I don't fly very much but last time I flew was this past Easter weekend. Drove from Orland to San Diego to drop a car off and flew back. Had my EMP 9mm for the trip with a metallic lockbox, didn't bring any ammo boxes. I was flying back with Southwest and went to check in 2 bags at the counter and declare a firearm. The ticket agent checked it and asked if I have a box for the ammo. I told him I did not and he had me put the rounds back into the magazine and into the case next to the pistol. Pistol, ammo and mags made it back with me.

For years I had a magazine or two fully loaded in the locked box with the pistols... seemed practical to me and a lot easier to once I got out of the airport... TSA says loaded mags are okay, Delta says not... but if you 'hide' the mag under an unloaded one then you are more than likely good to go... you are only breaking Delta's rule not the law. In theory the more pertinent issue is how do you get the big nylon strap off your luggage .... since you don't have a knife on your person... I guess the most practical way would be to stop a LEO on the way out and ask them to cut it off?

quote:

Originally posted by Blume9mm:

TSA says loaded mags are okay, Delta says not <snip> how do you get the big nylon strap off your luggage .... since you don't have a knife on your person

Delta does not want rounds touching each other. That's why they want ammunition in an ammunition box with separators, like the original box or one of the plastic boxes that has a hole for each round.

You can put a knife in your checked bag.

If the checked bag is strapped on the outside with the large nylon ties that in theory have to be cut off before you can get into the bag what good does it do to have a knife in that checked bag? The reality is usually you can just work the strap off.

As for their, Delta's, policy of no loaded magazines... how is ammo in a magazine more dangerous than that in factory box? I can see how loose ammo could be potentially dangerous.

Just checked with American Airlines and their policy is the same as the TSA's that ammo can be in "metal or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition".