Allen, I just made a trip to the Pacific Northwest and in KC they hand searched my carry on photo backpack. On the return trip departing from Seattle they didn't even blink at the backpack. If you have any concerns about the spare batteries just put a small piece of tape on the electrical contacts on the batteries you carry on and you should breeze through.
Any time we've had our camera bags searched it has been in smaller airports. And probably not coincidentally, things were a little slow and the processional security agent was also a budding photo enthusiast with questions about our gear and lots to say about their own. Security reactions to tripods are so variable from place to place that we now check them in our baggage as a matter of course, however.
If you're travelling international you need to be aware of size and weight limits that are tighter than US rules. Heathrow is known for being a hassle so I went through superlight and packed as much as possible in checked luggage. When I went to Peru last year I never got a single question about my fully loaded backpack. Also keep in mind any liquids like lens cleaners need to be in sealed bags. I once had an allen wrench taken away from me in Seattle. I guess they though I'd be able to take the plane apart or poke someones eye out....
The best I've had to date was threatening to drop my drawers when told, after setting off the alarm, my medical card for the artificial hip "could have been printed by anybody." I was a tad cranky as our luggage had been lost, my wife was accused of trying to smuggle a bottle of shampoo in her hand bag and my tripod had to be segregated in the hold as a possible offencive weapon.
We are off to Newfoundland in a couple of weeks, I've made arrangements to rent what doesn't fit in my carry-on pack. It isn't the rules that trouble me but that every airport seems to have a different set. And as Hank notes, it is the small ones that are the worst.
I got charged an extra $80 for a 5 pound overweight checked bag recently. I had my hiking boots and tripod in it and a portable hard drive. They made me "gate check" my camera back pack at each plane change as the planes were totally full and even though my back pack would fit into the over head lockers they felt it was too heavy. Go figure. I have about decided that if I can't drive to a site I won't go as flying is getting next to impossible. Of course they lost my checked bag at one of the plane changes too! Really an unpleasant experience, along with $5.00 for a bottle of water at the airport while waiting for the 4 hour delayed departure I felt like they could just as well have pulled a "stick-up" instead of their usual extortion.
I got charged an extra $80 for a 5 pound overweight checked bag recently. I had my hiking boots and tripod in it and a portable hard drive. They made me "gate check" my camera back pack at each plane change as the planes were totally full and even though my back pack would fit into the over head lockers they felt it was too heavy. Go figure. I have about decided that if I can't drive to a site I won't go as flying is getting next to impossible. Of course they lost my checked bag at one of the plane changes too! Really an unpleasant experience, along with $5.00 for a bottle of water at the airport while waiting for the 4 hour delayed departure I felt like they could just as well have pulled a "stick-up" instead of their usual extortion.
Posted by Jim Sabiston on May 24, 2008 at 10:17 PM
My experience is similar to Hanks. I recently did a week-long backpack in Grand Canyon and packed a very trimmed down basic photo kit: 5D with basic lens and an extension tube and assorted filters, flash, etc. I also packed a G9 and TX1 with a minimum of 3 batteries for each camera. I carried ALL my camera related gear in my small carry-on duffle except my Gitzo tripod. The tripod and ALL my backpack gear were shipped out ahead of time via UPS as a precaution against lost luggage/gear. This was my first air flight since 9/11, so I was extra careful to review all the requirements.
The battery rules are aimed at the larger batteries used by professional level video cameras. At least two or three actual fires have occurred on aircraft that were traced to these batteries. The smaller ones we use are of little interest. That said, I keep mine in the recommended plastic clips. The TX1 batteries do not have clips available, so I put each in a dedicated plastic sandwich bag.
Airport security did a small double take on the x-ray machine at my load of electronics, but let everything thru without comment. My one hitch was my toiletries on the return flight. These were sent out in my backpack and missed the flight out. My backpacking toiletries kit meets all flight guidelines by default, as everything in in minimal containers. However, I use a nylon/mess carry pouch about the size of a small sandwich bag. I just tossed this into my small carry-on duffle without thinking. Security pulled the bag and my toiletries at the check-in. They let it go but reminded me (politely but firmly) that the toiletries are required to be in a small plastic zip-loc style sandwich bag.
Interesting to see Brent's link to Think Tank. Last month I went to Costa Rica with a Think Tank roller carry-on. Quality product. ... Packed my tripod in checked luggage and had no problem in ATL or SJO with the roller full of camera gear. Also got a couple of double takes at security, but no questions or inspections. ... Not sure if I packed cleaner fluid in plastic bag, but that's a good point.
My most recent flight was into Vegas to go to Death Valley about two weeks ago, and had no problems with my camera pack with all of my gear and extra batteries, minus tripod. I always keep my tripod in my checked bag for space and because I don't want any of the possible hassles.
I have flown into Mexico and Bermuda with my pack with no issues.
The small puddle jumpers might make you gate check your pack simply due to space issues.
Strange. I just flew Monday from MIA to DEN. Carried my tripod in its case, no problem, as usual.
Post 9/11 I flew twice per week for my job for about a year and a half, logging 170,000 miles in that time and well over 100,000 in a year. I think I added it up to 36 airports and 7 or 8 countries. I carried my monopod in my carry-on suitcase frequently. I kept my photo gear inside my backpack or travel tote. I always tried to keep my photo gear trimmed on these trips.
I will say that the smaller the airport, the more ridiculous the scrutiny. But all in all, I really never had any trouble with travel.
Still I'm glad I don't do it all the time anymore.
Discussion
16 repliesThank you.
Mike
We are off to Newfoundland in a couple of weeks, I've made arrangements to rent what doesn't fit in my carry-on pack. It isn't the rules that trouble me but that every airport seems to have a different set. And as Hank notes, it is the small ones that are the worst.
http://thinktankphoto.com/airport/
The battery rules are aimed at the larger batteries used by professional level video cameras. At least two or three actual fires have occurred on aircraft that were traced to these batteries. The smaller ones we use are of little interest. That said, I keep mine in the recommended plastic clips. The TX1 batteries do not have clips available, so I put each in a dedicated plastic sandwich bag.
Airport security did a small double take on the x-ray machine at my load of electronics, but let everything thru without comment. My one hitch was my toiletries on the return flight. These were sent out in my backpack and missed the flight out. My backpacking toiletries kit meets all flight guidelines by default, as everything in in minimal containers. However, I use a nylon/mess carry pouch about the size of a small sandwich bag. I just tossed this into my small carry-on duffle without thinking. Security pulled the bag and my toiletries at the check-in. They let it go but reminded me (politely but firmly) that the toiletries are required to be in a small plastic zip-loc style sandwich bag.
No worries other than that.
I have flown into Mexico and Bermuda with my pack with no issues.
The small puddle jumpers might make you gate check your pack simply due to space issues.
Post 9/11 I flew twice per week for my job for about a year and a half, logging 170,000 miles in that time and well over 100,000 in a year. I think I added it up to 36 airports and 7 or 8 countries. I carried my monopod in my carry-on suitcase frequently. I kept my photo gear inside my backpack or travel tote. I always tried to keep my photo gear trimmed on these trips.
I will say that the smaller the airport, the more ridiculous the scrutiny. But all in all, I really never had any trouble with travel.
Still I'm glad I don't do it all the time anymore.