Episode 44 was filmed on February 15th and marked my first time checking a firearm while flying Frontier Airlines from New Orleans to Las Vegas. Overall, the process was surprisingly quick and smooth from start to finish.
Check-In at MSY
I walked up to the counter, said my usual line that I was declaring firearms, and the agent immediately began the process. I was traveling with my Condition 1 hard-sided case, which was locked and packed inside another piece of luggage.
At first, the agent wanted the declaration tag placed inside the hard-sided case. Before finalizing that, she checked with a nearby manager, who came over and confirmed that placing the declaration form in the FedEx sleeve attached to the case was perfectly fine—especially since the firearm case was inside another piece of luggage.
Once that was sorted out, I filled out the form, placed it in the sleeve, and zipped everything up.
While reviewing the footage later during editing, I noticed something I didn’t fully catch in the moment. It sounded like another agent recognized me, which would explain why my agent suddenly said she was nervous. Even with the brief moment of humor, everything stayed professional and moved along quickly.
After Check-In
After handing over the bag, I set my usual 15-minute timer before heading to security, just in case TSA needed to inspect the case further. No one called me back, and I continued through security without any issues.
Arrival in Las Vegas
After landing in Las Vegas, I went to baggage claim where my luggage came out on the regular carousel. Since the hard-sided case was packed inside normal luggage, that’s exactly where it was expected to arrive. I grabbed my bag and was on my way.
Final Thoughts
For a first experience checking a firearm with Frontier Airlines, this trip couldn’t have gone much smoother. Even with a small moment of confusion about where the declaration form should go, the staff verified the correct process and everything stayed quick and easy.
Another reminder that when everyone understands the policies—and you stay organized—the process works just like it should.
