Camera at the Airport

russellsnr

russellsnr

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Russell
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Hi, Will be going to the UK next month from Greece/London/Greece and wondered if you carry your camera round your neck or on your shoulder is it (1) allowed and (2) is it classed as hand luggage?
Thanks
Russ
 
I always put my camera into my hand luggage, it saves confrontations particularly in the areas where photography is not permitted for security reasons.

At Munich years ago, I had my negative films in one of those security foil carrying bags, next thing I know I had a couple of guns pointing at me, they thought it was a bomb !!
 
Have carried my camera over shoulder/around neck through airports on literally hundreds of occasions (mostly western Europe) and have never even been given a second glance. Nor has it ever been counted as a separate piece of hand luggage.
 
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I think some airlines only allow ONE item of luggage onboard - my partner had a small handbag (about the size of an SLR camera) and they asked her to put it in her rucksack. Luckily my camera fits in my pocket OK as I often take pictures while in the airport (apart from areas such as the customs & security areas where there are large "no photography" signs).
 
I'm pretty sure it's OK from the airport's point of view, so long as you keep it turned off and the lens capped in security areas.
The issue might arise with the individual airline's rules on hand luggage. Some permit a camera outside hand baggage, others insist in it being packed in one single bag. Beware, some airlines also insist that all duty free fit in the single item of cabin baggage. Ryanair are notorious for it.
I'd check the specific rules for your actual airline on their website and print them off to carry with you.
Enjoy your trip.
 
Flew 7 times this year camera around my neck with hand luggage no problem you will be fine snap away.
 
Have put it in my check in bag, have carried it on with me - no problems at all. I just had to pop the batteries in my carry on baggage though :).
 
jryans10 said:
Have put it in my check in bag.
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I've seen how checked in bags are treated. I would never put anything like a camera in a bag that is destined to be thrown, dropped and even walked on.
 
Yep, the risk of putting valuables in the hold is not worth it. Having said that I cannot remember the last time I put a bag in the hold as it just seems a real hassle compared with carry on baggage.
 
i have flown this week on british airways, air berlin and easyjet

british airways and air berlin both allowed one carry bag and one personal bag in cabin
easyjet only allowed one carry bag.

i had a small over the shoulder camera bag with my lumix in and had to put that in my larger carry bag for easyjet. if the flight is quiet you may well have no issues but dont assume that you can just wear it on the plane
 
Airports do have areas where photography isn't permitted, but I've travelled quite a bit and I haven't come across any restrictions on carrying a camera in your hand luggage or over your shoulder. I suppose there may be some exceptions, but they're probably not places where most people choose to go. Some African countries I've visited do tend to make up the rules as they go along, but I'd be more worried about attracting unwanted attention than contravening the "regulations" by carrying anything openly that's obviously valuable.

Airlines have their own regulations, and can be more or less flexible/inflexible about them. If you're in any doubt, assume they'll be inflexible.
 
Yup, recently flew into and back out of Greece with a compact round my neck. Have in the past been advised that photography was NOT allowed in or from the terminal (Heraklion) but no problem with just carrying the thing.
 
matty said:
british airways and air berlin both allowed one carry bag and one personal bag in cabin
easyjet only allowed one carry bag.
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How big could a personal bag be? is it just something that doesn't go above the seats?
 
Be aware that airlines vary *enormously* in terms of what they will allow as carry-on baggage.

This is a useful reference to many airlines, and it's focused on the needs of photographers:
http://www.dpsoftware.co.uk/airlines/

But always check with your airline.
 
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