Travel to Alaska

[EarlyRiser]

"Retirednak" I hear you about feeling naked in Canada. That's a looonnng haul, and who knows what could happen. I don't want to be broken down out on the Alaskan Highway without protection. That was the whole idea of buying "personal protection". I would guess IF Canada border officials locate my gun, it would be confiscated? OR the Feds would on my return?

[retirednak]

If you get caught with a hand gun,you will lose it forever,won't get to travel through Canada and may get to spend time in jail. When I bought my last car in the lower 48,I was stopped and searched. The woman agent was a real ***** and asked me so many questions,I got upset and refused to answer any personal questions about my life and any questions about firearms other then I did not travel with any on this trip. When she was done,another agent searched my car. I asked him what crawled up her butt,he laughed and said she was on a power trip and I should be glad she wasn't doing the searching. He said he feels sorry for people pulling RV's when the woman is doing the searching. They were searching every vehicle pulling a trailer and every other car or pickup. This was after 9/11 and before passports were required to travel through Canada for Alaskans. I did notice they have hidden cameras viewing into vehicles before stopping at the first check point. I can assume its to see people trying to hide things. They do profile at the check point into Canada. I hadn't shaved for a couple days and with a tan and American Indian blood lines,I was a tad brown skinned. This was the border check point outside of WA state. I've also had friends that haven't been checked at all going through Canada. I wouldn't take the chance of loosing my gun or being locked up in Canada. The US check points are a breeze.

If your going to be in the Wasilla area or Anchorage area,I can give you the names of gun shops that you can send your firearm to ahead of time.

[weekendskp]

My son is flying from Missouri to Anchorage, AK in two weeks to spend two months in Port Alsworth (aka BFE). He's taking a Ruger .44 Magnum Vaquero. IMO, that's the "bear" minimum. Ha ha. That was a play on words. He should be okay if 1. checks it in a locked metal case (locks on both sides of the handle, not just one in the middle). 2. Declares at check in. Any other requirements or advice is requested.

[retirednak]

The locks on the gun must be TSA approved type. That way only your son and the TSA agent will have a key to his gun. If he uses a regular lock,TSA will cut the lock off and will not replace it,leaving the thief's working for the airlines access to it.
When I travel,I use the TSA lock with a cable. I then lock the gun case to the inside of my bag so there is no chance of the whole case walking off once everything is closed up and moved to the back.

Your sons 44 mag will do just fine for bear protection. I used my old Black Hawk for 30 yrs up here. Hate carrying the hog leg around because of the weight. Make sure when it arrives to purchase "Bear Loads" along with some play rounds. Tell him to have fun from a local!

[Islander]

The locks on the gun must be TSA approved type. That way only your son and the TSA agent will have a key to his gun. If he uses a regular lock,TSA will cut the lock off and will not replace it,leaving the thief's working for the airlines access to it.

Great post about bears and guns, but this part is 100% wrong. You may not use a TSA lock. Specifically, only the traveler (your son) may have a key/combo to your gun locks, not TSA and not anyone else. You may get away with sending a TSA lock through, but that is against Federal and TSA policy.

LINK TO TSA GUIDELINES: Traveling with Special Items: Firearms & Ammunition

- You must declare all firearms to the airline during the ticket counter check-in process.
- The firearm must be unloaded.
- The firearm must be in a hard-sided container.
- The container must be locked. A locked container is defined as one that completely secures the firearm from access by anyone other than you. Cases that can be pulled open with little effort do not meet this criterion. The pictures provided here illustrate the difference between a properly packaged and an improperly packaged firearm.
- We recommend that you provide the key or combination to the security officer if he or she needs to open the container. You should remain in the area designated by the aircraft operator or TSA representative to take the key back after the container is cleared for transportation. If you are not present and the security officer must open the container, we or the airline will make a reasonable attempt to contact you. If we can't contact you, the container will not be placed on the plane. Federal regulations prohibit unlocked gun cases (or cases with broken locks) on aircraft.
- You must securely pack any ammunition in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging that is specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
- You can't use firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition unless they completely and securely enclose the ammunition (e.g., by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder, holster or lanyard).
- You may carry the ammunition in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as you pack it as described above.
- You can't bring black powder or percussion caps used with black-powder type firearms in either your carry-on or checked baggage.

We and other authorities strictly enforce these regulations. Violations can result in criminal prosecution and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation.

[Islander]

My son is flying from Missouri to Anchorage, AK in two weeks to spend two months in Port Alsworth (aka BFE). He's taking a Ruger .44 Magnum Vaquero. IMO, that's the "bear" minimum. Ha ha. That was a play on words. He should be okay if 1. checks it in a locked metal case (locks on both sides of the handle, not just one in the middle). 2. Declares at check in. Any other requirements or advice is requested.

Here is a great resource for airline flying, complete with reports of experiences on various airlines:

Airline Travel with Firearms

[retirednak]

I need to quit offering advice,feel like a jerk for the wrong info.

[NavyLCDR]

I need to quit offering advice,feel like a jerk for the wrong info.

Don't feel bad or alone. Jet Blue recommends committing a Federal felony on their own website:

JetBlue | Help)

All firearms must be unloaded and must be packed in either a crush-proof container specifically designed for the firearm, or in a hard-sided container. The container must be lockable and only the individual checking the baggage should retain the key or combination. Any container which cannot be locked is not acceptable. TSA recommends that you provide the key or combination to the security officer if he or she needs to open the container. You should remain present during screening to take the key back after the container is cleared.

I am going to send them an email now to show them the error of their ways.

[Islander]

Don't feel bad or alone. Jet Blue recommends committing a Federal felony on their own website:

JetBlue | Help)

I am going to send them an email now to show them the error of their ways.

This is one of those sketchy areas. TSA has changed their language on it. While originally it said you MUST be present during the inspection, they recognized that in some airports you cannot be present during the inspection of the firearm, and in those cases direct you to provide the key/combo "temporarily" to the agent. In that case you remain in an area designated by the airline until you can get your key back or confirm the case is locked. Here is the exact language:

LINK: TSA Traveling with Special Items

We recommend that you provide the key or combination to the security officer if he or she needs to open the container. You should remain in the area designated by the aircraft operator or TSA representative to take the key back after the container is cleared for transportation. If you are not present and the security officer must open the container, we or the airline will make a reasonable attempt to contact you. If we can't contact you, the container will not be placed on the plane. Federal regulations prohibit unlocked gun cases (or cases with broken locks) on aircraft.