Tripods as hand luggage with Ryanair/no frills airlines

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danski

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I'm going to fly to Spain with Ryanair next month for some hols and was hoping to take all my kit with me as hand baggage.

I've got a Lowepro Flipside 400AW to put my camera & lenses in, but also wanted to attach my tripod (Manfrotto 190XB tripod and 804RC2 head), which I was planning to attach to the outside.

Has anyone taken a similar sized tripod as hand baggage with Ryanair (or any other cheapo/no frills airline for that matter) or is it best to put it into my check in luggage?

I'm just not too sure about size and if it's considered as a dangerous item/potential weapon by some of the over-zealous security folk at the airport?!? :thinking:
 
They would not let me take my monopod on board with me, so I doubt a tripod would be allowed. They saw a monopod to be a potential weapon as it could be used in similar form to a baseball bat, etc, etc.
 
I have watched people reduced to tears as they have to re-pack their carry on luggage because Ryanair won't allow a separate hand-bag, or even a bag from Smiths with your magazine in. They seem to be total baggage fascists so I'm sure they wouldn't allow this. You could ring and ask? But then there's still no guarantee on the day :(
 
I wouldn't risk it, by all accounts they are absolute sods. On BA, I have happily walked on board with my backpack on my back, and holding the tripod in my hand. OK so I didn't wave it at the check-in staff, nor at the boarding staff, but I really think it depends on the airline. NB this was all post the additional security restrictions.
Jonathan
 
MatW said:
They seem to be total baggage fascists :(
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I agree with you on that front - I could sit and rant about them for hours, but that's not really productive!

Surely if it can fit within the size limit, and assuming that security don't think I'm going to use the tripod to clonk some air hostess over the head with, I should be OK, irrespective of what Ryanair's policy is, no?

Maybe a few too many 'if's' there, but seeing as they only give you 15Kg for checked baggage (again, don't get me started!) I was hoping to carry it otherwise it'll take up 2.5kg of my allowance, which means that I'll have to wear the same underwear all holiday :eek:
 
danski said:
I agree with you on that front - I could sit and rant about them for hours, but that's not really productive!

Surely if it can fit within the size limit, and assuming that security don't think I'm going to use the tripod to clonk some air hostess over the head with, I should be OK, irrespective of what Ryanair's policy is, no?

Maybe a few too many 'if's' there, but seeing as they only give you 15Kg for checked baggage (again, don't get me started!) I was hoping to carry it otherwise it'll take up 2.5kg of my allowance, which means that I'll have to wear the same underwear all holiday :eek:
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There is absolutely no way security would believe you wouldn't do such thing. If they let you away with it they would have to let everyone else away with it. Albeit you may not be a terrorist, but the security dont know that. For all they know you could be.
 
which means that I'll have to wear the same underwear all holiday
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Go commando, problem solved
 
danski said:
which means that I'll have to wear the same underwear all holiday :eek:
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Just put your underwear in the hand luggage where your tripod would of gone :P
 
J4MIE_P said:
There is absolutely no way security would believe you wouldn't do such thing. If they let you away with it they would have to let everyone else away with it. Albeit you may not be a terrorist, but the security dont know that. For all they know you could be.
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So why let people on with any limbs at all? I'd do a fair amount of damage with my arms and legs if I wanted to yet last time I boarded a plane, security could see both my arms and they didn't batter an eye lid!!
 
I flew with Ryanair last year and, was not allowed my tripod as hand luggage, the b****rs broke two of the leg clips aswell so, make sure it's well protected.
 
have just checked the wording on Ryanair's website re: item's that can't be carried in hand luggage - the closest definition would be 'blunt instruments' but no specific mention of a tripod

Blunt Instruments: any blunt instrument capable of causing injury, including baseball and softball bats, clubs or batons - rigid or flexible - e.g. billy clubs, blackjacks (truncheon of leather covered lead with flexible shaft), night sticks & batons, cricket bats, golf clubs, hockey and hurley sticks, lacrosse sticks, kayak and canoe paddles, skateboards, billiard, snooker and pool cues, fishing rods, martial arts equipment, e.g. knuckle dusters, clubs, coshes, rice flails, num-chucks, kubatons, kubasaunts.
 
More than likely they won't let you, and if you bring it in another bag (like I did) they won't let you. Meant I had to leave my tripod in England when I went away :(
 
danski said:
I agree with you on that front - I could sit and rant about them for hours, but that's not really productive!

Surely if it can fit within the size limit, and assuming that security don't think I'm going to use the tripod to clonk some air hostess over the head with, I should be OK, irrespective of what Ryanair's policy is, no?

Maybe a few too many 'if's' there, but seeing as they only give you 15Kg for checked baggage (again, don't get me started!) I was hoping to carry it otherwise it'll take up 2.5kg of my allowance, which means that I'll have to wear the same underwear all holiday :eek:
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Ryanair aren't the only airline to fly to Spain and their baggage policies are some of the most restrictive in the industry. For what it is worth, Easy Jet probably have the best baggage policies, 20Kg of (paid) hold luggage and iirc 18kg hand luggage allowance. I have managed to get my kit on Aer Lingus as hand luggage despite their 6kg limit, with a backpack that was almost double that, lust don't draw attention to it is my advice.

My advice would be to pack in your hold luggage, leave it behind and consider alternatives or change airlines.

While on the subject of gear on planes, a friend of mine flew out of Venice for Stockholm last week and got pulled up for his hand luggage on weight, he had to repack everything from it bar his D3x and 200-400 but on arrival at Stockholm discovered all his CF cards were missing from a pocket of his hold bag!
 
You'll struggle to find an airline that will allow you to take a tripod on as hand luggage I would think.

I always put mine in a suitcase, wrapped in clothing and check it.
 
flights are already booked, so can't change airline this time. As for leaving it at home, not really an option as I want to take some star trails with my folk's place in the foreground and there's no way I'm standing still for 4 hrs!!
 
I'd stick it in the case first, then pack until you reach the weight limit. Just put essential items in first, then decide what to leave behind!
 
I've only flown with Ryanair once and would sooner walk than use them again. After my experience I doubt very much you'll get a tripod on board.
 
looks like that's the only option - bloody airlines!
 
kennysarmy said:
gorilla pod ?
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possibly an option, but not sure it would hold well enough for my star trailing shots, plus I'd need to invest in another head, no?

I'm also planning on taking some pics of fireworks during the 'fiestas' so will need a full size tripod for those, as well as some panorama shots.
 
its not worth the hassle/stress/loss put it in your hold luggage is the only option

personally i would never take a tripod,why not take a superclamp?
 
OSB said:
Ryanair aren't the only airline to fly to Spain and their baggage policies are some of the most restrictive in the industry. For what it is worth, Easy Jet probably have the best baggage policies, 20Kg of (paid) hold luggage and iirc 18kg hand luggage allowance. I have managed to get my kit on Aer Lingus as hand luggage despite their 6kg limit, with a backpack that was almost double that, lust don't draw attention to it is my advice.

My advice would be to pack in your hold luggage, leave it behind and consider alternatives or change airlines.

While on the subject of gear on planes, a friend of mine flew out of Venice for Stockholm last week and got pulled up for his hand luggage on weight, he had to repack everything from it bar his D3x and 200-400 but on arrival at Stockholm discovered all his CF cards were missing from a pocket of his hold bag!
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I think BA are the best for baggage, I took a fully loaded backpack weighing probably 20kg on the plane :)
 
I've just got exactly the same issue - except I'm going to Cyprus with Thomas Cook on Sunday.

My tripod's going in the suitcase - fortunately it's a carbon fibre Redsnapper so won't take up too much weight (1.6kg - the head's coming with me in my hand luggage). I don't want to take the risk of trying to take it on as hand luggage and then have to stick it in the hold on its own :nono:

Hopefully it will all go OK :)
 
danski said:
possibly an option, but not sure it would hold well enough for my star trailing shots, plus I'd need to invest in another head, no?

I'm also planning on taking some pics of fireworks during the 'fiestas' so will need a full size tripod for those, as well as some panorama shots.
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You won't get a tripod as hand luggage with any airline - it's a weapon - potentially. You can shoot fireworks without a tripod! ;)
 
Last time i used ryan air we were told 15kg limit in the hold, theres 5 of us me, wife, 16yr old, 15yr old and a 2 year old. to save time and hassle we packed everyhing into as few bags as possible. got to airport and they hit me with a £120 charge for baggage, the limit is per pag per person, you cant combine allowances. Nowhere to buy another bag anywhere so we had to pay. Coming home we had enough bags and were told our 2yr old wasnt allowed a bag and had another charge of £55 to get her bag on.

I will never fly with them again.
I HATE Ryan Air
 
awp said:
You won't get a tripod as hand luggage with any airline - it's a weapon - potentially. You can shoot fireworks without a tripod! ;)
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other people might be able to, but I'm not that steady! Also, I like to do 4-6 sec exposures to get multiple explosions in one shot

will just put it in the luggage and go commando for a couple of weeks :lol:
 
aligibbs said:
I think BA are the best for baggage, I took a fully loaded backpack weighing probably 20kg on the plane :)
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Erm, I meant of the budget airlines ;)

Can you mail the tripod out ahead of you and mail it back at the end of your stay?
 
I'm a big fan of ryanair, if you stick within their rules they are hard to beat, in my opinion. A to B as cheaply as possible. Those who want more flexibility with baggage etc pay for it, those who don't need any extras don't pay for them. What could be fairer then that? I am able to travel lightly, why should I subsidise others?
 
I flew with Flybe last Sept from Manchester to Southampton with a Monopod strapped to the outside of my camera bag. Didn't have a problem with security or the cabin crew.
 
I know cheap tripods are a bit naff, but buying a cheap one in Spain is probably better than leaving a decent one in an airport.

How about a table top tripod ? Less likely to wobble in the wind.

Or improvise with a pile of bricks and a bean bag (bag of rice) or something ?


We're flying to Tenerife with Ryanair in September and will have similar problems... I guess half of my luggage allowance will be taken up with the better half's stuff anyway (I only need some shorts and flip flops LOL) - my G1 will be in hand luggage. I will improvise with whatever I can buy out there.
 
Just learn to travel light...who needs loads of clothes...just buy a few cheap things from local market when you get there.:lol:


They won't let you take a tripod on as hand luggage, so wrap it in a towel and put it in your hold bag. Take as much out of the hold bag as you can cram into your backpack...you'd be surprised how many socks, pants and tee shirts you can get in if you really try. Pockets in coats can also take soft items. If you are going to family though, couldn't you just send it ahead by courier?? A friend did that with his wedding outfit when traveling to the wedding abroad by motorbike and it was fine.


Ps: I'm off to tour around Spain on Weds, by motorbike. All my gear and tripod strapped on the back. Panniers so small I can only take two of everything and a tube of travel wash....now that's traveling light! (More camera gear than clothes) :eek:
 
J4MIE_P said:
They would not let me take my monopod on board with me, so I doubt a tripod would be allowed. They saw a monopod to be a potential weapon as it could be used in similar form to a baseball bat, etc, etc.
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Is this a joke? Sadly I think not....
 
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