I've read up on the FAA and Delta regs, but any words of advice to make sure I do not run into any problems?

I have an approved locking case. Will declare it at counter. Will be inside my main travel bag.

One question that I am still a little fuzzy on is transporting ammo. Dos the ammo case also have to be locked or just in an approved container?

I've done it before.

I had two loaded magazines (1 9-rd and 1 12-rd), inside the locking case that the pistol was in, but the pistol itself was unloaded. The case had two TSA approved locks on it. It was declared, inspected, and tagged, then placed into my checked bag, which was then tagged for special handling and locked with another TSA approved lock. I was going to/from TX, so no restrictions on having a concealed weapon or limits on magazine capacity. Make sure that you have a valid CC permit for any state that you have a layover in, just in case a flight is cancelled and you have to stay the night. Don't want someone standing behind you waiting for you to claim your bag just to give you a set of silver bracelets and a free room for the night.

I thought ammo had to be separate from the firearm. Guess not.

Had a guy at the airport here many years ago, but post-9/11, ask me to open a 12-gauge to make sure it was unloaded. That turned a few heads.

Read some more and found the regs on TSA site.

Ammo has to be in the original manf box or an approved container (fiber, metal, plastic box designed to keep ammo rounds separate). This ammo can be inside the locked gun case or in the checked bag as long as it meets the packing requirements. I did not see anything that said mags had to be empty or if full was ok...just detailed info on the ammo packaging. I'll go with them empty and just load up in the car so not to have any hassle from TSA.

I just flew delta with a firearm. The gun has to be unlocked. Ammo can be in the same case, but must be in a approved container. The easiest way is in the original box. Get some TSA locks.

At the counter, you open the case, show them the gun, confirm it is not loaded. Sign a little card saying it is not loaded, put the card in the case with the gun and then relock it.

Now that I think about it, I think the mags were unloaded when I left from PNS for Texas because I also took the box of ammo, loose in the checked bag. When I left TX to come home is when I know the mags were out of the gun and loaded, but nothing was in the gun itself. The half-empty box of ammo was still in the bag as well.

What are the additional charges for flying with guns and or ammo?

Zero. Just the checked bag fee.

I fly regularly with guns and ammo and I have had several different people at the counter have several different opinions on what is allowed and what is not allowed.

I never have ammo in the same case with the weapon. I know the "rules" but I have also had several airport people tell me that you can't do that.

The last 6 or 7 times I have flown with guns, they don't even look at the weapon to verify whether it is loaded or not. They just give me the orange card and I sign it and drop it into the case.

Two things I can tell you for sure, always use TSA locks and use the factory boxes for ammo.

Even the issue with locks is very misleading. TSA and Delta say that the owner is the only person to have the key or combination. But read on several sites where people say to use TSA locks. Well that is an open lock and totally bypasses the security called for in TSA regs. Why would I want TSA to be able to open up my gun case without me there? I know TSA can cut off a lock, but there would be no need for that if I go through the proper check-in and screening.

Can't anything be simple??

I really do not want to have to go buy TSA locks. I already have locks. Will that be a hassle? On other forums people that travel with guns a lot say it is no problem...yet others say always use TSA locks.

Dang red tape give me a headache.

Doesn't matter. Either use TSA locks or locks approved by them, or don't and be ready for any consequences or hassles.

Well before 911 i walked up to the counter in Baton Rouge with my 742, on the way to WY, and the agent ask me to open the chamber and when I did a bullet flew out. Everyone just looked at each other and I picked it up and put it in the magazine which I eas holding in my hand. The agent checked the gun case and had it put on the plane.
I flew into Jackson Wy a couple years ago, late at night. Couldn't find my gun case. I went back down to the ticket counter to ask about it. No one there and gun case was laying on the counter, unattended?????????

Alright already

OK this got me to digging. Using a TSA lock on a gun case seems to actually violates the federal law, saying only the passenger retains the key or combination to the lock. 49CFR1540.111.

(c) In checked baggage. A passenger
may not transport or offer for transport
in checked baggage or in baggage
carried in an inaccessible cargo hold
under § 1562.23 of this chapter:
(1) Any loaded firearm(s).
(2) Any unloaded firearm(s) unless—
(i) The passenger declares to the aircraft
operator, either orally or in writing,
before checking the baggage, that
the passenger has a firearm in his or
her bag and that it is unloaded;
(ii) The firearm is unloaded;
(iii) The firearm is carried in a hardsided
container; and
(iv) The container in which it is carried
is locked, and only the passenger
retains the key or combination.

Many other message boards are all split 50/50 on the issue. Guess i'll buy TSA locks to be free of even more headaches if something happens during a screening.

I just carry mine in my pocket.

I fly bham to orlando and Nashville every week and only use reg locks with never a problem . Tampa treated me like a criminal but bham Nashville orlando. all fine.

Try that and you will get bamachems "silver bracelet and free night" treatment.

If you don't have TSA locks, they will sometimes ask you to leave it unlocked so that TSA can check the gun. I know when we were flying from Missouri a couple of weeks ago, they came and got a key from someone on the plane with us so TSA could check the gun. If you think that TSA doesn't open gun cases, you are mistaken. That is why you put the orange card in there.

TSA locks are not expensive. Why run the hassle of having a problem.

I have a few questions on this also. If you did have a layover where you had to claim you luggage and it was in a state that doesn't honor Alabama's CCP is there a legal method of getting to a hotel? Can you not transport it in the trunk unloaded or anything like that? As far as checking a pistol you just have to have it in a lockable hard case then you can put it in your normal checked bag? Ammo in the original container then in the same checked bag?