Flying Frontier

[PogoManiac7]

So, I was wanting to fly frontier and take my AR with me to go shooting with the relatives over thanksgiving.

Do you know what the policy is with ammo?

What I want to do is load up 8-10 PMAGS and put the dust covers on them, and then throw those in the same locked case as the AR.

Do you guys know if that is acceptable?


Here is all the info that they have on the website.


"Firearms & ammunition
Transporting firearms and ammunition is serious business. We understand your right to bear arms, but we do have some specific rules which comply with security requirements about checking them.

For everyone's safety, we ask that you familiarize yourself and comply with the rules when requesting transport of firearms and related equipment. Firearms, ammunition and firearm parts may be transported in checked baggage on flights operating in the U.S., but are prohibited from being carried-on. In other words, you'll never make it through security, so if you want your equipment to arrive at your destination, you have to check it.

Note: On flights in the U.S., hunting rifles, shotguns and ammunition may be transported by passengers 18 years of age or older. Firearms are not allowed on any other international flights even if checked.

All firearms must be unloaded and declared to a customer service representative at the ticket counter.
Firearms must be packed in a hard-sided, locked container (or suitcase) or a hard-sided, locked gun case.
You must be present during screening by the TSA and provide the key or combination to the TSA security screener if it becomes necessary to open the container.
One passenger is allowed to check up to 11 pounds of ammunition.
Any ammunition transported must be securely packed in the original manufacturer's packaging, fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.
Loaded ammunition clips and magazines must also be securely boxed
The ammunition may be located in the same hard-sided locked case as the firearm, as long as it's properly packed as described.
Black powder and percussion caps used with black-powder type firearms aren't permitted in carry-on or checked baggage.

We take the safety and security of our passengers and employees with the utmost seriousness. These regulatory requirements are strictly enforced. Violations can result in criminal prosecution and the imposition of civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. "

[copfish]

I'm pretty certain you must have the ammo in factory packaging. I was not allowed to have a loaded magazine for my Glock when I flew United, yet I was allowed to have several boxes of ammo.

[PogoManiac7]

What sealed packages of .223 ammo on stripper clips?

http://www.classicarms.us/

A long ways down that website there is an ammo deal that I bought that has a bunch of stripper clips sealed in packaging.

[sniper7]

ammo just needs to be in some type of sealed box. the agents won't know what is factory and what isn't. as long as it is separate from the firearm you are safe, just follow the weight limit.
(you can use a ammo can, or use a small cardboard box, or a wooden box.

[Irving]

Are you going to be leaving your thumbs at home so you can't load when you're there?

[MuzzleFlash]

The TSA requires only that ammo and guns not be in the same locked container. The TSA has gotten pretty picky about the hard cases. If they can be easily pried open, they will reject the luggage.

Carriers can add their own rules including limits on the amount of ammo you can bring and whether or not the ammo has to go into a separate suitcase.

Here is a good link to travelling with guns:
http://deviating.net/firearms/packing/report.html

I avoid Frontier religiously because of their ignorant, backwards ban on fully automatic firearms:
http://www.frontierairlines.com/frontier/plan-book/travel-info-services/baggage/baggage-chart.do

When I reported this policy to the above firearms friendly rating website, he called them for clarification. I received the following email response:

Well well, i finally got someone to comment about the policy. It seems
that Frontier does not...

* educate their employees well on matters relating to firearms
* understand the definition of an assault weapon
* believe that citizens have any reason to own and transport full autos

- From a phone call i had with their staff, after many times being kicked
around the phone network in an attempt to reach someone with an answer...

audio: http://deviating.net/firearms/packing/quote.mp3

text: OK sir, we got a hold of somebody who kinda clarified that.
They're referring to like more like an assualt rifle machine gun... and
the reason, uhm the person i spoke to said, well i don't know if this is
the exact reason, but i guess what Frontier is thinking is that's not
really the kind of weapon that your average person needs to be flying
with. You know we accept your regular shotguns, rifles, you know,
pistols... fully-automatic weapons, assault rifles, are not gonna be
transported by air on Frontier.

Thank you so much for bringing this up. Hopefully they will improve
their policies. If they fail to, hopefully they will at least mention
this rather significant restriction on the actual firearms page of their
site.

Thanks again!

- - dev

[Hellboy]

So I take it Frontier doesn't allow any of our soldiers to fly with their weapons?

[ryanek9freak]

Uh, no, they soldiers cant just take their M-4's with them wherever they please. Those are highly sensitive materiels handled by logistics. They belong to the Army, not the soldier. ANd by "their" I assume you meant army issued weapons. They could still take privatley owned weapons, just like you and I.

[Hellboy]

They could still take privatley owned weapons, just like you and I.

Just no AR's or Assault rifles.

[hobowh]

you can take your ars, they just have to be checked bagage and properl declared, and packaged.

[Irving]

They could still take privatley owned weapons, just like you and I.

Unless they are full auto. I don't see how any laymen dipshit at the airport is going to know the difference anyway.

[Drilldo]

Your AR only needs to be in a locked case and separate from the ammunition. an ammo can is fine. At DIA you will be taken for a secondary inspection by TSA after declaring. You are good to go. I got this information from personal travel and my friend who is an airport manager at DIA.

ETA: Might want to check the weight of a full ammo can or just suck it up and pay the penalties.

[DD977GM2]

Make sure the ammo is in a manufactures box. Load them at wherever your going.

[ryanek9freak]

Unless they are full auto. I don't see how any laymen dipshit at the airport is going to know the difference anyway.


Yea...I don't care if it WERE allowed, no effing way would I let a class III weapon out of my sight for 1 second. Sorry, but that would require a drive across country.

[ryanek9freak]

Just no AR's or Assault rifles.

Oh and BS. I took my crappy Wasr to Ohio with me on a plane. They didn't even know it was any different than a regular rifle without the magazine installed. I put "Wasr-10" on the delclarations page, and I had no issue whatsoever.

[PogoManiac7]

So Denver is not okay If I put ammo in a cardboard box and then seal that and put that box in the same case as the AR?

If I can't do that it looks like i'll have fun getting ripped off at wal-mart.

[MichiganMilitia]

I have the same ammo... It didn't come in a factory box, it just came in little sealed clear plastic bags on stripper clips in an ammo can. That is the only factory packaging. If you don't want to pay up the wazoo for a second checked bag (because I'm assuming a .50 cal ammo can won't fit in your gun case), then I think your best bet would be to drop the ammo in the mail and ship it to the place you're staying for Thanksgiving.

Best of luck buddy,

MM

[MuzzleFlash]

So Denver is not okay If I put ammo in a cardboard box and then seal that and put that box in the same case as the AR?

If I can't do that it looks like i'll have fun getting ripped off at wal-mart.
There's TSA regs and then there's the air carrier's specific rules on top of the TSA's. Here are TSA's regs that apply to any carrier:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1666.shtm

I was wrong about the ammo not being allowed inside the lockable hard case with the gun. TSA is cool with that but the carrier may NOT be. Pay special attention to TSA's prying resistance requirements on the lockable case. Some of the really low end cases flex enough to allow someone to get into them even if they are locked.

It's always a good idea to print out and bring the TSA regs and the airline's policy just in case the counter personnel are not up to speed. I also place contact info on the outside of the gun case if I keep it inside my checked luggage. This is in case some baggage monkey breaks open the suitcase.

[Irving]

I was going to make the same recommendation of just shipping the ammo to your destination.

[ryanek9freak]

Hell, if you really wanted to, you could ship the rifle to yourself, wherever you're going with it. It just has to be addressed to yourself.

[GreenScoutII]

Just out of curiosity, and not to justify the airline giving you or anyone else a hard time about transporting ammo with your rifle, but do you think maybe the thing to do is just buy some ammo when you get to your destination?

Their policy is BS. I'm not defending them, I just think maybe buying ammo at your destination will save you some headaches..

[Mtn.man]

we do this... or if it is a relative we ship to them. Box contents Motorcycle stuff...

UPS is the largest drug smuggler in the country, so they have no prblem shipping guns.
If however you are worried ship the bolt seperate...

[PogoManiac7]

I think what I'm going to do is get a small cardboard box. Put a good bit of ammo in it (about 5 lbs). Seal that cardboard box with packing tape, and then put that box in with the rifle in my locked case. I think that meets all of frontier and TSA's provisions and should avoid paying $10 on shipping ammo or getting ripped off buying ammo at my location.

I would just buy some more ammo on line and have it delivered there, but I've already maxed my ammo budget for the year, so i've got to use what i've got.

[Gentile]

I fly to ABQ every month or so with Glockage...Not a rifle.
No Hassles from Frontier just declare it when you check your luggage.
I rekin' that Frontier being a "Western" states airline they are used to it.
It's kind of fun.
I've flown to Salt Lake,Phoenix, Helena,MT., and never had a problem. I usually pack ammo seperately in a 50 round reloading box in the same suit case...Cardboard boxes that ammo comes in usually degrades after opening and closing after a while...
One time on United, I was running late getting to DIA, the line was 100 miles long. There was a lady from United helping in the back of the line...I told her I needed to declare a hand gun and she sent me to a counter with nobody standing in its line...5minutes later a guy came by and took me to the TSA room and I was on the train to the concourse half hour later...
Once flying out of Helena the TSA guy looked shocked when folks DIDN'T have a firearm to declare....
It's a nice warm, fuzzy feeling to sleep in a hotel with lump under my pillow...