33

My flight is from Washington, D.C. (IAD) to London Heathrow , with British Airways.

Important Details

“de-activated firearm” means an imitation firearm that consists in something which was a firearm but has been so rendered incapable of discharging a shot, bullet or other missile as no longer to be a firearm.

  • I have no problem in handing the case to the flight crew and getting it back upon arrival but I am not willing to ship it as an extra bag and risk losing it.

Is it possible for the security to stop me from having it on board even that it's allowed on the aircraft?

The real size

The compact size inside the case

JoErNanO
  • 52,873
  • 18
  • 166
  • 277
Ulkoma
  • 9,228
  • 17
  • 60
  • 101

4 Answers4

40

BA's website is crystal clear:

All firearms (including replica and decommissioned) and ammunition are restricted under UK law and may be carried only with advanced notification and with the appropriate licences and documentation.
...
Each case containing firearms or ammunition is subject to a £50 charge at check-in each way to cover the cost of our specialist firearms and ammunition handling partner.
...
All passengers intending to travel with firearms or ammunition must ensure they have the required documentation and licences for them. This includes export/import licences and authorisation from local and national authorities.

And no, you won't be able to carry it in the cabin, it will have to be checked into the hold.

jwenting
  • 9,583
  • 1
  • 27
  • 32
21

Ignoring the fact that it's a bazooka, are you sure it isn't too big for cabin baggage anyway ? Even dismantled, it looks quite long.

BA's maximum size for cabin baggage is: 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (see: http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/baggage-essentials/hand-baggage-allowances )

Is it less than 56cm long dismantled and boxed up ?

If not, you don't have to worry about security, as BA won't let it on.

Alun Thomas
  • 211
  • 1
  • 2
21

TSA isn't going to let you anywhere near the gate with that. They don't care about deactivated. Looks real/it's real as far as they are concerned.

Since someone complained about a lack of sources:

https://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/firearms-and-ammunition

Realistic replicas of firearms: No.

Edit: They've changed the page. Now it says:

Replica firearms, including firearm replicas that are toys, may be transported in checked baggage only.

Loren Pechtel
  • 8,134
  • 28
  • 34
7

In a case of life imitating art (or rather Stack Overflow), unsurprisingly it would seem that you cannot take a missile launcher (close-ish to a bazooka) in checked luggage, let alone as hand luggage.

Key quotes from the BBC article in case the link goes stale (cut to leave only parts relevant to this answer):

US airport security officers have confiscated a missile launcher from a passenger's luggage in Washington.

The Transport Security Administration (TSA) said ... "Fortunately, the item was not a live device."

Military weapons are not permitted in checked or carry on bags.

abligh
  • 3,708
  • 1
  • 19
  • 27