Amazing! The variation in counter service and TSA attention to detail across this nation is nothing short of a patchwork quilt of knowhow and attention to jog details. We just returned from 4 days in Texas quail shooting. At BWI airport in Baltimore, the young guy at the Southwest Airlines counter spied our guncases, handed the 4 of us firearms declaration cards to fill out and insert in the cases, then asked us to lock them as he watched. Never inspected the guns but did look for ammo in the cases (a BIG no-no), then told us to hang out in case the TSA boys/girls needed for us to unlock a case for some reason. Never happened.
At Oklahoma City, guncases came up on the baggage carousel like all other luggage. On our return flight, same quick and efficient weapons check and registry card fillout. When we got back to BWI, baggage but no guncases on the carousel. We had to go to the baggage "Special Handling" area, show picture ID and baggage claim stubs. I have noticed this phenomenon for years (e.g., taking guns to the Vegas show) - going West, piece of cake; going East, they are suddenly deadly weapons again. What gives?
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