Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Tuffpak on Delta

In 2012 I flew from Seattle to Johannesburg via Atlanta on Delta. I had just purchased a Tuffpak to check my firearms in. While checking my baggage at the Delta counter at Seatac, a supervisor walked by, saw the case, and told me that I could not check firearms in a Tuffpak because it was not a gun case. I showed her the Tuffpak website. I asked her to check with TSA. No amount of reasoning prevailed. I had to call someone to give me a ride home, switch the firearms to a Pelican case, and return to the airport. I missed my outbound flight.

I’m planning to fly again to Johannesburg via Atlanta on Delta in May. I would like to use the Tuffpak, but can’t allow the same thing to happen.

I called Delta today, and was given a snippy answer that it’s up to the agent to determine if a gun case looks like a gun case, and if not they will refuse it.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Read up on TSA stuff. IIRC it only requires it be secure and lockable.

IE can't pull a hinge pin out etc...

I think I'd iron it out ahead of time and have paperwork to back me up...

As to what Delta will take or not, I think that is and should be up to the company and you have the choice to fly them on not.

I've been mighty happy flying Air Alaska for years now... they apply common sense to a number of issues.

In 2008 I flew with Delta and Air Alaska and had my guns in a lockable golf club case with no issue. Of course, since then, airlines are abusing and nickel and dimeing customers more so who knows if that would "fly" today.

I doubt, but could be wrong, that a Tuffpak would meet the current dimension restrictions for many airlines for standard baggage. If it doesn't meet standard baggage dimensions, you may find the extra charges for the various legs of your travel may more than pay for a new travel gun case.

But the cost of extra luggage fee vs not having a "gun" case stolen because it was a gun case might be worth it.

I suspect that after all these years of hunters transporting firearms in TuffPaks, there isn't an airport worker on the planet that doesn't know what's likely to be inside.......

Have flown Delta four times with a Tuffpak, 3x Omaha>Atlanta>JoBerg and 1x Omaha>NYC>Moscow. Never had any issues. I think you had an agent that was being a P.I.T.A. As others have said, I would use it and have the paperwork to back it up.

Mike

Thanks for the feedback. The bottom line is that the Delta agent in 2012 was ignorant, rude, unreasonable, and a variety of other unprintable adjectives. There was no amount of paperwork or reason that could dissuade her. There is always a chance I will meet another agent like her; I was curious to know how likely that is.

have whomever drops you off keep your pelican case in the trunk just incase you need a quick switch. odds are you'll be ok and the last agent was just a douchenozzle

I've flown many, many times with the Tuff-Pak.

I would contact the station manager for your outgoing port and get his/her concurrence on the Tuff-Pak. Also contact the Tuff-Pak people and let them know; I'd bet they will help.

I have run into occasional Delta counter-people who are anti-hunting, anti-gun or both. One in Atlanta tried to tell six of headed to RSA that we had to pay the over-size baggage charge on our rifle cases. When we told him there was an exemption for sporting equipment, he started to argue. I told him to get get his supervisor. He started to argue again, but when all of us insisted he caved. She looked at him like he was an idiot (because he was), and told him to check us in, NOW.

It's always good to be prepared with a print-out of their own regs, but you still may have to ask for a supervisor. Don't argue, just do it. It's saved me a bunch of time and hassle over the years.

I've had a few idiots and just call the Delta Platinum desk while I'm standing there and it gets straightened out.

Delta's policy is "Firearms must be packed in a locked manufacturer's hard-sided container specifically designed for the firearm, a locked hard–sided gun case or a locked hard-sided piece of luggage." When the supervisor insisted that a Tuffpak is designed for golf clubs, not firearms, there wasn't anything I could do to convince her otherwise. I may just sell the Tuffpak and be done with it.

e taken my Tuffpac from Minneapolis to JoBurg and numerous Canada and USA s=destinations and never the slightest issue..