Dont fly united airlines with guns!!!!

crenshaw · 10-21-2008, 08:14 AM

Recently was flying back home from a Wyoming elk hunt. Baggage people for United Airlines tried to break into my gun case using screw driver or some sort of pry bar.They damaged the case pretty bad but my master locks stopped them from getting inside.I wasnt the only person it happened to that day for United. A little old women experienced it with her gun, and so did another hunter, and thats just one airport during one portion of the day. I work for the FAA and I was told that United was worst to travel with while carrying firearms, and they also have the worst customer service of all airlines according to recent surveys.

There is an investigation going on for multiple incidents daily concerning this very matter. DONT FLY UNITED WHEN CARRYING FIREARMS.

alagnak · 10-21-2008, 10:37 AM

Not disputing that this is inexcusable behavior by the baggage agents. But, bear in mind that the agents could have been contract employees or employees of a United Express partner like Skywest or Mesa and serve multiple airlines. Or, could have been TSA...

I've flown United with firearms many times and never have had an issue. Don't work for them, etc, but this could happen with any carrier. What station (or potential stations, if you connected) did this occur at? If I were you, I would definitely be contacting the station manager(s) there to complain.

M.Magis · 10-21-2008, 10:54 AM

I've only flown with a gun one time, but I thought it was made VERY clear that they would open the case and inpect the contents. When we checked the guns, we gave them the keys while they went through the cases. When they were done they returned our keys and we went on our way.

crenshaw · 10-21-2008, 12:17 PM

I flew out of Billings Montana, Connected in Denver, then flew to IAD (dullus in Washington DC)

TSA does inspect the weapons as they are required they look inside the case then have you lock the case. TSA wouldnt attempt to break into the case, because if they wanted they would just take the whole case and gun, ect. I work in the security field and if there is possible threat TSA could just remove the bag. The bag was damaged by someone handling bags for United, either a employee or contractor.

After talking to a friend at DHS, this is becoming more and more common with most incidents occuring with United operations. If the weapon were to have been broken into, the airports would be on high alert and certain percuations taken that could directly impact travel due to the servarity of an individual with a weapon.

The problem comes when companies are hiring employees that are not socially responsiable for the position, in some cases background checks by government agencies are being conducted on airline companies employees and the investigations are finding that some employees either have criminal records and should not be allowed to work at a secure location or they are illegal immigrants. Dullus airport had a sting over a year ago, and found over 200 employees working at the airport that met that criteria. Those people were either removed from there position or this country.

M.Magis · 10-21-2008, 12:36 PM

Ah, that changes things. That sure sounds like something they should really be looking in, quickly.

millagerobert · 10-21-2008, 12:51 PM

Makes me glad that I don't have to fly anywhere to hunt most of North Americas big game animals. Seems like they would have security camera's in the areas where your guns are being sorted and shipped and that they could check the footage to see who needs fired and thrown in jail. If this is prevalent then the TSA needs to run a few sting operations to get rid of some bad apples and send a message to the rest.

hillbillyhunter1 · 10-21-2008, 01:51 PM

Wow. This sounds like an excellent way for a united (no pun intended) effort ofantis to cause more restricitons to gun owners....peta baggage handlers[&:]......just lookin at it from a different angle here

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BTBowhunter · 10-21-2008, 02:10 PM

United's new baggage limitations make almost every single gun case oversize by just a few inches resulting in a $125 surcharge. The check in personell havent been measuring every one and I know guys that got singles through that were barely over the 62" limit without getting socked but youre purely at their mercy if they decide to measure. I was only taking one small bolt action so I broke it down to fit in a takedown shotgun case.

Southwest doesnt play that game at least not yet. Their size limits will still allow a gun case but be careful with bigger bow cases.

Next time, I'm flying Southwest or Im UPS'ing my guns ahead!!

(L+W+H must be less than 62" or it's oversize. Check your hard gun cases and I'll bet you that it's around 64-66" or bigger)

M.Magis · 10-21-2008, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Im UPS'ing my guns ahead

I tried that once. My gun showed up at the lodge in two pieces.[:@]
UPS denied the claim, even with $1000 worth of insurance. Said they didn't understand how it broke. No $@&!! Me either, but I still had a two piece gun. Either way you go, you're at someones mercy.