I never do this, but did once and guess what happened...

[plummerl]

If this is current news, don't you still have to take a return flight???

😱

 

[rfaspen]

I feel for the OP. Depending on the destination, I sometimes wish I could bring additional specialty kit (for example, the Widelux) with me. I mean, why have this wonderful gear if I'm not going to use it. Right?

But, practicality sets in, and I will not check photo gear. So, its all carry on and its usually limited to 1-3 small Leicas (M or SM) and a small assortment of lenses. Lately its 2 M bodies; 1 digital, 1 film. But I do empathize with the OP. My Rollei would have been wonderful on my last trip.

Film and flying is getting difficult -- topic of a completely different thread.

BTW, I love the idea of stashing lenses and smaller kit in a photo vest. That would increase the number of lenses I can bring, possibly another small body. I just happen to own an old beat-up photo vest too.

 

[Richard G]

The only thing I can see wrong with traveling so many cameras, is the slight possibility of not getting to use them all (like if the weather takes a nasty turn). Other than that, I've hauled a lot of gear before, but not on an airplane yet.

If you've got 'em, use 'em! Happy Trails, Valdas!

PF

We've given poor valdas a hard time here. So I agree with this above. On my annual holiday, by car, I take a lot of cameras, amd usually am sorry that I don't use the Rolleiflex more. By plane I take two bodies at most.

 

[valdas]

If this is current news, don't you still have to take a return flight???

😱

Nope, it's on the return home. So not that bad after all...

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

I don't know what the purpose of your trip was, but I have no idea why anyone wants to travel with so much gear. Just, why ?

Last year I went on a long trip so I decided it was a good idea to take 2 M bodies, that still felt too much.

I went on a two week Asia trip, and brought three cameras, Bronica s2a, nikon s3, and a mamiya 7 with 43mm, wayyy too much. Now I just carry my gf670 and now the gf670w, so much better.

 

[Pablito]

May I ask a more contentious, and important, air travel question -- why aren't peanuts really nuts?

I know peanuts are a really touchy subject, so let's keep it polite.

Funny you should mention it. On a recent flight, the flight attendants asked the passengers in my row and adjacent rows if any of us had nuts because there was a kid with severe peanut allergy. I said I had nuts with me - it was true. The whole family got moved to a different part of the plane even though I said I was willing to not eat the nuts during the flight. Is that nuts? I had cashews, too, not peanuts. But it didn't come down to full disclosure. I have heard that there is a thing about whether peanuts are really nuts, but are cashews really nuts? It got me thinking because at the destination of my flight there are cashew trees and the cashew apple is prized as much as the nut that grows on it. Here's the important part: my nuts were keeping my cameras company, safely in the overhead bin. I resisted a compelling urge to congregate around the rest rooms. Ouch.

 

[ferider]

Well, Pablito, you have nuts for admitting it to her.

For Fred: Peanuts are part of the bean family. My favorite Peanut is Woodstock.

 

[Pablito]

I love Mr. Bean. He is truly nuts.

 

[Darthfeeble]

On a trip to Africa and Madagascar I had put our small laptop in our checked luggage to avoid the headache of check in. On the leg from Madagascar to Namibia our luggage was delayed a day and when it arrived, some of the wifes goodies were in my duffle and the laptop missing. The charger and the external drive were still there, so I think they just forgot to put it back when they did a check but still, Lesson Learned.

 

[peterm1]

I would not check any camera gear. Its not just the risk of it being lost (I did have my normal baggage lost once and it was not fun to arrive in a foreign city halfway around the world without a change fo under clothes or fresh shirt). I have often stood at the airport lounge window and watched airport staff "place" baggage in a plane's hold. Throw, chuck, violently hand pass would all be better descriptions. Even a purpose made hard case with ample foam packing such as a Pelican Case would be hard pressed to protect its contents in this situation. How then if there is damage do you prove the camera gear was broken by handlers? And does it matter if your photo holiday has been ruined because you no longer have gear to use? Yes you can have the gear marked "Fragile" but I still wonder if baggage handlers take any notice.

Having said that, when I have flown recently (on domestic flights) I have noticed that most airlines have become much tougher in policing their carry on rules in recent years. This makes it harder to take any substantial gear on board. For this reason I think that next time I travel overseas on holidays I will try to pick an airline with generous carry on allowances and if necessary leave my heave DSLR and lenses behind in favour of Sony NEX or M4/3 gear and a limited range of lenses. Even then (perhaps especially then) placing expensive and loved gear to the tender mercies of unidentified handlers is just not an option.

 

[valdas]

AN UPDATE: my luggage is safely back home, all cameras and other content are intact.

 

[randolph45]

My gear always goes on board with me in a pelican case. Clothes I can buy and have when luggage is lost or delayed.
Glad to hear your gear arrived safe.🙂