strings of numbers and letters that had nothing to do with anything - "enjoy your stay!"

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bloodtrails

· #15 · Jul 27, 2005

On the bright side you will not have any problems on the Texas end. They may, however, be very interested in your gun and hunting trip and be very interested in any stories you can tell. Texas is, after all, in America.

pla930

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jul 27, 2005

Check with Delta and make sure that they do in fact transport bows. I believe that I read in Outdoor Life that Delta does not carry bows. Contact them and make sure there is not a problem.

[confused]

Thanks for the heads-up! Calling now!

nightstalker911

· #17 · Jul 27, 2005

I just shipped my gear to Montana via UPS this morning. It will be in Southwest Montana by Wed. So if you get to UPS today or tomorrow your gear will be there waiting there for you. People ship their gear out to Outfitters all the time. Call them and let them know it's coming.
Have a safe trip

pla930

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jul 27, 2005

Here's what I got from Delta.com:

Restricted Dangerous Goods:

*Ammunition (accepted if boxed small-arms ammunition, less than 11 pounds, and in checked luggage)
*Firearms (accepted if unloaded, declared to agent at check-in, and in a suitable container in checked luggage)
*Gunpowder
*Mace
*Pepper spray
*Tear gas

bloodtrails

· #19 · Jul 27, 2005

I just shipped my gear to Montana via UPS this morning. It will be in Southwest Montana by Wed. So if you get to UPS today or tomorrow your gear will be there waiting there for you. People ship their gear out to Outfitters all the time. Call them and let them know it's coming.
Have a safe trip

You can do it, but keep in mind it is illegal. Also, if the package is "lost" it is lost forever and now your gun may be used in a crime and be traced back to you. Now you have to explain why you "didn't know your gun was missing" (remember, you can't file a claim with the shipping company) and you can be sued (see the Sussex pizza murders) because you did not properly secure your firearms.

If you must ship, ship through an FFL.

pla930

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jul 27, 2005

On the bright side you will not have any problems on the Texas end. They may, however, be very interested in your gun and hunting trip and be very interested in any stories you can tell. Texas is, after all, in America.

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