Questions on flying with camera equipment

InkedMarie said:

This may be a stupid question but do airlines make you open everything up? If they want me to open the camera bag, can I whisper that it’s camera gear & ask them to go elsewhere to look? I don’t want others to see what’s in the pack. Making something out of nothing?

Marie

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InkedMarie said:

BirdShooter7 said:

I fly with my camera gear quite frequently and if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s don’t put anything you care about in checked luggage.

I carry all of my photo gear in carry-on luggage either In a backpack or a small roller bag. I put my batteries in the cameras and any additional batteries I keep in a small pouch in the carry on bag. Make sure not to put anything with a lithium battery in your checked luggage. I once had an expensive flashlight and two expensive camera batteries confiscated from my checked bag shortly after the no lithium batteries in checked baggage policy went into effect. It cost me nearly $400.

In the past couple of years I’ve had some strange things disappear from my checked baggage. Earlier this year I had a small plug-in air compressor disappear and just a few days ago I had three fishing shirts disappear. Strangely enough, the shirts were stinky and dirty from having been worn out in the hot sun all week.. It seemed like a strange thing to take.

Make sure that whatever carry on bag you use meets the airline’s requirements for carry-on. You can usually find the measurements on the airline’s website. Also I try to make sure what type of airplane I will be flying on to make sure that the bag will fit. For example, a roller bag that will easily fit in the overhead bin of a 737 might well not fit under the seat or in the overhead bin of a small regional jet. I also try to see if I can pay extra to get priority boarding so I can be sure that there will be enough bin space for my camera gear. If you’re on one of the last boarding groups and the flight is fairly full, you might not have enough space for your bag and could be forced to gate-check it. This is also part of the reason that I try to keep all of my lithium batteries in a small bag inside of my carry-on. If for some reason I am required to gate check, I can take the bag out and keep it with me on the plane so the batteries don’t disappear.

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My son has flown this airline often; I bought the same suitcase as him but in girly colors lol. He doesn’t check this. I’m taking that plus my camera backpack. One in overhead, one under a seat.

Marie

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InkedMarie said:

Bill Ferris said:

If you're flying a small jet (e.g. CRJ-700), you'll need to gate check your luggage but will be allowed one "personal item" that can be stowed at your feet beneath the seat in front of you. The current TSA size limit for personal items is 17"x10"x9". Any small, over-the-shoulder camera bag will fit. Many small or medium-sized camera backpacks will also fit. For example, I have a Lowepro Flipside AW200 that fits comfortably on the floor beneath the seat in front of mine on regional jets.

If you're flying in a larger jet (Boeing 787, Airbus 320, or larger) you'll also be allowed to bring a carry-on piece of luggage. This is typically a suitcase and will be stored in the overhead compartment. The current TSA size limit for carry-ons is 22"x14"x9".

Batteries can be in the camera and the camera bag, provided the bag is with you as a personal item. The camera bag and your carry-on luggage will be scanned by TSA security. Be prepared to remove your shoes and belt, and place those along with a laptop and anything in your pockets into a gray tub to be scanned. You will also be scanned and may be pulled out of line at random for an individual security check.

If you arrive at the airport about 2-hours ahead of your scheduled flight, you should have time to get through security and then to the gate before boarding starts. Which airline are you flying? You may be able to download and install an airline app on your phone that allows you to check-in from home the day before the flight and received your digital boarding passes so you can go straight to security when you arrive at the airport.

Enjoy your trip.

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I’m sure I’ll be pulled out of the scan: I’ve had both hips & both knees replaced. I’m sure I’ll glow lol. I think it’s Delta. My son & his wife planned the trip. We paid for our bus tickets and plane tickets plus our food. The rest is their gift. I know the names of the two towns in Utah where our AirBnB’s are in, I know we’re going to Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Hoover Dam. Whatever else is a surprise. Oh my husband & son are going on a guided fishing trip. Anyway, I think it’s Delta but I haven’t paid much attention. We’re basically showing up!

Marie

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KENTGA said:

It's been several years since they've asked me to open a bag. You will go thru screening and so will your camera bag. You'll have to put it on the conveyer but you or your family can see it.

I only have one new knee but you tell them about your knees/hips as you go thru security and they will use a wand to check out your extremities.

Have a great trip. Don't know how far north you'll go in Utah but Capitol Reef isn't that far from Bryce. You'll love everything you get to see.

You don't mention your mobility but I'm 82 and over the last several years have done most of my photography from the car or with short walks.

At Bryce Canyon, I hope they can pull up next to the curb and you can take the short walk over to see the canyon.

My wife and I had our 50th anniversary in 2017 from Salt Lake to Phoenix and really enjoyed it. One word of advice--- if Zion Valley is on your list, you have to use the shuttle and after early in the AM, waiting on the shuttle is a hassle if it's Spring or Summer.

Kent

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Bill Ferris said:

InkedMarie said:

Bill Ferris said:

If you're flying a small jet (e.g. CRJ-700), you'll need to gate check your luggage but will be allowed one "personal item" that can be stowed at your feet beneath the seat in front of you. The current TSA size limit for personal items is 17"x10"x9". Any small, over-the-shoulder camera bag will fit. Many small or medium-sized camera backpacks will also fit. For example, I have a Lowepro Flipside AW200 that fits comfortably on the floor beneath the seat in front of mine on regional jets.

If you're flying in a larger jet (Boeing 787, Airbus 320, or larger) you'll also be allowed to bring a carry-on piece of luggage. This is typically a suitcase and will be stored in the overhead compartment. The current TSA size limit for carry-ons is 22"x14"x9".

Batteries can be in the camera and the camera bag, provided the bag is with you as a personal item. The camera bag and your carry-on luggage will be scanned by TSA security. Be prepared to remove your shoes and belt, and place those along with a laptop and anything in your pockets into a gray tub to be scanned. You will also be scanned and may be pulled out of line at random for an individual security check.

If you arrive at the airport about 2-hours ahead of your scheduled flight, you should have time to get through security and then to the gate before boarding starts. Which airline are you flying? You may be able to download and install an airline app on your phone that allows you to check-in from home the day before the flight and received your digital boarding passes so you can go straight to security when you arrive at the airport.

Enjoy your trip.

Click to expand...

I’m sure I’ll be pulled out of the scan: I’ve had both hips & both knees replaced. I’m sure I’ll glow lol. I think it’s Delta. My son & his wife planned the trip. We paid for our bus tickets and plane tickets plus our food. The rest is their gift. I know the names of the two towns in Utah where our AirBnB’s are in, I know we’re going to Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Hoover Dam. Whatever else is a surprise. Oh my husband & son are going on a guided fishing trip. Anyway, I think it’s Delta but I haven’t paid much attention. We’re basically showing up!

Marie

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If you're flying Delta's non-stop from Boston to Las Vegas, it looks like you'll be on an Airbus 321Neo. You should have the option to bring a carry-on for the overhead bin and a personal item (your camera bag) for beneath the seat in front of yours.

Enjoy your time in the Southwest.

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MJ_Photo38 said:

whatever configuration is good, I would have the battery in and the lens on, if you're travelling with only one lens.

The most importnat thing to me : put your camera in your carry on. Don't put it in your larger pack that'll go in the hold, this is where there is the most chances of something happeing to your gear and I would never travel with cameras this way.

Camera gear stays with me when flying, or camera gear don't come at all.

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InkedMarie said:

Bill Ferris said:

InkedMarie said:

Bill Ferris said:

If you're flying a small jet (e.g. CRJ-700), you'll need to gate check your luggage but will be allowed one "personal item" that can be stowed at your feet beneath the seat in front of you. The current TSA size limit for personal items is 17"x10"x9". Any small, over-the-shoulder camera bag will fit. Many small or medium-sized camera backpacks will also fit. For example, I have a Lowepro Flipside AW200 that fits comfortably on the floor beneath the seat in front of mine on regional jets.

If you're flying in a larger jet (Boeing 787, Airbus 320, or larger) you'll also be allowed to bring a carry-on piece of luggage. This is typically a suitcase and will be stored in the overhead compartment. The current TSA size limit for carry-ons is 22"x14"x9".

Batteries can be in the camera and the camera bag, provided the bag is with you as a personal item. The camera bag and your carry-on luggage will be scanned by TSA security. Be prepared to remove your shoes and belt, and place those along with a laptop and anything in your pockets into a gray tub to be scanned. You will also be scanned and may be pulled out of line at random for an individual security check.

If you arrive at the airport about 2-hours ahead of your scheduled flight, you should have time to get through security and then to the gate before boarding starts. Which airline are you flying? You may be able to download and install an airline app on your phone that allows you to check-in from home the day before the flight and received your digital boarding passes so you can go straight to security when you arrive at the airport.

Enjoy your trip.

Click to expand...

I’m sure I’ll be pulled out of the scan: I’ve had both hips & both knees replaced. I’m sure I’ll glow lol. I think it’s Delta. My son & his wife planned the trip. We paid for our bus tickets and plane tickets plus our food. The rest is their gift. I know the names of the two towns in Utah where our AirBnB’s are in, I know we’re going to Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Hoover Dam. Whatever else is a surprise. Oh my husband & son are going on a guided fishing trip. Anyway, I think it’s Delta but I haven’t paid much attention. We’re basically showing up!

Marie

Click to expand...

If you're flying Delta's non-stop from Boston to Las Vegas, it looks like you'll be on an Airbus 321Neo. You should have the option to bring a carry-on for the overhead bin and a personal item (your camera bag) for beneath the seat in front of yours.

Enjoy your time in the Southwest.

Click to expand...

That’s what my son said about bags.

Our flight is DL2010….thats all I know.

Marie

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KENTGA said:

Marie, I've mentioned our 50th anniversary trip in 2017. I/we had been to Moab area in eastern Utah and to SW area of Utah on previous trips, but we had not been to Capitol Reef. It was a pleasant surprise and the rocks, etc. looked a little different there that other places in Utah. WE spent the afternoon at Capitol and then the following morning. We drove on the roads around and into the park. Don't be afraid to drive on the "good" dirt roads into the park.

Utah Hwy 12 from around Torrey to Bryce is a nice drive.

Kent

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greenmanphoto said:

Marie,

If it's not a long, heavy lens, then leaving it attached is fine. All long, heavy lenses should NOT be attached to the camera during the trip. Keeping the battery inside the camera is also fine. DO NOT put the camera into anything being checked, though!

You don't say where you are, or where you're traveling to, so a couple of thoughts on this.

Check with the airlines about where you're traveling and any restrictions they have. For example, in many places overseas from the States, there's a limit of 7kg per carry-on bag, if not per person. That means that a larger, heavier camera bag with a couple of bodies, several lenses, perhaps a laptop for processing the images, gets to be pretty heavy and might be over the limit. I was afraid I'd have this very issue on a recent trip to Australia where they have the 7kg limit for domestic flights (getting to and from was not a problem). As it turns out, they didn't even ask to weigh it when we checked our other bags! I KNOW from past experiences that my backpack weighs FAR more than 7kg, too!

If you HAVE to check your bag, ask for a gate check, where they take it at the end of the ramp to the plane, and then return it to you once you deplane at your destination in the same place.

Lithium-ion batteries are NOT allowed in checked luggage: they HAVE to be in carry-on luggage or on your person.

Hope this helps! Feel free to ask me any questions and I'll try my best to answer them.

Sam

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InkedMarie said:

KENTGA said:

It's been several years since they've asked me to open a bag. You will go thru screening and so will your camera bag. You'll have to put it on the conveyer but you or your family can see it.

I only have one new knee but you tell them about your knees/hips as you go thru security and they will use a wand to check out your extremities.

Have a great trip. Don't know how far north you'll go in Utah but Capitol Reef isn't that far from Bryce. You'll love everything you get to see.

You don't mention your mobility but I'm 82 and over the last several years have done most of my photography from the car or with short walks.

At Bryce Canyon, I hope they can pull up next to the curb and you can take the short walk over to see the canyon.

My wife and I had our 50th anniversary in 2017 from Salt Lake to Phoenix and really enjoyed it. One word of advice--- if Zion Valley is on your list, you have to use the shuttle and after early in the AM, waiting on the shuttle is a hassle if it's Spring or Summer.

Kent

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We leave this Saturday. We are staying in Kanab Utah first. Stopping at Hoover Dam & Joshua Tree Scenic parkway on the way from Vegas to Kanab. Next day is the North Rim of the GC. Next is Bryce.
Tuesday we leave Kanab for Kamas Utah. In our way, we go to Zion Park.
Wednesday is the guys guided fly fishing trip and my DIL & I are shopping.
Thursday is free…..guys will probably fish

Friday we leave Kamas, go to Antelope Island on Great Salt Lake. We spend the day there and our flight leaves just before midnight.

I’ll mention Capitol Reef to my son; thanks! He knows we will stop when Mom says “stop”! He has a Canon DSLR & will take his share of pictures too!

I’m still mobile, thankfully. My problem is my breathing. Even when I was 30 & fit, I could never keep up. My family knows this. I wish I could hike with them but I can’t.

Marie

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InkedMarie said:

We’re leaving for our first vacation in over 20yrs on Saturday. I flew once with a film camera & one lens; I’m sure a lot has changed.

Do I pack my camera backpack with a lens attached to the camera? Battery: in or out?

TIA,

Marie

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BirdShooter7 said:

KENTGA said:

Just for the heck of it, I'd consider removing the battery. I never do but that's another story.

The most important thing is for you to have an enjoyable trip.

Kent

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Most of the time I’ve never had anyone make any comments about my batteries though I did once have an incident at the Beijing airport. I had all my batteries in a ziplock baggie with no terminal covers on them. They said that I couldn’t travel with them in that way and wanted the terminals covered to prevent an accidental short.

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BirdShooter7 said:

I put as many as I could in the cameras which they were ok with. The rest of the batteries they wanted to take away. I finally suggested putting each battery in a separate plastic baggie and they reluctantly let me through with them that way. I think this sort of thing is very rare but it never hurts to be prepared. After the Samsung phones that caught fire I’ve found the airlines have been sort of funny about lithium batteries.

I also always travel with the lenses detached from the bodies as I had an incident many years ago where I had a telephoto lens (100-400nm) attached to a camera body in my camera bag and the bag got knocked off a table and the impact damaged the lens mount so I would intermittently get an error message saying the camera couldn’t communicate with the lens.

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