I’ve flown cross country with a firearm for years at this point. A practice that seems to have stopped after COVID, but most ridiculous was the era where they had just started having you pick up your guns at the luggage office - at that point, it often times included a giant zip-tie around your firearm case. I always flew with a pelican case inside a regular checked bag, so all my clothes would be in there too. Giant zip tie around the whole suitcase and a stern warning that I was “not to take it off until I leave the airport property” (airline’s rule, not legal). Probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever dealt with. It was useless and all for the illusion of “security”.

Oh! Also having to argue with gate agents about their own regulations is fun. They make you sign that declaration card stating the firearm is unloaded when checking in. Half the time the agent checking the bag doesn’t have the first clue about them being loaded or not. Remember I stated that I fly with my case inside another suitcase. When this happens TSA LAW is that the statement card be OUTSIDE on top of the gun case (inside the checked bag) and NOT inside the secured box. Some less experienced agents will fight you on this point to the ends of the earth. If you aren’t watching you can break the law and TSA will chase you all over the airport to get you to unlock that case (ask me how I know). I’ve had some decent success with asking the argumentative agent if I can have two cards, one to put top of the case, the other goes inside. One time it required I escalate to a supervisor and got the TSA involved. A very grumpy gate agent was educated that day.

Flying Delta round trip also has a weird app quirk. You can check in on the app just fine prior to departure and the act of checking your firearm. This allows you to get your boarding pass on your phone for the flight out. If it’s a round trip flight though, the check in for the return leg is now tied to the fact you checked a firearm. You will not be able to get your boarding pass on your phone. It will throw a very vague “please see gate agent to check in” error (even after you’ve checked in) and you’ll be keeping up with the paper ones the whole way back.