I know there is a thread somewhere on this forum about air travel. However I can't seem to find it in taptalk. I am not sure if this is a PSA or a rant so take what you will.
A little background. I travel about 100k + miles a year for work. Sometimes I take a pistol for an IDPA match or class in conjunction with said travel. I give this info to illustrate that I am pretty seasoned with regs, oddities, and general airline / TSA idiocy.
This trip has been particularly awful and with over a million logged miles with American I may have just had it.
I traveled to Phoenix recently and took a Les Baer for a friend of mine interested in 1911 to use for the week while I was in town. Check in like normal just fine. Arrive to my bag sitting in the middle of Sky Harbor, an airport that sees millions of people a week looking like this:
Mind you not in a controlled area, just hanging out for anyone to grab. This is a new thing from American, as well as six different kinds of stupid.
The big problem came today. Checking back in with the same hard case I always use, same locks, etc. a system I have never had an issue with. Gate agent call supervisor over because he doesn't know what to do. Supervisor instructs him and picks up the case to make sure it is locked. This is a SKB style plastic. Not flimsy, but not bomb proof. He pulls at the case farthest from the locks and hinges and notices some give. Supervisor then proceeded to try and force the case open, later saying the excuse that he needed to make sure the case could not be accesses when locked. It couldn't. He then tried again in the process breaking the plastic around the lock holes.
Now the case is not secure, will not lock, and I can't check it. Now I am faced at missing a flight or surrender the firearm. Luckily I have people here. I was able to get someone to get it from me to be picked up on a later trip, and still make my flight.
Upon further analysis of the interaction I also believe this was a personal vendetta and the inconvenience, as it was called, was intentional. I truly believe this person knew he could ruin my day with no consequence because I invaded his safe space with my death tools. The force required to do this was significant.
Moral of the story. Heavy cases with metal lock areas, and make sure you have plenty time. Remember to opposition has no love for you. /rant PSA.
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Originally Posted by JDM
