Airports & Flying With Firearms And Ammunition

It is LEGAL to have firearms in a vehicle in all public and employee parking lots of an airport.

See additional important information about firearms in vehicles and parking lots.

It is LEGAL to carry a firearm in an airport to the airline ticket counters, baggage claim, and other non-secure areas. The law (76-8-311.1) states a “secure area” may not include any area normally accessible to the public. Although it is legal to carry in an airport, use common sense due to previous attacks and heightened threats to airports, airlines, airplanes, and people. You may be closely monitored and/or approached by airport police/security to ensure the safety of everyone in the airport.

​It is ILLEGAL to possess any dangerous weapons, firearms, or explosives in any airport secure area as described in 53-5-710 and 76-10-529.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) defines a loaded firearm as a firearm that has a live round of ammunition, or component thereof, in the chamber or cylinder, in a magazine inserted in the firearm, when a firearm and its ammunition are located in the same bag, or when a person has both accessible; both a firearm and ammunition regardless of whether the firearm or ammunition is on their person and/or in their accessible baggage. For purposes of this section, if an individual has a firearm in their accessible baggage and ammunition in their pocket or any combination where the individual has access to both, the firearm is considered “loaded.”

Utah Penalties:

• Class A Misdemeanor if you knowingly or intentionally possess a firearm, or
• Infraction (a minor offense like a traffic ticket) if you recklessly or with criminal negligence possess a firearm

TSA Penalties:

• A civil penalty of up to $14,950 per violation, and may include an arrest. See the TSA fine schedule below
• If you are a TSA Pre✓^® member, you will lose your status for 5 years
• May require enhanced screening

You must be at least 18 years old to transport firearms, ammunition, and NFA firearms

Transporting firearms and ammunition while flying is not as difficult as many people make it sound. Yes, you must follow strict requirements by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), airline regulations, and follow all State and Federal laws, but we have done all the work for you.

Following the steps described below will help ensure you get your firearms and ammunition to your destination safely.

If you want to take a firearm on your trip you must ensure you have the best information available to make sure you travel with your firearm correctly.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I traveling domestically (within the U.S.) and does the state I am traveling to have any firearm, ammunition, magazine capacity, or other restrictions?
• Am I traveling internationally (outside the U.S.)?  There are very strict laws and requirements for taking firearms and ammunition to other countries.
• Am I taking the firearm for self-defense, to go hunting, moving, going to a firearm training course, etc.?

When possible, try to fly nonstop to your destination. Even if you do not have any layovers, planned stops, or intentions of being in a particular state (California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington D.C., etc.) you must take into consideration the possibility that flights may be delayed, canceled or diverted, for any reason, even reasons out of your control such as a mechanical issue with the plane, bad weather, etc., and you are diverted to a different airport including an airport in another state which has restrictive firearm, ammunition and/or magazine capacity laws.
Federal law, USC 926 A. Interstate transportation of firearms, is supposed to protect you when traveling from point A to point B without any problems as long as you are legally allowed to have the firearm and the firearm/item itself is legal from your departure point and destination.
The issue occurs if you have to pick up your checked luggage at the baggage claim. You may have to spend the night and take the firearm from the airport to the hotel then back to the airport again. Given ridiculous laws that some states have, there is a chance that your firearm, ammunition, and/or magazine could be illegal in that state and you may be arrested, even if it’s not your fault your flight was diverted, canceled, or delayed.
If you have to stay the night in a state with any restrictions on the firearm and/or ammunition in your luggage, ask the airline if they can hold your luggage and forward it to the appropriate destination before claiming your bag or taking it out of the airport.

The following are major airline carriers in the United States.
Click on the airline image to view their firearm and ammunition policies.
Note: There are many other small airline companies in the United States. If you are flying using an airline that is not listed below please visit the specific airline’s website or contact them for additional information about traveling with firearms and/or ammunition aboard their aircraft.

SkyWest operates with United Airlines, Delta Airlines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines

Republic Airways operates with United Airlines, Delta Airlines, American Airlines

American Eagle & Envoy operates under American Airlines

Virgin America operates under Alaska Airlines

Take everything out of the bag(s) you are taking on your trip. Check ALL pockets, zipper pouches, etc. to ensure you do not have any prohibited items BEFORE you start packing your luggage.

Allowed In Carry On & Checked Luggage

• Rifle Scope (Scope Only) This includes all optics, sights, and binoculars
• Holsters (obviously without the firearm in it)
• Shell Casings – Empty shell casings are allowed in a carry-on bag as long as the projectile is no longer intact. They are allowed only if the primer has been removed or has been discharged. If the projectile is attached & the powder has been drilled out, it is considered a replica and not allowed in carry-on.
• Small Fishing Lures – Sharp fishing tackle that may be considered dangerous, such as large fish hooks, should be sheathed, securely wrapped, and packed in your checked luggage. Like other high-value objects, you may wish to pack expensive reels or fragile tackle that does not pose a security threat (small flies) in your carry-on baggage.

Allowed In Checked Luggage | Prohibited In Carry-On Luggage

None of these items are allowed into or past the security checkpoint!

• Firearms, BB Guns, Cap Guns, Compressed Air Guns, Pellet Guns, 
• Parts of Guns and Firearms – Firearm Parts, Including Frames, Receivers, Magazines, Clips, Bolts, And Firing Pins.
• Starter Pistols
• Realistic Replicas of Firearms Including Plastic Training Firearms, Airsoft, Paintball, Or Toy Firearms.
• Ammunition, ammunition parts including bullets, casings, and projectiles.
• Bows and Arrows
• Martial Arts Weapons
• Nunchucks
• Kubatons
• Spear Guns

Prohibited In Carry-On & Checked Luggage

• Flare Guns & Flares
• Gun Lighters
• Gun Powder – This Includes Black Powder, Primers, And Percussion Caps
• Rocket Launcher
• Small Compressed Gas Cartridges
  Except for personal medical oxygen cylinders, you can only carry an EMPTY compressed gas cylinder onboard a plane. To be permitted (in either carry-on or checked baggage), it must be clearly visible to the TSA officer that the cylinder is empty. Personal oxygen is permitted if the regulatory valve has not been tampered with or removed.
  Unless being used for personal medical oxygen, the gas cylinder regulator valve must be completely disconnected from the cylinder (in other words, the cylinder has an open end that allows the TSA officer to visually inspect the cylinder). TSA officers will NOT remove the seal or regulator valve from the cylinder. If the gas cylinder is sealed (i.e., the regulator valve is still attached) and not required for personal medical oxygen, the gas cylinder is prohibited, regardless of the reading on the pressure gauge indicator.
• CO2 Cartridges (Allowed Only For Medical Purposes And Life Vests)

See all items allowed and prohibited in TSA’s What Can I Bring?

Hard-Sided Container

• All firearms and ammunition must be locked in a hard-sided container that completely secures the firearm and ammunition from being accessed. If the case has 3 lock holes, then put a lock on ALL 3 places. Cases that can be easily opened, even if it has a lock, are not permitted.
• Do not have anything on your checked luggage or on the case to show that it contains a firearm.

Handguns, Rifles & Shotguns

• ALL firearms must be unloaded as defined by Federal law.
  49 CFR 1540.5 says, “Loaded firearm means a firearm that has a live round of ammunition, or any component thereof, in the chamber or cylinder or in a magazine inserted in the firearm.”
  This means you cannot have ANY ammunition in the firearm

Ammunition

• Ammunition must be packed in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes, or other packaging that is specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. TSA does not specifically say how much is a “small amount” but most airlines do have additional restrictions on baggage due to weight.
• Small arms ammunition, including ammunition not exceeding .75 caliber and shotgun shells of any gauge, may be carried in the same hard-sided case as the firearm.​ Individual airlines may establish more stringent requirements and some may want it packed in a different hard-sided case from the firearm.
• Firearm magazines and ammunition clips, if loaded, must completely and securely enclose the ammunition. Something must securely cover the exposed portions of the ammunition or by securely placing the magazine/clip in a pouch or holder. Additional airline restrictions may apply.

NOTE:
If you are flying for the purpose of attending a training course, ammunition is heavy. With luggage weight limits and restrictions for the number of bags, flying with even as little as 200 rounds of ammunition can mean additional baggage fees. A far more reasonable option may be to purchase your ammunition at your destination or online and have it shipped directly to your destination. Contact the training company or instructor and ask about accommodations for shipping ammunition. The training company or instructor may also have ammunition available for purchase.

NFA Firearms:

• If you are traveling out of state and you want to transport your legally owned short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, machine gun, or destructive device, you are required to have prior written authorization from the ATF as stated in USC 922(a)(4). You must make requests in writing at least 45 days before your travel, using ATF Form 5320.20 Application to Transport NFA Firearms. If it is approved the ATF will return the form to you. You must provide a copy of the form to the airline and keep a copy with the firearm at all times.

If you do not have this form you CANNOT take the NFA firearm!
The ATF approval only authorizes the transportation of the NFA weapon(s).
All local, state, and federal laws and regulations still apply.

Silencers & Any Other Weapons (AOW): While this form is not needed for transporting suppressors and items defined as Any Other Weapon (AOWs), it is still a good idea to have one for them.

Confusion:

The TSA website says, “Only the passenger should retain the key or combination to the lock unless TSA personnel request the key to open the firearm container to ensure compliance with TSA regulations. You may use any brand or type of lock to secure your firearm case, including TSA-recognized locks.”
This can cause serious issues because TSA contradicts itself in this statement and is a violation of Federal law.
The statement above is similar to Federal law 49 CFR 1540.111 (c)(2)(iv) which says, “The container in which it is carried is locked, and only the passenger retains the key or combination.”

The problem with what TSA says is that TSA-recognized locks can be purchased from many different online and retail businesses. All TSA locks are opened with the same key! Therefore, anyone that has a TSA-recognized lock key would be able to unlock the case containing your firearm and therefore you are violating Federal law that “only the passenger retains the key or combination”.

DO NOT use a TSA-recognized lock. Use a padlock or combination lock and do not give a key or the combination to anyone.

You cannot use the “curb check-in” for any luggage containing a firearm or ammunition.

• All luggage that contains a firearm and/or ammunition must be checked at the airline ticket counter.
• You must notify the ticket agent that you have a firearm and/or ammunition in your luggage. A good way to communicate this without causing panic is quietly telling the agent, “My checked luggage contains an unloaded firearm and/or ammunition which is in compliance with Federal law, TSA regulations, and your policies.”
• The ticket agent will have you fill out a Firearm Declaration Form indicating that your firearm is unloaded. If the case is a large rifle case, place the form inside the case with the firearm and/or ammunition. If the case is a small pistol case inside your checked luggage, place the form inside the luggage. It’s highly recommended that you ensure your luggage is also locked so no one can access the hard case.
• If the airline does not take your luggage and place it on the conveyor belt, you may have to take it to the TSA luggage check area. We highly recommend, if possible, that you stay with your luggage until it has been checked and accepted. If the Transportation Security Officer (TSO) needs to open your baggage to inspect the firearm and/or ammunition you will need to unlock the hard-sided case. If you are not present, TSA and/or the airline may make a reasonable attempt to contact you. If you are not available or do not respond, TSA may cut all locks or not accept the luggage.
• Federal law prohibits unlocked gun cases (or cases with broken locks) on aircraft. Your firearm will not be placed on the aircraft and it will be turned over to law enforcement.

Once your luggage is accepted, you can go through the security checkpoint. If TSA does open your luggage for any reason and you are not present, they are required to put a Notice of Inspection Tag inside your luggage.

Luggage Tracking

We all know that luggage can be lost or stolen, you may have unfortunately had to deal with that on a previous trip. Although each airline has the ability for you to track your luggage using your tag number, and/or other information it is not a reliable option when it comes to knowing where your luggage actually is, especially if it was stolen. To decrease time spent worrying about your firearms, ammunition, and/or luggage we recommend using a great luggage tracking product called GEGO GPS. It does require a service plan to stay connected but there are no contracts, you can suspend or cancel the service at any time, and there are no extra roaming charges. The device works worldwide, is rechargeable, shows location history, and has a smartphone application that is also free on both Android and Apple devices.

The device costs $89.99 and has two service options.

• Year Service Plan: $13.95/mo ($167.40 Billed Annually)
• Month Service Plan: $19.95 Billed Monthly

You may also want to look into insurance policies that cover lost luggage and/or firearms.

When you arrive at your destination, go directly from the plane to the baggage claim and position yourself where the luggage emerges on the carousel. You want as few people as possible between you and your baggage to prevent it from being stolen.

• If your luggage does not arrive, it may be airline policy to be taken to the airline’s baggage office, oversized luggage, or overweight areas. You may or may not be asked to provide identification to retrieve your luggage.
• Before leaving the area find a discreet area and without causing alarm, always check the contents of your luggage as soon as possible after arrival to ensure nothing was stolen or tampered with. Open your bag and visually confirm the hard case is still in your luggage and none of the locks or the case itself has been tampered with. If there are signs of tampering make sure you open the case immediately to confirm your firearm(s) and/or ammunition is/are accounted for. NEVER take the firearm(s) and/or ammunition out of the case.
• Report any missing and/or stolen baggage or item(s) immediately to the airline. It’s a good idea to have a Firearms Identification Card which has the make, model, caliber, serial number, and value of all firearms that you are transporting. It can also list any modifications that were made to the firearm and all accessories such as the number of magazines, holsters, rounds of ammunition, etc. Keep the list on your person, not in any luggage. Pictures can also help.

*Violations not listed above are subject to the regulatory civil penalty maximum of $14,950.