Be nice to the TSA people at the airport.

[MJS]

I was on my way to Atlanta 2 weekends ago with some of my students and went through MIA. One of the LOVELY, overworked TSA screeners decided to check out myTamrac backback out of the carry on scanner. As I was saying "please be careful with the bag, my years savings are tied up in there" I saw my bag drop 12"and then heard the clunk. I got a nice apology and a quick search after a system check, unfortuanately one of my favorite zooms took a shot that I didn't pick up on till later. The 18-70 Nikon lens was on the D70 and my 28-70/2.8 was in the bag next to it. The 28-70 is no longer capable of zooming without holding it with some outward pressure. The gears are all out of whack. Unfortunately I didn't find that out till this past weekend.

The moral of the story is simple, beware of overworked TSA workers during the busy holiday season and keep a really good eye on your toys. The lens is on its way out for a factory touch up. I sure hope its home in time for Christmas.

[Steph_B]

Another moral to this story is that the Tamrac bag does not seem to hold to its promise of safely carrying the gear . I mean 12 inch is what... 40 cm? That's nothing man!

I am SO sorry to hear this. I think I would have gotten sick to my stomach if I had a lens such as the 28-70 messed up this way. I am planning a trip to Europe next month. I think I will bublle wrap everything!

You have my best wishes concerning the prompt return of your gear in top notch condition. I trully feel for you.

Cheers,

Steph.

[tijean]

Well, I know what to get you for Christmas this year:

VANGUARD VGC-300W Large Photo/Video Hard Case with Wheels and Retractable Handle

I know I am getting one (maybe not of that size though) before I step on a plane again. Though the hard shell suitcase of my sister's that loaders managed to crack like a big walnut tells me that I should still get something light enough to carry on.

[opus]

Steph, when and where are you going next month? I'm going to be in London in early January.

[paulnj]

I get my cameras pulled aside EVERY TIME I BOURD A PLANE! One lens even came up as explosives last time The whole area was cleared and we discussed developer as the possible culprit? hahaha.... I had the lens stored with my handgun before loading my gear for vacation... OOOPS! But lowepro protects my gear

That really is beat about your gear though!

Word to those traveling.... LONG lenses(over 5 inches) attached to cameras get stopped in newark NJ, atlanta GA, houston TX, phoenix AZ. fort myers FL...and I bet most others too. So give yourself 5 minutes of explosives testing time and ALWAYS mount a filter because they wipe the front elements roughly.

[tijean]

Don't feel bad Paul, I get pulled aside everytime. Last time I flew from Sacramento to Baltimore (by way of Minneapolis) - 4 days prior to 9/11/2001 - I was searched pretty thoroughly in Minneapolis, and I was carrying a bag with only clothes and a small camera body with a 35-80 on it. They do not have a smoking room (I would rather go outside anyway, if only for the sake of the poor sap next to me on the second leg of the trip) so I had to go outside and back in through security. Not sure if this was what did it, but my bag, clothes, camera, everything was wiped for, well, I'm not really sure if it was a check for drugs or explosives, but I am now certain that my unmentionables have not come in contact withwhatever illegal substance they were checking for. It is a good thing to know.

Nothing more suspecious than a 19 year old girl with a Strawberry Shortcake bag traveling alone, I guess.

[paulnj]

all I want to know is..... did you wear them after they swabbed them???

They do not check stawberry shortcake for drugs by wiping her unmentionables, but do like to check electronics since they make a good place to hide a bomb so it seems.A bomb doesn't need much room if made properly.. but what do I know ;)

I don't feel bad at all, I travel with 3-5 camera bodies plus the accessaries, 40+ rolls of film, 10 or so lenses, spotting scope, 2 pairs of binoculars.... ALL as my carryon(2 bags, 60+ lbs) it does tend to look ODD to the screeners. My brother gets stopped too though, he carries my f100/80-200 in a TLZ PRO AW inside his carry on.

BTW Atlanta has a smoking room and a GREAT bar in it's terminals. My future flights west will all go through Atlanta so I can get my 2 drinks and 2 smokes

[opus]

I always travel with my camera and lenses in my tamrac modular bags -- bags the shape of each item and you can attach them together by strap/velcro/snap. I usually throw the whole attached thing into my backpack with my laptop, video camera, iPod, CD player, etc. They've never pulled me aside for anything they saw in the bag.

They *did*, however, mark my ticket with an "S" (for Security check) when they printed it, the one time I traveled to Orlando when I:

1) bought the ticket the night before,
2) traveled alone, and
3) had no checked baggage.

I guess those factors add up to a security risk. I didn't mind, and they didn't even pull my camera equip out of the bag, they just swiped it with their explosives wand.


HOWEVER, I didn't have my long lens then. I wonder what they'll do when I travel to London? Thanks for the warning about putting the filter on!

[katt]

I had some film get tagged as having some chemicals found on 'em that are typically in explosives. they are also found in fertalizer so if the film had come into contact with any type of park or grass it could have 'caught' the chemical from that.

I don't get searched very much from LAX to SEA-TAC. I always take my gear as carry on. As i'm sure most here do as well.

Just a little fyi. they do like to scan film though, i have 'em check 800 and above.

[carney2]

A recent evening news item highlighted the fact that the people who are supposed to be screening the airport security screeners are not doing their jobs. Apparently a (higher than we might like) number of them have criminal records, and theft at the screening points has become a problem. Some of the thefts are done right out in the open - in full view of passengers and security cameras.

The moral of this story is that you must not look away from your toys for even a second and don't let the screeneer get his/her body between you and your possessions while the search is being performed.