Travelling with Photography Gear

ronanc15

Hi all,

Im travelling to Liverpool next week and obviously would like to bring my camera gear with me, I don't have a bag checked in, only hand luggage so Im assuming by camera and lenses would be classed as an extra bag and one would need to be checked in....is that correct?

What do others do in these cases? Just bite the bullet and check one in?

Its Aer Lingus by the way not RyanAir!

Thanks
Ronan

dazftw

It won't have to be checked in. Your allowed one extra piece like a laptop or something with most companies. That's along with your carry-on.

It all really depends on your camera bag. How big is it? Are you actually bringing a bag or could you fit the camera into your carry on?

calnand

I traveled with aer lingus back in January to Amsterdam and I brought my carry on bag and my camera bag(lowepro adventura 170),
and had no problem with the airline staff, except in amsterdam where they said it should be put all in the one carry on bag,
but they didnt stop me. It's also safer to carry your camera on board with you as the xray isnt as powerfull as the checked
baggage one. so if you are forced to check one in
keep the camera with you.

hope this helps

Gregor Samsa

I wouldnt ever check in a bag with my camera and lenses. Can you imagine how much shunting, tumbling, throwing, sliding, crushing and stacking a bag goes through between you handing it in at the check-in desk, and picking it up on the carrousel? Maybe if you had it in a really sturdy flight case or something (and fully insured), checking in would be ok.

My gear always comes with me on the plane, and if that means not bringing a book, or clothes, or baby food for my child, then so be it. But fortunately for me (and my child), I've always had a bit of room for extra stuff. Can you not check in the other bag, and bring the camera stuff with you?

By the way, Aer Lingus do usually allow you to bring small items like a camera or handbag as an extra along with your hand luggage bag, but I don't know if this would extend to an SLR.

ronanc15

Don't worry, had no intention of checking in my camera gear lol. My bag is nowhere near sturdy enough for that level of abuse!

Its a tamrac expedition 3 so its pretty small. Easily half the size of a normal backpack/school bag!

Not sure if I can fit it into the carry-on just yet. Trying to plan ahead in case I cant.

P.s the body itself is only a 500d so it's not particularly big.

ronanc15

Just remembered it is Ryanair Im going with, AerLingus is a different flight later in the summer

calnand

you'd definitely need to pack it all in one bag then, otherwise its a €50 fee or they refuse it. or very generous of them they allow you to book a full seat for your extra carry on items.

Effects

Cut down to one lens for a start.

ronanc15

Effects wrote: »

Cut down to one lens for a start.

Ya im just gonna bring the body and my 15-85.

I'll see how I am spacewise. If it's too tight I'll just check in a bag and bring the camera gear on with me. Im sure theres no fear that herself will have plenty of shopping coming back to fill it!! :pac:

Effects

You could also bring body and lens caps and split it up getting on the place. Camera and lens would fit in two decent size pockets.