Airline travel

davholla

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I might be (I haven't bought the tickets yet) be going on a flight and I will not have space for my tamron 150-600 in my hand luggage, could it go in the hold? Any thoughts?
 
Well, having once watched baggage handlers deal with a broken conveyor by pulling it back from the plane and just throwing the bags out of the hold onto the tarmac, I would recommend you don't take it unless you can get some comprehensive loss/damage insurance for it.
Even without that sort of extreme occurrence, it's going to have rough ride as a checked bag.
 
I have taken lenses as hold luggage without issue, maybe I've just been lucky.

What I do is put them in the middle of my largish case wrapped in my clothes for protection.
 
I think luck may be a factor, yes...
What I do is put them in the middle of my largish case wrapped in my clothes for protection.
Unfortunately, that's no guarantee. I've seen reports from people who've had their bags manually screened by customs/security; all their neatly and carefully wrapped stuff arrived at baggage claim in a churned up mess, with the lock (if any) snipped and a "Your bag was inspected" slip tucked inside.
 
Your normal travel insurance does not cover luggage in the hold (and much else really).
 
I might be (I haven't bought the tickets yet) be going on a flight and I will not have space for my tamron 150-600 in my hand luggage, could it go in the hold? Any thoughts?
Do you need everything you are taking? Do you need the 150-600 with you? I would have a think about what's the most and least important items that you need and go from there. It sounds like not everything is going to fit as carry on but do you need everything?

I personally wouldn't trust anything in the hold. If it doesn't fit in carry on don't take it.

I think luck may be a factor, yes...

Unfortunately, that's no guarantee. I've seen reports from people who've had their bags manually screened by customs/security; all their neatly and carefully wrapped stuff arrived at baggage claim in a churned up mess, with the lock (if any) snipped and a "Your bag was inspected" slip tucked inside.

Locks are quite pointless on hold luggage as like you say they get snipped off or worst the bag with a knife. Some zips can be defeated by a ballpoint pen and you wouldn't even know as they can be zipped back up.
 
Just how big is the Tamron 150-600?

I would never trust anything 'sensitive' to the rigours of hold luggage. Having said that I recall reading on pro togs send gear in holds but it is all packed in the likes of Peli cases.......but then their gear is north of £10,000 with all appropriate insurances and documentation!

Surely you can find a suitable carry on bag?
 
A guy I follow on Facebook had this happen to his race crash helmet when it was in his hold luggage, so I certainly wouldn't go putting a lens in there.

19511408_1582718821770602_2350037480601834246_n.jpg
 
You're obviously planning something long haul, I was going to suggest paying extra to take more in cabin luggage as you can do with Easyjet if you get the seats uo front..
 
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flew with jet2 3 weeks ago when coming back from turkey i was forced to put my d500 +70-200 + my 12 inch macbook into our case for the hold
was told it was the brittish government that said it had to been done
luckily it was ok when we arrived back in Scotland
 
flew with jet2 3 weeks ago when coming back from turkey i was forced to put my d500 +70-200 + my 12 inch macbook into our case for the hold
was told it was the brittish government that said it had to been done
luckily it was ok when we arrived back in Scotland

Did they provide a link or specific reference to that UK government "advice" or indeed have you confirmed that once home? If it was not such UK instruction I would (in your shoes) write to Jet2 asking for an explanation!
 
Interestingly, just saw a quick item on the BBC News channel Travel Show and they were reporting on the use of tablets and other small devices.

On that item they mentioned restrictions on such devices from some middle east countries to UK........ but did say that BA permitted them but Jet2 said not allowed. No mention of cameras or non middle East countries.

So the advice is confirm any restrictions before booking as there is confusion as just might be allowed......in your case sounds like the check in agent extrapolated one set of advice to cover all devices inc cameras!!!? NB is Turkey one of the proscribed countries?
 
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Is it not possible to put other things from your hand luggage back into a checked in bag to make space for the lens?
 
EasyJet made me check my hand luggage a few weeks ago as it was a full flight and I was one of the last in the queue to board.
 
No, don't put anything even slightly delicate or valuable in the hold. I've flown a lot, and had to buy new suitcases very frequently due to damage sustained by handlers throwing it around. In fact, I've never picked one up from the carousel without a new bit of damage having occurred on route.

Don't do it.

Buy a large camera bag like a Lowepro 400AW and pay a bit more for hand luggage (£20? Even if they charge). Its worth it. I've seen families board and take up the overheads with bigger bags than my hold luggage :mad::mad::mad:
 
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EasyJet made me check my hand luggage a few weeks ago as it was a full flight and I was one of the last in the queue to board.
I would have refused! It might also invalidate you travel insurance for those items, Aviva, Axa, Churchill, Direct Line and LV - exclude valuables placed in the hold
 
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Luckily it was a work trip and nothing valuable to be worried about, just thought I would mention it can happen. As it happens all the bags fell off the carousel into a big heap on arrival in Spain....
 
Luckily it was a work trip and nothing valuable to be worried about, just thought I would mention it can happen. As it happens all the bags fell off the carousel into a big heap on arrival in Spain....
Yes it certainly does happen, and it varies between airlines. The budget airlines have a rate of about 25% of carry luggage going into the hold, whereas BA had about a 4% rate. Other airlines such as Etihad, Emerates etc don't even register on that so they must be pretty good.

It very much depends who you travel with. I normally go with BA or Etihad (depending where I'm going obviously!) and had no issues, even with budget airlines in Vietnam, lol!
 
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Did they provide a link or specific reference to that UK government "advice" or indeed have you confirmed that once home? If it was not such UK instruction I would (in your shoes) write to Jet2 asking for an explanation!
There's a ban on laptops coming from seven risk countries. Turkey is one of them. This wa

The camera equipment should have been ok for hand luggage though.
 
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There's a ban on laptops coming from seven risk countries. Turkey is one of them. This wa

The camera equipment should have been ok for hand luggage though.

It does seem there is some some confusion and "interpretation" going on ~ my post ^ #16
 
Is there any possibility of hiring a lens of that size at destination? On balance the cost may save a lot of worry.
 
Thank you all, I will look into how I pack before I buy.
 
If if does not fit in your hand luggage then don't take it, as others have said no care is taken with hold luggage, and more importantly you are not covered by insurance.
 
Just to clarify, for others if not David, Easyjet have much relaxed conditions if you buy one of the Speedy Boarding seats, seats at the front. You are guaranteed to be able to take on a decent sized piece of cabin luggage and one more item, i.e. purse or computer bag. The seats have more room and don't cost much more than the other seats and, I think, it's always worth it. I don't work for Easyjet but like to Speedy Board. Other airlines are probably different.
 
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Just to clarify, for others if not David, Easyjet have much relaxed conditions if you buy one of the Speedy Boarding seats, seats at the front. You are guaranteed to be able to take on a decent sized piece of cabin luggage and one more item, i.e. purse or computer bag. The seats have more room and don't cost much more room than the other seats and, I think, it's always worth it. I don't work for Easyjet but like to Speedy Board. Other airlines are probably different.
Not relevant for me in this case but worth knowing thank you.
 
If all else fails, wear a jacket and stick the lens in a pocket - if necessary, create a special pocket with a loop to hold the top end of the lens.
 
If all else fails, wear a jacket and stick the lens in a pocket - if necessary, create a special pocket with a loop to hold the top end of the lens.
I was thinking about something like that, thank you very much.
 
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Won't it need to be a VERY big pocket to carry the 150-600?!


Yup, hence the suggestion of a loop to hold the top end of it.
 
I would have refused! It might also invalidate you travel insurance for those items, Aviva, Axa, Churchill, Direct Line and LV - exclude valuables placed in the hold

I travel weekly between London and Dublin and this is a regular occurrence. To be frank, there's not a lot the airline can do if everyone else has stuffed the overhead storage with their bags before you get on.

They work really hard to make space and will pull other bags that could be put under the seat, but sometimes, there just isn't enough room.
 
I can't believe I forgot to ask what do people do with tripods hold or carry on? Can they survive the luggage process? Also I have some small glass containers for water photos could they survive hold well wrapped up?
Or could they be stopped by security?
(They didn't cost much in money to make but a lot of messing around)
Here is a bad photo of one of them
https://www.flickr.com/photos/14586608@N08/33037999775/in/album-72157674555162124/
 
I'm planning a birding trip and will want the 600 f4, I was planning to take as carry on. What's the problem with that?
 
I'm planning a birding trip and will want the 600 f4, I was planning to take as carry on. What's the problem with that?
I think that should be fine, I was just worried if I had the space but I think I do now.
 
I can't believe I forgot to ask what do people do with tripods hold or carry on? Can they survive the luggage process? Also I have some small glass containers for water photos could they survive hold well wrapped up?
Or could they be stopped by security?
(They didn't cost much in money to make but a lot of messing around)
Here is a bad photo of one of them
https://www.flickr.com/photos/14586608@N08/33037999775/in/album-72157674555162124/

Not tripod but when we flew Easyjet to Inverness a couple of years back I packed a monopod in my suitcase. The case is an old and robust hard-sided case that shows signs of the hammering it has taken over the years but it has survived. The monopod was packed such that it had clothes etc under it an above it i.e. it was cushioned well.
 
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