Travelling with your camera & accessories

trishw78

Pre 9/11 I used to bring my camera and lens on board when i was flying. I haven't travelled with a slr in awhile. so I was wondering generally when people are flying either in europe or across the pond to our american friends has anyone had any problems with bringing it on board.

I'm going to Chicago in about 4 weeks time so i was wonder has anyone any advise. I'd rather leave the camera at home if I get to security and they tell me to check it in.

Fajitas!

I highly doubt you'll have a problem. Haven't gone to the states, but I've been to all parts of Europe with my camera gear as hand luggage, and never had a problem.

Worst that might happen is your gear getting checked for bombs.

kensutz

Brought mine with me on Friday to Bordeaux and no problems. Also can go along with your hand luggage so it can count as a small second bag.

Ideo

I dont think you should have any problems checking the camera in. I've been through dublin airport 3 times this year and they didn't blink once at it, including spare batteries, additional lens and a load of accessories. I'd definitely bring it, and would be very very surprised if they told you to check it in!

JohnK

kensutz wrote:

Brought mine with me on Friday to Bordeaux and no problems. Also can go along with your hand luggage so it can count as a small second bag.

Some security desks say a single bag for hand luggage so even if the second is small they'll still tell you piss off.

trishw78

I usually just stuff the camera bag it in my backpack 'cause I never have anything in it on the way over

Borderfox

Just back from Prague and no problems. I brought a 30d with 3 batteries a 30mm f1.4 and a 10-20, two flashguns and a partridge in a pear tree . Didnt even get a second look in security..

Fajitas!

You gotta be careful with your new toy though

SOL

I brought, through stanstead at the one time, a D50 with batery grip and 5 batteries, a 170-500mm sigma, an 80-200mm f2.8 nikon, a 100mm macro, a 24-70 2.8 sigma., a 18-55 kit lens, an off body flash, and a mini tripod, noone even looked at it. They don't care, end of story...

rymus

I brought a large bag (computrekker plus) full of gear from Cork to Amsterdam to Montreal to New York to Boston, back to Montreal, back to Amsterdam and back to Cork without any problems.

It was only given a very good check in Logan airport in Boston where they did the whole swabbing for chemicals routine on it.

challengemaster

dont worry about it. was in china recently, came back with a 400D + a few lenses, spare batteries, loads of memory cards + a bit more. nothing was said, and the 400D + lenses were brought over as hand luggage by my aunt from the US. so you're ok

Calina

In summary, here is my opinion from a certain amount of experience:

a) airlines and cabin luggage weight. For Aer Lingus, this is six kilos. If you have a load of gear, you may exceed this. My experience is that the check in agents in Paris can be fairly ratty about this. Otherwise, in Dublin, Lisbon, Faro and Rennes I have had no issues. For Ryanair, I believe it is ten kilos, and for KLM, it is, AFAIK, 13kg.

b) Security: they will ask about liquids. I don't have liquids in my camera bag, so that's generally alright. They may get ratty about monopods (Rennes did recently), but Dublin are generally okay as were Lisbon.

trishw78

just realise i don't have a neat camera bag. must check that other thread

CraggyIslander

When i went to canada a few months ago I had 'connecting' flights in Heathrow... and I checked with BA before I left on the 2 small bags thing as I had camera bag and laptop bag.

When I went to go thru security for my connecting flight in Heathrow they wouldnt let me through with the two bags. Had to go to the one shop in the terminal that sells bags to get one that would fit both bags and presto they let me through. Complete rip-off!

Connecting flights thru Amsterdam etc are no problem, its only in Heathrow they have a 1 bag rule... could rant forever about my dislike for the place

SOL

would a plastic bag not have done?

trishw78

I was only going to bring the camera and one lens and possible buy another lens over there but the jury is out on that idea at the moment.

thats good to hear i could just see myself ringing someone at home to either some and get the camera or hiding it the car in the car park for the week, and if i had to do that i might as well give it to the first dodgy looking person

CraggyIslander

they'd probly arrest me for walking around with a heavy black binbag slung over my shoulder

janmc

SOL wrote:

would a plastic bag not have done?

I did this in Stanstead without any hassle.

pansyflower

Flying with Ryanair recently I put a 10-20 in one pocket and a 70-300 in the other, thus circumventing both the weight limit [10kg] and the one bag rule.

Borderfox

Fred C. Dobbs wrote:

they'd probly arrest me for walking around with a heavy black binbag slung over my shoulder

leinsterman

trishw78 wrote:

Pre 9/11 I used to bring my camera and lens on board when i was flying. I haven't travelled with a slr in awhile. so I was wondering generally when people are flying either in europe or across the pond to our american friends has anyone had any problems with bringing it on board.

I'm going to Chicago in about 4 weeks time so i was wonder has anyone any advise. I'd rather leave the camera at home if I get to security and they tell me to check it in.

Did a trip to Montreal via Newark and stopping in New York a few weeks back ... had Valentia's 5d and a few lenses with me ... no problems at all ... I do advise carrying your camera gear in you hand luggage tho'

decsramble

I flew to Canada a few weeks ago as well and hit the same 1 bag limit in Heathrow. I had my camera/laptop backpack and a Dublin duty free bag containing a boxed present. Was not allowed to carry through 2 bags, but could take the box out of the duty free bag, put the plastic bag in my pocket and just carry the backpack and the box. Crazy. 2 bags not allowed, but 1 bag/1box was fine :-)

On the way back I got pulled over to one side for extra screening because of the camera gear. It seemed like an automatic thing, camera gear showed up on the x-ray so they had to swab it and then let me on my way when nothing showed up, took about a minute.

Dara Robinson

Flown over to Scotland a good few times since 9/11 and also spain and no problems at all. I always have it as a carry-on. Would not trust the airports throwers

rymus

leinsterman wrote:

I do advise carrying your camera gear in you hand luggage tho'

That's the most important point here. Woe unto anyone that allows their camera, however well packed, to take it's chances with the airport baggage handlers. I'd sooner check myself into the hold and give my camera bag my seat.

Stephen

The only place I get hassle is heathrow - again cos of the bull5hit bag limit. Nowhere's ever actually weighed my hand luggage. I got a stern talking to for actually taking a photograph in JFK airport though :eek:

Paulw

I travel to the US or Canada at least once a year. My camera gear is always carry on. I've had my bags opened and checked before (mostly it seems more curiosity from the security staff). I have a large enough camera bag (Lowepro CompuTrekker AW) and it's brilliant.

I would never check any lens or camera body in to my luggage. They're too precious and expensive.

Plan ahead - always important. Make sure you get everything needs in to your bag, and check everything else.

pansyflower

Stanstead's the only place where they were weighing anything that looked as if it might be over the limit.

AnCatDubh

i guess so long as you don't pack the semtex inside a lens you'll be just fine... ;o)

travelled a little throughout europe and i've never had a problem with cameras, video camcorders, portable dvd's, laptop computers, etc...

there is a thread running over the last couple of days on monopods and there appears to be some degree of inconsistency at airports in relation to these deadly weapons - it may be worth a lookup and read if you have such a thing.

Fajitas!

pansyflower wrote:

Stanstead's the only place where they were weighing anything that looked as if it might be over the limit.

****, you're not serious?

pansyflower

I'll add - the only place where I have been where they were ...etc.

Fajitas!

Balls. Flying out to there and returning next week with a full load of gear.

I'm hoping to get other transport back, but not liking this.

JMcL

pansyflower wrote:

Stanstead's the only place where they were weighing anything that looked as if it might be over the limit.

Fajitas! wrote:

Balls. Flying out to there and returning next week with a full load of gear.

I'm hoping to get other transport back, but not liking this.

I've heard that Ryanair check in staff get commission on extra/overweight baggage as an incentive to help swell Captain Mick's coffers, which certainly sounds plausible to me.

Stanstead has always been a PITA baggage wise, particularly unpleasant staff in general, and they won't let you through with 1g extra. I've had to redistribute stuff from my handbaggage at the desk and I wasn't trying to take the piss - I was over by certainly less than 1kg, and this was well prior to Ryanair whacking on extra charges for everything and anything.

I'd suggest investing in a coat with large pockets and lots of them Al!

Calina

pansyflower wrote:

Stanstead's the only place where they were weighing anything that looked as if it might be over the limit.

CDG in Paris is another place where they are prone to it.

Al, the FR cabin luggage allowance is relatively generous, in fairness. I think it's 10kg.

Padraig Mor

Fajitas! wrote:

Balls. Flying out to there and returning next week with a full load of gear.

I'm hoping to get other transport back, but not liking this.

Stansted do regularly check hand baggage weight etc - but not always. Seems to happen more at busier times. It is not weighed at check in but at the entrance to security, by an airport employee (not Ryanair etc). They will also STRICTLY enforce the one bag rule! You might get away with the bag being a small bit over the size allowance.....but not much!

edit: they probably won't weigh the bag if it lookes to be within 'legal' hand baggage size.

Fajitas!

Hmmm, I might have to resort to popping a lens in each pocket so.

The bag has a general look of heavy.

So what's the story with it if it is too heavy does anyone know? Do I have to pay more, or does it go underneath?

I don't mind paying more (too much) because I'll put it on expenses, but I'm defo not putting it underneath!

Padraig Mor

Fajitas! wrote:

Hmmm, I might have to resort to popping a lens in each pocket so.

The bag has a general look of heavy.

So what's the story with it if it is too heavy does anyone know? Do I have to pay more, or does it go underneath?

I don't mind paying more (too much) because I'll put it on expenses, but I'm defo not putting it underneath!

If it's too heavy, you will either have to remove stuff or check it in. If your bag looks at a quick glance to be under the physical size limits (45 linear inches or so) though they probably won't weigh it. TBH I reckon they use the weight mostly as an excuse to stop people taking oversize bags on board. Putting gear in your pockets should be no problem either.

rymus

I put a couple of heavy lenses in my pockets before going through weighing before.. works a charm

Course, then the people ask "is that a 70-200 f2.8L IS in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"...

Fajitas!

Hmmm. Right, I'll see what happens.

I'm hoping to be coming back with a new lens anyways. Blast.

trishw78

AnCatDubh wrote:

there is a thread running over the last couple of days on monopods and there appears to be some degree of inconsistency at airports in relation to these deadly weapons - it may be worth a lookup and read if you have such a thing.

I was reading that thread that's what got me thinking about my slr. I've packet my compact in with my main luggage so many times only to realise where it was when I was sitting in my watching the pre-flight safety stuff. But it's always suvived partly because it's in a hard cover camera case.

kensutz

Never had a problem in Stansted apart from setting off the explosives detection unit. Only encounter I had with regards to carry on luggage was at EMA where I measured the size of the bag I was bringing with me and checked the weight to ensure I could carry it on. They tried to persuade me it was too big until they measured the bag themselves and were quick to apologise.

trishw78

kensutz wrote:

Never had a problem in Stansted apart from setting off the explosives detection unit.

you what!!!

AnCatDubh

i did pass through o'hare chicago earlier in the year (april/may i think) and had a rather large musical instrument in a back pack type of arrangement - it was rectangular but far bigger than any camera bag i've ever seen and there was no problems at all. This thing on my back quite literally just about fit through the scanner device (don't worry i took it off my back first!) and just about fit into the middle overhead compartment on the transatlantic flight - Thats how big it was. There was no problem with this.

Ok, it's not a camera for sure but i don't think you'll have any mega carry on size issues with a bag / back pack of camera gear - At least not in Chicago. Now Dublin..... that may be a different story...

JMcL

While on the subject, a word of warning to anybody flying to France on Air France/Cityjet. They use tiny small plane on at least the Dublin/Paris route, but I think it's the same type of plane on all their routes. If a bag is anything bigger than a small backpack, they will ALWAYS take it from you and put it in the hold. You don't find out about this until you're at the plane door. It's not too bad on the way to CDG as the bags are waiting for you at the foot of the steps, but on the return leg it winds up getting sent to the baggage carousel, which given that it generally marked as "hand baggage" is Christmas come early for thieving scum. My wife had stuff stolen from her bag due to this a couple of years ago.

I've gotten on with a LowePro mini Trekker, but if you've got something on wheels, you can generally forget about it.

daedalus2097

Stansted are b***ards for the weighing of hand luggage, but they really seem to pick the mini-suitcases for weighing... You know the ones, with the wheels and the handle for dragging along. I've never been weighed with a rucksack-type bag, even when it was way over, and I go through there a lot.

On the other note, was in san Francisco a month or two ago, and had to take the camera out for separate screening at both ends, like what they do with laptops... I suppose they see a lot of mechanical and electronic parts and just wanna be sure.