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elfroggio

elfroggio

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I need recommendations/suggestions on how to pack my gear for going through airport security.

I have my cameras (x-pro2 & x-t10) + lenses in my carry-on backpack with my laptop. But what about the rest?
  • 2 small flashes (speedlights not strobes)
  • 12 batteries (panasonic eneloops)
  • 1 battery charger (maha = big)
  • alarm clock
Should these be in the carry on or in the checked luggage?
 
Alarm clock? That might be a problem ( don't you have a smart phone). Other than that, I leave all my camera gear in the camera case and let it pass thru the scan, taking the laptop or ipad out of course.
 
elfroggio said:
I need recommendations/suggestions on how to pack my gear for going through airport security.

I have my cameras (x-pro2 & x-t10) + lenses in my carry-on backpack with my laptop. But what about the rest?
  • 2 small flashes (speedlights not strobes)
  • 12 batteries (panasonic eneloops)
  • 1 battery charger (maha = big)
  • alarm clock
Should these be in the carry on or in the checked luggage?
Click to expand...
Well, with the possible exception of the alarm clock, I pack everything else in my carry on baggage, including the batteries. Airlines are getting a bit grumpy about Li-ion batteries in checked luggage, so IMHO, best to simply put them in your camera gear bag. Not sure why the flashes should be an issue either -- with or without batteries.

Bottom line: I prefer keeping anything that's camera related with me and not run the risk of missing part of my gear when it's most needed.

--
Jerry-Astro
Fujifilm X Forum Co-Mod
 
Last edited:
elfroggio said:
I need recommendations/suggestions on how to pack my gear for going through airport security.

I have my cameras (x-pro2 & x-t10) + lenses in my carry-on backpack with my laptop. But what about the rest?
  • 2 small flashes (speedlights not strobes)
  • 12 batteries (panasonic eneloops)
  • 1 battery charger (maha = big)
  • alarm clock
Should these be in the carry on or in the checked luggage?
Click to expand...
Here in the USA they seem to have tightened up. What follows below is all guesswork on my part, of course. My usual strategy is to breeze through the checkpoints without issues, since issues just slow everyone down.

Anything larger than a smartphone has to be out so the inspectors can see it. That would include the flashes. The batteries can look like bullets in the xray so they should be in the carry on also, and maybe even out. Camera and laptop in carry on also, of course (these will have to come out for inspection). Maybe even your lenses.

About lenses: would you be upset if they were in your checked bags and did not show up at your destination? I know I would.

I'm guessing you can put the battery charger (without batteries) and alarm clock (again without batteries) in checked baggage, but they should be packed away from each other. If the inspectors have any doubt, they will open your checked bags and take a closer look, and might not repack stuff the way you would like. And then something might fall out of your checked bag and get lost during this process.... Wrap each power cord either around the gadget or coiled by itself, instead of running them around the inside perimeter of the checked bag (can look like the wiring of a bomb).
 
Unfortunately, this is going to vary from country to country. My suggestion is to go to your nearest airport and ask them.

One thing to be aware of is that the airlines are universally not allowing li-ion batteries to be in checked baggage.
 
Charger and alarm clock in checked baggage. Everything else in carry-on.

Vic
 
I use the Think Tank Urban Approach 15 and will use Domke Lens wraps.

I pack empty camera bag or two in checked luggage and use this when i get to the destination. Essentially I like a rolling camera bag and I actually just bought the Think Tank Airport Advantage Plus, an amazing bag. I believe Think tank has grown so much they have a bag for every one and I like them for traveling and mobility plus pretty much the rest of what they offer.

I want a rolling bag as a first choice then a backpack. The purpose is to get from point A to B quickly and easily then I use my camera bag (s) as if my destination was my home town.
 
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As everyone else mentioned - Keep everything valuable with you on the plane, and in an overhead compartment that you can see. There was a story a while back of some other passenger taking a guy's gear.

The other recommendation I have is to pack in such a way that removing the gear from the bag is quick and simple. It seems this varies from country to country and even airport to airport in the U.S., but be prepared to take gear (all electronics larger than a phone) out of the bag for the scanner. In most cases I have found that taking out a closed padded insert was enough, but occasionally get a very strict security agent. I always feel bad for the poor people behind me when I have to unload a backpack and a half of gear.

As others have mentioned li batteries can not be stored in checked bags, and can sometimes be a good excuse to not check a carryon if you get on the plane late and the bins are full. Haven't had to try the excuse yet myself, but read about it somewhere else.
 
Tom Schum said:
elfroggio said:
I need recommendations/suggestions on how to pack my gear for going through airport security.

I have my cameras (x-pro2 & x-t10) + lenses in my carry-on backpack with my laptop. But what about the rest?
  • 2 small flashes (speedlights not strobes)
  • 12 batteries (panasonic eneloops)
  • 1 battery charger (maha = big)
  • alarm clock
Should these be in the carry on or in the checked luggage?
Click to expand...
Here in the USA they seem to have tightened up. What follows below is all guesswork on my part, of course. My usual strategy is to breeze through the checkpoints without issues, since issues just slow everyone down.

Anything larger than a smartphone has to be out so the inspectors can see it. That would include the flashes. The batteries can look like bullets in the xray so they should be in the carry on also, and maybe even out. Camera and laptop in carry on also, of course (these will have to come out for inspection). Maybe even your lenses.

About lenses: would you be upset if they were in your checked bags and did not show up at your destination? I know I would.

I'm guessing you can put the battery charger (without batteries) and alarm clock (again without batteries) in checked baggage, but they should be packed away from each other. If the inspectors have any doubt, they will open your checked bags and take a closer look, and might not repack stuff the way you would like. And then something might fall out of your checked bag and get lost during this process.... Wrap each power cord either around the gadget or coiled by itself, instead of running them around the inside perimeter of the checked bag (can look like the wiring of a bomb).
Click to expand...
 
Chris Dubea said:
Unfortunately, this is going to vary from country to country. My suggestion is to go to your nearest airport and ask them.

One thing to be aware of is that the airlines are universally not allowing li-ion batteries to be in checked baggage.
Click to expand...
 
Truman Prevatt said:
Tom Schum said:
elfroggio said:
I need recommendations/suggestions on how to pack my gear for going through airport security.

I have my cameras (x-pro2 & x-t10) + lenses in my carry-on backpack with my laptop. But what about the rest?
  • 2 small flashes (speedlights not strobes)
  • 12 batteries (panasonic eneloops)
  • 1 battery charger (maha = big)
  • alarm clock
Should these be in the carry on or in the checked luggage?
Click to expand...
Here in the USA they seem to have tightened up. What follows below is all guesswork on my part, of course. My usual strategy is to breeze through the checkpoints without issues, since issues just slow everyone down.

Anything larger than a smartphone has to be out so the inspectors can see it. That would include the flashes. The batteries can look like bullets in the xray so they should be in the carry on also, and maybe even out. Camera and laptop in carry on also, of course (these will have to come out for inspection). Maybe even your lenses.

About lenses: would you be upset if they were in your checked bags and did not show up at your destination? I know I would.

I'm guessing you can put the battery charger (without batteries) and alarm clock (again without batteries) in checked baggage, but they should be packed away from each other. If the inspectors have any doubt, they will open your checked bags and take a closer look, and might not repack stuff the way you would like. And then something might fall out of your checked bag and get lost during this process.... Wrap each power cord either around the gadget or coiled by itself, instead of running them around the inside perimeter of the checked bag (can look like the wiring of a bomb).

--
Tom Schum
Copper: Mankind's favorite electrical conductor
Click to expand...
If you travel a lot it is worth getting TSA Pre. It cost 85 bucks for 5 years and you have to pass a background check and get finger printed. It saves you a lot of nonsense at airport security. You get a special line which is always short and fast. Instead of having to take stuff - like laptops - out of a bag they just send them through packed. Instead of having to take off belt, shoes, wallet out, etc and going through the millimeter wave radar scanner, you simply what through the metal detector.
Click to expand...
Yep I suggest the same thing. I got my TSA Pre a few months ago and traveled from Burbank to Portland OR and I has zero problems. I had four flash guns with batteries, my Nikon D4/pentax K1. Some stuff I took in my backpack and the flash guns and chargers and other stuff inside the small luggage. Everything went thru the scanner and nobody opened or asked me anything. My kids carried one luggage and I carried another one and both were the right size to fit in the storage compartment inside the airplane. The only thing I wasn't carrying was a laptop and I think they do check laptops.
Truman Prevatt said:
In that case carry your cameras and batteries and alarm clock with you in you carry on. Li Ion batteries in checked baggage is a no no and they are looking for anything that looks like one when they Xray your checked baggage. They will open a checked bag if there seems to be something they need to look at and they will pull bags at random and open and inspect. However, they should leave you a flyer in the bag if they open it.

--
Truman
www.pbase.com/tprevatt
Click to expand...
 
One thing couples should bear in mind with Pre is you only need 1 Pre-Check application per reservation. In my case I have my GF make the reservations and I tag along through Pre. Has worked on 5 trips so far. USA domestic flights only. International is still the hit or miss Global Entry.
 
Tom Schum said:
Here in the USA they seem to have tightened up. What follows below is all guesswork on my part, of course. My usual strategy is to breeze through the checkpoints without issues, since issues just slow everyone down.

Anything larger than a smartphone has to be out so the inspectors can see it.
Click to expand...
That's doesn't sound right. You're suggesting you have to pull electronic camera gear out of the bag? I've never experienced that. Every one in a while after they run it through the typical scan they may choose to pull it aside and ask you to open the bag. But empty out your camera bag into plastic bins to go through the x-ray? Never experienced that.
Tom Schum said:
That would include the flashes. The batteries can look like bullets in the xray so they should be in the carry on also, and maybe even out.
Click to expand...
See above.
Tom Schum said:
Camera and laptop in carry on also, of course (these will have to come out for inspection). Maybe even your lenses.
Click to expand...
Never, ever had to pull a camera out for the x-ray.
 
Batdude said:
Truman Prevatt said:
Tom Schum said:
elfroggio said:
I need recommendations/suggestions on how to pack my gear for going through airport security.

I have my cameras (x-pro2 & x-t10) + lenses in my carry-on backpack with my laptop. But what about the rest?
  • 2 small flashes (speedlights not strobes)
  • 12 batteries (panasonic eneloops)
  • 1 battery charger (maha = big)
  • alarm clock
Should these be in the carry on or in the checked luggage?
Click to expand...
Here in the USA they seem to have tightened up. What follows below is all guesswork on my part, of course. My usual strategy is to breeze through the checkpoints without issues, since issues just slow everyone down.

Anything larger than a smartphone has to be out so the inspectors can see it. That would include the flashes. The batteries can look like bullets in the xray so they should be in the carry on also, and maybe even out. Camera and laptop in carry on also, of course (these will have to come out for inspection). Maybe even your lenses.

About lenses: would you be upset if they were in your checked bags and did not show up at your destination? I know I would.

I'm guessing you can put the battery charger (without batteries) and alarm clock (again without batteries) in checked baggage, but they should be packed away from each other. If the inspectors have any doubt, they will open your checked bags and take a closer look, and might not repack stuff the way you would like. And then something might fall out of your checked bag and get lost during this process.... Wrap each power cord either around the gadget or coiled by itself, instead of running them around the inside perimeter of the checked bag (can look like the wiring of a bomb).
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
michaeladawson said:
Tom Schum said:
Anything larger than a smartphone has to be out so the inspectors can see it.
Click to expand...
That's doesn't sound right. You're suggesting you have to pull electronic camera gear out of the bag? I've never experienced that. Every one in a while after they run it through the typical scan they may choose to pull it aside and ask you to open the bag. But empty out your camera bag into plastic bins to go through the x-ray? Never experienced that.
Click to expand...
I did experience this. They said all electronics larger than a cellphone have to be in the trays. This included my camera and laptop.

I was flying from California to Washington DC, or was it Washington DC to California, or both? This was in March.
 
1ab6b1c55c984e3b8833150a3994b66d.jpg

if this is your alarm clock i suggest leaving it a home
 
I would not separate the charger. I know of a few people who lost there checked bag and had no way to charge there batteries. Sometimes it’s not easy to replace.

I also recommend US citizens apply for TSA PRE. I was able to use United miles to pay for it!

Happy Travels. Mark Colvin
 
elfroggio said:
I need recommendations/suggestions on how to pack my gear for going through airport security.

I have my cameras (x-pro2 & x-t10) + lenses in my carry-on backpack with my laptop. But what about the rest?
  • 2 small flashes (speedlights not strobes)
  • 12 batteries (panasonic eneloops)
  • 1 battery charger (maha = big)
  • alarm clock
Should these be in the carry on or in the checked luggage?
Click to expand...
I would toss all of the items you list into your check-in.

Li-Ion batteries must be in your hand carry. Your NiMH batteries (e.g., eneloops) can go into your check-in.

I carry one battery charger in my carry-on, the rest can go in my check-in if needed to save room/weight. I've found those USB battery chargers work pretty good; so I hand carry one of those along with my 4-port USB AC charger and put one Fujifilm charger in my check in as a backup.

I have checked in my cheap strobes (Goddox) without problems. They aren't that fragile; especially if you put them in the middle of your clothes.
 
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