Just flew out several weeks ago to Las Vegas.  It was easy  just had to check in with a agent and declare that you have a firearm and ammo.  I had my pistol in a Liifepod safe (TSA approve) case, and the armmo was in its factory box.  I also carried a copy of the TSA and Hawaiian Airlines policies regarding checking in a firearm and ammo. They will ask you to open the safe then they will make you sign a orange card, which they placed it into my case.  I had the pistol locked to the rear with a camber flag in it, also no loaded mags.  Same when you fly back its the same thing, the only difference is that they ended up taping the orange card onto my case.  For the LifePod it has a electronic lock and a manual key back up.  At no times you should give your keys or combo to TSA/Hawaiian, if they want it do be open they will call for you. 

Not sure who "they" are, but the website doesn't say that exactly.
"Case," not "suitcase".

I always travel with soft-sided luggage, and the hard-sided pistol case is placed inside.

No over-thinking required.   

Just throw um in your carry on like that Kauai Asst Police Chief.
NO thinking required.  

Just flew out several weeks ago to Las Vegas.  It was easy  just had to check in with a agent and declare that you have a firearm and ammo.  I had my pistol in a Liifepod safe (TSA approve) case, and the armmo was in its factory box.  I also carried a copy of the TSA and Hawaiian Airlines policies regarding checking in a firearm and ammo. They will ask you to open the safe then they will make you sign a orange card, which they placed it into my case.  I had the pistol locked to the rear with a camber flag in it, also no loaded mags.  Same when you fly back its the same thing, the only difference is that they ended up taping the orange card onto my case.  For the LifePod it has a electronic lock and a manual key back up.  At no times you should give your keys or combo to TSA/Hawaiian, if they want it do be open they will call for you.

Question. Where in Vegas do you pick up your firearm when you land? And where in Hawaii when you land back home?


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Oahu to Vegas, had some hickups. 2 occasions going they made me put the orange paper inside the locked gun case.  All other times going and coming back it was on top of it, inside the suitcase. Also going to Vegas, I had 40 rounds in a box of 50rds factory ammo. Person had to check with her boss if that was allowed.  Then on 1 trip, I was missing 1 rd of HP ammo. Box had 49 and not 50 rds when i opened it in Vegas.

Coming from Vegas to here, often I don't even have to weight my ammo or show them the firearm. They are way more chill about it.  Or maybe the person knows that 1 box of ammo aint 11lbs. And often they just ask if over 11 and a verbal is acceptable.

My 1st time traveling with guns, I was overthinking. They say hard sided suitcase. But what about the zipper, that's soft material. ANd they do make suitcases with no soft zipper material,. IIRC, their CSC could not answer my question and just restated "hard sided suitcase".

Question does your firearm case come out on the belt? Or gotta go somewhere else to
Grab it. Same for flying back home to Hawaii?


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Question does your firearm case come out on the belt? Or gotta go somewhere else to
Grab it. Same for flying back home to Hawaii?


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Half of the time it comes out on the belt.  The other half you have to pick it up from their luggage office or they have an employee watching it on the side.

Same with the other airlines.

Question. Where in Vegas do you pick up your firearm when you land? And where in Hawaii when you land back home?


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Depends on the airline. Hawaiian air is at the normal baggage courasel. For both rifle cases and handguns in suitcases.

United has a separate area you pick up that's near their office near the baggage courasel.

Question does your firearm case come out on the belt? Or gotta go somewhere else to
Grab it. Same for flying back home to Hawaii?


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Refer to my last post.

Depends on the airline. Hawaiian air is at the normal baggage courasel. For both rifle cases and handguns in suitcases.

United has a separate area you pick up that's near their office near the baggage courasel.

I fly United. All of my baggage with firearms inside come out on the belt.

I fly United. All of my baggage with firearms inside come out on the belt.

Weird, as mine in Vegas and in Honolulu were in a separate area. 

Weird, as mine in Vegas and in Honolulu were in a separate area.

Were you traveling with large Pelican type cases?  Some airlines threat those the same as other large or unusual checked items like skis and hard-sided golf bag carriers.  Those are usually taken to the airline's baggage office.

Every time i placed a locked pistol case inside a checked bag, it arrived on the carousel except for the one time my bag was delayed. I had to switch planes due to my connection being canceled.

It's not a big deal.  Grab your luggage from the carousel, and if you're missing a gun case, check with the airline's baggage office. 

I've had a large suitcase not show up at the Hawaii baggage claim, but i noticed a bag that wasn't mine hadn't been claimed -- which was almost identical.

So, i filed a missing luggage report and walked outside to wait on a ride.  Luckily, there's the person who owned the other bag waiting for their ride -- next to my suitcase.  I asked them to check the name on the ID tag.  Obviously they didn't bother before.  I was glad I didn't have a firearm in that bag.  They may not have figured out it wasn't theirs when their latch key didn't fit.

That experience told me I really need to mark my luggage to avoid mistakes by other passengers.  I now use brightly colored straps around the case to customize it and to keep it from opening during the trip -- zippers and latches do break.  Anything that makes your luggage stand out can avoid someone else mistaking it for theirs.

Make sure your name is prominently and securely attached to the outside (something better than the free name tags at the airport), and try to get to the baggage claim area before the bags start appearing. 

I fly United. All of my baggage with firearms inside come out on the belt.

I’ve mostly flew United with guns and for me depended on airport. HNL was usually on belt. AK, UT, NV were mix of belt and service center.

What’s your thought on having a locked pistol case inside check luggage with clothes?


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Depends on the airline. Hawaiian air is at the normal baggage courasel. For both rifle cases and handguns in suitcases.

United has a separate area you pick up that's near their office near the baggage courasel.

Any experience with having a lock pistol case inside of check in luggage with clothes ?


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What’s your thought on having a locked pistol case inside check luggage with clothes?


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When flying only with pistols, that's typically what I do. 

Seems like the best way. Thanks for all the info. First time flying with my CCW


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Half of the time it comes out on the belt.  The other half you have to pick it up from their luggage office or they have an employee watching it on the side.

Same with the other airlines.

Same here for Hawaiian.  Sometimes public belt but sometimes I have to go to the baggage office...after waiting 30 minutes and freaking out when it never comes out on the belt! 

Seems like the best way. Thanks for all the info. First time flying with my CCW


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I usually lock my case to the bag also. I use one of the pistol locks that come with the gun and loop that around the case and a metal strut inside my luggage. Makes it more difficult from someone to reach in and snatch the case.

I usually lock my case to the bag also. I use one of the pistol locks that come with the gun and loop that around the case and a metal strut inside my luggage. Makes it more difficult from someone to reach in and snatch the case.

Good idea.

I usually lock my case to the bag also. I use one of the pistol locks that come with the gun and loop that around the case and a metal strut inside my luggage. Makes it more difficult from someone to reach in and snatch the case.

Good idea. Any chance you keep slide open on lock when you declare it?


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Were you traveling with large Pelican type cases?  Some airlines threat those the same as other large or unusual checked items like skis and hard-sided golf bag carriers.  Those are usually taken to the airline's baggage office.

Every time i placed a locked pistol case inside a checked bag, it arrived on the carousel except for the one time my bag was delayed. I had to switch planes due to my connection being canceled.

It's not a big deal.  Grab your luggage from the carousel, and if you're missing a gun case, check with the airline's baggage office. 

I've had a large suitcase not show up at the Hawaii baggage claim, but i noticed a bag that wasn't mine hadn't been claimed -- which was almost identical.

So, i filed a missing luggage report and walked outside to wait on a ride.  Luckily, there's the person who owned the other bag waiting for their ride -- next to my suitcase.  I asked them to check the name on the ID tag.  Obviously they didn't bother before.  I was glad I didn't have a firearm in that bag.  They may not have figured out it wasn't theirs when their latch key didn't fit.

That experience told me I really need to mark my luggage to avoid mistakes by other passengers.  I now use brightly colored straps around the case to customize it and to keep it from opening during the trip -- zippers and latches do break.  Anything that makes your luggage stand out can avoid someone else mistaking it for theirs.

Make sure your name is prominently and securely attached to the outside (something better than the free name tags at the airport), and try to get to the baggage claim area before the bags start appearing.

Handgun case inside suitcase

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