Salt Lake International Airport... 45min to declare firearm

[YoZUpZ]

So, as some of you may have read in my other post (where I was asking about travelling with a firearm), I flew from SLC to KC, MO a couple weeks ago.

Anyways, on to the story. I was flying Delta, and when I declared my firearm, they didn't check to see if it was loaded (probably a result of that skycap shooting himself), they just had me sign a card "stating that it was unloaded", and had me lock the gun in the case with the card. I thought I was done, but nope...

They took me over to a TSA agent, to swab everything in my suitcase down for explosives testing. It looked like everyone who declared firearms was having to do this. Anyways, when I was waiting to get my stuff all swabbed and tested, there was a poor guy in front of me who ended up missing his flight because the TSA agent spent over half an hour swabbing down his stuff, opening up his gun case, ammo case, swabbing every individual peice of clothing, and searching everything, etc... Because some of his dirty clothing tested positive for explosive residue (I think he was out here to go hunting and shooting). Who woulda thought

Anyways, the guy had his handgun in what looked like a Glock hard factory case, but the TSA agent said that won't cut it, because there needs to be locks on both sides of the case (he claimed that since their weren't locks on both sides, someone could pry it open). So, he ended up putting it in his buddy's rifle case.

Anyways, after 30 minutes of waiting, it was finally my turn, and the TSA agent went through and swabbed my stuff, which only took about 10 minutes, since I didn't set off the explosives tester...

When I was flying back from Kansas City, I didn't have to go through any of that stuff, I just said "I need to declare some firearms," the lady gave me the slip, had me put it in the case, and I was good to go.

From what I've read here in the past, SLC was supposed to be one of the best and easiest airports when it came to declaring firearms... Has this changed? It seemed like every single person who declared a firearm had to go through this explosive testing.

Anyways, just wanted to let y'all know to make sure you get there extra early if you have to check a firearm. I got there an 1 1/2 hours before my flight and barely made it (45 minutes to check firearm & 40 minutes in security line).

Oh, on a side note, the AZ permit came in handy since I spent most of the week in Kansas (never thought I would be going there).

[tapehoser]

Good to know. I'll be traveling shortly with my XD and will show up a little earlier than anticipated.

Gracias!

[Paul]

Delta at SLC has always swabbed my luggage when I declare my gun. However it has never taken more than a few minutes. Never been a big deal.

[FrankenHollow]

Delta at SLC has always swabbed my luggage when I declare my gun. However it has never taken more than a few minutes. Never been a big deal.

Delta at SLC has always swabbed every piece of everything I had, even when I had no firearms; or even when I was flying in uniform, on military orders, with NATO orders (allowing hand-carried firearms and ammunition). On several occasions, I spent 2-3 hours sitting in a chair outside one of the security offices, while they hand-searched and scanned/swabbed all of my possessions, and verified my identity. (except for any weapons or ammunition - they didn't get to touch that - but they were worried about bombs I may have had ) It was ridiculous.

It got to the point that I would show up 4-5 hours early, in order to ensure I did not miss my flight. The problem got so bad, that our unit eventually just went to chartering CRJs and 737s, even if there were only as few as 5-6 people being transported. That provided it's own "bonus", though - in that we flew directly to our destination military base, rather than having to arrange for transportation from a civilian airport.

It was really bad from 2001-2008, but has been getting better (at least for military personnel).
United rarely gave me a problem.
American rarely gave me a problem.
America West never gave me a problem.
Northwest seldom gave me a problem.
And, the now-defunct DHL was a dream to work with. (Half the time, the navigator or first officer acted as the "flight attendant" for all 2 or 3 passengers they might have; or they just pointed us toward the tiny galley, and told us to take what we wanted. )

[B Cart]

I usually try and fly Southwest, but I've flown Delta 2-3 times with my pistol and they have never taken more than 5 minutes extra to complete the swab check. I guess maybe I've always gotten lucky, but it's always been quick for me.

[UtahJarhead]

Gun powder nor powder residue will set off the explosives swabbing. They're not detecting explosives. They're detecting an additive that must VOLUNTARILY be added to explosives compounds before they can be detected.

I go to Boomershoot each year. The guy that runs it, Joe Huffman, will routinely mix explosives for an event (he hosts more than just Boomershoot), NOT take a shower, and flies very frequently. He's never been flagged or asked for a deeper inspection.

Security Theater.

[Jeff Johnson]

I've checked my handgun at many different airports. SLC is one of the more tedious ones that I've experienced in this regard. I don't know why. Of course, that list of airports does not include any in the really anti-gun states where I couldn't carry.

[My Trigger Guard]

I fly pretty regularly and I take my arms with me as much as legally possible.

This is pretty much standard procedure, you declare, you sign, you walk over to the swab testing station and then proceed onto security. Ussually takes 15 to 20 mins. I have never had any real issues with doing this process.

If the guy told me I had to have two locks on it I would state, it hasnt been a problem on my previous 100 flights, its not also what your website requirements state. Just a lockable hard sided case.

[Cinhil]

Good information to have shared with us, thanks! I will remember this should I travel by plane in the future.

On another note; When my wife and I were married everything was in her maiden name so when we got to the airport here in SLC it was no big deal, but when we were leaving San Diego it was a huge deal. We had to take an extra half hour to go get her ticket reworked under her new married name. You never know which airports/TSA agents will do or be hard cases about. We were just glad she had a copy of our marriage certificate since her DL was in her maiden name. So I guess the big picture is Always arrive several hours early so you can get through the bs of the airport so you do not miss your flight.

[Nocked N Loaded]

I flew from SLC to Houston a few weeks ago with Delta. I showed up about 2 hours early, hoping to make my flight on time, as this was the first time I had checked a firearm. In my experience, it took approximately 2 minutes for them to walk me over to get swabbed and I was on my way. I was actually surprised at how easy that process went for me. I got through security quickly and was like an hour and a half early for my flight .

For the return flight, at IAH airport, it was even better. They had me sign the orange slip, and I was on my way. No swab or anything. I was also very early for that flight, not knowing what to expect at that airport. I spent a lot of time sitting and waiting.

On a side note, I shared the flight with Jon Huntsman. I got to speak with him for a little while, and that was an awesome experience. Definitely a highlight of that trip

[divegeek]

I've flown out of SLC, on Delta, with a firearm, almost 60 times (I used to fly a *lot* for work, and always took my gun unless I was going somewhere it was illegal for me to possess it), and it never took more than 15 minutes. Usually less than 10, and the biggest part of the delay was always waiting for the TSA guy to come out.

I don't know what you did to make them suspicious, FrankenHollow, but remind me not to travel with you!

[FrankenHollow]

I've flown out of SLC, on Delta, with a firearm, almost 60 times (I used to fly a *lot* for work, and always took my gun unless I was going somewhere it was illegal for me to possess it), and it never took more than 15 minutes. Usually less than 10, and the biggest part of the delay was always waiting for the TSA guy to come out.

I don't know what you did to make them suspicious, FrankenHollow, but remind me not to travel with you!

If you don't want to be delayed, definitely avoid flying through Rochester NY with me. The TSA agents' heads almost exploded, when they saw a rifle scope and the circuit boards of a bunch of NES cartridges in the x-ray of my carry-on bag.
That was a long day....

[Dustin WJ]

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll be flying to Iowa soon to teach concealed carry classes, so I'll have guns with me. I'll be sure to get there plenty early.

[LadyIsadora]

Gun powder nor powder residue will set off the explosives swabbing. They're not detecting explosives. They're detecting an additive that must VOLUNTARILY be added to explosives compounds before they can be detected.

BUT:
If you have recently fertilized your lawn, that could theoretically set it off.

[UtahJarhead]

The fertilizer has the additive in it, usually. Boomershoot uses ANFO. Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil. It's AN, Potassium Chlorate, ethylene glycol (yes, antifreeze!), and the fuel, which is a component I won't give out on the forums but it is readily available and purchasable in virtually any grocery store without any form of background check! This is what we mix up (and he mixes up all the time) and it's never been detected by an airport swab test. Ever.