Howdy from PR,
I wanted to send an update on our travel to Puerto Rico. As some of you might know, we have now traveled to PR for the third time. The first two times that we took our AGs, we had them in a TSA gun case no scope (because of space, but that is not a TSA limitation) the tank filled at less than 1000psi and pellets and mags in the case, not on the guns. The first time we had a Bullboss and a Vet Std. The second time, we had a Cricket and a Vet. All of those have integrated tanks more less in the stock , mostly not looking like a pressurized vessel. Both times they flew to PR and back without any issues. This time, we took the Vet and the Raptor who has a front bottle.
When we arrived at the luggage counter, they didn't ask me to register them as firearms as they are airguns but sent me to the big, special TSA check-in so we did. The initial TSA employee who checked the case was kind of confused about why they didn't check the guns as firearms this time when I had a tag from the previous time in the case (that could have been my mistake to leave it) Then he saw the tin of pellets and said that we couldn't have them because of HazMat regulation, and he called the big rig. The big rig arrived and agrees that the airguns aren't firearms and don't have to be registered as firearms and the tins don't have powder, thus they are not HazMat. Now we are moving forward.
Then he tells me that I can't get them on the plan because he cannot see inside the tank of the raptor and it can be pressurized. He added that he cannot trust the gauge and the tank need to be physically separated from the gun. I told him that I wasn't understanding why as I never had any issues before with the same conditions. Then he started to tell me that TSA is under federal rules and it is the same for everyone. So, I started to question him and he didn't like the fact that I was doing it. He pretty much told me that the case with the AG would not go anywhere if I wanted to take my flights.
So what came up from that!
First, I think they aren't competent enough to know what airguns are and see "Airguns" as the old daisy. Unless in our case you have a front bottle airgun and they can now see that it has a pressurized tank and that it needs to be detached and the inside of the tank needs to be visible. That means that if you have a reg in your tube, it should be removed.
Second, you can take your chance and take AG without front bottles and hope for the best.
Now I need to find options to either degas my guns before flying or ship UPS or FedEx that might have the same restrictions and could take weeks to get them there. Added to that I am not sure I would want my AG to be depressurized for that long!
Let me know what is your experience.
Here is a pic of the view until I can have access to some AGs and go hunt Friday and Sat with our friends at www.iguanahuntingtourspr.com
I wanted to send an update on our travel to Puerto Rico. As some of you might know, we have now traveled to PR for the third time. The first two times that we took our AGs, we had them in a TSA gun case no scope (because of space, but that is not a TSA limitation) the tank filled at less than 1000psi and pellets and mags in the case, not on the guns. The first time we had a Bullboss and a Vet Std. The second time, we had a Cricket and a Vet. All of those have integrated tanks more less in the stock , mostly not looking like a pressurized vessel. Both times they flew to PR and back without any issues. This time, we took the Vet and the Raptor who has a front bottle.
When we arrived at the luggage counter, they didn't ask me to register them as firearms as they are airguns but sent me to the big, special TSA check-in so we did. The initial TSA employee who checked the case was kind of confused about why they didn't check the guns as firearms this time when I had a tag from the previous time in the case (that could have been my mistake to leave it) Then he saw the tin of pellets and said that we couldn't have them because of HazMat regulation, and he called the big rig. The big rig arrived and agrees that the airguns aren't firearms and don't have to be registered as firearms and the tins don't have powder, thus they are not HazMat. Now we are moving forward.
Then he tells me that I can't get them on the plan because he cannot see inside the tank of the raptor and it can be pressurized. He added that he cannot trust the gauge and the tank need to be physically separated from the gun. I told him that I wasn't understanding why as I never had any issues before with the same conditions. Then he started to tell me that TSA is under federal rules and it is the same for everyone. So, I started to question him and he didn't like the fact that I was doing it. He pretty much told me that the case with the AG would not go anywhere if I wanted to take my flights.
So what came up from that!
First, I think they aren't competent enough to know what airguns are and see "Airguns" as the old daisy. Unless in our case you have a front bottle airgun and they can now see that it has a pressurized tank and that it needs to be detached and the inside of the tank needs to be visible. That means that if you have a reg in your tube, it should be removed.
Second, you can take your chance and take AG without front bottles and hope for the best.
Now I need to find options to either degas my guns before flying or ship UPS or FedEx that might have the same restrictions and could take weeks to get them there. Added to that I am not sure I would want my AG to be depressurized for that long!
Let me know what is your experience.
Here is a pic of the view until I can have access to some AGs and go hunt Friday and Sat with our friends at www.iguanahuntingtourspr.com
