Rather than post on Michael Renner's thread, I thought I'd start one, in the event some may not look there. I hope this is alright.
I flew from LHR to Vancouver on Saturday on Air Canada. Do bear in mind that flying to Canada, one is not subjected to all the rules a flight would have into the US. For example, luggage may be locked before checking in.
The incidents of this past week may change the way carry-on luggage will be allowed in the future. Passengers were only permitted their wallets, passports and documents, loose tissues, and medication required for the flight. Diapers and baby's milk were also permitted, but parents were asked to sample the milk at security. They provided clear plastic bags for such permitted articles. Nothing else was allowed, and definitely no liquids of any sort. At the security check, shoes, belts and coats/sweaters had to be placed in the tray for screening. As far as I could tell the metal detectors were switched off and body searches were mandatory.
I did have my camera and two lenses (100-400mm and 17-40mm) plus flash, flash bracket and chargers, as well as a laptop this trip. I placed them in a LowePro Computrekker AW bag which I inserted in my Club Glove Duffle Bag, wrapped quite a few articles of clothing around the bag, and checked that in. I did not travel with a tripod, but that could possibly have gone in my Club Glove Golf Travel bag. The luggage arrived safely, I am pleased to say. I am not sure I'd have felt comfortable if I had to check in a 500mm lens.
If you are planning to travel across the pond in either direction, I suggest you check in at least 4 hours before your flight. I was told all airports in the UK had the same rules. Hopefully, since they have downgraded the security risk from "critical" to "severe", they might ease matters further in the coming weeks.
Wow that's worrying... I'm going to fly Air Canada from Heathrow to Vancouver in September. Not sure how my Lowepro bag can protect the gear if I have to check it in, so I'm only hoping that they will ease up on the regulations by then.
The priority is always to be safe, so I'm all for strict security checks to prevent these terrorists from achieving their goal. But too much security sure makes flying a misery for a photographer, so I think I will stick to road trips after this vacation...
Posted by Jasper Doest on August 15, 2006 at 4:49 AM
Yes, I'm pretty concerned myself as well. Although I don't cross the pond that often, I do visit the UK a lot and I hope that these regulations will losen up a bit again.
Posted by Cliff Beittel on August 15, 2006 at 8:04 AM
"Not sure how my Lowepro bag can protect the gear if I have to check it in, so I'm only hoping that they will ease up on the regulations by then."
It can't, unless it's inside a hard case. Even then, it's not a sure thing. And so what if restrictions have eased when you start your trip--they can change again before you return home, leaving you the same photographer's nightmare discussed in an earlier thread. So you'd best have a hardsided case available. If you're allowed to carry on your camera equipment, then put your clothes in the hard case, along with a lightweight duffel or laundry bag. Then, if later you aren't allowed to take your equipment on board, the camera stuff goes in the hard case, while clothing, etc., goes in the duffel. You'd better prepare, because the authorities don't give a #&%@ what happens to your expensive and fragile property.
Thanks for the update out of Heathrow. I fly out tomorrow, and every source I have been checking seems to indicate that I will be ok flyng both out of the US and out of IRL. No restrictions on carry on luggage (aside from liquids, etc) and the security wait times seem to be back to fairly normal levels. Of course that can always change at a moments notice...
I will report back on how we photogs are being treated once I get home. Wish me luck!
I heard on the radio this morning that the British Airport Authority (BAA), which runs all UK airports, have reported 20,000 "missing" pieces of luggage, the bulk of which are British Airways. I would imagine the majority of these would be from cancelled flights to Europe rather than transatlantic. But just think of all the cell phones, laptops and PDA's that the owners of which have no idea when they might be returned, if at all.
Some nine years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting one of British Midland's top executives who informed me then that the company had spent $millions on transporting luggage to their rightful owners when accompanied baggage had not been put on the respective flights. With lost revenue in cancelled flights, duty free and other shops without much business, this is another 'near disaster'. And, now the Vancouver security workers are threatening strike!
Just flew from Halifax to Toronto, and from Toronto to the US on Air Canada. Air Canada has no restrictions on electronics (although they did have restrictions on liquids) within Canada, but said you would have to prove that the camera worked at the baggage claim in order to go on the US leg of the trip. They stated loud and clear that there was a good possibility that US customs would not allow the equipment through. My worry was having US customs deny entry of my camera and lenses, leaving me no choice but to skip the flight and left with trying to figure out the cheapest way to get home via land. I opted to ship the camera equipment from Nova Scotia to the US with heavy insurance. Hopefully it will arrive safely.
Discussion
6 repliesI flew from LHR to Vancouver on Saturday on Air Canada. Do bear in mind that flying to Canada, one is not subjected to all the rules a flight would have into the US. For example, luggage may be locked before checking in.
The incidents of this past week may change the way carry-on luggage will be allowed in the future. Passengers were only permitted their wallets, passports and documents, loose tissues, and medication required for the flight. Diapers and baby's milk were also permitted, but parents were asked to sample the milk at security. They provided clear plastic bags for such permitted articles. Nothing else was allowed, and definitely no liquids of any sort. At the security check, shoes, belts and coats/sweaters had to be placed in the tray for screening. As far as I could tell the metal detectors were switched off and body searches were mandatory.
I did have my camera and two lenses (100-400mm and 17-40mm) plus flash, flash bracket and chargers, as well as a laptop this trip. I placed them in a LowePro Computrekker AW bag which I inserted in my Club Glove Duffle Bag, wrapped quite a few articles of clothing around the bag, and checked that in. I did not travel with a tripod, but that could possibly have gone in my Club Glove Golf Travel bag. The luggage arrived safely, I am pleased to say. I am not sure I'd have felt comfortable if I had to check in a 500mm lens.
If you are planning to travel across the pond in either direction, I suggest you check in at least 4 hours before your flight. I was told all airports in the UK had the same rules. Hopefully, since they have downgraded the security risk from "critical" to "severe", they might ease matters further in the coming weeks.
Wow that's worrying... I'm going to fly Air Canada from Heathrow to Vancouver in September. Not sure how my Lowepro bag can protect the gear if I have to check it in, so I'm only hoping that they will ease up on the regulations by then.
The priority is always to be safe, so I'm all for strict security checks to prevent these terrorists from achieving their goal. But too much security sure makes flying a misery for a photographer, so I think I will stick to road trips after this vacation...
It can't, unless it's inside a hard case. Even then, it's not a sure thing. And so what if restrictions have eased when you start your trip--they can change again before you return home, leaving you the same photographer's nightmare discussed in an earlier thread. So you'd best have a hardsided case available. If you're allowed to carry on your camera equipment, then put your clothes in the hard case, along with a lightweight duffel or laundry bag. Then, if later you aren't allowed to take your equipment on board, the camera stuff goes in the hard case, while clothing, etc., goes in the duffel. You'd better prepare, because the authorities don't give a #&%@ what happens to your expensive and fragile property.
I will report back on how we photogs are being treated once I get home. Wish me luck!
Some nine years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting one of British Midland's top executives who informed me then that the company had spent $millions on transporting luggage to their rightful owners when accompanied baggage had not been put on the respective flights. With lost revenue in cancelled flights, duty free and other shops without much business, this is another 'near disaster'. And, now the Vancouver security workers are threatening strike!