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| With airlines charging for bag check-in and enforcing single-bag rules, efficiency in packing is even more important. Do you find that if you travel by air you tend to pack less camera gear than you'd like? |
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| Submitted by Editor, Dec 8 2009 |
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Please comment briefly on your airline travel camera packing strategy. |
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| Yes I usually cut down on lenses, flash etc. so I can travel without hassles.: 64% |
| I have an airline standard rolling backpack or pack that usually lets me take everything I want.: 33% |
| I have a secure, heavy-duty check-in container that allows me to check my cameras as luggage so I can take all the gear I need.: 1% |
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I haven't taken anything out of the bag and put it on th shelf yet. I also try to fly Southwest whenever possible. (no bag fees) |
| —David G |
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I usually choose one camera, 1 flash and 2 no more than 3 lenses |
| —Rob Jarvis |
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I travel with 2 DsMkIII's, a 5DMkII and lots of lenses. Use 2 smaller bags if traveling on commuter jets- their carry on space is tighter. let the flight attendant know how much $ is in the case, and be nice. Sometimes the bags must go under the seat in front of you.Third world countries such as Mozambique or anwheres serviced by SA have a strict weight allowance- 8Kg. Wear a vest and put the bodies around your neck. A good vest will hold alot! |
| —Terry schwartz |
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Because of children, dogs and travel restrictions, I've got it down to one backpack that has 90% of what I need which I carry around with me all the time. If I need to carry an extra lens or flash, I will usually evaluate whether I really need it first. |
| —Eugene Marrero |
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I carry all my gear with me...two bodies, pro lenses, two flash untis and a 13" laptop...in a rolling backpack. I pack my empty field backpack and Think Tank belt system in my suitcase, which I check. They are stuffed with clothing and toiletries until I get to the hotel, unpack and transfer what I need for the day's shoot. Whatever I leave behind at the hotel is put in a safe. |
| —George Sass |
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Even though 90% of all shots are taken with the same equipment over and over, the wanted equipment for a particular shot always seems to be back at the studio. With my large photo equipment backpack I can take along more than I realy ever need plus usually carry on all my needed clothing and wears in one case by using my clothing as extra padding for protection. remember to take along large gallon sized zipper bags to place soiled garments in. |
| —Lee |
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The new baggage weight restrictions and extra fees definitely have an effect. Now, I usually travel with a Canon G-9 and the 580 flash plus small tripod. |
| —David Dryden |
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I carry-on everything I can for the most part and only check-in accessories that I can easily replace. Cameras and lenses are always carry-ons. |
| —Richard Valentine |
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Depends hugely on destination, purpose of trip, airline choices (SW doesn't charge for checked bags...), security/storage options at the other end when not actually out shooting. |
| —Loenz Rychner |
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I also have a secure, heavy-duty check-in container that allows me to check my cameras as luggage so I can take all the gear I need. |
| —Mark Blum |
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Don't know why anyone would check their photo bag to be dropped from the air plane or someone pick it up at the baggage pick up area, anyone could pick it up with a 100 people standing around. |
| —Ron Dickson |
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Airlines must realize that photography gear cannot withstand the abuse normally sustained in checked baggage. |
| —Vincent Filaski |
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I use a large backpack that lets me load everything that I need in one place. |
| —Dee Elzer |
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My camera bag holds 2 bodies, 3 lenses, spare CF cards and spare batteries. Everything I need and it fits nicely into the overhead bin. |
| —Norm Schultze |
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For this reason we intend to DRIVE for at least a 2 to 3 day travel, so I can take everything I want. |
| —Michael D. Miller |
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I have a travel bag set up with the ability to quickly remove a layer of equipment and place in one of the trays for x-ray. Therefore, I have never had a problem going through secuity with carry on camera bag. |
| —David Chambers |
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I almost always fly Southwest who has no single bag limit. Still, I pack all my camera gear in a pelican case that I can carry-on. |
| —Jim Osborn |
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Never NEVER check gear as luggage, as theft is rampant among baggage employees. The airlines refuse to take any responsibility whatsoever for these thieving employees. Therefore, I only take what I can keep in my carry on bag. |
| —Sheila |
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I am mostly able to take everything I want (need) in my standard RollAboard but very occasionally I have to omit something. It has made me look harder for items that are smaller and lighter. |
| —Arnold H. Drapkin |
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I use 1d MIII with big L lenses for sports, but the last 2 trips I took for personal travel, all that gear stayed home and I took only a G9. I brought the add-on wide lens the first trip but never used it. The mounting adapter though is terrific because I can add a polarizer. I usually bring a mid-size add-on flash (430) as well. I just printed a 16x20 landscape from the last trip and it looks great. |
| —Graham |
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In fact, I tend to drive more trips in part because I like to travel with a little more gear. |
| —Jack Jones |
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I hate traveling by air because I can never take all of the gear I want. Even with over stuffing my coat and camera vest with gear, I can not get everything I want into my carry on bag. I would not trust airlines with a checked bag, and they won't insure the contents anyway. It would be nice if they would allow people with camera gear to have one additional carry on - even if I had to pay for it. |
| —Lori Peacock |
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I am very hassle sensitive in traveling, so I've now cut air travel to the bone. I now willingly drive 600 miles or more, if it means I don't have to fly. |
| —Dave Pendleton |
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I carry the Tamrac Pro Photo Backpack that allows me to carry a DSLR with grip, flash, 4 small to medium lenses, and my very large 150-500mm zoom. While it is heavy it will fit nicely in the overhead compartment. I would never trust my gear to the baggage handlers. |
| —Steven |
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I actually try to plan what type of shooting I want to do, then select only the equipment I think I will need. |
| —Ed T. |
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I pack my Lowepro Mini Trekker filled with camera gear inside my Pelican rollon (with its camera packing removed)and stuff additional gear in available space. |
| —Bill Romano |
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I worry a lot about what to take. I pack essentials in carry on. If that ends up in check in I worry that my vacation will be ruined (lost, stolen equipment). |
| —Fritz Schafer |
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The first thing I did was to buy a new durable and sturdy tripod which, when folded, would fit into carry-on luggage. They are out there - and the best I've found so far is by Trek. Since we are allowed two carry-on pieces and I detest checking (i.e. losing) luggage, I pack clothing in one carry-on rolling case, and all camera equipment in a second, smaller carry-on bag. I can accommodate one camera, one tripod, a flash attachment and three lenses, which is usually all I will need. I also find that if I announce what I am carrying, including the tripod, to the security officer at the checkpoint, they can identify what they are looking at and have stopped having me unpack everything to prove I'm not carrying a weapon. |
| —R. Sovronsky |
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I would never check my camera equipment even in a check in container. I have a rolling carry on camera case and with creative packing can usually get what I need in it. A little heavy to lift into the overhead, but I manage. |
| —Ann McClendon |
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Rather than submit to check on luggage, and have my camera equiptment stollen. I send everything ahead of time by Fedex or Ups. Never had a problem. |
| —Bill |
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I have had to cut down to one body and one lens (18-200) plus a quality point and shoot plus a netbook. |
| —Si Johnson |
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Predicting what's workable and allowable is becoming more difficult. Hard to know if the bag you want to buy will be allowed next year, or next month. |
| —Marshall Hill |
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I can pack pretty much everything I need in my Tamrac backpack and slide it under the seat in front of me. My tripod is attached to my backpack as I check in and board, so it is not considered a second carry on. I take it off the backpack and put it in overhead storage during the flight. |
| —Ken Bryan |
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Air travel has become such a hassle that I am actively avoiding it and driving whenever I can. Driving also enables me to take all of the gear that I really need for a trip. |
| —Frank Field |
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I never check my cameras so am limited to gear that can be safely packed in my carry-on camera bag. Somehow though, I always manage to have what I need! |
| —MaryAnn Luedtke |
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This has become a real problem. Checking even a heavy duty container does not protect one from theft. We need to work with the airlines such that examined photo gear can travel with the owner and also such that the owner can take their necessary items like meds and a change of clothes on the airplane. If not, then they need to accept full responsibility for the items that they check and be sure they are protected and that they arrive with the passenger. |
| —Sherry Morgan |
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I also will ship any extra gear I need by FedEx to the hotel I am staying at & avoid the airlines carryon & baggage problems. Several years ago my monopod was denied carryon by TSA fortunately I had arrived early enough to be able to put it into checked baggage. Normally I never put anything into checked baggage of any value since there is a very high theft rate by the various handlers. |
| —Bob |
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I also pack my tripod and laptop into my hard side suitcase. |
| —Ken |
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The tripod doesn't fit in the rolling pack and must be put in a checked bag. Otherwise I would be traveling lite. |
| —Dee |
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On my last trip, the airline was so full that I had to let them take one of my carry-ons and put it in the baggage. I kept my camera and laptop with me in the cabin, but I see that air travel may never be the same with all the terrorism now a part of our existence. |
| —Phillip Kelly |
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I wear one of those dorky photo vests. You can stuff a ton of stuff in one of those. Airlines don't count it as carryon. |
| —Dudley Harris |
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What a hassle ! It's not American Grand moms and Grand dads that are the terrorists. It's obvious Who is doing the terrorizing, and the American public are the ones being scrutinized! Doesn't make much sense! |
| —Johnnyboi54 |
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It's the reason that I've stopped flying if I don't have to. I need my equipment, and I don't want it stolen or damaged by baggage monkeys. Not to mention total destruction of my check-in cases and case replacement needed every 3rd or 4th trip. |
| —Charles Valenzuela |
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