Flying with camera gear

Hello, In March I'll be Flying to Florida for my cousin's wedding. I won't be the photographer but I'll be bringing my 5D Mark III along with an assortment of lens. Since I've never flown before with my camera gear I was wondering if there is anything I need to know about what to expect from the airlines. Like, do they have to look inside my camera bag, will my CF card be safe from the X-rays, etc.... I plan on bringing my camera bag (Tamrac Pro 12) as my carry on.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to be caught off guard at the airport.

Thanks again!!

Amount wise you should be fine as long as your carry on is within the maximum carry on limit dimensions. I hauled a IDM4, an 800mm f/5.6 and a 300mm f/2.8 in Patagonia's MCL bag over my shoulder from Ottawa to Calgary and no one at security or check in batted an eye. It fit the length requirements no problem; good thing it wasn't weighed I guess.

With CF cards and X-Rays there is no problem as far as I know.

Passman said:

Passman wrote:

Hello, In March I'll be Flying to Florida for my cousin's wedding. I won't be the photographer but I'll be bringing my 5D Mark III along with an assortment of lens. Since I've never flown before with my camera gear I was wondering if there is anything I need to know about what to expect from the airlines. Like, do they have to look inside my camera bag, will my CF card be safe from the X-rays, etc.... I plan on bringing my camera bag (Tamrac Pro 12) as my carry on.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to be caught off guard at the airport.

Thanks again!!

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dslrs are safe with airport security Xray. If you took an image while the camera being xrayed, that image might be funny.

Personally i always keep the camera gear in my hand luggage to avoid theft, loss or delays.

I always think that since a camera or a lense is metal, they might be prone for luggage checks, which increase the chance of delayed luggage. I have never experienced loosing luggage though, but ive had my luggage noticably opened because of my shaving machine.

Perhaps i'm just paranoid. If you bring several lenses having them all in hand luggage might be a a hazzle. If bringing in ordinary luggage, you should definetely wrap your lenses well to avoid damage from transport.

-Yngve

Watch out for the carry on bag weight limit. The size is also important but if they weight you bag and you're packing alot of lenses it will likely be overweight. Then all you need to do is stuff some lenses in your pockets, or wear a photovest and fill it.

I've never had my carry on weighed but I always try and make it look like it's featherweight ;o] while I'm checking in at the gate. Not easy to do when the thing weighs <8kg.

I use the Think Tank Urban Disguise 60 which is big enough to get two Canon FF DSLR bodies with 24-105 and 35L attached as well as room for two additional small lenses, lots of batteries and chargers, filters, etc.

I suggest that you look into Thnk Tanks Airport series.
I have an Airport Essential... geat backpack for travelling. Fits my 6D, some lenses and cspeedlights along with other accessories. Not sure if your 5D3 fots or if you need a bigger model.

I've carried photography equipment on well over 100 flights and I've only had my carry on thoroughly inspected about 3 times. Each time it was when I had all kinds of cords, wires, triggers and batteries packed in tight with other gear. I usually don't have much more than a camera and a couple of lenses.

Nothing to worry about x rays and scanning equipment... everything to worry when idiots handle your equipment. The key is to never give them a chance.

I've never had a carry on weighed but in general there is a 40 lb limit.

Never check anything you aren't willing to say goodbye forever to... i.e. never check your stuff unless it is just well insured stuff to you. Never check anything you need the day after you arrive.. or that day...

There is a potential pitfall to carry on: If: you have a roll aboard (or a bag of similar size: i.e. your packed camera bag) and if: you are on a small regional jet or turbo prop or other small aircraft the overhead bins may be too small to hold them and you may be REQUIRED to put a tag on it and leave it at the gate as you board with the DESTROYERS who load them (slam, toss, crush and abuse) on the plane. Even if you research the type of craft you are flying and find out they do have the proper size overhead bin (most medium to large jets) there is the risk it is a full flight and you are the last one boarding and all the overhead space is taken and you are forced to hand off your precious cargo. Pack with the appropriate cases and padding.

When I have a full load of stuff I make sure I have it in two nap sacks that will go under seats and/or smaller overhead bins. I've never had a problem.

Read over TSA's rules about what can go on the plane. There is one more rule that is not in print anywhere... it goes something like this: Any TSA agent at anytime can make up a rule on the spot to screw you over and their supervisor will back them up and there is no recourse for you other than to comply with a smile or get out of line and take a bus.

Richard

ESfishdoc said:

ESfishdoc wrote:

I've never had a carry on weighed but in general there is a 40 lb limit.







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I think 40 lb for carry on is a bit high , around 20 lbs, (10kg) is more the norm for cabin carry on.

James C. Murray said:

James C. Murray wrote:

James C. Murray said:

ESfishdoc wrote:

I've never had a carry on weighed but in general there is a 40 lb limit.

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I think 40 lb for carry on is a bit high , around 20 lbs, (10kg) is more the norm for cabin carry on.

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Cut and paste from US Air....
Size requirements
You're allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item. Personal items include a purse, briefcase or laptop bag.

• Up to 45 in/115 cm (14 x 9 x 22 in or 36 x 23 x 56 cm)
• Up to 40 lbs/18 kg

Carry-on rules for US Airways Express
Not sure if you’re on a US Airways Express flight? Please check your confirmation. If you're on a flight operated by Air Wisconsin, Colgan, Piedmont, PSA or Trans States, you’re allowed to carry on 2 items.

• 1 personal item (such as a purse or laptop) in the cabin and;
• 1 small carry-on bag. Your carry-on bag will be tagged, placed in the cargo bin and returned plane-side or in the jetway when you arrive.

TSA carry-on restrictions
For information on traveling with liquids, knitting needles or other items, please check with TSA.

• tsa.gov

I have flown many, many times with my gear and have never been asked to open it. I have a roller that I have put a large camera backpack in and it has compartments for bodies, lenses and flashes. I carry at least two bodies and several lenses including 100-400 and 28-300L. It's much easier to roll it than to carry it but I'm olded. FWIW I also carry a small carry-on with "other" stuff in it and the airlines allow two carryons. I pack my tripod in a bag that I check.

If you're on a small commuter plane you may be asked to check in the roller at the ramp and they put it in the luggage hold but you get it back immediately after you get off the plane. It doesn't go to baggage claim.

To summarize, no need to worry.

Kent

I travel a lot with Camera Gear too, and completely agree with you!

I put some of my gear in another case within my carry on so if I was ever called on weight I could split the load between two bags.

I also book seats towards the back of the plane so I can get on sooner and be assured of room in the overhead.

If I''m not seated at the back I watch very closely as they call the row numbers that can board and make sure I am among the first on when new sections open, again to get overhead space near me.

Also, I'm, probably over thinking this as from bush planes to commuter turboprops to big jets all over the world I have never had a problem hauling big lenses and cameras in carry on.

The only time I have had anyone go through my carry-on photo gear is on international flights, where it is not uncommon. Domestically, never. Also never had my carry-ons weighted.


I would never check my primary camera gear, although I might check some of the accessories that I can live without.. BTW,I once left my 7D battery charger in checked baggage on a trip to Italy; of course, they lost my luggage for five days. I couldn't find a replacement charger, so I had to live on two (fully-charged) 7D batteries. 3000 shots later, I was saying thank God (and Canon) for great, long-life batteries! Now, the charger always stays in the camera bag.

Main things to check are Carry on Luggage, I have been stung before where Check-In staff have been so unhelpful that I have ended up wearing half my camera kit!

Tamrac bags especially the Expedition series have very High dimensions so best to check.

Check Allowed Dimensions, Weight etc... Putting Camera's in the hold is Not an option for me!

If you have a large Camera Kit, a Camera list with serial number's can be helpful if you have to deal with customs especially in the U.S. or returning back to U.K.

I have never had problems with CF cards but I tend to back everything on a hardrive before returning.

Like any luggage security can check in your bag so remember nothing sharp scissors..etc.lens cleaning liquid... you would be surprised what you leave in camera bags! Also tape even a small roll is not allowed.

If you do have too much gear keep the expensive stuff, lenses, camera body etc as hand held, chargers, batteries light meter etc in the hold.

Have a Great Trip!

I fly internationally 8-10 times per year. I have used the Think Tank Airport International V2.0 (which is a tank) on more than 100 domestic and international flights, and is very handy for the plane side check often required in regional airlines. Some observations:

• Only airline I have ever had weigh the bag was Asiana, and I ended up talking them out of it as I was not going to check it but was way over the weight limit. Checked valuables don't often make it so I avoid that at all costs, I would never voluntarily check a lens, camera or flash. The issue is not packing so it's not broken, but theft. I would not trust the luggage handlers for anything valuable.
  
• I have never had a domestic airline weigh the carry-on, but of course it is always a gamble and depend on the fickle hand of fate.
• It depends on where you fly as to whether your gear gets checked. Some airports like Philly, will never check it, at least in my experience. Others like Frankfurt will check it about half the time. I get checked far less domestically, but it happens. But it's not really a big deal if they do. They just generally run a swab over it and look for explosives on the swab, or open bag to see what it is. So I would not worry about it at all, it only takes a few more minutes.
• Easiest is to really think about what you want to take and minimize it a bit to avoid issues.

Wow, Thank you everyone for all your great recommendations!!!!

I'm going to check with my airline as to it's requirements for carry on bags.

This forum ROXS!! :-O

All of the above seems correct.

I recently returned from a trip to New Zealand. Especially on domestic New Zealand flights they do enforce & occasionally weigh carry on luggage. As well the weight limits for carry on luggage are as low as 7 kg.

Acting as though the camera backpack was light was my main strategy.

Some airlines have restrictions on the number and power of lithium batteries you can carry. I know Cathay Pacific does, and I expect so do others. I would check this if you plan on carrying multiple batteries.

I have occasionally had problems at security where they refuse to allow me to carry my tripod as hand luggage. This is very much airport dependent. Catania in Sicily, for example, refuses to let tripods through security and they must be checked.

When I flew into (and from) Alaska, I had carry-on luggage weighed every time by Alaska Airlines. That included my backpack carrying camera, lenses, and laptop.

I would never put camera gear in checked in luggage, I had a flash stolen from me in august last year, so now I've learnt of lesson...