Ronald M
Veteran
Pack lenses etc in the carry on. Pad with clothing. Put the clothing in the roller bag that is checked. Carry a messenger bag as a purse
JohnTF
Veteran
Just checked with Continental, they actually did not know the date that was announced for the new rule, and I asked if they were going to measure the bags, they told me they thought TSA was going to check the bags on the belt, which I find hard to believe, as they would need a special line for Continental, and what aboiut people flying several carriers, etc. Person who reminded me of the size change was unaware of any rule for photographers. The copyright on the web site is 2008.
Confusion will rule, off this week to see if I can get a good price at AAA travel for a bag.
I have a LL Bean backpack suitcase as well which is now six inches too big, in my younger days I went carry on only to Paris, but the planes were all bigger, and I was also traveling by train.
I normally try to pack camera cases inside of carry on, and I also use lens wraps.
Will see soon. John
Confusion will rule, off this week to see if I can get a good price at AAA travel for a bag.
I have a LL Bean backpack suitcase as well which is now six inches too big, in my younger days I went carry on only to Paris, but the planes were all bigger, and I was also traveling by train.
I normally try to pack camera cases inside of carry on, and I also use lens wraps.
Will see soon. John
dostacos
Dan
they have a measurement for under the seat is that now listed as smaller?
Don Parsons
Well-known
There is no special allowance for "photographers". They allow one personal item (small bag like a purse) and one carry-on. I worked for an airline for 11 years. They don't do it to make money, they do it to expedite boarding.l
bmattock
Veteran
Yep, me too. Screw 'em. I take the train or drive. Or, I don't go. I avoid air travel now as much as I can.
Al Patterson
Ferroequinologist
Last time I flew, they ran out of food before they got to my row. Next time I'm taking Amtrak.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Yeah, me too. But having said that, the wife and I have flown to Toronto a couple times, and will go to France in the spring, nontheless. These new baggage problems are a real heads-up. 41" total combined dimensions? That means that even our official 7 x 14 x 22" carry-ons are 2" oversize.
Is this for real? We will go to AAA next week and see what they know about this.
afineman
Established
FYI, here is the TSA link
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1248.shtm
They allow an extra bag but the airlines don't have to.
You may carry one (1) bag of photographic equipment in addition to one (1) carry-on and one (1) personal item through the screening checkpoint. The additional bag must conform to your air carrier's carry-on restrictions for size and weight. Please confirm your air carrier's restrictions prior to arriving at the airport.
Air carriers may or may not allow the additional carry-on item on their aircraft. Please check with your air carrier prior to arriving at the airport.
Our screening equipment will not affect digital cameras and electronic image storage cards.
and they have a statement about film there too:
To facilitate hand-inspection, remove your undeveloped film from the canister and pack in a clear plastic bag.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1248.shtm
They allow an extra bag but the airlines don't have to.
You may carry one (1) bag of photographic equipment in addition to one (1) carry-on and one (1) personal item through the screening checkpoint. The additional bag must conform to your air carrier's carry-on restrictions for size and weight. Please confirm your air carrier's restrictions prior to arriving at the airport.
Air carriers may or may not allow the additional carry-on item on their aircraft. Please check with your air carrier prior to arriving at the airport.
Our screening equipment will not affect digital cameras and electronic image storage cards.
and they have a statement about film there too:
To facilitate hand-inspection, remove your undeveloped film from the canister and pack in a clear plastic bag.
bmattock
Veteran
Sarcasm?
I could care less about the food, although I'm sure that is emblematic of the state of the airlines to some extent. I had more than enough after seven years of 150K per year air travel, mostly domestic, and after 9-11, it just degraded and degraded and finally got to the point where I dreaded the twice-a-week schlep to the airport. Got tired of having my bag rifled through, sometimes small electronic items missing, airlines and TSA pointing fingers at each other and neither taking responsibility, unacceptable levels of bullying by knuckle-dragging TSA goons, and so on. Enough. I quit a job that I loved, which paid quite a bit, and a large part of the reason was the way the airlines and airline security is run these days.
This, in my opinion, is common:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/business/09road.html
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/travel/content/local_news/epaper/2008/11/22/a1a_lost_luggage_1123.html
I have zero use for the TSA.
EDIT: Whoops, missed this fun one...
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2008/12/tsa_aiding_lugg.html
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Al Patterson
Ferroequinologist
No, I'm serious. While the airline food is bad, having NO food available is inexcusable. I've had to settle for my third choice on Amtrak, but I've NEVER been forced to sit for 6 hours without anything to eat.
Next week, I'm taking Amtrak from here to southern California. Sure, it costs more and takes a lot of time, but at least US Airways is denied any of my money this trip. And as an added bonus, I don't need to deal with the security theater that is the TSA.
What did we expect when "Useless Air" merged with "America's Worst"? The most incompetent clueless excuse for an airline, bar none...
Next week, I'm taking Amtrak from here to southern California. Sure, it costs more and takes a lot of time, but at least US Airways is denied any of my money this trip. And as an added bonus, I don't need to deal with the security theater that is the TSA.
What did we expect when "Useless Air" merged with "America's Worst"? The most incompetent clueless excuse for an airline, bar none...
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bmattock
Veteran
I'm hip. When I've traveled on Amtrak, the food has actually been quite good. My wife and I took an overnighter from Albuquerque to Chicago several years ago - got a sleeper. Fun experience, not what I expected, and it does require a bit of a pioneering spirit, but it came with three meals a day in the dining car and the food was fantastic. Loved it.
I have taken the Wolverine down to Chicago - easy trip, no big gasoline bill (well, gas was $4 a gallon then) and I did not arrive all tired out.
I wish rail travel was more pervasive and common, and that Amtrak got the funding it needed to be a real service. I generally am not in favor of nationalizing industries, but passenger rail travel is pretty much a monopoly by necessity, so if the government is going to do it, they ought to do a better job of funding it. But the Amtrak employees are top-notch, the best. They care - it shows.
Don't forget you can get frequent discount codes for Amtrak on flyertalk.com.
Baldadash
#2
anybody ever use those padded x-ray film pouches? and how would you get it through inspection?
-b
-b
bmattock
Veteran
In the USA, the TSA recommends against them. They will show up as something they can't see through in carry-on luggage, which means it is going to be taken out and opened and inspected anyway - might as well just ask for a hand-inspection to begin with. And the electron-beam scanners they use for checked luggage won't be stopped by the lead bags - your film will be cooked.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1035.shtm
The photographic industry has a joint agency that actually tests these things, and they issue recommendations to any who want to read them.
http://www.i3a.org/advocacy/itip/
I would advise against lead-lined bags, at least in the US.
JohnTF
Veteran
More on Carry on Madness
More on Carry on Madness
I finally needed this "rule", but my printout was lost, -- I was in First Class yesterday, and they decided at the gate of the connecting flight that only two bags were allowed per passenger, regardless of class.
I had two carry on bags, but I stuffed an extra pair of shorts at the last minute in my Cpap bag, and they said it was no longer exempt as medical equipment, and I carry my wallet, passport, cash in a fanny pack, which they then said was a carry on. Along with cameras in a roller, it made three carry on bags.
I went to the old TSA? link, and it no longer exists, so I suppose someone quietly decided cameras were no longer exempt.
I try to travel first class until I get my knee replaced, but the connecting flight had different rules from point of origin-- plus, my seat back was broken, I kept my mouth shut on that as I did not want to delay the flight for hours longer, as they were busy fixing their phone in the front as it was.
Never had a fanny pack called a carry on. I understand the frustration with carry on bags since they started the crazy add on prices, plus exemptions on weights, and the exemptions for those with the airline's credit card, plus travel class. It was also holding up my pants.
They wanted $200 for 1kg over mass leaving from Mexico a few years back, so I threw out some less than $200 clothes, and had to go to the end of the line and start over twice. Since then, they often do not weigh the bags.
I guess I am flying Forrest Gump airlines, it is like a box of chocolates.
They did miss checking my passport and ticket getting on.
Obviously no longer carrying two MF SLRs -- just a couple of X pros and some pocket cameras.
Roger, I suppose you would motorcycle the three days down to Mexico to avoid flights now?
The original exemption, as I recall, was a negotiation with the Pro Photographers folks with TSA? Probably no chance for a repeat now we really need it.
I had two chances to check it, but I have had items broken any number of times, and luggage lost even more, or broken in to-- I only carry on items I absolutely need -- like cameras, meds, money, probably in that order.
John
More on Carry on Madness
I finally needed this "rule", but my printout was lost, -- I was in First Class yesterday, and they decided at the gate of the connecting flight that only two bags were allowed per passenger, regardless of class.
I had two carry on bags, but I stuffed an extra pair of shorts at the last minute in my Cpap bag, and they said it was no longer exempt as medical equipment, and I carry my wallet, passport, cash in a fanny pack, which they then said was a carry on. Along with cameras in a roller, it made three carry on bags.
I went to the old TSA? link, and it no longer exists, so I suppose someone quietly decided cameras were no longer exempt.
I try to travel first class until I get my knee replaced, but the connecting flight had different rules from point of origin-- plus, my seat back was broken, I kept my mouth shut on that as I did not want to delay the flight for hours longer, as they were busy fixing their phone in the front as it was.
Never had a fanny pack called a carry on. I understand the frustration with carry on bags since they started the crazy add on prices, plus exemptions on weights, and the exemptions for those with the airline's credit card, plus travel class. It was also holding up my pants.
They wanted $200 for 1kg over mass leaving from Mexico a few years back, so I threw out some less than $200 clothes, and had to go to the end of the line and start over twice. Since then, they often do not weigh the bags.
I guess I am flying Forrest Gump airlines, it is like a box of chocolates.
They did miss checking my passport and ticket getting on.
Obviously no longer carrying two MF SLRs -- just a couple of X pros and some pocket cameras.
Roger, I suppose you would motorcycle the three days down to Mexico to avoid flights now?
The original exemption, as I recall, was a negotiation with the Pro Photographers folks with TSA? Probably no chance for a repeat now we really need it.
I had two chances to check it, but I have had items broken any number of times, and luggage lost even more, or broken in to-- I only carry on items I absolutely need -- like cameras, meds, money, probably in that order.
John
Bill Clark
Veteran
I was always amazed what people tried to use as carry on. It slowed the boarding and getting off process. Ever have someone hit you with their carry on trying to jam it in the overhand and holding up others trying to board? They didn't get it or only thought of themselves. I have used Spirit airlines where, addition to air fare, most everything is optional. It's quite amazing how fast the boarding process and getting off are with them. My wife and I recently used Spirit to go from Minneapolis to Houston Texas. I prepaid one checked bag, and our seats; our round trip tickets were $386.00 for both of us!
If you get to the gate and have a bag too large, it costs $100.00. Whine and ouch.
I find this a la carte pricing is a benefit to flying.
If you get to the gate and have a bag too large, it costs $100.00. Whine and ouch.
I find this a la carte pricing is a benefit to flying.
JoeV
Thin Air, Bright Sun
I've heard from those more affluent that flying a private chartered aircraft avoids almost all of these hassles. A quick look-around in the plane by the TSA official and you're off and running. Alas, if only a person could afford it.
Regarding the quality/quantity of airline food, one time when flying back home from Austin, TX via Southwest Airlines I got a carryout order of a brisket sandwich and fries from the Salt Lick in Austin's airport; then once airborne proceeded to unpack that baby and slowly eat it with as much gusto as I could muster, with the aroma of barbecue filling the cabin and other passengers eyeing me with jealousy as they munch on their little bags of peanuts and pretzels.
~Joe
Regarding the quality/quantity of airline food, one time when flying back home from Austin, TX via Southwest Airlines I got a carryout order of a brisket sandwich and fries from the Salt Lick in Austin's airport; then once airborne proceeded to unpack that baby and slowly eat it with as much gusto as I could muster, with the aroma of barbecue filling the cabin and other passengers eyeing me with jealousy as they munch on their little bags of peanuts and pretzels.
~Joe
aoresteen
Well-known
I went to Germany in Oct 2015 for three weeks. I booked my flight on KLM but Delta actually flew two of the three legs.
1st leg was Atlanta to Amsterdam (Delta). No issues with TSA. I took 30 rolls of B&W film. Had them out of the cardboard boxes (in the plastic cans) in a 1 gal ZipLoc bag. I asked for a hand inspection. No issues. They swabbed two rolls & the bag and gave them back to me - with a smile!
Amsterdam to Berlin (on KLM plane) was a non-issue as we did not have to go through security again. No carry-on issues either.
Returning we flew out of Stuttgart (Delta plane) headed to Atlanta. Again I asked for an hand inspection of my film at Stuttgart - no issues. They did it with a smile!
As to my cameras I carried a Contax IIa with a Voigtlander 25mm & a Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 and my M3 with a ZM 50mm f/2 Plannar & a 90mm f/2.8 Tele-Elmarit. Also I tool my Sekonic L-508 meter & the Voigtlander VC meter.
I packed it all in my Samsonite back pack:
I put a Domke bottom pad in the main compartment:
Then I use a Domke copy camera bag divider:
In the backpack:
(2014 trip when I took M645 gear to Scotland & Ireland)
Bottom board on top:
Film & the rest of my carry on stuff goes on top of the cameras. Laptop slot held my Samsung Android 8.4" tablet, iPod, meds etc.
I never had a carry-on issue with back pack and I also carried a CPAP. I've been using the Samsonite back pack for 4 years or so without issue domestically in the US or overseas in Europe. I did check a rollerboard bag with my clothes & toiletries etc.
Overall a very pleasant trip to Europe .
1st leg was Atlanta to Amsterdam (Delta). No issues with TSA. I took 30 rolls of B&W film. Had them out of the cardboard boxes (in the plastic cans) in a 1 gal ZipLoc bag. I asked for a hand inspection. No issues. They swabbed two rolls & the bag and gave them back to me - with a smile!
Amsterdam to Berlin (on KLM plane) was a non-issue as we did not have to go through security again. No carry-on issues either.
Returning we flew out of Stuttgart (Delta plane) headed to Atlanta. Again I asked for an hand inspection of my film at Stuttgart - no issues. They did it with a smile!
As to my cameras I carried a Contax IIa with a Voigtlander 25mm & a Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 and my M3 with a ZM 50mm f/2 Plannar & a 90mm f/2.8 Tele-Elmarit. Also I tool my Sekonic L-508 meter & the Voigtlander VC meter.
I packed it all in my Samsonite back pack:
I put a Domke bottom pad in the main compartment:
Then I use a Domke copy camera bag divider:
In the backpack:
(2014 trip when I took M645 gear to Scotland & Ireland)
Bottom board on top:
Film & the rest of my carry on stuff goes on top of the cameras. Laptop slot held my Samsung Android 8.4" tablet, iPod, meds etc.
I never had a carry-on issue with back pack and I also carried a CPAP. I've been using the Samsonite back pack for 4 years or so without issue domestically in the US or overseas in Europe. I did check a rollerboard bag with my clothes & toiletries etc.
Overall a very pleasant trip to Europe
.
Prest_400
Multiformat
What a timely topic, on Monday I'm flying transatlantic for my first time.
I tend to not risk things. On my last flight I literally took the one carry on rule and just carried my backpack, my mate carried his backpack (barely loaded) and a standard piece of luggage.
So on my way back home I'm packing a bag of delicacies to carry aside.
. In any case I'll pack my snacks, if I feel I need a higher kick perhaps I'll order from a food outlet in the terminal.
Outbound to NY I'm packing few stuff. Cameras, some clothing (t-shirts) which I'll donate there and hopefully given the Christmas madness I might be able to shop new stuff for decent prices. Then I'll fill up the luggage.
I tend to not risk things. On my last flight I literally took the one carry on rule and just carried my backpack, my mate carried his backpack (barely loaded) and a standard piece of luggage.
So on my way back home I'm packing a bag of delicacies to carry aside.
Thanks to that I'm in this Norwegian flight to NY. $290 being absolutely No frills. But well, I get to cross the puddle at least, which in legacy airlines takes a heftier amount of cash.
I'll try to do that in my outbound leg. The flight departs at Dinner time
. In any case I'll pack my snacks, if I feel I need a higher kick perhaps I'll order from a food outlet in the terminal.Outbound to NY I'm packing few stuff. Cameras, some clothing (t-shirts) which I'll donate there and hopefully given the Christmas madness I might be able to shop new stuff for decent prices. Then I'll fill up the luggage.
btgc
Veteran
Hand inspection, really? When planes fall down from skies and it's not going to look any better in near future, what one really expects from security people, to not put Leica/Nikon/whatever shaped bomb through scanner?
JohnTF
Veteran
Moving target
Moving target
Problems arise when they just change rules, sometimes in mid trip when you change planes.
In all the fuss over my fanny pack, they forgot to check my passport or boarding pass.
I went to the AA site, and something I always suspected, is that Duty Free is exempt from carry on rules, I bought several in Paris, nice bags, strong, low cost, and packed my extra cameras in them, I hauled 3 on board, no questions.
Perhaps it is because Roissy in Paris makes more money from Duty Free than from the plane fees?
As to bringing on nice sandwiches, be sure to bring extras for friends and crew.
I had a first class ticket on a cheap Brazilian airplane, breakfast became a cup of nuts and a Canadian whiskey.
Yesterday I had the feeling a carry out bag of food would have classified as a carry on.
John
Moving target
Problems arise when they just change rules, sometimes in mid trip when you change planes.
In all the fuss over my fanny pack, they forgot to check my passport or boarding pass.
I went to the AA site, and something I always suspected, is that Duty Free is exempt from carry on rules, I bought several in Paris, nice bags, strong, low cost, and packed my extra cameras in them, I hauled 3 on board, no questions.
Perhaps it is because Roissy in Paris makes more money from Duty Free than from the plane fees?
As to bringing on nice sandwiches, be sure to bring extras for friends and crew.
I had a first class ticket on a cheap Brazilian airplane, breakfast became a cup of nuts and a Canadian whiskey.
Yesterday I had the feeling a carry out bag of food would have classified as a carry on.
John