Has anybody tried flying with cameras lately? It's been several years; my last foray taught me:
(1) Expect to have to demolish whatever sort of padding you laboriously construct around your cameras in your carry-ons;
(2) Expect to have to argue and contend mightily for the privilege of demolishing your padding, &c, yourself, rather than having some goon strew your fragile things about;
(3) Expect to have no place provided to repack your stuff after strewing it about for "inspection;"
(2) If you pack your baggage in either a duffel bag or a backpack, or both, your chances of a "random" luggage search are 100 per cent; and
(3) They're generally pretty quick and "professional" about both procedures.
Anybody have an recent experiences with this stuff? Specifically PDX and IAH?
I've flown ten or fifteen times now with all my gear and have had no problems.
Sometimes, on shorter flights, they have no overhead storage and all of a sudden ask that you check everything. I have my Nature Trekker (which I've never had any trouble carrying on). If that happens, I'm usually wearing my photo vest so I'll hang my camera around my neck and load up my pockets with my lenses. I've only had to do that once though. Going through security hasn't been bad, they've been fine about it. They once stopped and asked me about the battery chargers but I've really had no problems to speak of.
Posted by Tim Goodspeed on April 19, 2006 at 3:23 PM
Eric, for my trip last month to California, I packed everything except my tripod into my photo backpack. The backpack has all the necessary padding built in. There was no need to open it for inspection. For the tripod however, I made the mistake of removing the head and placing it in another bag. The pistol grip shape of the head had them opening up that bag. But, no big deal. No delay, needed the time to put my shoes back on anyway. I carried on the photo backpack and tripod (less the head). I checked my other roller bag at the door to the plane.
Hope you have a good trip.
Posted by Randy Hanna on April 19, 2006 at 5:15 PM
I frequently travel to HI, CO, and WA DC as well as internationally. In all cases the pod (without head), and chargers go in the belly of the beast with my clothes and my photo vest(Vested Interest), unless I am wearing the vest. If I am not wearing the vest I am packed (hand carry) with a LowePro Treker and either a laptop or my 200-400 in its' Nikon case. In all cases I simply put my vest or Treker thru the xray machine as well as the 200-400. Everytime they want to look at the big lense however, they seldom dig into the Treker. On one travel event, I was notified that KLM was enacting a 33lb per person limit with no more than 15 of that for carryon. Yes they weighted it at the counter. I put my vest on and removed several things from my Treker, stuffed them into the vest and arrived at 14.89lbs (why I remember these numbers is beyond me). Once out of sight of the gate people, I put the body and two lenses back in the Treker. Did I slow the plane down? No. Did I break the rules? Yes. Has anything been broken or busted up because of this method? Yes: One leg on my fiber carbon pod was shattered (don't get graphite splinters - the docs dig'em out). I take resposibility for this and am now packing my fiber pod differently - no problems so far.
Posted by John Lehmkuhl on April 19, 2006 at 6:30 PM
I've had no issues with airlines and my photography gear. I traveled to Los Angles and then to Utah in January with a camera backpack and last week with a shoulder bag with 2 lenses and all my personal gear in the bag as well (cell phone, wallet, extra batteries and CF cards)..... no problems at all. No stops, no extra inspections.... nada.
Discussion
4 replies(1) Expect to have to demolish whatever sort of padding you laboriously construct around your cameras in your carry-ons;
(2) Expect to have to argue and contend mightily for the privilege of demolishing your padding, &c, yourself, rather than having some goon strew your fragile things about;
(3) Expect to have no place provided to repack your stuff after strewing it about for "inspection;"
(2) If you pack your baggage in either a duffel bag or a backpack, or both, your chances of a "random" luggage search are 100 per cent; and
(3) They're generally pretty quick and "professional" about both procedures.
Anybody have an recent experiences with this stuff? Specifically PDX and IAH?
Sometimes, on shorter flights, they have no overhead storage and all of a sudden ask that you check everything. I have my Nature Trekker (which I've never had any trouble carrying on). If that happens, I'm usually wearing my photo vest so I'll hang my camera around my neck and load up my pockets with my lenses. I've only had to do that once though. Going through security hasn't been bad, they've been fine about it. They once stopped and asked me about the battery chargers but I've really had no problems to speak of.
Hope you have a good trip.
You should be good to go.