Locking Golf Case for airline travel?

[raider1v1]

I am thinking about a hog hunting trip to TX where id fly down w/ my rifles etc. I was thinking about how to minimize the 'steal me' factor and was wanting to know if a case like this would be worth looking into, or if i should just get the standard pelican 1750.

Golf Travel Bags - SKB | Golf Guard | Golf Travel Bags

 

[Graham]

I was thinking about how to minimize the 'steal me' factor...

Have you thought this one through?

One would think that criminals have an easier time getting away with stealing/pawning/re-selling golf clubs than rifles.

 

[raider1v1]

Have you thought this one through?

One would think that criminals have an easier time getting away with stealing/pawning/re-selling golf clubs than rifles.

thats true, i just thought that it would be less conspicuous. so you think just the pelican case?

 

[Graham]

Get a case that is properly designed to protect the rifle during its travel.

If you want peace of mind, plaster the outside with high-school band stickers and Avon/Mary Kay.

I hear that VJJ has written on his rifle case the credit: "Taken3: Advisor to Liam. If you take this I will find you". LOL!

 

[raider1v1]

got odd looks when i just laughed at this. so ill get the pelican 1750 and then all of these - High School Band Stickers, High School Band Sticker Designs

 

[Graham]

Nothing scares me either: I'm a banned director.

 

[raider1v1]

oh and the avon ones

Avon Stickers, Avon Sticker Designs

 

[Pinecone]

I traveled several times with just a basic cheap case. But mainly with over/under shotguns in metal cases.

One thing, airline liability is limited to $1250. You might want to consider excess insurance. Thye take MUCH better care of such checked baggage, as they self insure.

 

[raider1v1]

I traveled several times with just a basic cheap case. But mainly with over/under shotguns in metal cases.

One thing, airline liability is limited to $1250. You might want to consider excess insurance. Thye take MUCH better care of such checked baggage, as they self insure.

How do you purchase that? Is it through the airline at the counter when it is checked? Do you know how much it is?

 

[Graham]

How do you purchase that? Is it through the airline at the counter when it is checked? Do you know how much it is?

I wouldn't purchase insurance from an airline any quicker than I'd have my insurance company fly the plane. Contact your home insurance agent. Put a travel rider on your match guns for a sum certain.

 

[Rob01]

I wouldn't purchase insurance from an airline any quicker than I'd have my insurance company fly the plane. Contact your home insurance agent. Put a travel rider on your match guns for a sum certain.

Exactly. Or get insurance through the NRA.

 

[Graham]

Or get insurance through the NRA.

That only works in the Red states. LOL!

 

[Logiicz]

Have you thought about somehing like this? Battery GPS tracker, real time tracking, waterproof, tiny and covert.

 

[Ramius]

I have that SKB ATA Deluxe Golf Travel Case in your link for my golf clubs. The locks are pretty flimsy and the plastic is thin.

If you are flying use a Pelican/Hardigg case for your guns. Those airline morons broke TWO Pelican cases on me over the last 20 years -- both cases minor and the cases were replaced by Pelican no questions asked. The contents were not damaged.

Don't worry about people knowing there are guns in a 1700 series Pelican. Just be sure to look for it in the oversized luggage section. They keep pretty good track of guns once you tell them you have to declare a firearm. If it is really a high value item like an MG or AI I drive

 

[Rob01]

That only works in the Red states. LOL!

Just use a plane brown wrapper.

 

[raider1v1]

I wouldn't purchase insurance from an airline any quicker than I'd have my insurance company fly the plane. Contact your home insurance agent. Put a travel rider on your match guns for a sum certain.

ill have to call my insurance agent to see how my personal property ryder on my homeowners works for stuff like that. thanks for the tip!

is the 1750 the best one to get for flying? it seems to be the best mix of large and still somewhat portable.

 

[memilanuk]

Seems to me the faux case or misleading stickers would be kind of defeated by the big freakin' blaze orange tag the airline affixes to the handle of said gun case that says FIREARM...

 

[Rob01]

I have only seen an orange declaration tag that goes inside. I have never had anything put on the outside by the airline that says firearm. My gun case is full of gun stickers. Been flying since 2004 with it and never been stolen People worry too much about it. Get the right case for the right job that will take the abuse from the baggage handlers and have insurance. Simple as that.

 

[Hakshot]

Just be careful, airlines have very little insurance on each piece of luggage. Even if you ask to purchase more, the coverage will only be $3k, not nearly enough to cover the cost of many precision rifles.

 

[Pinecone]

How do you purchase that? Is it through the airline at the counter when it is checked? Do you know how much it is?

Yes. In the days I traveled, it was $1 per $100 of coverage. Over the $1250 that is included in your ticket.

The reason for purchasing from the airline is not the actual coverage, but the airline will treat you stuff MUCH better, as they are on the hook for a higher value.

So you are purchasing better treatment of your checked firearm more than you are paying for the insurance.

I would rather have them treat it better and NOT damage the case or firearm, than have to collect on ANY insurance.

 

[Pinecone]

Just be careful, airlines have very little insurance on each piece of luggage. Even if you ask to purchase more, the coverage will only be $3k, not nearly enough to cover the cost of many precision rifles.

The coverage per bag is up to $1250. Included in the ticket price.

When I last flew with a firearm, coverage was available up to whatever you are willing to pay.

Again, the reason to buy the excess insurance is not the insurance, but the better treatment by the airline.

 

[Rob01]

I highly doubt the airline will be treating your bag with kid gloves if you buy their insurance. It will be tossed in the baggage area with everything else. That's why for what you spend on one flight with an airline you can buy a year's worth of total coverage through the NRA. I wouldn't waste the money on airline insurance.

 

[NICETRY]

Get a Pelican case. My 1750 has been all over the country and has held up well. I have seen lesser aluminum gun cases that cost almost as much nearly destroyed after a flight. I have several foam inserts that I have cut out for what ever rifle or shotgun I may be traveling with. And if I travel with two cases I can stack one on the other and secure with some straps and they roll around fine.

 

[raider1v1]

Seems to me the faux case or misleading stickers would be kind of defeated by the big freakin' blaze orange tag the airline affixes to the handle of said gun case that says FIREARM...

thats not correct - DEFCON 17: Packing and the Friendly Skies - YouTube -

http://deviating.net/firearms/packing/legal_sheet.pdf

478.31 - Delivery by common or contract carrier. - Subpart C: Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions - Code of Federal Regulations - Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms - January 01, 2011 - Order: 478.31 - 19675270 - Subpart C: Admi

(b) No common or contract carrier shall require or cause any label, tag, or other written notice to be placed on the outside of any package, luggage, or other container indicating that such package, luggage, or other container contains a firearm.

 

[jbjh]

Seems to me the faux case or misleading stickers would be kind of defeated by the big freakin' blaze orange tag the airline affixes to the handle of said gun case that says FIREARM...

The orange tag goes inside ONLY. It is manifest paperwork, not an ID tag. If the counter people say different, call a supervisor over. Unless it is dangerous material, the ground crews don't have the right to know what's in your bags.

 

[jbjh]

And check with your credit card and AAA about insurance. You'd be amazed

 

[memilanuk]

The orange tag goes inside ONLY. It is manifest paperwork, not an ID tag. If the counter people say different, call a supervisor over. Unless it is dangerous material, the ground crews don't have the right to know what's in your bags.

Interesting... besides the tag on the inside, I've found (more than once) a big orange tag (one of the wrap-around adhesive type) that screamed 'FIREARM' attached to one of the handles of my case. Was it there when I last touched it? Nope. Got attached somewhere after it passed thru the magic wall where passengers don't get to go or see what all the heck they do with our stuff. Maybe it ain't supposed to be there... but it ended up there anyway.

 

[Phil1]

From Italy this month:

Italy: baggage handlers stealing on cam arrested. Furti di bagagli in aeroporto: 90 arresti - YouTube

Story from from American Hunter on travel with guns:

http://www.americanhunter.org/articles/flying-with-a-gun-eight-tips-for-airborne-gun-hunters/


4457 form
Customs web-site: http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_4457.pdf

 

[Rob01]

That's why I have 4 locks on my rifle cases. You are required to have it locked with NON TSA locks and some only put a couple on but I use every lock position available. You can get 4 lock sets all keyed the same.

Monte did it say "firearm"? If not then it might have been for overweight/over sized luggage to alert the handlers. I have never had any orange on the outside of any of my cases and I have flown Delta, American, US Air, United, Southwest and Continental around the continental US. Was it in the US or out of country?

 

[Rhys]

Look up Tuff Pak. it uses everything else you pack as padding for your rifle. Just put your rifle in a soft case inside the Tuff Pak, and then the rest of your stuff packs in around it. I also doesn't look like your standard rifle case. Lock is built in to the case, and no hinges which are the most easily defeated point on most cases. This is what I used when I went to africa, and on several flights around the US.

 

[Night Eagle]

Find a local pawn or gun shop and just ship it there ups or fed ex. They will prob be happy to assist u and recieve ur pkg. You will have way less problems and hassle. Air traveling with firearms really freaks out the red shirts and they can make life miserable for you.

Night eagle

 

[memilanuk]

It definitely said 'firearm'... and it definitely was not over-size or over-weight (I spent a bit of time and money making sure of that). I can't recall exactly, but one of the flights may have been trans-atlantic; not sure if both times were.

 

[BigJohn141]

Just a thought, don't know if you could do it or not. Could you maybe throw a iPhone in with the rifles? It would have to stay on but you could track it if they get lost.