Cameras as airline checked-in baggage

[warrior2035]

I cannot get away anymore with cameras/lens as airline hand luggage on an upcoming trip (too heavy), some of it will have to go in as checked-in hold baggage. Has anyone any tips/knowledge about the best security against baggage handler theft and what is the best insurance scheme assuming the kit gets stolen/lost. Thanks (and yes I know I am a pessimist).

[roughcutter]

Have you ever considered hiring a big lens abroad, just a thought?

[Richard B]

Strip off the small bits like battery packs flash gunns etc and put in your suitcase,
10kgs hand luggage will be good for 2 bodies zoom lens and a few small lens.

[warrior2035]

great ideas, thank you; hiring overseas is sometimes possible; stripping the kit down is worth thinking about, I'll try it.

[warrior2035]

another idea I have just thought of is sending the kit by courier to my destination hotel as most couriers offer decent insurance.

[Phil Standfield]

I hope this makes sense but talking to a bird photographer who travels around europe/usa alot he says.
Alot of bird photographers will strip down cameras,take off grips, lens etc. Carry camera in their coat ( or whatever top) maybe even small lens in their coat and only 500/600 lens in their camera bag. Once through checkin then they put grips etc back on and put gear in camera bag. The airlines only check hand baggage weights at check in so after you have gone through that you should be able to put your gear away without being weighed again. I maybe wrong, someone may come on here and clear that up .
You did not say where you were flying too or who with so you may only get 5kg hand baggage.
Stan

[Jason Grant]

I was told on my last long haul trip that there is no weight limit with hand luggage (USA Delta), you just have to make sure it fits in the overhead lockers.

I have put L lenses in my checked bag several times in the past without any problems. On my last trip, my bag was searched and it was unlocked when I collected it but yet again, my two L lenses were still in it.

[roughcutter]

Strip off the small bits like battery packs

I'm afraid that's not allowed. I was pulled over at the last minute before departing Japan last November, after attempting to lighten my cambag by hiding the batteries in my suitcase. I was made to take them out again and put them back into my camerabag

[Supra]

Even if your Equipment is insured...Red Flag 13-999 will be over before you can secure new gear...& you'll pay UK Duty on it don't get nicked on the way-back. If you are flying long-haul with a decent airline...make contact beforehand to explain your problem. Explain to them that your Contract with your Insurance Company forbids you from abandoning the 'obvious Camera Bag' in the departure hall to collected by underpaid baggage-handlers later...or stolen at any stage! Ask them to furnish their acceptance in writing that once you had-over the bag until you receive it again...they have financial responsibility to the stated insured amount. After this ..you will be taking it with you!! & have a contact number to smooth-over any failure on the part of the check-in staff to realise that. If you are flying 'Bandito Budget Air', then it all changes! I'm sure they know most of the above tricks (well...they do now! ) but sometimes they let it go 'outbound' as you could elect to leave stuff behind. The more astute destinations then check more diligently on your return...hammer you for 'inbound Excess fees' coz they know you aint gonna leave your kit behind!! Constanides O' Leeery didn't get rich being nice? Finally...size does matter. If it comfortably fits the overhead bins & you don't blow a blood vessel lifting it... it's not overweight, right?

[Dunk]

If you are flying 'Bandito Budget Air', then it all changes! I'm sure they know most of the above tricks (well...they do now! ) but sometimes they let it go 'outbound' as you could elect to leave stuff behind. The more astute destinations then check more diligently on your return...hammer you for 'inbound Excess fees' coz they know you aint gonna leave your kit behind!! Constanides O' Leeery didn't get rich being nice? Finally...size does matter. If it comfortably fits the overhead bins & you don't blow a blood vessel lifting it... it's not overweight, right?

A good example of this is my recent trip on Ryanair to Sweden. On departure they are not interested in your cabin bag weight bar the size, but on the return check in they have a container with scales and were ruthless.

[Mayfly]

Strip off the small bits like battery packs

I'm afraid that's not allowed. I was pulled over at the last minute before departing Japan last November, after attempting to lighten my cambag by hiding the batteries in my suitcase. I was made to take them out again and put them back into my camerabag

Yes you need to be careful - China have made it law certain types of battery cannot go in checked luggage - the couple we travelled with were pulled up for that and had to empty their cases and take the batteries out.

They only time I have seen hand luggage weighed was at LA with Air NZ but they were ruthless- one chaps bag wouldn't fit in the mould by 1/2 inch and he had to check it in - and from NZ to Hong Kong again with Air NZ 2 business mens luggage wouldn't fit in the over head lockers and they were charged about £80 excess each bag.

[warrior2035]

I saw a BBC team check-in with about 20 metal boxes of kit, going to a part of Africa where there was no camera hire - all of the boxes were heavily locked - I spoke to one of them who said the only answer to baggage theft was to have duplicate items of kit in different boxes and then hope that at least one of them gets through. It goes without saying they did not own the kit.

[KINROTATE]

Excess baggage will always be a revenue stream for airlines, senior managers and duty managers know that the law of averages says that excess luggage is a given for a significant amount of pax. To have your ground staff/handling agent not collect any revenue shows that they are being remiss in their duties. If you have been down on the baggage bin make up areas in long haul terminals such as LHR, there is no way those guys have the time to target bags and if they did it would be totally random. Its full on down there most of the time, and given the restrictions on space most bins once full are sent straight out to the acft side. Short haul on low cost carriers offers further hurdles for any pilferage, again due to time constraints really? In reality how would a certain bag be targeted as that of a photographer unless you were silly enough to start juggling and re-packing your case on a terminal floor for all to see. Me? I would opt for a photographers waist coat, under a light coat to supplement my limited cabin bag restriction or target an airline that gives a generous allowance. Once checked in, simply go for a coffee and reload your camera bag before you go through security. If you travel with family divvy out the gear before (!) you get to the airport is another option.

Of course I could tell you of the story of a trend for suitcases arriving into LHR from deepest Africa with attractive items missing. The culprits were slowing down the X-ray process at the departure airport, marking the outside of the case with a chalk mark to allow a very focused dip into a specific area of the case before the bags got to the baggage make up areas. It would have been the perfect crime if they had had the time to wipe the chalk mark off - muppets!

Hand luggage is incorporated into the assumed planning weight for male, female, child and infant body weights. You could always google these weights and the try and argue the toss that you don't weigh xx kilos so why can't you be 3 kgs over on cabin bags? Overhead baggage bin weight limitation arguments are countered that the bag will be sat under the seat in front of you, providing you don't go for exit seating.

Airlines have no responsibility to cover actual replacement items in your luggage should it or the whole case go missing. Full cost recovery will only come from your insurance company. The airline pays out something called Drawing Rights which is an international airline convention and basically capped with regard to what it is obliged to pay.

[p6025]

Here's a question, would a Lowepro Photo Trekker AWII get through as hand luggage providing it didn't exceed the 6kg limit?
Size wise it appears pretty close to the max.

What makes you think it is within the size limits? Pretty sure that isn't within the typical European limits on size. The weight limit varies by airline, and even by ticket class in some cases.

But it's probably fine flying internally in the U.S. where they typically have larger limits.

[p6025]

Should qualify that by saying I'm flying with Virgin Atlantic and their hand luggage spec is 23 x 36 x 57cm weighing no more than 6 kgs.
Just wondered, as it's a reasonably popular camera bag if anybody has experience of getting it through as hand luggage?

There is often a difference between what you might get away with and being able to guarantee it wont get rejected. The only way you can guarantee that (Force majeure aside) is if its within the limits (including the harness, waist support, handles, et al). In my experience, if/when they do enforce their own rules they are strict if not harsh...

Personally I have never considered trying to take my Photo Trekker AWII on a plane (but then I have others more suited to airline restrictions). I would suggest you load it as you intend to take it, and check the weight/dims, carefully...

[GummyBe4r]

Good morning gents, most airlines have a weight restriction of a very low max with thomson, monarch, thomas cook, virgin all around the 5-6 kg mark, easyjet no restriction just has to fit in along with ryanair the same, regarding other long haul airlines the only one I know is northwest before the merger with delta that was 14 kg per hand luggage.

regarding everything else some airlines now reweigh at the gate before getting and will charge or make you check in the luggage before getting on the aircraft

kind regards

calum

[roughcutter]

Thanks for the feedback,

Don't think I'll risk the photo trekker, instead I'll pack the bag in the suitcase along with batteries, chargers etc.

Pack the camera and lenses in one of those small trollied wheel cases well padded out with bubble wrap.

Cheers
Tim

Like I mentioned before - be careful about the batteries, put them with your cabin luggage.

[flyingslug_0]

If your flying Monarch Airlines let me know, and I'll sort it all out for you.

[C24]

from experience.

New Jersey is tough on suitcases, cutting off locks and removing straps, sealing them with duck tape. Contents ok

Lagos probably still has the security staff at Check-in selecting bags for pilfering a/side. Contents lost

Denver are very friendly but tough and weigh again for internal flights[Delta] but are ok for size providing it fits in the o/head rack. $20 per bag.

A lottery

[joe spares]

Thanks for the feedback,

Don't think I'll risk the photo trekker, instead I'll pack the bag in the suitcase along with batteries, chargers etc.

Pack the camera and lenses in one of those small trollied wheel cases well padded out with bubble wrap.

Cheers
Tim

I have photo trekker, although not been on a plane since 2006. never had any probs with it as hand luggage,(although only done US/Canada (no Sleazyjet, or ryanair) even took on South West airlines as carry on in Tucson) , bar the time we checked in early with Virgin at Heathrow. No one else at check in and the girl was bored so she weighed it, ( 2 SLR bodies, various lenses, 40+ rolls K64 etc) 12 kg OOPS! Had to unload into the girlfriends hand luggage. (Then repacked into my bag in departure lounge, shhh, don't telll them !).