Traveling through airports.

[bratkinson]

I've completely solved the airport problem...

Amtrak! Arrive 2-3 minutes before train time and "All Aboard!!!"... No hassles, no nothing!

Almost fogot! Sit anywhere, including Quiet cars on corridor trains, walk around freely, lounge car, dining car (on overnight trains), and carry on LARGE suitcases, etc...no extra charge!

 

[The_Traveler]

I've filled my camera bag with cameras, kindle, netbook, battery chargers and everything photographic. They are examined and probed but otherwise ignored.

 

[TruckerDave]

I've completely solved the airport problem...

Amtrak! Arrive 2-3 minutes before train time and "All Aboard!!!"... No hassles, no nothing!

Almost fogot! Sit anywhere, including Quiet cars on corridor trains, walk around freely, lounge car, dining car (on overnight trains), and carry on LARGE suitcases, etc...no extra charge!

Im sure Amtrak is fine, but, i didnt know about that tunnel to Europe or Asia.

 

[Big Mike]

Another issue is weight. I don't know about you guys, but when I fill my camera bag with gear, it is way over the typical limit for a carry on. The few times that it's been noticed by staff/security, they just tell me to stow it under the seat, rather than in the overhead bins. But with most airlines, the 'by the book' proceedure is to charge you for the extra weight...and I've heard it's as much as $20 per kg (or something like that).

Some photographers that I know, calculated that if they were forced to pay for the extra weight of their carry-on, it would be $900 between the two of them.
They have since figured out that Air Canada is the only (around here) airline that won't charge you extra for photography gear (I'm guessing it applies to anyone who needs to carry on fragile gear that relates to their occupation).

And a great tip I've read (haven't tried it yet), is to wear clothing with plenty of pockets...like a photographer's vest. That way, you can redistribute some of your gear from your bag, to being on your person.

 

[amonda]

never an issue with gear or memory cards.

 

[snowbear114 46]

I'd be more afraid of baggage handlers and x-ray machine operators than the actual x-ray machines.

 

[Vautrin]

there is a lot of leeway it all boils down to who is in charge and if they got up on the wrong side of the bed that morning

 

[TCampbell]

I've done LOTS of traveling with large camera bags full of lenses -- no hassles ever. Most TSA guys are used to seeing the stuff so they know what it is. I've even traveled with telescopes.

If your camera bag is large, then the one piece of advice I might offer is to buy a photo-vest with large pockets. Just occasionally you may run into a situation where the bins are full and they insist that you check your bag (and you absolutely do not want to check a bag with a camera and lenses.) Owning a vest means you can put the lenses into the pockets, strap the camera around your neck, and let them take the now-empty bag. This has never happened to me personally, but I did run into a photographer who did have this problem and was just lucky that he happened to have his photo-vest with him.

 

[JWellman]

I travel frequently and do not check my camera/lenses so I carry them with me. I purchased a Lowepro Backpack and I love it. It has been an awesome sidekick through several airports. I've never had any issues through security and so far no one has pulled me aside and told me to stop photographing inside the airport.

 

[Rhoads238]

It depends on where you are flying to or from. I got stopped once because I tried to bring on my tripod in my carry on. They said no club like things are allowed on the plane but I ended up getting it checked for free which I though was nice.

 

[dbvirago]

Per the TSA site, tripods are allowed. There is an app, MyTSA, that allows you to search on items and it returns if you can carry on or check items.

 

[chiconian]

Great- thanks.

 

[molested_cow]

I'm so glad that I don't have to deal with the TSA now.
If you are checking in the case, it should be fine. If they have a problem with it, they will open it and check it, then leave a note in it to indicate the search. That's why you don't lock your checked bag unless you use one that is TSA approved(they have a universal key to open them).
Actually, the right procedure is to call you in and do the search in your presence to avoid any potential mess, like you accusing them of planting a bag of coke in it.

For carry ons, first it has to be within the size and weight restriction. Content wise, put all liquids in a small plastic bag and onto the tray. The rest can be pushed through as it is. Never had trouble with cameras, except once in Japan when the officer had me dismount the lens and looked through the view finder, and another time in Singapore when they were wondering what those little plastic cylinders are.

 

[thuchton]

I am a HEAVY traveler spending more time in the air than I do at home it seems. I fly with gear most of the time and have only had an issue once before. As one of the posters above said it just depends upon the agent at the time. The best is when they pulled me aside to do a random search. The guard was a photog himself and just wanted to ask a few questions and get some tips. Could have been worse though!

 

[AceBoogie]

just traveled from detroit to las vegas with no issues there or back. carried my camera bag on no issues didnt even need to take my camera out of the bag like you would a laptop or ipad.