avek00

Continental Airlines.



------------------
Thank you for choosing Continental Airlines, a proud member of the SkyTeam Alliance.

Just Passing Thru

Better look again, cowboy. And this time, ask the airlines.

http://www.delta.com/travel/trav_ser...ndex.jsp#Shoot

Shooting Equipment
One item of shooting equipment is accepted as part of a customer's free checked baggage allowance. For each item listed, one item of shooting equipment is defined as one or a combination of the following:

Rifles
One rifle case containing:

two or fewer rifles (with or without scopes)
one shooting mat
one small pistol tool kit
noise suppressers
11 lbs. of ammunition
Cases containing more than two rifles will be assessed an excess baggage charge.

Shotguns
two shotguns
two shotgun cases
11 lbs. Of ammunition
Cases containing more than two shotguns will be assessed an excess baggage charge.

Pistols
One pistol case containing:
two pistols
pistol telescopes
noise suppressers
a small pistol tool case
11 lbs. Of ammunition
Cases containing more than two pistols will be assessed an excess baggage charge.

You may purchase a hard-sided case (12" x 52" x 4 1/2") with suitcase type lock (capable of holding two rifles with scopes) for $75 plus local tax at most Delta Airport Ticket Counters.

When checking a firearm, you must:
declare to the Delta representative that they are checking a firearm (If a Security Checkpoint is prior to the Delta ticket counter, you must declare the existence of a firearm to security personnel.)
present firearm(s) unloaded and sign a "Firearms Unloaded" declaration
lock the firearm(s) in a hard-sided, crush-proof container and retain the key or combination
maintain entry permits in your possession for the country or countries of destination or transit
ensure small arms ammunition is packed in the manufacturer's original package or securely packed in fiber, wood or metal boxes
Note: Firearms transported to the United Kingdom as checked baggage require a permit from the United Kingdom. The passenger must contact the United Kingdom for more information regarding this permit.

Ammunition in excess of 11 lbs. per passenger or that contains incendiary projectiles is prohibited.

FliesWay2Much

Richard,

Concerning money-making aspects of the airline industry, I had a long-time friend who is a long-time UAL employee tell me once that the biggest source of revenue for UA was their mail contracts. In fact, he told me that they didn't care so much about the passenger load on a particular flight as long as the cargo hold was full of mail. Also, he said that UA, years ago, bid on all of PanAm's South America routes so they could get the mail contracts.

He told me this several years ago. Is this still correct?

richard

I have heard this before but I do not know if it is true. I don't think cargo and mail can be the answer to the airline's problems though.

Speaking of cargo and mail, ironically, these are not screened although baggage is. Screening them would really be too cumbersome, the airlines have argued.

And doing away with mail and cargo flying with pax would be financially disasterous for the airlines, which is why the airlines have successfully fought the screening of mail and cargo.

tsadude

Hard sided suitcases are acceptable as weapons containers as long as they can be locked. We have several weapons(shotguns,Bushmasters,handguns) per week go through in suitcases that are declared.

tsadude

Cargo is scheduled to be screened in the near future.

Spiff

Wow, good thing the terrorists aren't on some kind of schedule...



------------------
"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

Just Passing Thru

Actually, most major airlines have more stringent requirements on the packaging, storage and declaration of checked-baggage firearms than RUOK claimed. Just because the TSA approves of a certain level of security does not mean that the airlines can't tighten up even more than that. And most do tighten up more.

That's the point I was trying to make.

tsadude

I'm sure that you will be violated in some way when this takes affect.




[This message has been edited by tsadude (edited 02-26-2003).]

Spiff

Oddly enough, I won't - unless your brilliant agency suddenly feels the need to start opening everyone's mail too.



------------------
"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

richard

Of course they'll open mail. Anything in a package will be subject to inspection. I am just making this up -- I have no knowledge on the subject but I assume it will happen.

bdschobel

I bet they won't. While the personal "right to privacy" may not be in the Constitution, the U.S. mail does come with a statutory expectation of privacy. The TSA may refuse to allow certain pieces of mail to be loaded onto airplanes, but I doubt very much that they will OPEN mail.

Bruce

tsadude

I think that this would be a good use of canines.

richard

I agree. I want dogs reading my mail.

biggs

The TSA is not asking to open mail yet but probably will do so now, but Customs is asking to search mail that may contain contraban. A dispute exist between the USPS and Customs over the constitutionality of the proposal. After 9-11, only letter mail could go on planes and the revenue to the passenger carriers has gone down. I remember seeing a report that the USPS spent $1.9 billion on air transporation last year of which I think close to $1B went to Fedex. A large portion of that used to go to the passenger carriers and was a guaranteed income stream.