Exactly what he said! I chose to put mine in a lockable container, but that is because I didn't want anyone fussing with it. You MUST make sure that you have TSA Locks on your gun case as well as ammo case (if you choose). As a side tip, when you get to Pearson, you need to go see the Custom Agent in the Luggage Terminal to get your gun. You then take that to the customs agent and do paperwork and then go back around and check your luggage. While you are there getting your gun, take a look to see if your luggage is on the belt too. If it is, grab it. I was told that my bags were checked all the way to Deer Lake when I checked in at DTW. I think I was told something different since my bags did not arrive into camp for 3 days after I arrived.
This is not correct. TSA rules state you are to be in control of your key and the gun case accessable to NOONE but YOU. That means no TSA lock on your weapon case! They will have you open your case and view the contents, swab it, then sign off and you place the sign off inside the case and they witness you lock it back up. I just went thru this last year flying to Alaska. This is especially important if you have layovers, you don't want that weapon being compromised or getting a call to come down to TSA. Keep a copy of the rules printed off and inside the gun case if you are challenged.
From the website page you linked
I retained the keys on all of my trips for the TSA locks. The one time I didn't was my first trip overseas and I did not use a TSA Lock. They called my name over the loud speaker at DTW and I had to go back to the gate and check back through security. Last fall I had TSA approved locks on everything and didn't have one issue at all with the opening/closing of cases. Biggest hassle was just making sure that I kept all of my paperwork organized (which is an OCD thing for me), which turned out to not be an issue.
A side note from Mallard Master’s post. Last fall I was departing DTW with a Master lock on my hard case. The lady that checked me in ask me to stay close by for 10 minutes in case TSA had any issues with my lock. After 15 minutes I headed for my gate. After arriving in Phoenix and going to baggage claim, I find my unlocked case with the broken lock taped to it. So I took it over to the missing luggage area and told them that TSA must have broke my lock testing it and I wanted a witness when I opened it in case something was missing. Fortunately nothing was missing. When I headed up to Alaska this last spring I had the TSA locks. No problems. I retained the keys both times.
I just checked my firearms in at Pearson airport in Toronto on Canada airlines this morning. I did not use TSA locks. Ammo has to be separated in a check bag. I have a pelican vault case for my guns and plastic ammo can for my ammo. Bolts need to be out of the guns and leave them in the gun case. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would have been. Now I pray that it makes it to Newfoundland.
Thats all you can do!! Hopefully you will get your bag at either Gander or Deer Lake. Here is a Hot-Tip for you! IF you don't get your luggage, do not wait around for the luggage to 'show up'. There are not a lot of people on that flight and it doesn't take long to unload. Go straight to the Air Canada desk right away so you are in the front of the line. There are only a couple gate agents and it takes FOREVER to process this stuff. My guide yanked me out of luggage line and we went straight to the counter to file a claim. By the time I was done (10 minutes), there were 20 people in line waiting.
