Episode 39 was filmed on Christmas morning, flying Southwest Airlines from New Orleans to Las Vegas. Even on a holiday, the process was smooth and straightforward from start to finish.
Check-In at MSY
I walked up to the counter and let the agent know I was declaring firearms. She went through her usual questions about what I had inside the bag and confirmed that the ammunition was stored separately, which it was. Then she gave me the firearm declaration form to complete.
Once I finished signing it, I placed the form into the FedEx sleeve attached to my Condition 1 hard-sided pistol case, which was packed inside another piece of luggage. When the agent came back to the counter, it took her a second to realize I had already placed the form inside the sleeve—so there was no need for tape or stickers to attach it to the case. She simply told me to zip up the luggage and that was it.
I still set my usual 15-minute timer before heading to security, just in case TSA needed me to unlock the case since I use non–TSA-accepted locks. No one called me back, so I went on through security.
Arrival in Las Vegas
After landing in Las Vegas, I went to baggage claim and picked my bag up off the carousel with the rest of the checked luggage. The locks were still intact, everything was exactly as I packed it, and I was on my way to enjoy Christmas morning.
Final Thoughts
Another smooth and professional check-in with Southwest, even on a holiday. Declare the firearms, pack everything correctly, stay available for a few minutes in case TSA needs you, and most trips go just like this—simple, predictable, and stress-free.
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