Taking lenses on planes

docholiday

docholiday

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David
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I have a trip to Scotland planned in March, I want to fly but am worried about taking my gear, 600mm canon and 100-400 zoom along with 1dmk4 and 7d body

Do people put the big primes in there canon cases and wave goodbye to it at check in and hope it doesnt get damaged or do you take it hand luggage, its flybe so not sure they will let me carry it on board

or do I drive for 10 hours and take what I want?

Cheers David
 
You will struggle to take it hand luggage, they are quite strict on their carry on policy.

Flybe hand baggage allowance on services to/from UK+ROI:
You may carry one piece of hand baggage on board the aircraft. The maximum permitted dimensions (please ensure that you include the bag's handles and wheels) for this item are*50 x 35 x 23cm*and it should not exceed 10kg in weight. If you are travelling in Flybe Economy Plus you may also carry a laptop.
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I have travelled Ryanair with a 400mm 2.8 in hand luggage plus bodies 85mm 1.4 and 24mm 1.4. The 40omm is similar in weight to the 600mm. The general rule appears to be if the bag is within size/weight restrictions what's inside doesn't matter providing its not restricted items. I use Think Take airport acceleration which is within ryanair size limits.
 
Excuse my spelling that should read Think Tank Airport Acceleration bag. They have never asked to weigh it thank god.
 
You can get some very decent foam filled hard cases that come in hand luggage size that you will fit all the kit in them. the name escapes me now though
 
BpmJames said:
You can get some very decent foam filled hard cases that come in hand luggage size that you will fit all the kit in them. the name escapes me now though
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It would have be a very lightweight case, the kit David wants to carry on weighs in at around 10kg just for the 2 lenses and 2 bodies without any other accessories.
 
I have taken 2x 7D bodies, 500mm f4, 70-200 f2.8, 24-70 f2.8, flash gun, extenders, batteries to Kenya twice as carry-on (approx 17Kg) with BA in a Think Tank Airport Acceleration bag.
 
Get a photographer's jacket with big pockets and stick your excess weight in them.
 
Flybe have weighed my hand baggage twice but fortunately, I've been just under the limit both times. Thomas Cook weighed the bag once and I had to take a couple of lenses out and put them in my fleece pocket .

I would never entrust any fragile or valuable kit to the baggage handlers.
 
simonjs said:
I have taken 2x 7D bodies, 500mm f4, 70-200 f2.8, 24-70 f2.8, flash gun, extenders, batteries to Kenya twice as carry-on (approx 17Kg) with BA in a Think Tank Airport Acceleration bag.
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BA aren't like the budgets, flybe, Ryan air, easyjet, will sometimes have someone standing at the departure gate with a portable scale. Can become costly with some of them if it's overweight.

A Canon 600mm in a jacket pocket would look quite strange :D
 
Hmmm just what I was worried about, no definitive answer, trouble is your knackered if you get stopped at the gate. I am a big chap but would love to find the waistcoat that I could pop the 600mm discretely in:lol::lol:

Has anybody put a prime in the canon case and let it go in the cargo hold. they are good looking cases and cost about £500 to replace. as its a domestic flight ??
 
Sometime when i have taken a lot of gear with me,some of it has had to go into the hole.

I used to travel with film,which can take up a bit of space when you got a few rolls,anything beteen 100 & 200 :)

So one bag with me on the plane,with my film,and most of my stuff,and a long lens + another spare body & lens,in a tough suitcase,wraped in my clothering,on the trips i made no problem with that.
 
Unless of course you put the 2 zooms into the carry on, (7ish kg, so still a bit of space for other stuff) and carry the bodys in the big front pockets of a photo vest or similar? Once on the plane put them back into the carry on bag.
 
Another vote for a photographers jacket. Last year went to S.Africa with 1D and 40D bodies plus lenses batteries binocs etc.
I have a Domke jacket you could borrow (or even buy:D) and certainly the bodies and other stuff will fit in the cavernous pockets.
 
Thanks for all the replies but I guess you have not held a 600mm canon its a beast
18" long and weighs 11 lbs so you are not going to be putting it in any vest or coat pocket.
 
Drive. Once you work out the times you need to get to the airport, park, check in etc, then get baggage at the other end, get from the airport to where you're going - there's probably not much in it.
 
docholiday said:
Hmmm just what I was worried about, no definitive answer
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There is a definitive answer, check the allowances for your airline for size and weight of hand luggage and stick to them ;)

I certainly wouldn't trust the baggage handlers with such kit, have you seen the way they throw the bags around!
 
OutLore said:
Drive. Once you work out the times you need to get to the airport, park, check in etc, then get baggage at the other end, get from the airport to where you're going - there's probably not much in it.
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Plus one, driving would be the best option and only add a few hours onto your total trip :)
 
docholiday said:
or do I drive for 10 hours and take what I want?

Cheers David
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I recently drove up to Scotland to pick up a piece of equipment (an item too delicate to trust to freight). I left West Dorset at 9pm and arrived at Monifieth (just past Dundee) at 7am, picked up the equipment and left at 7.45am, arrived back in Dorset at 6.30pm. A total of 1058 miles in under 24 hours.

I'm not the fastest driver and this was in a Land Rover, but if I was going on holiday in Scotland I would certainly drive. I passed through some beautiful scenery on the way back, without a vehicle one would be somewhat restricted.

So I would say drive to Scotland and take all the kit you need, I've no idea of the cost of flying these days but I imagine the cost of a flight and car hire to be more than driving to Scotland.
 
OutLore said:
Drive. Once you work out the times you need to get to the airport, park, check in etc, then get baggage at the other end, get from the airport to where you're going - there's probably not much in it.
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N88 said:
There is a definitive answer, check the allowances for your airline for size and weight of hand luggage and stick to them ;)

I certainly wouldn't trust the baggage handlers with such kit, have you seen the way they throw the bags around!
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These are two very good answers :thumbs:

Airlines would have their restriction on luggage (carry-on and check-in) on their website.

For BA and BMI the restriction for carry-on is only on size & quantity. You're allowed one carry-on bag and one small laptop bag. For size, check their respective website. For permissible carry-ons' weight, they allow you to take whatever the bag may weigh so long that you can lift it unaided into the overhead compartment.

That, of course, isn't the case with every other airline.

If your only option is to fly there, and you can't take all the gear with you, I'd look at taking the lenses as carry-on and check the bodies and accessories in a hard-case with good locks on it.

OR

As some airlines allow for a carry-on case and a laptop bag; I'd take the lenses in as small a carry-on I can get, and the body in the laptop bag. Accessories would still need to go in the check-in hard-case.


Whichever way, your first point of reference will have to be the airline's website.
 
just to throw in another suggestion - train?

Not sure where you are traveling from but you wouldn't have to worry about limits, you can have a sleep, read, relax etc.

Also, if booked in advance, you can get some *very* cheap deals!
 
rackhs said:
just to throw in another suggestion - train?

Not sure where you are traveling from but you wouldn't have to worry about limits, you can have a sleep, read, relax etc.

Also, if booked in advance, you can get some *very* cheap deals!
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This or drive.
Airlines are getting stricter by the day as to what you can and cannot take onboard with you. you can take a chance and take it with you but if you get weighed it is going to cost you.

as said make a trip of it and stop and take pics on the way there and take a different route back and that way it does not get boring.

spike
 
Some helpful stuff, think on balance I will drive, leave after work on tuesday evening do a couple of hundred miles and stop overnight getting there the next day, same coming back will leave in the evening and stop on the way down, the aa say its 10.5 hours driving.

So next question is where to stop on the way back, inverness to southampton any ideas for a few hours wildlife shots ?
 
rackhs said:
just to throw in another suggestion - train?

Not sure where you are traveling from but you wouldn't have to worry about limits, you can have a sleep, read, relax etc.

Also, if booked in advance, you can get some *very* cheap deals!
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Another +1 here :)
 
Dave1 said:
It would have be a very lightweight case, the kit David wants to carry on weighs in at around 10kg just for the 2 lenses and 2 bodies without any other accessories.
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Fair play, i have no idea how much his kit weighs so yeah maybe the case is out of the question
 
You could stop off at the lakes on the way back down or to be honest any of the lochs, scotland is a beautyful place if you get the weather right.

You say that you looked on AA for times of driving, it will take you longer than what they say, as it does not allow for stops, and that is using average speed using the speed limit on the roads, allow longer for the journey that what any site you use to plan a trip.

spike
 
No worries its all insured just get a decent case (it is insured all risks new for old isnt it!)
 
David, if time isn't a problem, driving is probably a good call. I've had occasion to drive from Aberdeen to Egham (and return) a number of times in the last few years. It's comparable at 555 miles or so one way. It has always taken less than 12 hours, usually nearer 11 (with a couple of watering stops and observing speed limits) but we sometimes stop overnight in the Dumfries/Cumbria area if using the M6 or Helmsley in using the A1. I can recommend what used to be a Premier Inn at Annandale - a motel with a lake, swans and ducks!! I think it's now Days Inn. Nothing wonderful and the food available leaves a lot to be desired but quite unexpected for a motorway stop. As has been said, the AA site is a good guide but things like fog, heavy rain, accidents and roadworks may throw you out considerably.

Flybe will enforce their baggage limits. Their site says: You may carry one piece of hand baggage on board the aircraft. The maximum permitted dimensions (please ensure that you include the bag's handles and wheels) for this item are 50 x 35 x 23cm and it should not exceed 10kg in weight. If you are travelling in Flybe Economy Plus you may also carry a laptop. And of course you need your passport (!) or other acceptable photo ID or you will not board.

If you take the car and have a little time to spare, divert to Beauly and visit Ffordes. It's a good shop with an interesting gallery and cafe, not too far from Inverness.

Incidentally, I notice a number of people don't want their kit to be entrusted to airport personnel - how do they think it manages to make the hop from factory to retailer? Personal courier for each little bit? I think not! :D

Enjoy your trip and may your shutter never fail!

Angus
 
Norseman said:
Incidentally, I notice a number of people don't want their kit to be entrusted to airport personnel - how do they think it manages to make the hop from factory to retailer? Personal courier for each little bit? I think not! :D

Angus
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Funnily enough, yes. From manufacturer to the UK distributor it will be containerised delivery of some form. From the distributor to the retailer it will actually go by courier.

I would be amazed if any manufacturer actually sent items by commercial passenger airliner in a way that would entail them being handled (mishandled?) by the baggage staff.
 
It looks like you're coming round to the land travel option. That's probably sensible given FlyBe's baggage policy. I flew FlyBe from Inverness to Gatwick a few months ago and they did check that my bag fitted their gauge. (Fortunately it did - I have a Lowepro Fastpack 350 which I'd loaded to about 9kg, and it just fitted inside their limits.)

Next time you're planning a trip, here is a really useful UK-centric photographer-centric quick guide to baggage allowances on dozens of airlines.
 
Great stuff, Thanks

How do the pros manage ie f1, wildlife, they must check some of it in cant see you getting away with two big prime lenses hand luggage, has anybody checked in an£7000 lens and used the manufactures case?
 
docholiday said:
How do the pros manage ie f1, wildlife, they must check some of it in cant see you getting away with two big prime lenses hand luggage, has anybody checked in an£7000 lens and used the manufactures case?
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We recently had a customer hire a Sigma 300-800mm, which makes even a 600 f/4 look pretty small, for an overseas trip. He checked it in as hold baggage and it was fine. But it was supplied to him in a Peli-style case which is pretty tough, to put it mildly.

Personally I wouldn't trust a Canon case on an airline, because (a) the plastic feels a bit brittle, and (b) you can't attach a padlock to it.

Another option is to get a custom-made aluminium case. I know someone locally who has an 800/5.6, 200/2, 100-400, 85/1.2, 16-35, a couple of 1D bodies, and probably a few bits and pieces that I don't know about. He got an aluminium case with a custom-made interior to fit all his kit, and it's robust enough to go anywhere. The case wasn't cheap - around £500 I think - but when you consider it's protecting over £20k of kit, that's not so bad.

One last practicality - I don't know anything about insurance coverage if you put valuable stuff in an aircraft hold. Something to discuss with your insurer, I guess.
 
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