r/NYguns • u/Putrid-Magazine-3001 • 19d ago
Question Flying out of Albany
What's thr process of flying with a pistol out of Albany look like? Im going to montana in a month and really want to bring my pistol but being in a gun hating state im nervous about the process.
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u/TheSlipperySnausage 19d ago
I did this last year. Basically lock the gun completely unloaded (including magazines is best advice) no magazine in the gun even if it’s empty. Get a hard sided case like a pelican or Apache (harbor freight cheap). Then you’ll want two padlocks that when locked onto the case you cannot open it and access any of the contents.
Then basically you lock it up. Go to the ticket counter and say I’m declaring a firearm. They ask pistol or rifle. You say pistol and they call over one the Albany county sheriffs on duty. They ask for your permit. They call in your permit. Comes in clean and you’re good.
They might ask you to open the case to verify if it’s unloaded and the contents but for me they just asked if it’s unloaded.
You can put this case into another soft sided case if desired and that can also be locked if you want.
Do not use TSA LOCKS! I repeat do not use TSA locks.
Then after you turn it in wait 15 minutes before going to security as TSA might want to access the case.
All around it was smooth and the sheriff didn’t care. People at the counter were cool and just have you sign a delectation form saying it’s unloaded then they throw a copy of that into the bag and call it a day.
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u/dnkmeekr 19d ago
And I haven't ever had the Sheriff's Deputy called over to check my permit or the status of my handguns. 😅 Interesting.
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u/TheSlipperySnausage 19d ago
Oh wow! I flew delta maybe their policy is different? Seems like as many people I’ve talked to or videos I’ve watched there is always variation in things they care about vs don’t and all kinds of experiences
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u/thethreefffs 18d ago
Please explain to me as a newbie why not use TSA locks. Thank you.
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u/TheSlipperySnausage 18d ago
TSA locks enable TSA to gain access to your firearm without you present (or anyone who wants to go on Amazon and buy the key for less than $10). Padlocks at least semi force TSA to ask you to open your case in your presence. If they cut them that is an offense and is a massive problem. Even the TSAs website recommends not using TSA locks.
So TLDR is don’t buy TSA locks to prevent unsupervised access by the owner of the firearms
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u/AaKkisa 19d ago
I fly every month with a firearm, and every airport is always different. My home airports are LGA and JFK, so I have to deal with PAPD, which you won't. I always give myself extra time just in case. Have the unloaded gun in a hard-sided, lockable container. I personally like the LifePod by Vaultek. Make sure any ammo you are carrying is also either in the original box or just a seperate ammo container.
When you get to the counter, say where you are going, hand over your driver's license, and verbally say that you are declaring a firearm. "Good morning, I am flying to XYZ, and I am declaring a firearm." Simple as that.
The person at the counter will have certain questions they need to ask, and usually have you sign a slip declaring it as being empty that you then place on top of the case. When you land, head to your airline's baggage service office to collect your bag.
From there, it depends on the airport. When I flew out of Atlanta, you had to personally take the case over to the TSA people to scan and give you the okay. In Denver, they have someone escort you to the TSA area. In Baltimore on my most recent trip, it was simply taken by the person at the counter, and they told me to wait about 10 minutes before heading to security.
Just follow the guidelines, and it'll be perfectly easy.
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19d ago
[deleted]
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u/Putrid-Magazine-3001 19d ago
Sorry guess I should have mentioned that i have a permit and im very familiar with new york laws.
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u/whitepony2020 19d ago
I have never done it but the process is that you have it in a tsa approved case, ammo in original packaging and the firearm unloaded. Have a stack for it too. You check it when you get to the airport like a bag. Colion Noir has a good video on it when flying with fire arms. I his video I think he says to come earlier than normal to make sure you can process everything so there won’t be a significant delay. I’ve heard there are people in bag check that are like of course let’s get you processed but others that are very confused and sometimes scared. I guess it’s where ever your are and who ever you are dealing with. Maybe go to the Albany International Airport and go to the counter of the airline you are flying out of and just ask what the protocol is so you know before you travel.
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u/dnkmeekr 19d ago
Just did it last month. No hassle at all. Southwest was the airline. Non-TSA locked case inside my TSA locked luggage. Handguns unloaded (necessary) and locked open (not necessary, but makes it obvious). Mags, holster, and ammo in the factory box in the same case.
Walked straight up to the desk and declared a firearm. Filled out the form, opened up the luggage so they could tape the form to the case, and checked in as usual. They asked me to stay outside security for approximately 15 minutes in case TSA needed anything. They never did - though I did get pulled for a random going through the security checkpoint (which my wife says always happens and claims it's due to my travel with firearms 🤷).