Beware American Airlines

[Roland of Gilead]

Flew back from Pensacola on Saturday and told the counter agent that I was checking a firearm as I was required to do. (I've done this several times in the last couple years, at least one flight of which was on American.)

Agent: Is it unloaded?
Me: Of course.
Agent: Is there ammunition in the bag?
Me: No you dumb twit, I never carry ammo, only the gun. (Actually I just said "Yes")
Agent: Is it in a magazine?
Me: Yes.
Agent: TSA permits ammunition in a magazine but American Airlines does not. If you don't have original packaging you will have to leave the ammo here.
Me: You're $%&# joking.

So, they confiscated 30 rounds of Federal HST from me at the counter. 45 ACP no less. I was steamed to say the least.

Anyhow, if you're flying American watch our for their bullshit policy.

[streaker69]

Didn't have time to excuse yourself, find a UPS or FedEx location and mail it back to yourself?

[Bang]

I'd love to see a report by an investigating authority on what these airlines do with seized/confiscated/found items. I read somewhere they sell them in some fashion.

[Walleye Hunter]

I'd love to see a report by an investigating authority on what these airlines do with seized/confiscated/found items. I read somewhere they sell them in some fashion.

I suspect that they have a federal process that they have to follow to get rid of their unclaimed merchandise and if it's like the freight industry, it accumulates for a while and they auction it off in lots at specific intervals.

[Rural Ruger]

I'd love to see a report by an investigating authority on what these airlines do with seized/confiscated/found items. I read somewhere they sell them in some fashion.

Used to be that they'd auction lots off, bit I dont know how ammo does/doesnt fit in that model. Or if they still do it that way

[85MikeTPI]

Used to be that they'd auction lots off, bit I dont know how ammo does/doesnt fit in that model. Or if they still do it that way

Scary Icky Ammo bad.. Turn it all into local PoPo station..

[mountaineer1673]

flying with them next week...

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ammunition.jsp

Traveling with firearms and ammunition

Firearms must be:

Unloaded
In a locked hard-sided container where the firearm is totally inaccessible
Rifle cases require locks on each end

Ammunition must be:

In the original packaging from the manufacturer or in packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition (made of fiber, wood or metal), with a maximum of 11 pounds (5 kgs) per container or customer. Ammunition is not accepted loose or in magazines or clips.

[DukeConnor]

there was a reality auction show where people bid on airline stuff.

[JAKIII]

Anyhow, if you're flying American watch our for their bullshit policy.

Regardless of prior experience with American, I would probably have double checked their website prior to booking, or certainly before arriving to the airport to ensure that I was in compliance with their current policy.

[jthrelf]

Technically they're in the right, it's posted on their website and you could have/should have checked.

However, it's still a huge amount of bullshit. I've never so much as even been asked if my gun was unloaded and I've flown through at least a dozen airports. I'm very surprised the ticket agent even knew anything, let alone enforced policy. They've only ever essentially deferred to TSA in my experience. They say OK sign the form, and we'll put it through X-ray or otherwise hand it over to TSA and let them handle from there.

I always fly with mags loaded, and it's never been an issue (once in San Antonio but I convinced TSA I was correct). I do however leave space in my MTM case if there were an issue.

Guarantee you that agent is carrying your HSTs right now