Has anyone flown out of Denver airport in the past couple of years? I have done it a few times and it’s such a hassle I am debating whether to bring my EDC on my upcoming trip. Everything from the special services line at the airline counter to having to go with the attendant to the scanning room just takes longer, and there are more steps than any other airport I’ve been to. I’m pretty sure I had to go from the airline counter to the scanning room with an attendant and my luggage, then all the way back to the airline counter to drop off the bag.
And I don’t believe it’s necessarily due to just being in an anti-gun state; the easiest time I’ve ever had checking in was at BWI in Maryland. Anyway, just curious whether anything might have changed since my last time there two years ago.
It really added up, though. The line for the counter was incredibly slow compared to other airports. They also made me open my lock box, a step which most other airports I’ve flown through skip and just ask me to confirm that it’s unloaded and the ammo is in a box, etc. And while this was just an absolute fluke, on one of these occasions my hard case (a LifePod with a combo lock, which I checked inside my suitcase) completely flaked out and wouldn’t open with the combo for like 5 or 10 minutes. I had the combo correct the entire time, and that has never happened again before or since, just TERRIBLE timing. Still, even without that, it’s been an ordeal, but we’ll see. Fortunately the flight is late in the day so I might do it, or I could look into the FFL shipping at least for the return trip. I normally fly out of Dulles from home, and they do make you go with an attendant to the scanner but they just take your suitcase (or gun case) from there. At BWI I didn’t even have to go to the scanner, they just took the bag at the counter like any other checked bag (I’m sure it was scanned at some point, I just didn’t have to tag along).
The only airline that wanted to see the firearm in my luggage, at the ticket counter was American, Southwest didn’t. Never taken to a screening room.
If you are taken to a room, that is all TSA and usually they are training someone new. The airline already knew what you have and followed their air carrier operations plan
Yeah I think it varies both by airline and by airport, of course within whatever discretion TSA allows. I know that both United and SW have made me go to the screening room at Dulles, because I remember SW being a much longer walk. But I’m pretty sure it was also SW that I flew out of BWI, and they just asked me to open the suitcase, put the orange card on top of the gun case, and took the suitcase right there at the counter. I know at least one flight out of Denver was on United, another might have been with SW but I’m not certain, but I definiltely remember longer procedures and waits every time out of DEN.
Will.-B I have some friends Brothers over the years who own their own planes !! And they have offered to fly me anywhere with in Reson !! I put in their hanger Doors!! And theirs a Brother 20, minutes away who is A pilot. For a large air line!! He offered me to fly with him When he was Deadheading the plane!! I chickened out!! I’m a Land Lover lol I never want to go air sea if I can’t Drive There I’m not Going!! And the hanger is Right outside their Homes they have Deep Pockets !! one has the Red Baron Plane . So kool. He must Love planes kaz I seen four in the Building I was putting the Bifold Doors in. . As for the airlines Losing So much that’s another Problem. !!!
Sorry, I meant at the airline’s check-in counter, not the TSA scanning room. Although that reminds me, another fluky thing that happened in DEN was while walking back from the scanner room to the airline counter, I noticed that the zipper on my suitcase was splitting open, i.e. not at the end of the zipper. I wanted to stop and fix it but the attendant said I wasn’t allowed to open the suitcase again once it had been scanned, so we had to go back to the scanning room to unzip and re-zip it in front of them, or have them do it, I forget.
I retired from TSA a few years ago, you mention you check/declare your firearm at the airline counter as required then you are taken to a “scanner”. Please define what happens at the scanner. What you have described I have never seen happen. When I left, you end your issue with traveling with a firearm after you properly check/declare with the airlines. At the two airports I worked at we did no additional screening just because you declared a weapon. Maybe things have changed but hundreds travel with a firearm each day.
Municipalities, airports, and airlines have almost unfettered authority to add “special” firearms requirements. No one should assume what will happen when they get to the airport. Always call ahead (departure AND arrival location) to help mitigate problems. You are right about how many firearms are legally transported daily. Question is: do you want to be the exception?
I’m a little unclear as to what you’re saying you’ve never seen happen. But, at BWI for example, I declared the firearm at the airline’s check-in counter, and that was it. At IAD, I believe I always went with an attendant to a room where presumably they were scanning the bag or case containing the firearm. This was different than the carry-on scanner where you can see the screen the TSA agents are viewing, so I’m not really sure what they were looking at or looking for. At Dulles, once that was finished, the attendant usually or always took my luggage at that point to a conveyer belt behind the nearest airline counter and I was off to security. I seem to remember having to go back to the same check-in counter once, but I’m not sure, I definitely remember once when I flew Southwest their counter was a much longer walk to the scanner room than from United’s, which I usually fly out of Dulles, so maybe I’m just remembering the long walk.
Flying out of Denver, I definitely had to walk all the way back to the airline check-in counter with the attendant after the scanner room was finished, where they put the bag on the conveyer belt just like if I had checked it with no firearm.
And I just remembered at least one time at some airport, maybe Las Vegas or DFW, I didn’t have to go with anyone after checking in at the airline counter, but they told me to wait about 5 or 10 minutes before I left the area to head to security, in case there was any issue found when doing the scanning.
Interesting, sounds like those airports must have a separate checked baggage room to conduct the inspection while you are present. The inspection is not any different than all other airports, all bags are screened the same way. For some reason some airports have gotten a dedicated checked firearm processing room. It makes it easier for airlines if there is an issue you are there and it can be resolved quickly, such as firearm box locked and only you have key or combo and box must be open due to something seen. It actually should cut down on airlines claiming you did not declare the firearm. It does seem like an unnecessary extra step because the bag will be screened with same protocol either with you there in person or if it goes to the secured checked bag room. Thanks for the info. Learn something new everyday.
The thought / questions I have always had is since 9/11 is why we do not have TSA at baggage check-in of other major public transportation centers like trains, ships, buses? We should understand from 9/11 these people who conduct these attacks against us are very intelligent and bold enough to try another method to accomplish their evil goals. It’s just like mass shooters who first started at schools and then began to include other public locations - shopping centers, theaters, etc. Take busses for example, buses have always been a target in Israel - although they often use explosives - but the goal is the same - instill fear, attack people, disrupt lives. Just because it has not here yet, does not mean it won’t. I am sure budget constraints of paying additional TSA Agents is a factor among other considerations. Just a thought.
I never want to go air sea if I can’t Drive There I’m not Going!! And the hanger is Right outside their Homes they have Deep Pockets !! one has the Red Baron Plane . So kool. He must Love planes kaz I seen four in the Building I was putting the Bifold Doors in. . As for the airlines Losing So much that’s another Problem. !!!