Get very clear and complete instructions from the airline that you’ll be flying and get to the airport as easrly as you can. Bring the written instructions with you as the agent you get may not have a clue.
Personally, I would suggest that you ship them UPS or FedEx. Your guns are easier to insure that way and you won’t have to worry about theft by ramp personnel or TSA crooks. They are much more likely to arrive safely and your predeparture time will be much less stressed.
Just went from Detroit to Dallas and back. Delta said NO TSA locks at all on the gun case. So I brought Master locks, and not TSA locks.
Got to Dallas, and there was a TSA lock on the luggage! No one knew where it came from. So I had to go back and forth between TSA and Delta to get it cut off (finally a chick at TSA who knew what she was doing unscrambled the combination by just looking at it and opened it for us). I got in the luggage, and found both Master locks cut off the gun case and plastic ties in their place. A lot of good that did. Basically, locks and ties make it hard for the owner, but no one else, to get your guns.
So, before going back, I bought 4 Master locks and two TSA locks and told Delta I’ll put whatever locks you want on them, just don’t cut them off. But this woman knew the procedure and directed us to TSA rep who also knew what he was doing and it went smoothly, even bantered about guns and local shooting events.
I have lots of extra locks if anyone needs them.
So, yeah, check with the airline and then print out the instructions and bring them with you, and get the name of everyone you deal with.
Last year, after Dad's funeral, my bro wanted to UPS the old rifle back to Georgia....they wouldn't ship it.