Episode 42 covers my flight from Las Vegas back to New Orleans on Southwest Airlines. Overall, the trip went smoothly, with just one minor extra step at check-in that was well within policy.
Check-In at LAS
I walked up to the counter, told the agent I was declaring firearms, and handed over my ID. She went through the normal questions and then asked me to remove the ammunition so she could weigh it.
That’s not something I’m usually asked to do, but airlines are allowed to verify ammunition weight. I only had one box with me, so I took it out, she confirmed it was under the 11-pound limit, and that was it. No debate, no delays—just did what she asked and moved on.
After that, I completed the declaration form and placed it into the FedEx sleeve attached to my Condition 1 hard-sided case. The case was locked and packed inside a regular piece of luggage. Once everything was squared away, she took the bag, waited 15 minutes in case TSA needed to inspect the case and then headed toward security.
Arrival in New Orleans
After landing in New Orleans, I went to baggage claim. Since the hard-sided case was inside normal luggage, my bag came out on the regular carousel with the rest of the checked bags. I grabbed it, checked that everything was intact, and was on my way.
Final Thoughts
This flight is a good reminder that even when something unexpected comes up—like being asked to weigh your ammo—it doesn’t have to turn into a problem. The request was within policy, the process stayed calm, and the trip stayed smooth.
Follow the rules, stay flexible, and most flights go exactly like this.
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