This year we've bumped into an issue with youth shooters traveling by air with their guns (specifically rifles).
When most of the kids travel unaccompanied to large matches (JO's, 3XAir, Trials, etc) they are traveling on United (the Denver C-Springs area) or Delta (Ft. Benning & such). There is no issue with these carriers as of this date (JULY 2008)
HOWEVER, on Northwest, American, & Continental, these carriers have policies that prohibit passengers under 18 from checking guns "of any type". (Unaccompanied) ... the "of any type" includes even toy guns in checked luggage.
Keep this in mind if you are sending a shooter to an event or camp.
Our solution (if you cannot get on another carrier) is to ship the rifles to an FFL in the area you are sending them to, and again have that FFL ship it back to an FFL in your area ... in any case it's probably not a huge amount more than the "excess"/"heavy" baggage charges you would end up paying anyway.
Youth & Airline Travel
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