Todd's posts on Pistol-Training prompted me to post this thread to create some shared knowledge on different experiences people have had when flying with guns. This is only relevant to the post 9/11 era. The idea (hopefully) would be to create a place where people can get an idea of what to expect when flying out of an airport with a firearm. Here are all the ones that I can remember off the top of my head.
Airport: Seattle-Tacoma International
Airline: Alaska
Airline Process: Declare firearm to Alaska Airline clerk, who will give you a carbon copy declaration form. Fill the form out, put the back copy in your firearm case. The agent will ask you if the guns are unloaded but will not ask to seem them. Then walk over to the one of the three TSA oversize baggage screening areas.
TSA Procedure: The TSA Agent will take your locked case and swab it for explosives. At SEA-TAC I've never had them open my case, they just ask me if the gun is unloaded.
Observations: I fly out of Sea-Tac a lot, and most of the baggage handling guys are pretty good dudes. I've never had any issues there.
Notes: the same procedure applies to American Airlines and Delta when flown out of Sea-Tac.