Update
Just wanted to give you an update on this thread.
I just flew with my PPQ for the first time and as long as you follow the rules and regulations, it's pretty straight forward. I went from Florida to Virginia and the whole process was quicker than I imagined. But I did learn one very important lesson on the return flight, I'll get to that at the end.
Here's my experience flying with United. The case I ended up using was similar to this NanoVault:
It had the spot to attach the cable and I simply unzipped the liner inside my soft luggage and looped it around the frame. Obviously this is where I put the PPQ with both empty mags, one inserted in the gun. I did not transport any ammo with me. I also used the MTM case, unlocked (pictured in the first post), where I put my holster and mag loader in.
So upon check in, I approached the counter and told the United agent, "I'm transporting an unloaded firearm that I'd like to declare". They had me open my luggage right there on the weigh scales, I unlocked the lockbox, they literally glanced at it, and I put the orange firearm declaration form inside the lockbox. I secured everything, put a non-TSA padlock and zip tie on the zippers, and had a TSA luggage/ID strap. Off I went to the gate.
When I arrived in Virginia I noticed the TSA luggage/ID strap had been accessed and the zip tie was gone. It was a cheesy padlock on the zippers so I'm sure they open that easily, (at least they didn't cut it off). Upon inspecting the contents, everything was there and a note from the TSA saying they opened the bag to check the contents.
Enjoyed the 4th of July with family and friends in DC and got some self defense/tactical training/range time in.
The return flight:
So I went through the same procedure at check in, although it took 15-20 minutes to get the process started. Again, opened my luggage at the weigh scales. The United ticketing agent then had me follow them to the side where the TSA screeners were. They took my bag behind the partitions out of my view and then a TSA agent asked me for the key to unlock the zipper.
*Without thinking, I handed him the whole keyring which also had the key to the lockbox*. 5-10 minutes go by and I ask the United agent, "Shouldn't I be able to see what they're doing?". She replied, "No, there are other witnesses over there, this is how they do it at Dulles".
A few moments later the TSA guy comes back and says, "OK, you're all good", handed me the keys and they put it on the conveyor belt. Thinking about it now, I should have asked to double check all the locks were in place, but more importantly I should have never given them access the lockbox out of my view. As I was sitting at my gate I was thinking, "Did they open the lockbox? What if they left the lockbox unlocked? Was the bag even locked back up?". I had no way to confirm. And yes I was being paranoid because this is the first time I've transported a firearm.
When I finally arrived back in Florida, after I pulled my bag off the carousel and I headed right to the Untied Baggage Office. I told the agent there that I was concerned about how TSA had checked in my bag and I wanted to make sure everything was there, I just wanted him as a witness. Of course before I open the bag he said if anything was missing it would have to be taken up with TSA and not United, etc., etc. I opened it up and right there on top I see the same form from TSA saying they searched my bag.
In the end everything went smoothly, I learned my lesson to not let anyone else have the key to the lockbox in which your firearm is in, and just allow yourself some extra time to get through it. It was a bit stressful not having done it before, but I also think of how many flights there are daily, and how many other people are transporting their firearms.
Sorry for the long winded update, but I just wanted to share my account as a first timer. By the way, I checked and double checked to make sure nothing was written or tags added to indicate there was a firearm in my luggage. Although I did get an addendum stapled to my boarding pass from FL to VA that stated "firearm in checked in baggage".
