Camera gear onboard aircraft
Discussion
Planning a trip abroad at present and finally narrowed down what gear I want. Reading the cabin baggage regs, I'm just inside the size limit with a Lowepro 300 bag and just within the weight limit (7kgs). The airline only allows 2 spare Li-ion batteries which is okay but one thing I can't find info on is filters, specifically the Lee glass type. Anyone have any recent experience taking these on board? Any issues at check in etc?
The only thing I try and leave in my checked bags is my tripod, the rest of my gear always gets carried on, bodies, lenses, filters, batteries, the lot. Often looked at but never an issue, had a real good chat with customs in Turin about my gps logger, he was more intrigued than concerned. No problem at all.
Never had a problem with anything photographic, the size of the 400 f2.8 in a Scruffy 'TOO' Small rucksack always gets a comment after they check the contents of the rucksack out - though I do leave lens cleaning spray in the checked luggage, got caught out once when I left my swiss army knife in the rucksack where it normally lives, and had to post it back home, but that was my fault
that's your allowance gone and then some... I'll be making do with my 70-200mm + TCs I'm flying with Emirates but they link to the list of 'dangerous items' per international civil aviation regs: http://www.emirates.com/uk/english/images/DGR%20Ta...
About the 9th item down the list.
About the 9th item down the list.
2slo said:
I'm flying with Emirates but they link to the list of 'dangerous items' per international civil aviation regs: http://www.emirates.com/uk/english/images/DGR%20Ta...
About the 9th item down the list.
Tks for info.About the 9th item down the list.
As long as your bag is within the permitted size then the airline won't bat an eyelid. I take a load of kit including filters, a laptop and whatever else and they don't even ask to weigh it. They see it on my back and wave me through. Security don't seem to mind either as it always goes through the x-ray machine without a second thought.
Be careful when stowing it in the overhead locker, on my last flight I had some idiot try to force his case into the already full locker. He seemed to think that if he just kept smashing his Samsonite case into my camera bag it would eventually fit.
Be careful when stowing it in the overhead locker, on my last flight I had some idiot try to force his case into the already full locker. He seemed to think that if he just kept smashing his Samsonite case into my camera bag it would eventually fit.
I fly very regular all over the world (40+ flights last year alone), always have two laptops, cameras, spare batteries etc with me in my hand luggage...never had an issue except for the 6 months or so after 9/11 where cabin luggage was pretty much non-existent (I had to check my pelican case full of camera gear en route to Monza).
Had 2 sets of jewellers screwdrivers lifted by security at Gatwick last year after I absent-mindedly left them in my camera bag, extra frustrating as I'd bought one set sepecifically for the trip 
Also had a 5D2 dusted for drugs.
Was aware of the battery rule so always stick spares in hold baggage.
Have had to be creative with where I stick a 70-200/100-400 (ouch!) until after cabin baggage is weighed when flying with airlines/handlers who care about that sort of thing.
Also had a 5D2 dusted for drugs.Was aware of the battery rule so always stick spares in hold baggage.
Have had to be creative with where I stick a 70-200/100-400 (ouch!) until after cabin baggage is weighed when flying with airlines/handlers who care about that sort of thing.
It's worth reading up on the official restrictions in place and what the airline you're travelling on will let you carry because it can vary. There are different restrictions for small lithium batteries (mobile phone etc.) and "large" lithium batteries used in pro video kit.
Some of these batteries are not exactly cheap and you don't want some over-zealous security type confiscating them from you when you're trying to check in...
Some of these batteries are not exactly cheap and you don't want some over-zealous security type confiscating them from you when you're trying to check in...
Interesting responses, thanks. I agree it's worth keeping up to date with ever changing regs, whilst it's never happened to me, I've seen someone sent back from the departure gate to the check in with a huge bag he must have hidden when he handed over his cases. I wouldn't enjoy the flight knowing I might be collecting a bag of broken glass off the conveyor belt.
2slo said:
Interesting responses, thanks. I agree it's worth keeping up to date with ever changing regs, whilst it's never happened to me, I've seen someone sent back from the departure gate to the check in with a huge bag he must have hidden when he handed over his cases. I wouldn't enjoy the flight knowing I might be collecting a bag of broken glass off the conveyor belt.
If push comes to shove you can always fill your pockets, a photographer's or angler's vest is good insurance for that.2slo said:
Interesting responses, thanks. I agree it's worth keeping up to date with ever changing regs, whilst it's never happened to me, I've seen someone sent back from the departure gate to the check in with a huge bag he must have hidden when he handed over his cases. I wouldn't enjoy the flight knowing I might be collecting a bag of broken glass off the conveyor belt.
You need to try flying out of China, somehow the locals manage to smuggle huge cases all the way onto the plane, and then (1) can't lift it up into the overhead bin as it's bigger than them, (2) can't lift it up into the overhead bin as it weighs as much as their entire family combined, and (3) once they do find 20 people to help them lift it up to the overhead bin there's no way it's going to fit anwyay......but, my 2 personal favourites I've personally witnessed are people who take a phone call just after the plane reaches cruise altitude, and the crazies who will unbuckle as soon as the back wheels touch down, and already get up, inevitably leaving them lying on the floor 5 seconds later when the anchor gets dropped
baz7175 said:
You need to try flying out of China, somehow the locals manage to smuggle huge cases all the way onto the plane, and then (1) can't lift it up into the overhead bin as it's bigger than them, (2) can't lift it up into the overhead bin as it weighs as much as their entire family combined, and (3) once they do find 20 people to help them lift it up to the overhead bin there's no way it's going to fit anwyay...
...but, my 2 personal favourites I've personally witnessed are people who take a phone call just after the plane reaches cruise altitude, and the crazies who will unbuckle as soon as the back wheels touch down, and already get up, inevitably leaving them lying on the floor 5 seconds later when the anchor gets dropped
Lol, yes I was on an internal flight from Beijing to Chengde some years ago and saw similar, different country different standards I suppose. As for annoying people on flights, at the top of my list are the latecomers who hold up the takeoff then instead of quietly sitting down with their bag in front of them, they piss about opening every overhead locker around them on a packed fight looking for non existent space. I watched this scenario on a flight from London to Ncl recently, I thought the bloke was going to have a heart attack judging by the colour his face had turned....but, my 2 personal favourites I've personally witnessed are people who take a phone call just after the plane reaches cruise altitude, and the crazies who will unbuckle as soon as the back wheels touch down, and already get up, inevitably leaving them lying on the floor 5 seconds later when the anchor gets dropped
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