photography gear on a aircraft

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iron maiden

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iron
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i am flying from london to auckland next week,
i will be taking my 7D and some lenses,
they will be in a lowepro camera big,

but want to know where to put the bag,
underneath the aircraft or in the aircraft with me,
just thinking i have over £3,000 worth of camera gear and don't want anything happening with it,

will be gratful for your comments,


iron
 
My Brother in law has just flew out to video and Tog the Portuguese WRC Rally.
His hold Luggage was 28kg limit.
His cabin luggage was 24kg...lol...as long as it fits in the box and you can lift it yourself into the overhead, its ok
He has his Sony HD Video camera, Camera,Lenses, battery, Laptop etc etc etc in a hard case.
He says he will never trust the baggage handlers with his prize possessions..lol.
Not sure who he flew with though.
 
In the cabin with you defo.....Done the states a few times and their customs service have no problem checking kit in as hand luggage. I had a lowerpro 200 slingshot that went through the scanner and was then swabbed. UK & US did not bat an eyelid at it. Once they swabbed it they were all smiles.

The only way I would check gear into a hold is in a Peli case. That way its air pressure sealed and the peli`s can take some handling abuse by baggage handlers. As you mentioned 3k of gear in a lowerpo being chucked around will undoubtedly end up being trashed. How many times have you seen the luggage carts being taken across the tarmac and cases have been bouncing off onto the ground.

So its a big no-no from me for the hold.
 
I always take my camera, laptop, iPhone, iPad, etc with me in the cabin. Even though I always travel with good travel insurance, I'd never risk putting my stuff in the hold. Not only do you run the risk of rough baggage handlers but there's always the possibility of theft.
 
I bought a lowpro runner 300 aw made to fit aircraft hand luggage spec no prob 7d 2 lenses flash kindle wires cables filters and other bits ,got it emptied at airport coming home though my missus said it's was because i look dodgy
 
Only time I'd check anything more valuable than my keks in to hold luggage is if I'm in there with it... baggage handlers aren't too careful when they move stuff and it's not unknown for stuff to vanish either...
 
I have the lowepro flip side 400 aw and I've flown with it multiple times this year without any problem, on long and short haul flights.

It managed to hold 2 bodies including a 7d and various lenses including one big one being the 150-500. The lens hood was attached to the outside of the bag but they didn't even look twice.

I put it in the overhead locker.

However when I travel on airlines that allow 2 piece of hand luggage ll keep the bodies in a small bag under my seat and the lenses in the lowepro overhead. I like having my bodies near me for snaps out the window :)

I guess it depends how jobs worthy the staff are of the airline you're flying with.
 
taking it on the aircraft with me then,

thank you so much for all your feedback,

been a huge help

iron
 
Rule No.1 :

Never put anything in your suitcase [i.e. aircraft baggage hold] that you cannot function with for your trip if that suitcase were not to arrive at your destination.

For example, some people say they bring their camera, lenses etc in to the cabin, but put the charger, spare batteries etc in their suitcase. Could you manage for the duration of your trip without the charger or spare batteries if your suitcase failed to arrive at your destination? When you've arrived anywhere and your case hasn't, you'll know what I mean.
 
MisterE said:
Rule No.1 :

Never put anything in your suitcase [i.e. aircraft baggage hold] that you cannot function with for your trip if that suitcase were not to arrive at your destination.
Click to expand...
Absolutely. I always wear my walking boots on the plane (if I'm going on an outdoorsy holiday). I can replace absolutely anything else, even camera and lenses if necessary - though I never put them in the hold anyway, because they're fragile. But the one thing which absolutely cannot be replaced is a pair of walking boots which have been broken in.
 
I went from London, Spain, Lebanon, Sweden and back to London carrying lowepro flipside 400 aw which you can stuff a lot in and always with p. the plane. Was searched a lot but never had any problem.
 
MisterE said:
Rule No.1 :

Never put anything in your suitcase [i.e. aircraft baggage hold] that you cannot function with for your trip if that suitcase were not to arrive at your destination.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Never put anything in checked baggage that you really can't afford to lose. It may be stolen, or lost irretrievably. Insurance can cover losses, but not unique items or things with a lot of personal value. Pack basic essentials - toiletries, change of clothing etc - in your carry on bag. That should be enough to keep you going for a day or two, until you can buy more clothes if you have to. I've been stuck overnight in a few airport hotels too, following last minute flight delays and one emergency. Airlines do give you allowances for essential purchases, but you have to be delayed for a certain amount of time before these kick in.

Ideally, don't check in any luggage at all. It saves time and stress at the carousels too. Most national airlines have pretty generous carry on allowances - I can do 7 - 10 days with the BA international allowance in economy + a small backpack, by doing some laundry in country - but this probably won't work on budget flights.
 
Tip from some one who is constantly flying with a whole load of camera gear. get your self an alpinestar vest which can hold 3-4 lenses 1 pro body couple of pocket wizards and a 300mm or set of waterproofs in the back sleeve

when you have done that you then use a lowepro flipside 400aw or a fastpack 350aw and throw your laptop and other gear (flashes, Cameras, Clothes, straighteners-if your me-etc) into that.

sure you'll look like a dick for a few hours but what would you rather happen:

Look like a dick for a few hours

arive at your location with camera gear absolutely smashed to pieces or for it to have not left the country you have just came from.



To conclude,

travel with everything you need and buy Lowepro gear...
 
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