Hard case for hand luggage

Cowleystjames

Cowleystjames

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Need some advice guys.
I'll be traveling to Lexington, Kentucky with United airlines to do a shoot at a racehorse stud.
I'm considering buying a Peli 1510 hard case to transport my Nikon D4s and 200-400 F4 and a few other items as hand luggage. Then put my less important kit in the hold with my baggage.
Seems to meet the carry on luggage requirements on UA, but looking for advice from someone who may have more experience than me on taking this sort of thing over to the States.
Transported some kit over to the States six months back and lost camera kit from baggage hold that never showed up again. Insurance paid out but made it a right royal pain hiring kit over there to do the shoot.
Is my thinking sound?
 
Depends on the amount of gear and who your travelling with, but I've used Thinktank Accelerator V2 as carry on luggage which can take camera body 300mm f2.8 attached and 500mm f4 lens, plus a few other bits, but it does depend on your carry on luggage weight restrictions. The Thinktank is considerability lighter than a Peli case and the reason why I bought it because it was 2.5kg lighter than the Lowpro AWII phototrekker bag I own and meets all the size restrictions for internal flights as well
 
Two observations here.

Firstly, my reading of the United Airlines baggage rules says that a Peli 1510 will technically fit. Probably. So I think I agree with you there. Probably.

https://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/travel/Pages/BaggageCarry-On.asp
The maximum dimensions for a carry-on bag are 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches (22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm), including handles and wheels.
Click to expand...
http://www.peliproducts.co.uk/cases/1510.html#
External Dimensions (mm)
Length 559
Width 351
Depth 229
Click to expand...
At face value if looks like it won't fit (229mm vs 22cm). But if you assume that the United Airlines measurements are definitive only when expressed in inches, 9 inches is 228.6mm and you're OK. Probably.

Secondly, different airlines have different rules for carry-on baggage and they vary far more than you might think. It might be worth looking at the airlines which you might find yourself using and getting a bag which is compliant with all or most of them. Whilst the ultimate reference is, of course, the airlines themselves, there is an excellent summary which is geared to the needs of photographers here:
http://www.dpsoftware.co.uk/airlines/
 
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Take your purchase receipts as well, UK customs might do a check on you back here and a bag full of cameras and lenses will alert them
 
Gary Coyle said:
Take your purchase receipts as well, UK customs might do a check on you back here and a bag full of cameras and lenses will alert them
Click to expand...
I have all receipts copied on Google drive, and your right, I have had to show them in the past. Thankfully, I brought drive up in customs, they printed off and checked with selling agents.
However, I've ordered a Peli 1510, as UA confirmed its ok size wise for carry on. Weight wise, I'll be well within the limit, and if necessary I can pay extra.
I'm sending some equipment ahead with the racehorse trainer involved, he's an ex premier league footballer now racehorse owner and trainer.
So all falling into place nicely, famous last words!
 
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