New gun policy at American Airlines

[Singlestack]

Reported in the May issue of the Armed Citizen's Legal Defense Network (ACLDN) Newsletter:

Just be aware that if you are flying American Airlines, checking a firearm, and have a connecting flight on a different airline, you will have some additional work to do. AA now requires you to retrieve the firearm from baggage claim at the connecting location and re-check the firearm with the connecting airline - possibly incurring a checked bag fee on the connecting airline. This of course takes time, and may prevent you from making your connecting flight.

AA says that guns disappear from luggage from time to time, and they don't want to pay for a gun that came up missing if another airline's employee stole it. I see their point, but think that loss of gunowner business may exceed whatever they have to pay for stolen firearms.

[68Charger]

Plus if you're getting a connecting flight in a Commie state, your gun or mags could be contraband.

[KestrelBike]

I just flew AA yesterday (and the week before that) and didn't have any issues.... wonder when that policy's supposed to take effect.

ETA: Also something a bit weird, but worked out just fine, was that at my first flight I went up to the booking desk and declared my firearm, she had me put the signature-tag in, and I immediately locked my case (non-tsa locks, of course) and she told me I was good to go. I asked her "But what about TSA? In case they want to inspect inside and will not be able to open my non-TSA locks?" and she told me it wasn't necessary and to go ahead. She had this orange "PRIORITY" tag sandwiched into the fold of the normal baggage tag, and when I got to my final destination (two AA flights with the connecting in DFW) my case was 5th on the carousel belt (normally it's dead last, or I have to go to the "Lost Items" dept because they've identified it by appearance as a firearms case, and want people to show ID before they can take it, which I'm honestly OK with.

I fly with a Pelican case, but have a bicycle company sticker on there and no gun-stickers.

[68Charger]

Reported in the May issue of the Armed Citizen's Legal Defense Network (ACLDN) Newsletter:

Just be aware that if you are flying American Airlines, checking a firearm, and have a connecting flight on a different airline, you will have some additional work to do. AA now requires you to retrieve the firearm from baggage claim at the connecting location and re-check the firearm with the connecting airline - possibly incurring a checked bag fee on the connecting airline. This of course takes time, and may prevent you from making your connecting flight.

AA says that guns disappear from luggage from time to time, and they don't want to pay for a gun that came up missing if another airline's employee stole it. I see their point, but think that loss of gunowner business may exceed whatever they have to pay for stolen firearms.

if it's all AA, this won't come into play.

[Zundfolge]

Reason #5786507 that I won't fly until my CHL is good on the plane.

[hurley842002]

Reason #5786507 that I won't fly until my CHL is good on the plane.

In order words, you'll never fly...

[Singlestack]

if it's all AA, this won't come into play.

Well, thats correct. It sounds like Kestrelbike flew both legs on AA, so the new rule wouldn't apply. Its only when making a connection on a different airline, as I stated. Marty Hayes of ACLDN said this happened when returning from the NRA show last month. He flew AA on the first leg and Alaska airlines to Seattle on the 2nd leg.

[KestrelBike]

Well, thats correct. It sounds like Kestrelbike flew both legs on AA, so the new rule wouldn't apply. Its only when making a connection on a different airline, as I stated. Marty Hayes of ACLDN said this happened when returning from the NRA show last month. He flew AA on the first leg and Alaska airlines to Seattle on the 2nd leg.

That's a huge PITA, makes people be at the mercy of Baggage, Check-in, and TSA and the variable times involved just to make a connecting flight. Sounds like a potential lawsuit for AA.

[brutal]

I just flew AA yesterday (and the week before that) and didn't have any issues.... wonder when that policy's supposed to take effect.

ETA: Also something a bit weird, but worked out just fine, was that at my first flight I went up to the booking desk and declared my firearm, she had me put the signature-tag in, and I immediately locked my case (non-tsa locks, of course) and she told me I was good to go. I asked her "But what about TSA? In case they want to inspect inside and will not be able to open my non-TSA locks?" and she told me it wasn't necessary and to go ahead. She had this orange "PRIORITY" tag sandwiched into the fold of the normal baggage tag, and when I got to my final destination (two AA flights with the connecting in DFW) my case was 5th on the carousel belt (normally it's dead last, or I have to go to the "Lost Items" dept because they've identified it by appearance as a firearms case, and want people to show ID before they can take it, which I'm honestly OK with.

I fly with a Pelican case, but have a bicycle company sticker on there and no gun-stickers.

Really sounds like,

1. She didn't know WTF she was doing
2. Priority tags ID any flyer with status on an airline
3. You got really really really lucky it didn't get picked up in a scan and kicked to TSA

P.S. I think a good baggage crew also ID's it by the TSA sticker/stamp and pulls it aside if that's the destination policy. Almost any Pelican case gets pulled at some destinations - high dollar gear, firearms, tools, etc.

[Singlestack]

That's a huge PITA, makes people be at the mercy of Baggage, Check-in, and TSA and the variable times involved just to make a connecting flight. Sounds like a potential lawsuit for AA.

I think AA will have some liability if (and when) people miss their connecting flights. Hayes said that he came very close to missing his Alaska airlines flight. I'm sure we have all made connections before where you need to really hurry (and possibly run) to catch a scheduled connecting flight. Thats happened to me a few times in Chicago. Plus, all it takes is for the incoming flight to be delayed somewhat - happens all the time.

My guess is AA will get enough black eyes from this policy that they will quietly reverse it. It just amazes me how blind some companies can be and not foresee the incredible downside of decisions they make. Kinda like the gubmint.