When you approach the agent at the ticket counter, always be confident but friendly. As I'm called up, I simply state that "I have a handgun to declare". The only thing the agent is going to do is give you a info card to complete and place with your weapon. They might possibly ask you to show them that it is unloaded but I will not let them handle the weapon... period. I've found that some male agents and few female agents will ask for the inspection (I mean, TSA is going to do it for sure either visual or with x-ray). If you frequent the airline, ask for additional copies of the card so that one will always be ready. In that I will already have the card completed and with the weapon, I tell them so. 95% of the time they do not want to see the weapon. They send me straight to TSA after they issue my boarding pass. Very business like. Handle TSA the same, very business like and they will consider you a professional of some type. Only do what is asked. Some places, like LAS, will throw you bag on the conveyor behind the ticket counter and tell you to stand a specific point for a specific amount of minutes. After that, you can go on your way. I've never had a TSA come out of the back and ask me didilly.