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Camera on Commercial Jetliner??

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Chaplain Mark

Chaplain Mark

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It looks as though I will be spending a full week in Maine in May, and rumor has it, Maine is a very scenic state.

I would like to take my camera, but it has been a very long time since I have flown, and I am not up to date on what is verboten on a commercial aircraft, and what is okay to carry on. I plan on carrying on a duffel bag, no checked baggage.

One thing I don't want to experience is my lovely brand-new G3X being manhandled, tossed, jostled, punted or even lost, by airport security personnel, nor damaged by whatever new-fangled invasive intrusive technology them-thar TSA folks employ to scan passengers and baggage.

Anyone here have any tips for ensuring safe passage of a beloved camera?
 
Chaplain Mark said:
It looks as though I will be spending a full week in Maine in May, and rumor has it, Maine is a very scenic state.

I would like to take my camera, but it has been a very long time since I have flown, and I am not up to date on what is verboten on a commercial aircraft, and what is okay to carry on. I plan on carrying on a duffel bag, no checked baggage.
Click to expand...
Cameras are fine to bring in carry-on. I do it all the time.
Chaplain Mark said:
One thing I don't want to experience is my lovely brand-new G3X being manhandled, tossed, jostled, punted or even lost, by airport security personnel, nor damaged by whatever new-fangled invasive intrusive technology them-thar TSA folks employ to scan passengers and baggage.

Anyone here have any tips for ensuring safe passage of a beloved camera?

--
Click to expand...
I don't think you have anything to worry about. Just leave it in your bag and pass your bag through the X-Ray on the conveyor belt. The only thing you need to remove from your bag is your laptop, and you just set it in another bin and pass it through the X-ray, alone.
 
That sounds pretty simple...

Thanks!!
 
Keep lithium batteries in carry-on bag. Not in checked bags.
 
Yes, it's no problem. But don't be hurried and take care after your stuff goes thru the scanners to retrieve EVERYTHING you put in the plastic bins--shoes, belt, laptop, cellphone, liquids, watch, wallet, coins, etc. I remember the first time I dealt with TSA 4 years ago, it was all strange to me, I felt rushed and nervous, and would up forgetting to put the bag with all my liquids back in my carry-on.

Also, remember to leave at home anything you don't want confiscated by TSA. I always have a mini Swiss Army knife on my keychain, which I forgot to leave at home. The TSA confiscated it, deeming it's massive 1 1/4 inch blade to be a dangerous weapon. I could probably do more damage with the plastic knife they give you with the meal on the plane.


Curtis
 
Should you get a window seat, you may get some nice photos!

Randy
 
Definitely no problem taking your camera in your carry-on. Here's a link to the TSA website, which should be able to answer any questions you have and makes for mildly interesting reading:

Loading…

www.tsa.gov

Maine is a VERY scenic state. Please do not miss Acadia National Park if at all possible. Have a great trip!

Rudy
 
Rudy,

Glad you posted that TSA link. You're right, that was mildly interesting reading....darn, I'll have put my cattle prod in checked baggage, not carry-on..... ;)

Thanks for all the replies, fellows, I appreciate the advice...!!
 
Curtis,

I appreciate your advice. I got a bit nervous the last time I flew; had just gone through the scanner, but could not find the plastic bin with my stuff in it.

Was standing there for way too long with no shoes, belt, wallet, phone or keys, and getting more rattled for every 10 seconds I could not locate them, nor could I figure out which TSA agent to interrupt to ask for help....

Was not fun...!!!
 
In addition to my duffel style bag, I carry on a small briefcase style soft bag that I keep with me at my seat, stuck below the chair in front of me.

At security, instead of putting a whole bunch of stuff, (wallet, keys, cameras etc) into those plastic bins, I put everything into the briefcase style bag. It all goes through the scanner like that.

I like having the briefcase style soft bag so I can put in a bottle of water (purchased after passing through security) along with a magazine and some papers for work I am usually editing.

Before going through security, be sure to get everything out of your pockets. Once my five year old found a dime on the ground before I left for the airport and she insisted I take it with me. So I put in my pocket. I failed to get it out of my pocket at the airport, and that set off an alarm. So they asked me to check my pocket and I dug around and pulled out the dime. After that I got sent to a small room (unattended) and waited about thirty minutes before security got two people to come in and pat me down all over. Why finding a dime requires a full pat down eludes me but it seems to make sense to someone.
 
You're coming to y side of the country! Where in maine are you headed? it is a very beautiful state; enjoy your trip. I look forward to your photos1

Marie
 
Methinks my destination is Augusta??
 
Chaplain Mark said:
It looks as though I will be spending a full week in Maine in May, and rumor has it, Maine is a very scenic state.

I would like to take my camera, but it has been a very long time since I have flown, and I am not up to date on what is verboten on a commercial aircraft, and what is okay to carry on. I plan on carrying on a duffel bag, no checked baggage.

One thing I don't want to experience is my lovely brand-new G3X being manhandled, tossed, jostled, punted or even lost, by airport security personnel, nor damaged by whatever new-fangled invasive intrusive technology them-thar TSA folks employ to scan passengers and baggage.

Anyone here have any tips for ensuring safe passage of a beloved camera?

--
Thank You,
Chaplain Mark
Click to expand...
Whenever I fly with my gear it goes with me as carryon, period. Backpack or other padded bag, it's that easy. It will need to go through the airport scanner, but will do no more harm to it than the air you breathe :-) Same goes for memory cards.

Not sure about a tripod or monopod if you're bringing one; I've always packed either one in checked luggage, never a problem with that. Anything that can be considered a weapon (or is actually a weapon lol) will not be allowed. Even a small multi-tool with a blade.

If you have spare batteries - do be sure the contacts are covered up or put them in individual ziploc bags.


Mark
 
Mark B. said:
Whenever I fly with my gear it goes with me as carryon, period. Backpack or other padded bag, it's that easy. It will need to go through the airport scanner, but will do no more harm to it than the air you breathe :-) Same goes for memory cards.
Click to expand...
Member said:
Not sure about a tripod or monopod if you're bringing one; I've always packed either one in checked luggage, never a problem with that. Anything that can be considered a weapon (or is actually a weapon lol) will not be allowed. Even a small multi-tool with a blade.

If you have spare batteries - do be sure the contacts are covered up or put them in individual ziploc bags.

Mark
Click to expand...
I've never had a problem carrying a small tripod in my carry-on bag, though I have seen plenty of puzzled looks on the faces of the screeners as they try to determine what that item with all the tubes might be.

One consideration for photographers is that you may not carry any form of compressed gas on board or in checked luggage, so no canned air for dusting your gear after a day at the beach or whatever. A useful alternative is one of the rubber ball dusters that operate by squeezing with no compressed air can involved, or you can pick up a can when you arrive.
 
It would actually be worst if checking, and you answered "Yes" to the question: "Do you have any lithium batteries in the bag?"

If so, they'll make you take it out and carry it on, so their baggage-handling gorillas don't smash them and cause the plane to burn down.
 
Didn't "they" just recently ban all laptop computers on commercial flights?
 
panamforeman said:
Didn't "they" just recently ban all laptop computers on commercial flights?
Click to expand...
Only on flights from certain countries in the Middle East and Africa.
 
Never been stopped for a carry-on camera or laptop, that go unharmed through the conveyor scan. I got a full pat-down and bag check in public view of the whole rubber-necked passenger line-up by (an apologetic) security guy when my button-fly Levis set off the walk through scanner at John Wayne Airport a few years ago - careful what you wear.
 
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