For the traveling hunters....

[fountain2]

Anybody wanna share some tips on flying?  Im really wanting to go to Kansas this year, but never flown and its looking like 2 plane tickets are gonna kill it...wow they are high!     My wife and i have never flown before and are seeking advice on ways we may could go cheaper.  Im not really sure on how to book or where all to look for prices.

[ElkTurkMan]

Make sure your ammo, is seperate from your gun, and make sure it is in the manufactures box, otherwise it will get taken.  Also go ahead and get a good gub case, because the airline people will beat the heck out of it.  If your taking a  therma cell, the cartdriges are a no no planes whether on you or in your luggage, don't take them or they will get confiscated.   Also if possible try and get  direct flight, that is usually not possible, but check and see if you can.  There is  alot less of chance of missing or lost luggage on a direct flight.  If you have to swap planes try and give yourself enough time, so that your luggage (guncase), will have enought time to get on the plan with you.  I always try to get at least a two hour lay over if possible for this.  Unfrotunately this si something that your at the air lines mercy with.  

[Turkey Trot]

Use baggage that has a light tare weight (empty weight).  I like and own rolling duffels with structure, but they eat up anywhere from 6-10 pounds of usable weight.  One excellent North Face rolling duffel on the market weighs 12 pounds empty.  I had them prior to the most recent shift in baggage policies, and I use a Cabela's cordura duffel now and will just let them tear it up because it's not that expensive.  It's cheaper to pay for a cart to roll things around than to pay overweight fees.

Weigh you bags somewhere on accurate commercial scales before you get to the airporch and find out they are too heavy.

You will need a hard case with locks to fly your guns.  it is easier to get break down cases into a rental than it is full length cases.  Rifles make it harder because most do not break down, but shotguns do.  I have both long and short cases and will carry the short if I can.

Do not buy a cheap travel case, you'll only regret it when you have to spend money a second time to get a good one.

I prefer a breakdown case with external locks, i.e. locks that are not built in to the case.  I buy a long hasp master lock.  Some holes for the lock has require some work to get them in.  I adopted that from the early days of the TSA when there was no standardization TSA lock and key.  They might break your lock to get in to inspect you gun again.  Things have changed and there are some nice cases with integrated locks, but I've had my Browning/Pelicans and ICC cases a long time and have had no reason to buy others.    

Measure the length of your guns broken down.  My semi autos are longer than O/U's or SxS guns when broken down and require a minimum 36" case.  One can typically carry broken down doubles in a 32" case.

Take duct tape with you and put a couple of wraps around the case after TSA inspects it an you lock it back.  It is additional security to prevent the unexpected and serves as a seal.  If someone enters the case, they'll have to cut the tape and you will know it.  

Read the TSA website on how to travel with guns and ammo.

Be patient and keep a stiff upperlip.  The people that work for the TSA in the airports could barely muster the work ethic and brainpower to graduate from high school and they are marginally qualified to make a living doing anything.  There can be a lot of inconsistency between crews and airports because they are dumb.  That means that you need to study up on the rules.

[Neill_Prater]

Don't know where you live, but if the time off is not a big issue, I'd personally rather drive and use the money I save on travel expenses to hunt another state along the way. Neill

[vagrousehunter]

Don't know where you live, but if the time off is not a big issue, I'd personally rather drive and use the money I save on travel expenses to hunt another state along the way. Neill

     I'll second this.  I drive from Va. to the midwest fairly often.  This year I'll be driving to Kansas and Nebraska.  When you drive you can take all of your stuff that you might need.  You don't have to worry about getting your bird or birds home on an airplane, either.

[ElkTurkMan]

Don't know where you live, but if the time off is not a big issue, I'd personally rather drive and use the money I save on travel expenses to hunt another state along the way. Neill

     I'll second this.  I drive from Va. to the midwest fairly often.  This year I'll be driving to Kansas and Nebraska.  When you drive you can take all of your stuff that you might need.  You don't have to worry about getting your bird or birds home on an airplane, either.

x3, I am driving 27 hours from Georgia to South Dakota this April, largely because I am fed up with he hassle of flying with Firearms, as well as the worrying about my birds or birds in the luggage getting lost on the way home. If I was pressed for time I wouldn't be able to do this, but since I've got the time I am going to drive.

[Turkey Trot]

If you have to fly, you might save yourself some time and trouble shipping stuff to yourself via UPS or FedEx ground.

I did that back in 97 on an extended trip out west.  It worked well on the front end, but not the back end.  While in return transit, the Teamsters at UPS went on strike and held my stuff hostage.  It took a while to break the impasse and get my stuff back.

[mudhen]

Been flying with guns & ammo 5-10 times a year for the past 20 years or so, without a single incident (so far).

Easiest now to use a nice case that accepts TSA locks, TSA loves those cases. 

Pack ammo in your regular NON-CARRY-ON suitcase, and while it's no longer required by all airlines to be in the original box, I leave it in the original box just to be safe.  I try to travel with just enough ammo to get by, and then pick up a cheap box of 3" lead #5 at Wally-World when I get to my destination.

For flights, Southwest is an option because they don't charge for up to 2 bags.  Otherwise, I use Expedia, or use up frequent flyer miles.

Good luck!

mudhen

[dirt road ninja]

Check out if Soutwest flies near where you are going from where you live. I find them to be the most reasonable airline. I know flying into Kansas City, MO is cheaper then flying in Kansas itself some of the time.

[redarrow]

Excellent advise thus far. Another piece of advise is inre to medications. Original containers only.

[fountain2]

Awwwww dang.  Im scared already!...and lost..

[strutstopper]

I use Expedia to book my flights. Frontier airlines is great when it comes to flying with guns.  Your gun and ammo can be in the same gun case. Most airlines allow 11 lbs of ammo, which is more than enough. Like others said, get a high end gun case. The airline company is extremely rough on gear. Flying with guns is very easy and painless, and can save a lot of driving time. Put some orange flagging tape on your suitcase and gun case handle, it will make it a lot easier to spot your luggage on the conveyor, especially if you use your standard looking suitcase.

[fountain2]

as bad as im wanting to go, i just dont think time is gonna permit.  my wifes vacation schedule is crazy. she only has a week right now and cant bust it up and we are going to florida in march, so no time.  she is wanting to wait and do kansas and wyoming next year.  o well, i just hope i can plan well and start saving now and all goes well