Episode 43 was filmed on February 5, 2026, flying Southwest Airlines from New Orleans to Las Vegas. This trip is a good example of how small moments at the counter can look awkward on camera but still turn into a completely smooth check-in.
Check-In at MSY
Before walking up to the counter, I had already used the Southwest kiosk to print my checked bag tag. I headed toward the agent line instead of bag drop, knowing I needed to declare firearms. As I was walking up, the agent pointed out that bag drop was in the other direction. I said “I know,” since I didn’t want to announce that I was declaring firearms from across the terminal.
Once I got closer, I said “declaring firearms,” but he didn’t hear me at first, so I repeated it. From that point on, everything went smoothly.
He handed me the firearm declaration form as I stepped up to the counter. When I saw him reaching for packing tape, I let him know I had a FedEx sleeve attached to my Condition 1 hard-sided case. I filled out the form, placed it into the sleeve, closed up the bag, and he checked my ID.
The hard-sided case was locked and packed inside a larger piece of luggage. Once everything was squared away, he took the bag and sent me on my way.
As usual, I set a 15-minute timer before heading through security, just in case TSA needed to inspect the bag further. No one called me back, so I went through security without any issues.
Arrival in Las Vegas
After landing in Las Vegas, I went to baggage claim. Since the hard-sided case was inside a regular piece of luggage, my bag came out on the carousel with the rest of the checked luggage. I grabbed it and was on my way.
Final Thoughts
This episode shows how even minor misunderstandings at the counter don’t have to turn into problems. Clear communication, knowing the process, and staying calm kept everything moving smoothly. Once the declaration was understood, the rest of the trip was quick, easy, and predictable—exactly how flying with declared firearms should go.
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