Flying with gear

Just curious what people's experience has been flying with their gear? I've been planning a trip to Yellowstone for June next year, and I'll be flying to Jackson Hole with my gear and most likely a good amount of rental gear.

Somewhat paranoid at the prospect...

I flew down to Jersey, I packed my d300, Pentax 645, and lenses/flash in my Clik Elite Escape bag, without any problems. I kept my film stocks in a ziploc bag which I passed to the Security folks so that it wouldn't get x-rayed, and had 0 problems.

Check with your airline's policy on carry-on luggage, weight/size restrictions. If you bring a tripod, put that in your checked luggage.

I routinely fly with my Tamrac Exped 5586 backpack full of photog gear. I just unzip and open the top flap and send it through the x-ray machine and have never had any trouble. I agree with Axle on the tripod, I've never packed it with me yet, but would gate-check it if I did.

Have a buddy that works for TSA in Miami, and know quite a few pros that fly regularly on the eastern seaboard; all of them give the same advice: If it's important or expensive, carry it on, because there's better than a 50/50 chance it'll get stolen after it gets checked.

I just flew from Newark, NJ International Airport to Springfield, MOand back. I carried my equipment in my carry-on bag - no problem or questions. I would not "check" any camera equipment - I always carry it with me.

I have a friend who went from NJ to Fort Lauderdale with her equipment in her carry-on bag without a glitch.

Liz

I've always carried my stuff on, although I don't take much, just a body, a couple lenses, and this time my tripod. This time around I crammed my gear into my backpack and lashed my tripod to my carry on.

I'm most worried about if I rent a big lens... Canon 500mm f/4 or similar... although searching around online it seems folks have managed to put it in some of the carry on size backpacks that are out there.

I would check on insurance. You might consider having the rental company ship it to your hotel.

Phil

Cara, since you are flying into Jackson Hole, you might give DD Camera Corral a call and see if you can either rent the lens from them, or have the lens shipped to them for you to pick up. Their number is (307) 733-3831. I haven't stopped in their shop, but have heard good reviews about their service.

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Originally Posted by ksbryan0

Cara, since you are flying into Jackson Hole, you might give DD Camera Corral a call and see if you can either rent the lens from them, or have the lens shipped to them for you to pick up. Their number is (307) 733-3831. I haven't stopped in their shop, but have heard good reviews about their service.

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I second this. The DD CC people are great. That may be the way to go, when I used to fly I used to check my tripod, but everything else came on board with me. Even if it wouldn't fit in the overhead, I'd gate check it so it was with me getting on the plane and with me leaving the plane.

Depends on how much gear you bring. I travel a lot with my gear, and here's what I do:
I pack all of my cameras and laptop in a Tamrac camera/laptop backpack. It's got enough room for film/film cameras, flashes, extra lenses, etc. This is my only carry-on. Why? Because if the flight is full, the flight attendants get twitchy. I pack everything in one pack that will unquestionably fit under the seat in front of me. Seriously, forget the overhead - at this point, since airlines are charging for luggage, everyone is trying to get as much as possible in the overheads. If you get on last, you're out of luck, because people bring their barely-carry-on-size suitcases and force them into the overheads.

Then I take a lingerie bag (for laundry) and put all of my charger cords in it - camera battery (flash batteries go in backpack), laptop, curling iron, cell phone... and pack that in my checked baggage last. Some may say "don't do this!" but it takes a lot of weight off my shoulders. I make sure to charge everything before I leave and pack an extra battery in my carry-on "just in case" the checked baggage gets lost.

I rarely get searched.
On the rare occasion I'm on a puddle jumper and even the modest carry-on is questioned, I work with the staff and don't throw fits to eventually figure out how to keep my cameras with me on the plane.

I hope this helps!

Megan

Yes - I agree Liz. Always always always keep your cameras with you.

Like others have already said, I always carry it on the plane with me, except for the tripod. Check your airline for their carry on restrictions and it shouldn't be a problem. I flew United to South Africa a couple years ago and had no problem carrying on my LowePro Phototrekker backpack, and it's pretty good size. I'm sure it would hold a 500mm lens. Another option I have heard a lot of pros talk about is to wear a photo vest and "wear" your gear on the plane. This doesn't count as a carry on, and will free up some space in your carry on bag if you can't make everything fit.

I flew to New York a few years back and used my Lowepro Vertex 300, which is a good size backpack for my carry on. I didn't have any trouble fitting it under the seat in front of me and my gear was always with me. I also had 2 different rented lenses with me on this trip.

How much gear are you taking with you?

James

Everything really valuable goes with us.

Coat-of-many-pockets is a lifesaver. I can wear loads of stuff that way!
Spare laptop USB hard drive, business cards, pens, sharpies, glasses (3 different pairs), satnav, hat, suncream, insect repellent, E-P1, GH-1, all the memory cards.
Still room for a little more in there.

Angie's carry-on has 2x 1D bodies, 24-70 and the 1.4x and 2x extenders.
My carry-on is brian's hot tub (crumpler) has 300mm f/2.8, 24-70 and maybe the TS-E; with the laptop in the laptop holder.

Flashes go in checked luggage; along with monopod, tripod, all the power adapters, batteries, battery chargers, cable release, cleaning kit, extension tubes, 50mm, folding stool, laptop bag, laptop PSU, card reader, cables, mouse etc, 4/3 bag with lenses & cables - all in the suitcase.
So I have one suitcase which is 80% camera stuff and 20% empty space.

On the way home it's 20% Angie's shopping and 100% full :)

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Originally Posted by CaraRose

Just curious what people's experience has been flying with their gear? I've been planning a trip to Yellowstone for June next year, and I'll be flying to Jackson Hole with my gear and most likely a good amount of rental gear.

Somewhat paranoid at the prospect...

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CaraRose, I just recently returned from a trip that started in Western Canada and "ended" in Orlando, Florida. Spent two glorious weeks in Florida photographing birds and alligators and other nature refuge life - trip was great. The only downside was the return home where it was snowing and -15° Celsius (about 5° F) My experience...

I have a LowePro Rolling Computrekker AW and bought a Think Tank Urban Disguise 70 Pro V2. I carried all my camera equipment in these two bags onto the plane and off, going both ways with no hassle, in fact in Orlando on return, they never even checked the weight of these carry-ons - flying down, we were allowed two bags weighing not more than 22 lbs each and of course they must fit under the seat in front or in the overhead compartment. I took with me my gripped 5D, 16-35, 24-105, 100-400, 70-200, 100 mm macro, 1.4 converter, two flashes, extension tubes and a Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 tripod with a ball head. I removed the ballhead from the tripod and put it in my carry-on. The main tripod, I put in one of my checked bags that was locked with a TSA lock. The TSA folks opened it on the way back, but left a note indicating that they had done so and everything was intact. I also had a few more accessories in my carry-on - lenspen, better beamer, flash diffusers, extra CF cards, and some miscellaneous odds and bits. My equipment was distributed amongst the two carry-ons so that they both met the weight limit. I also made sure that when I arrived at Orlando, that we had a rental car with a trunk so everything could be locked away properly and I never left anything in our hotel room.

I tried a couple of Think Tank roller bags before settling on the Urban Disguise 70, but the rollers were just too big and probably, on an individual basis, would not have met the weight limit with all my equipment in it, thus I settled on the smaller shoulder bag to go with the LowePro that I already had.

Anyway, that is my experience. My only suggestion, or advice, if that is what it is, would be to ensure that you comply with any weight restrictions - the airlines can be picky if they want to be, but check with them before you go - they may simply charge you an overweight fee, if that is the case, or charge for an extra bag, in fact, since you are not going until next June, I would write to them and ask specifically about these sort of things and get their "regulations" or commitments in writing to take with you when you travel. If you have to check anything then you might want to look into the Pelican brand of heavy duty cases as checked luggage and then ensure that everything is locked with a TSA lock, otherwise if you use an ordinary padlock, they (TSA) have the authority to cut it off and then your equipment is unprotected - at least with a TSA lock, although they are little flimsy, they will tend to keep people from stealing from your bag. As well, make sure that everything is insured against any kind of loss or damage and that you can replace it easily (not sure how easy it would be in Jackson Hole :D )

Hope this helps a bit.

Regards,

WesternGuy