airsoft things for travel

[santi]

Does anybody know if there is any restriction for bringing aeg, mags or clips for traveling(to Phil.)?

[triggerman]

for what i know...you cant bring anything. you can if you tear it apart...and besides we have a lot of place to get airsoft back at home.

[ACEMAN]

Thats a big no no on AEGS.........

[triggerman]

yap i agree ......

[Vno]

Copy paste from Socal, was posted by Longshanks:

Well it's getting time to fly out to the next op (OP: Irene IV), so I figure I would put together an "Airsoft and Air Travel Guide" to aid fellow airsofters who may be flying with their gear for the first time, and are unsure what "the rules" are, as well as what they can expect when they travel with their airsoft gear.

First - consider whatever AEG's, pistols, etc. you plan to travel with as if they were REAL FIREARMS at all times when in public, and handle them appropriately.

So what exactly are "the rules" regarding traveling with firearms and other gear? What can you bring with you? Below are pages from the TSA site that cover items that us airsofters are interested in:

Regarding AEG's/Pistols:



As we can see, no matter what you consider your airsoft weapon (replica, bb gun, pellet gun, etc.) you are permitted to bring it with you on your trip. Pay special attention to the highlighted portion - you can bring it, but no matter what it is, you MUST DECLARE IT.

Here are some other items...

Other Common "Airsoft" Items


The first thing you'll notice is that EVERYTHING on that list is PROHIBITED! You can't put that stuff in carry-on OR checked baggage! That list covers items like rubber grenades, airsoft claymore mines, smoke grenades, CO2, Green Gas, propane and silicone spray (aerosol), so don't try bringing that stuff with you. Either ship it or purchase it on the other end of your trip.

But here's something that may surprise you:

Airsoft Items Permitted for Carry-on


So if you have a small tool kit (tools need to be shorter than 7") for your AEG's you can take it with you on your carry-on bag. Be sure to remove any razor blades or knives though.

For a complete list of just about everything you can think of (like brass knuckles - checked baggage only) and whether or not it is allowed, visit:
www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm#6


Okay, now that we know what we can and cannot bring, how do we go about bringing the stuff we can? Here's the page from the TSA site that explains the rules for transporting firearms:
img142.imageshack.us/img142/6390/tsatravelingwithspecialitemssd4.png

In a nutshell, to safely transport your AEG's according to TSA rules, all you need to do is:

1. Declare all firearms to the agent at the ticket counter.
2. Be sure your AEG's/pistols are unloaded.
3. Have any firearms in a locked, hard-sided container.

Pretty simple.

Please notice the highlighted section on that page stating that each airline has their own specific rules about transporting firearms and ammunition. In past experiences I have found that some airlines will only allow you to carry 2 rifles per case whereas others allow 3 or more, so you'll want to check with your airline regarding their rules for transporting firearms and ammunition (usually found under "baggage"/"restricted items" on each airlines' site) so there are no surprises at the check in counter.

For my OP: Irene trip, I'm flying with American Airlines:


2 things you'll notice on that page...

First they say "Pellet and BB guns are not considered firearms, and therefore do not require any special handling or documentation."

Let me assure you that all this means is that if you wanted to transport your "Pellet or BB gun" in a soft-sided case you can do that (on American Airlines - again, some airlines do not differentiate between BB/Pellet/Real Steel so be sure to check with whatever airline you're flying with) - you still need to declare that you have a firearm. If you've ever watched luggage getting loaded and unloaded from an aircraft, you would have to be a fool to think that your AEG's would not get damaged in a soft-sided case, so just stick with a hard-sided case regardless of what your airline requires. Besides, airsoft weapons look like the real thing (which is why we buy them) so people will assume they are real and will most likely cause a hassle while going through the TSA inspection if you use a soft case.

The second thing to notice is that American Airlines allows you to carry 3 rifles per case, so with that in mind it's time to pack.

You'll want to pick up a good hard-sided case (again consider what kind of abuse your case will need to withstand during normal airline handling) and some locks for your case. You can't go wrong with a Pelican case - those things are gorilla-proof and guaranteed for life. For locks I suggest getting a pair of "TSA Approved" locks like this:


These locks have a red & white diamond logo, which TSA people will recognize. Basically, these are combination locks that also have a key lock that TSA employees have a master key for, which allows them to easily open your bag instead of cutting your locks off if you don't happen to be around for an inspection. They're also good to have for your other checked bags.

You can find them at your local hardware store or online:
www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=49008-382-4680DNKLCCSEN

Preparing your AEG's and Gear:

Remember - you'll need to make sure that each gun you're bringing is unloaded so don't pack your AEG's or pistols with the mags in them! If you have an M203 or M79 Grenade launcher - be sure to leave the breech open for easy inspection.

Remove any batteries from your AEG's to prevent your AEG's accidentally firing while they're being inspected. It's also a good idea to turn your hop-up off in order to avoid putting stress on it during transport. Be sure each weapons' safety is on and put it your case.

I also place an empty magazine or two along with a battery in the case so inspectors can realize that the weapons are not real and thus avoid any kind of complication about taking what appears to be an assault rifle on an airplane:



For good measure, I also enclose a manual that came with my AEG's and a note that says "ATTENTION INSPECTOR: These are replica firearms." just to put everyone at ease:



I have traveled without placing a manual and a note in my hard-case and had no trouble at all, but I figure the extra effort to put the manual and the note in there probably helps from keeping my bags from getting delayed unnecessarily.

Close the case and put the locks on and you're almost ready to go.

Alright, what about all your other gear like magazines, 203 rounds, radios, extra batteries, bb's, chargers, etc?

That stuff can all be put in your other checked bag, which could be anything from a simple duffle bag to a suitcase - there are no "regulations" that say you have to use a hard-sided case for any of that equipment, so you can pack that stuff along with your clothes without any worry. Keep in mind that once your bag goes through the x-ray, it's most likely going to get pulled for a more thorough inspection once the inspectors see what appears to be a bunch of magazines, bb's and electronic equipment inside. Yeah, that stuff's likely to raise an eyebrow.

The best way to pack your magazines is to either put them in whatever pouches you use to carry them on the field (be sure the magazines are unloaded of course) and then place your rig in your bag. If you are bringing more mags than you'll be actually carrying on the field you can either roll up the extra magazines in your clothing (that will pad them from getting damaged), place them in a cardboard box or simply tape them together and pack them where they most likely won't get damaged from other heavy bags being thrown on top of yours. Basically you want to avoid having a bunch of loose magazines to prevent them from either being damaged or lost.

If you're planning on bringing any M203 shower grenades, here's the best way to pack those:



After making sure that each shell is empty of both bb's and gas (Green, CO2 or whatever you use) simply place them in a cardboard box along with some bubble wrap or other padding. Since the person inspecting your luggage will probably have little to no experience with these items, it's a good idea to visit the manufacturer’s or dealer's site and print out the info page for whatever rounds you are bringing (in my case the Mad Bull XMPB4):

Mad Bull Grenade Product Page:


After you print out the page, simply place it in the cardboard box along with the shells, so anyone inspecting your equipment can easily see that your items are not "dangerous":



Remember - you are NOT allowed to have anything that looks like an explosive device in any checked/carry-on luggage. Things like smoke grenades, rubber grenades, and claymores need to be shipped. You are also not allowed to have any Green Gas, CO2 or Propane tanks or bottles.

Do not attempt to carry anything like bb's or batteries in your CARRY-ON luggage - YOU WILL HAVE PROBLEMS GOING THROUGH SECURITY. Basically, if something looks like it could be used to construct a bomb (and to people who are not familiar with bb's, batteries and chargers, those do) put it in your checked baggage. You probably want to pack your shemag(s) in your checked luggage as well.

As with any checked luggage be sure you have ID tags with your name, address and phone number (cell phone is best for traveling) on all hard-cases and luggage.

Also be sure to give yourself ample time to get through security, as you can bet on taking a little longer than the average passenger since what you're bringing will be out of the norm for what TSA normally comes across during their day.

At The Airport:

It's best to conduct yourself as if you were carrying actual firearms while traveling. When you get to the ticket counter, you'll need to declare your AEG's/pistols when checking your bags. Just tell the person at the ticket counter "I have some firearms to declare", at which point you'll be given a card to fill out that says something to the effect that you have inspected the weapons and the weapons are not loaded - seen here:

Firearms Declaration:


The Firearms Declaration is the only paperwork you'll need to fill out (for domestic flights - not sure on international flights). After you fill out the card you'll open the case for the ticket agent and place the card inside.

This always seemed weird to me because at that point everyone on line behind you see that you have what appears to be assault rifles and to me I can see how that may "freak" some people out - but hey, that's how they do it. After placing the card inside and closing the case, you'll be directed to a TSA agent for them to go through your case, or they'll just take it to a back room for them to inspect. All they really do is check that the gun is actually unloaded and then run the explosives check on the case.

If you're present for the inspection, you'll be on one side of a line that you shouldn't cross while the TSA checks your bag(s). Do not attempt to reach into your bags while they are inspecting them. Be prepared for some "holy shit!" looks from the screener when they open your case. 9 times out of 10 they're like "that's pretty cool" and that's it. If for some reason you run into any snags (and I have yet to have anything like that happen to me) you can always request to speak with the TSA supervisor and clarify things with them. Again, I have never had a problem going through security with any of my airsoft gear, and you shouldn't either.

You do not need to declare anything that you have in your other check in bag like magazines, 203 rounds, bb's, etc. That bag will no doubt get inspected during the TSA's regular baggage inspection process, so again you'll want to have a TSA approved lock that they can open with their master key so you don't get your locks cut off.

After that you're on your merry way.


On The Other End

Okay, you've arrived at your destination airport so time to get your stuff. Some airports require passengers to pick up firearms at your airline's Luggage Office, while most just send it down the carousel with the rest of the luggage. I have no idea how to figure out which airports do it which way, so the best thing is to just wait by the luggage carousel. If you get your other checked luggage but not your gun case, it's probably over at your airline's Luggage Office at the airport. If it is, be prepared to show your luggage stub that was probably stapled to your ticket, to get your case.

That's it, follow this guide and you should have no problems traveling with your airsoft gear.

Happy trails!

Xan - make this a "sticky".

Longshanks out.

[santi]

thanks for the help but how about things like scope and attachments, red dot laser.....does it have to be declared?

[Vno]

santi said:

thanks for the help but how about things like scope and attachments, red dot laser.....does it have to be declared?

I don't think so. But To be better safe, put scope and accessories in luggage and check it in. Don't carry on

[triggerman]

damn sir vno....you the man....

[troy]

the easiest way is just hi jack the plane

[-TOYO-]

Just do the LBC thing ....

[triggerman]

use this!!!