Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have put in place numerous regulations affecting the carriage of rifles and other firearms on commercial airlines. These rules exist to protect the safety of the passengers and crew on the plane. Domestically, passengers may legally transport guns, including rifles, through checked luggage, provided they follow strict rules.
According to the TSA's website, passengers are forbidden from bringing guns onto a plane in their carry-on luggage. When checking guns or ammunition, passengers must first declare the firearms to the airline when they check in for the flight. When any gun, including a rifle, is being transported the weapon needs to be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container. The container must be tamper proof to the point that no one could easily break the lock or wedge open the container. The TSA encourages passengers who are bringing rifles and other guns to provide the key or lock combination to security so that TSA officers can inspect the contents of the gun case if necessary.
Passengers must also check ammunition for their rifle or gun, as ammunition is not allowed in carry-on luggage. In order to prevent ammunition from accidentally exploding during flight, it must be securely packed in cardboard, wood or metal boxes built for transporting ammunition. Ammunition may be packed in the same case as the rifle or other gun, but it still must conform to the rules above.
While the above regulations are set out by the TSA, individual airlines can create their own regulations regarding rifles and other firearms. Travelers can find out these regulations through an airline's website or by calling the airline directly. In general, individual airline rules don't ban rifles, but they can regulate the number of rifles a passenger can bring. For example, Virgin America allows only one rifle case with a maximum of two rifles inside. American Airlines allows three rifles per case, although the number of cases allowed is unlimited. By contrast, Southwest Airlines states through its website that multiple guns may be transported in the same case, and it does not limit the number of cases.
Gun laws vary greatly from country to country, and possession of firearms is not always legal. As a result, additional rules and regulations may apply to any passengers wishing to take rifles to other countries. The TSA's website recommends that passengers check with the authorities in the country of their final destination.