Camerabags on airlines

mav

mav

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Do they actually check the sizes of rucksack type camera bags , as in put them in the metal cage type thing , i know it could be airlne pacific i am flying with tui to Florida and i have a larger rucksack i would like to take, its ok lenth and width but may be a squeeze height wise , i didnt get checked last year with the smaller bag
 
It will no doubt depend on the flight & the look of the bag.
I've managed without checking on several flights, but I've always made sure mine was well within limits (carrying some gear in my pockets...

I have seen others having bags just slightly too big being caught out & I don't fly much.
 
I fly a lot with camera's, everything from large commercial jets to 6 seaters into the bush.

Whilst some airlines are more forgiving than others (I suspect that TUI are likely to be stricter than most) the only way to be safe is to comply with the size requirements.
 
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I travel with a Mindshift backlight 18L, which seems to fit all carry-on requirements. I use it on big commercial jets and three-seaters in Africa. It is strongly recommended.
 
Your best option is to check with the airline you are flying with to avoid disappointment.
 
I’ve flown with TUI loads (the bosses favourite), I strongly suspect my regular cabin bag is bigger than the regulations, and I’ve never had anyone give me a second look.
Often have a cabin bag each and a ‘personal’ bag that goes under the seat. My personal item is a 15l mindshift camera bag.

All that said, if they insisted on putting my oversized cabin case in the hold, it wouldn’t be a major issue, not sure I’d take as much risk with an actual camera bag.

But the overhead bins on a Dreamliner are massive, and it shouldn’t be an issue if it fits in them.

They’re not like budget airlines that insist everything must fit under the seat.
 
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Add to the above, I recently took the 150-600 Sigma on a TUI flight.
I put that lens in my ‘cabin case’ and the rest of my gear in the mindshift.
Again, no one gave us a second look.

But it did mean I didn’t have a full size camera bag to hold the lens on holiday, just the lens case. Not a big problem for me as I didn’t travel much with it once there.
 
mav said:
Do they actually check the sizes of rucksack type camera bags , as in put them in the metal cage type thing , i know it could be airlne pacific i am flying with tui to Florida and i have a larger rucksack i would like to take, its ok lenth and width but may be a squeeze height wise , i didnt get checked last year with the smaller bag
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If you are travelling with friends / family you can always do a little 'reorganisation' for checkin shifting one or two bits into another bag so both are will squeeze into the limits, then swap back after.
We had to do that a couple of years back, when the check-in at Cairns announced they would be weighing all carry on, and enforcing the 7kg limit - the 4 of us had about 27kg between us, but it was far from distributed evenly (as I had camera and lenses with me).
 
I've had a cabin bag (a LowePro MiniTrekker) weighed but not measured with Tui. The bag was a bit overweight (aren't we all!!!) so the young lady behind the counter suggested I put a couple of the heavier items in a fleece pocket.
 
FWIW

I used my Lowepro Flipside 300 for yonks until last year for our safari trip where I was taking two bodies and two long lenses. ......I researched what would be within limits for both BA and the African airline Airline .

I bought the Lowepro Flipside 400 AW mk3 which is a 20L capacity.

All was well, although as that bit bigger than my old "300" I was a tad self conscious of it's size and weight.
 
A cautionary tale, which I received from a colleague several years ago, who had just returned from holiday . . .

It seems that a fellow passenger had missed his outbound flight, when the cabin crew ejected him from the aircraft. This individual was wearing some form of tactical vest which had bulging pockets, holding who knows what. The person who was already seated next to the window complained that the vest was taking up a lot of their space and digging into their body. Despite an allegedly polite request to take off the vest and store it in the overhead, the wearer insisted he had a right to wear his clothing, a claim proven to be incorrect when two police officers removed him.

The lesson here being: always check your luggage against the rules! :naughty:
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
This individual was wearing some form of tactical vest which had bulging pockets, holding who knows what. The person who was already seated next to the window complained that the vest was taking up a lot of their space and digging into their body. Despite an allegedly polite request to take off the vest and store it in the overhead, the wearer insisted he had a right to wear his clothing,
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The only lesson here is ‘don’t be a dick’, and we generally try to live by that always.
 
I have used a Lowepro computrekker bag for years for flights never had an issue
It fits under the seat in case the overhead lockers are full
The problem is always the weight,
I’m lucky in that my other half can take a spare lens and body in her bag
I normally travel with a 300 2.8 and camera body separated and bits and pieces all fit in ok
 
LCPete said:
I have used a Lowepro computrekker bag for years for flights never had an issue
It fits under the seat in case the overhead lockers are full
The problem is always the weight,
I’m lucky in that my other half can take a spare lens and body in her bag
I normally travel with a 300 2.8 and camera body separated and bits and pieces all fit in ok
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I have never been asked to weigh any hand baggage, I think as long as you are not straining and puffing they wont weigh it
 
cambsno said:
I have never been asked to weigh any hand baggage, I think as long as you are not straining and puffing they wont weigh it
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I haven’t either but I always fret a bit about it as am always on or just over the limit
 
The Lowepro AW600 I have (for my 500/4 Nikkor) goes into the overhead lockers of BA aircraft (A320 series and above) with no issues. The newer NEO A320s have even bigger overhead bins. Since I am on Bronze status with BA this allows me priority boarding (and seat selection) meaning I don't have to fight for space.

Once or twice I have been told to put my old Computrekker on the floor by my feet, and given a yellow tag. To which I asked, 'where do you expect me to put my feet?'

Worst thing that has ever happened in Aviation is the like of BA introducing the handluggage fare. At least if they ask for photographers to put their bags in the hold, we can say that we have enough lithium in our bags to power the engines...
 
LCPete said:
I haven’t either but I always fret a bit about it as am always on or just over the limit
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Same here, I think a lot of it has to do with your ability to be able to lift the bag into the overhead locker. If you are small and light and have what appears to be an overweight bag you might be asked to get the weight checked. Even with a broken hand I've never had a problem lifting my bag up
 
LCPete said:
I haven’t either but I always fret a bit about it as am always on or just over the limit
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I have done 14 flights this year, 12 with Ryanair who are supposed to be the devil!! Not an issue with any, not even asked to check. I do stick to the rules in the main, but my rucksacks at times were bulging enough they may not fit the checking device and my bigger case is on the limit but you can extend it by a small amount.
 
One issue might be if the plane is full and some cabin bags have to be checked in.
Only bag you might be allowed would be one that stows under your seat.
Happened last month on a BA flight we returned on from Frankfurt.
Didn't affect us, we only had a checked case and hand luggage
 
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tijuana taxi said:
One issue might be if the plane is full and some cabin bags have to be checked in.
Only bag you might be allowed would be one that stows under your seat.
Happened last month on a BA flight J was on returning from Frankfurt.
Didn't affect us, we only had a checked case and hand luggage
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Thankfully BA are simplifying boarding procedures so that we don't have this Group 1-9 nonsense anymore. I am one of the annoying people at the gate who stands very close to the barrier when my group (usually 3, sometimes 1) is called. Camera bags can't be put in the hold, small matter of the batteries.
 
welshwizard645 said:
Thankfully BA are simplifying boarding procedures so that we don't have this Group 1-9 nonsense anymore. I am one of the annoying people at the gate who stands very close to the barrier when my group (usually 3, sometimes 1) is called. Camera bags can't be put in the hold, small matter of the batteries.
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You could be asked to remove the batteries and put them in your hand luggage.
 
Carry on weight dosn't seem to be an issue but the couple infront of me in December for a Ryan Air flight were hit with Eur145 charge for slightly oversize carry on. There are "personal bags" and carry on cases that can be ought in advance but if your personal bag is too big pay, pay, pay it seems.
 
tijuana taxi said:
You could be asked to remove the batteries and put them in your hand luggage.
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My camera bag is my hand luggage, I try to carry as little as possible with me even if I have no camera kit with me. I'll happily pay for hold luggage, as I don't want to drag a case through the terminal (but happier to lug an even heavier camera bag on my back), especially if the gates are distant from the main hall.
 
cambsno said:
I have never been asked to weigh any hand baggage, I think as long as you are not straining and puffing they wont weigh it
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Whilst i'd be surprised if tui weigh hand baggage, it is far from uncommon - I've had handbaggage weighed in Costa Rica, Brazil, Canada, Zambia, Botswana and Mexico.
 
It’s total, random, luck. I’ve taken a lot of European flights over the past ten years and some they check every bag some they check none. I think they have preferred flights where they know people will cram a free bag full and the flight will be full and others where it doesn’t happen. Dublin they tend to check size more as with most Polish flights, but in 15 years of European travel I’ve never seen a bag weighed at departure gate.
 
Im flying a fair bit at the moment and taking my laptop bag on as a personal item - it’s like double the size of what’s allowed and it’s not been a problem. Flying with BA and Iberia.
If not seen the size up cabin baggage either
 
tijuana taxi said:
One issue might be if the plane is full and some cabin bags have to be checked in.
Only bag you might be allowed would be one that stows under your seat.
Happened last month on a BA flight J was on returning from Frankfurt.
Didn't affect us, we only had a checked case and hand luggage
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BA seem to be the worst offenders for this… No checked luggage but end up having a small case put in the hold…. Absolutely grinds my gears, don’t encourage it if you can’t cope with it!

I have a small Tenba 14l backpack that I’ve never had an issue with when flying.
 
wibbly said:
BA seem to be the worst offenders for this… No checked luggage but end up having a small case put in the hold…. Absolutely grinds my gears, don’t encourage it if you can’t cope with it!

I have a small Tenba 14l backpack that I’ve never had an issue with when flying.
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I always check my large bag and camera gear goes in an old battered Billingham Hadley.
Tablet and phone in it too plus a few other bits and easily goes under the seat.
Can't be doing with all that jamming stuff in the overhead plus it might get checked anyway.
Use Eurostar a lot too, much easier on there, but even then some people like to monopolise the overhead racks.
These days we always go Standard Premier or Comfort Plus as its now called.
More room for luggage and for a few extra quid a generally a more pleasant way to travel.
 
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Used to fly quite frequently until last year and only had 1 x issue with bag weight. On check in at Gatwick for an Air Baltic flight to Riga my bag was check weighed (size was fine) at 17kg and there was no negotiation. Fortunately another lad on the same project was "under weight" and helped out. Check in for the second sector from Riga to Moscow with Aeroflot was uneventful.

Just to dispel the myth about your physical appearance vs bag size, I'm 6ft, weigh ~220lbs and was lifting the bag at the check in desk with a couple of fingers ;)

GC
 
cambsno said:
I have never been asked to weigh any hand baggage, I think as long as you are not straining and puffing they wont weigh it
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I haven't been asked very often over the years. But it does happen. And I see other people being picked out.

Actual implemented policy varies not just airline by airline - but also by the teams at different airports. I used to carry Ts & Cs for one airline that would cause problems with laptops so i could read them back *their* rules when queried.

What we have found locally is that one airline we use for long haul regularly will inevitably weigh cabin baggage and enforce limits if your checked in baggage is close to or over the limit. But will otherwise happily ignore other travellers with what look like heavier cabin bags. But at the other end the same airline doesn't seem to ever check. We have had other airlines weigh bags which have been over but just let them through.

We found travelling in Asia at one airport the airline had their own check prior to security and were weighing and checking sizes for most passengers and turning some back to checkin. We figured they were picking on the ones who had no checked in baggage allowance (if you had luggage labels stuck to your boarding card there was a vestigial check and you were nodded through). Same airline didn't bother checking at all on the way back.

It's a game of chance if you break the rules and find on the day you are travelling that there is enforcement.
 
We frequently go to the US and Canada and for the last decade have never had any problems. And we do take a extra for sure…

However the amount of problems we had going to Europe (not just for planes, but problems with cars’ hire, hotels.. just a nightmare)

Not been to Europe for years - those small airline that go there tend to be a nightmare, don’t miss any of it!
 
Only airline that have pulled me up is Ryanair, flown Tui to Florida quite a few times and as long as your bag is there or there about they tend not to challenge you, it’s passengers with huge cabin cases that tend to get pulled. Even if they do pull you for your bag, can you pay to ‘upgrade’ it? It’ll probably say on their website.
 
Never had any problems with my Tamrac System 6 camera bag. I tghing the answer is to seriously considerwhat you are going to photograph andwhat to use to get the shots. No point in carrying more than needed and best to reduce to fit into an accepetable airline carryon bag
 
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