Current UK flight regulations

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petebown

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Off to Bulgaria in 7 weeks.

Anyone know what the current UK regulations are with regard to carrying photographic gear on board an aircraft?

My intention is to carry a small camera bag as hand luggage... Enough to carry my Voigt, a couple of lenses and a mini video camera. I've not no intention of putting it in the hold... I've seen how the cases are thrown around, not to mention the theft issue... I'm not libeling the Bularians it London's airports that bother me!!!
 
You can take ONE carry-on bag - not, say, a laptop bag PLUS a camera bag. But, if your one bag is full, you can sling your cameras round your shoulder and put your lenses in your pockets. I did it a fortnight ago, no problem. Max size of the bag varies from airline to airline, but you should be fine with a smallish one filled with camera gear, as long as it's your only bag. (Incidentally, this was Heathrow, but other UK airport are probabyl the same. You need to carry your liquids, ie shaving foam, in a transparent bag, and take them out of your carry-on for the X-Ray).

While I was in the queue I did watch a hilarious half-hour standoff between one gentleman and security. He had a carry-on bag, plus a laptop in a case. He kept telling them "this is NOT a bag, this is a LAP TOP!" at a high volume. Didn't work.

INcidentally, when you're returning to the UK, restrictions are slightly more lax, and I managed to take two bags as carry-on.
 
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As Paul says - you'll be fine.

They'll probably do an explosives swipe on your film and I wouldn't keep a roll in the bessa in case they want a butchers.
 
Hmm.. think I can get away with a backpack full of LF gear + 35mm AND a skateboard attached?

Next time I fly I'm gonna push my liberties :D
 
Hey Ash - that skateboard probably won't get through unless it fits inside the bag (56x45x25cm).

And there's no arguing with these dudes, they're pissed off because they're getting shouted at all day, they probably need the bog but can't because of aforementioned shouty/whiny man and they probably got a bollocking for taking peoples stuff home when these restrictions were first brought in.

Ah well, some of them are wankers but then one nod and the blokes/ladies with machine guns are asking you to come behind "the curtain".
 
Yep, they don't give any leeway Ash. Doesn't matter how much you turn the charm on or even beg, if it's bigger than the max allowed size, or weighs more, or isn't in one bag, you won't get it on as hand baggage.

Ian
 
damn... this old school deck I'm getting is about 26" long. I was hoping it would strap to the outside of the bag and I'd get away with it.
 
Forgot to mention, that it's the weight that's the killer for carry-on. Virgin, the other week, have a weight restriction which is quite low, from memory 6KG to the US. You will need to take your cameras (and laptops etc) out, when you put the bag on the scales. Then you put the laptop back in as you queue up for security (cameras ok over shoulder or in pocket). Then you will have to take the laptop out again for the x-ray!
 
yep we got caught by the Virgin carry on 6 kg we were just over like 3 kg between two of us, but what got me was even though we had 2 bags between us other peeps were getting on with more than two bags. After the bag of sh** flight home rest assured Im not flying virgin again. There is no reasoning with these people, in the future we will be looking in to the carry on allowances and I was thinking of buying a cheep laptop for travel so it can go in the hold. Cause though they insist that your gear has to go in the hold they hold no responcabillity for damage nor will your insurance cover your cam gear in the hold, so either way your stuck. I can understand the limits on the weight but as other airlines allow heavier, I cant see why so low and why no give on a few pounds. I read in another orum that you should get away with a photo vest after all there were people on the flight who were at least twice my weight, Im gonna look in to that.
 
Must you really fly through England on the way to Bulgaria?

I thought that one could (and most would) fly through Europe, rather than Britain to reach Sofia.

Europe is ok; British airports are just so fiddled up, sorry. Do change your ticket (or travel agent) if you can! Or do you like being harrassed and hassled so much as to forget about all European airports?
 
al1966 said:
yep we got caught by the Virgin carry on 6 kg we were just over like 3 kg between two of us, but what got me was even though we had 2 bags between us other peeps were getting on with more than two bags. After the bag of sh** flight home rest assured Im not flying virgin again. There is no reasoning with these people
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I agree it's irritating, but while they are strict about obeying the rules, they will let you skirt the very edge of them. I reckon my bag wieghed around 12kg, but I simply took out the various items that took it over the limit before it was weighed, then replaced them afterwards. Similarly, they'll let you take your laptop out while the bag's being weighed. But I always take the items out first- - psychologically, it's easier for them if it LOOKS to be OK for weight, before they notice how the passenger's coat is suspiciously lumpy!

I think Viirgin are fine, and UK airport staff do seem better educated and mroe on the ball than many US airports, altho that's improved now they've raised salaries beyond what you'd get flipping burgers...
 
On two occasions last year I’ve been refused a hand inspection of film, both times at provincial airports on internal flights
 
I flew out of Heathrow (spelling?) a few weeks ago to New York and they absolutely refused to do a hand inspection on my film, including 10 rolls of Delta3200.

The lady in charge told me that Kodak certified their xray machine for film up to 3200 asa. I politely told her that I found that difficult to believe, having worked in the movie business for 15 years and just turned down a job with a Kodak company less than 24 hours ago, but she was insistant.

So, they ran it through the machine and I tossed the film in the trash when it came out the other side. In hindsight I should have kept a roll and done some tests, but I was less than thrilled at that point. Film isn't cheap in London, especially Delta3200.

Good thing I had developed my exposed film in the hotel bathroom.
 
Those carry-on regulations you're talking about apply to all airports within the European Union since November 2006.
/Erik
 
Harry Lime said:
Take the tunnel or boat to France. Fly from there or even better take the train.
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I completely agree. If you can spare a couple of days extra: take the train.

Make sure you have a sleeper, and you will arrive well rested and will have seen a wonderfull slice of Europe!
 
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