For those that fly with camera gear ...

[DionM]

You may be interested in this ...

I fly regularly for work, and today my carry-on bag was weighed (flying QANTAS). This is the first time it has been weighed when flying a jet service (it has been weighed in the past when flying on smaller aircraft, which is understandable).

Generally they have never weighed carry on, and only question if it looks too big etc. My carry on is a standard sized cabin bag, which has my laptop, some cables (for my job), diary etc.

It was a bit over the 7kg allowed. The guy at the checkin said that from October, any bag over 7kgs will have to go in the hold - no ifs or buts. It is a safety issue and that is understandable, I guess. 7kg is the QANTAS limit per carry on bag.

So be warned - if you turn up with a camera bag full of heavy lenses, some will end up in the hold of the aircraft. No exceptions by the sounds of it (your sob story about laptop/camera/etc will fall on deaf ears).

Personally I will be rejigging my work bag (though having a laptop that weighs around 3kgs doesn't help) and I will ensure that any private travel I do, my camera bag will be dead on 7kgs and not a smidgen more. To me I would rather leave a lens behind than have it go in the hold of the aircraft.

I may also investigate some sort of rigid case to put in my checked luggage to store my flash, spare batteries, charger, tripod mounts etc (and transfer them when I get to the other end of my flight).

Note that you may be allowed to take 2 carry on bags at 7kgs each - that is another options (though then you have the hassle of carrying two carry on bags) and spread it across two bags for carry on (though that becomes cumbersome, obviously). That is for QANTAS domestic - QANTAS international only allows 1 bag.

[kipper]

That's simple Dion, I'll ask them if I can walk onto the tarmac and load my lens into the plane and offload it as I don't trust their incompetant baggage handlers with a $8k lens.

I mean they can't even get a suitcase on and off a plane without damaging it.

[leek]

Wow... that's interesting... 7kg is not a lot in photographic terms...

I actually thought that the limit was 5kg... maybe they've upped it slightly b4 enforcing it strictly...

Thanks for the information Dion... I'll have to be more selective what I take on my travels...

[gstark]

Yet another justfication for my decision to avoid flying Quaint Arse.

Probably now should be renamed Quaint Anal!

[birddog114]

No problem DionM,
Take the camera out with the biggest lens which you have and hanging around your neck, after check-ins or boarding the aircraft, pack them in your bag.

Or get these vests, which I have two of them in difference colour, I did use it in few trips and they just looked at me, same as easy for security search or inspection.

http://www.vestedinterest.com/still.htm

and pack your lenses, camera bodies in it, save you lot of hassle to deal with those stupid and dictated check-ins staffs, especially nowaday, you can't talk back to them much nor raising your voice due to your disappointment with their treatment, you can be classified and accused as violation to a security matter by harrassing them and you'll be denied to board the aircraft.

If you have the vest or camera with lens hanging to your neck, will they put you on a scale as an animal?

[DionM]

That's simple Dion, I'll ask them if I can walk onto the tarmac and load my lens into the plane and offload it as I don't trust their incompetant baggage handlers with a $8k lens.

I mean they can't even get a suitcase on and off a plane without damaging it.

Kipper,

I agree with you completely. But that kind of story doesn't look like it will persuade them. And yes, I have had many many bags damaged (just noticed bag #3 is on its last trip today, the reinforced metal frame around the inside of the case has been bent so much it has fatigued).

The only photographic item that presently goes into my luggage is my tripod and battery charger.

[DionM]

Wow... that's interesting... 7kg is not a lot in photographic terms...

I actually thought that the limit was 5kg... maybe they've upped it slightly b4 enforcing it strictly...

Thanks for the information Dion... I'll have to be more selective what I take on my travels...

I think its always been 7kgs for the jet services, and 4kgs for the Dash-8 services.

[big pix]

on my leaving Australia flying Emiates Airlines OS in July they were weighing the odd hand luggage that looked heavy. I saw a number of people repacking their bags and hand luggage at the checkin area....... I was lucky.......

[DionM]

Yet another justfication for my decision to avoid flying Quaint Arse.

Probably now should be renamed Quaint Anal!

Gary,

I can only assume you are referring to international, as domestic I am sure Jetstar is doing the same (if they don't already - never flown them). And Virgin will probably follow soon anyway - I can't remember the baggage limits but will check next time I fly with them. It sounds like an OH&S thing. Their argument in the past has been "its too heavy to lift up high" to which my response was "look how tall I am - its easy for me to lift" ... now it is a falling hazard, so they say.

As far as international airlines, last few times I've flown with Malaysian they never weighed my bag, but did weigh a colleagues (and that was flying business class - not that that changes the carry-on weight allowance anyway).

I don't like it either, but I can sort of see their reasoning.

[DionM]

No problem DionM,
Take the camera out with the biggest lens which you have and hanging around your neck, or get one of these photo vests (which I have two),
After checking or boarding the aircraft, pack them in your bag.

Birddog, yes that is probably another solution. I have often seen pro photogs board a plane with two bodies and a couple of lenses hanging off them around their necks, plus luggage.

[huynhie]

Virgin weight my check-in lugage once about 3 years ago. I have not flown with them since.

[big pix]

add the extra weight x the number of flights x the number of people per flight in a 12 month period, work it out against the increased fuel cost we have today and you and I will have to pay for excess baggage.........I know my baggage is overweight now and I have not been shopping yet...... well just a few things.......

[birddog114]

I can do other way as:
If you're travelling o/s, get a friends or a relative come with you at the airport, give them your carry on luggages and sit them in a coffee shop or a bar, after check-ins your checked luggages, freely to move on with your carry-on bags to the aircraft, why should you show them (the check-ins staff) your carry-on luggage anyway, if asked, show them the bag with the notebook in it.
If you were stopped at the boarding gate, then it'll be stored inside the cabin and you can collect it when you leave the aircraft, but I didn't see these things happened and of course your backbag as the minitrekker AW can weight 10-15Kg with all your gears in it, it will be on your back when you board the aircraft.

[DionM]

I can do other way as:
If you're travelling o/s, get a friends or a relative come with you at the airport, give them your carry on luggages and sit them in a coffee shop or a bar, after check-ins your checked luggages, freely to move on with your carry-on bags to the aircraft, why should you show them (the check-ins staff) your carry-on luggage anyway, if asked, show them the bag with the notebook in it.
If you were stopped at the boarding gate, then it'll be stored inside the cabin and you can collect it when you leave the aircraft, but I didn't see these things happened and of course your backbag as the minitrekker AW can weight 10-15Kg with all your gears in it, it will be on your back when you board the aircraft.

Birddog,

This happened on a small plane with me once - they took it off me and put it in the hold. It was only my work bag, but they can take it off you even at the boarding gate and it can go into the hold (rather than cabin).

[Hlop]

I flew Sydney - Gold Coast on Sunday by Virgin. They've got the same rule and they even forced me to weight my backpack - it was about 12 kilos. But showing them a laptop and compartment loadfull of lenses helped - girl at the counter said it's OK. No dramas. I'll see how they'll handle this situation on my way back

[cordy]

Hmm only ever been asked to weigh my bag once, it was right under 7kg. Given I usually carry two bags onboard - my camera and my notebook im quite suprised.

Coming back from Singapore, they didnt say boo about our luggage weight at Changi. When we went to check in at Perth for our domestic leg home we had to pull some stuff out of the checked-in baggage. You should have seen the size of some of the carry on luggage people were taking on the Singapore Airlines flight - almost to the size of a suitcase.

Unfortunately this sort of thing is now transgressing through to our domestic services, the size of carry on luggage people are taking onboard is ridiculous.

Chris

Edit: Spelling is not so good at this hour of the morning, time to go get my coffee

[gstark]

Yet another justfication for my decision to avoid flying Quaint Arse.

Probably now should be renamed Quaint Anal!

Gary,

I can only assume you are referring to international,

Both.

Jetstar??? I wouldn'ty fly with theme were they the only airline flying: I'd rather drive, or walk, than submit myself to being taken as an idiot (or one of their PAX - same thing ... )


Quaintarse pissed me off a long, long time ago when they couldn't compete with a particular JAL package I was looking at, and we found that package discontinued due to political pressure from them the day before we were going to book.

And Virgin will probably follow soon anyway - I can't remember the baggage limits but will check next time I fly with them.

Last time I flew Virginal I was able to bring two bags onto the plane, plus luggage in the hold, and there were no issues at all.

I resent dealing with all of these power-drunk little Hitlers - and Virgin are as bad in that regard - most of who9m have have no concept of the term "customer service". The best thing to do is to ask the poor little darlings to escalate the matter to their supervisor as early in the process as you can, thus avoiding the shouting match at the checkin counter that does you no good but only helps to inflate their already over-inflated ego.

It sounds like an OH&S thing.

ROTFLMAO.

OH&S ??? In Oz ???

Give me a break!

As far as international airlines, last few times I've flown with Malaysian they never weighed my bag, but did weigh a colleagues (and that was flying business class - not that that changes the carry-on weight allowance anyway).

I have yet to experience an issue with my carry-on, but I always insist on carrying cdrtain things with me, and, for instance, when I impress upon the the value of the software on my laptop (the hardware is a mere $3K or $ 4K, but tthe software, written by myself, may be worth up to $200K - how can they argue? - they start to pipe down.

I don't like it either, but I can sort of see their reasoning.

I cannot.

[Greg B]

And perhaps we need to consider that these restrictions may have to do with safety and security, and develop a plan not aimed at defeating those measures but working within them.

Thanks for the heads up Dion - I travel a lot too but don't take my camera gear.

Kipper - great plan, send us a postcard from Guantanemo Bay. They love attitude at airports these days.

[leek]

Pah!!! Qantas have it too easy...

On regional airlines in Africa and the Pacific Islands it used to be quite common to see live chickens or even washing machines being carried on as hand-luggage...

I'd love to see how the Qantas check-in person would cope with that...

[kipper]

Kipper - great plan, send us a postcard from Guantanemo Bay. They love attitude at airports these days.

Not sure that I've experienced the bad side of checkin staff just yet to have this opinion yet.

[DaveB]

That's simple Dion, I'll ask them if I can walk onto the tarmac and load my lens into the plane and offload it as I don't trust their incompetant baggage handlers with a $8k lens.

I mean they can't even get a suitcase on and off a plane without damaging it.

As others have already suggested, this attitude won't get you very far. According to the world as they see it, they can give you one of two choices:

• Give them the bag/whatever to get put into the hold. No you don't have security clearance to go down to the tarmac...
• You don't fly today

It's that simple - if you get someone to back down then you're extremely lucky (or foolhardy). It won't matter to them that you managed to fly it out to Timbuktu and this is your return flight: check it or don't fly it.

However as birddog has said, the easiest way around this is to take heavy things out of your carry-on (e.g. lenses, cameras) and put them on your person, where they're not subject to weight restrictions. It is extremely rare for airlines to weigh passengers (I wouldn't be surprised if they did this with sumo wrestlers on a flight though as they'd need to make sure the plane was balanced ).

Wearing a vest with lots of pockets helps with this. I know of several photographers who don't use vests in their photo work but bought cheap ones simply for getting onto planes! The camera pouches, belt system, etc they use in the field are packed inside their check-in luggage, filled with clothes/etc so they don't take up too much space. The vest is easily taken off and put onto the X-ray scanner so you can walk through the EM scanner at security.
As for your lens, a common approach with 500/4 lenses is to carry the lens (not in a bag, but with a shoulder strap attached to the lens' strap points) as a personal item. Because it's not a carry-on bag amazingly it doesn't get weighed. It can make carrying a laptop plus backpack hard though, as you're typically only allowed one "personal item" so you need to think carefully about what you're going to carry. Having a travel partner can help spread items out too.

[kipper]

Sigh.....I wasn't being serious.

However I know for a fact I wouldn't allow them to put a lens into cargo hold. I've watched in France, cargo hold personell throw cases onto the conveyor belt to the cargo hold. One fell off mid way up the belt.

[DaveB]

Sigh.....I wasn't being serious.

You should know never to joke with airport security staff. It's not worth them trying to work out if you're joking or not!

Maybe it's rubbing off on us due to the conversation subject...

[Willy wombat]

If you have a lot of gear then get a lockable pelican (hard) case. They are fantastic.

[Alpha_7]

Just a quick question, what about tripods ? Have people been stopped from bring them on the plane ? I have 7 hours of stop overs on my upcoming flight and was hoping to take both the camera and tripod as carry on so I could take photo's while I wait for the connecting flights.

[birddog114]

Just a quick question, what about tripods ? Have people been stopped from bring them on the plane ? I have 7 hours of stop overs on my upcoming flight and was hoping to take both the camera and tripod as carry on so I could take photo's while I wait for the connecting flights.

Alpha_7,
Not worth it! and I think it's a prohibited item to bring along with you when boarding an aircraft too.

[cordy]

Just a quick question, what about tripods ? Have people been stopped from bring them on the plane ? I have 7 hours of stop overs on my upcoming flight and was hoping to take both the camera and tripod as carry on so I could take photo's while I wait for the connecting flights.

I have some pilot friends that check their tripods in, then the tripod is handed to them as they board the plane. Go figure

[birddog114]

Just a quick question, what about tripods ? Have people been stopped from bring them on the plane ? I have 7 hours of stop overs on my upcoming flight and was hoping to take both the camera and tripod as carry on so I could take photo's while I wait for the connecting flights.

I have some pilot friends that check their tripods in, then the tripod is handed to them as they board the plane. Go figure

Yes, they do that way, but unless you're a pilot, if you're a pax, they'll sit you in the toilet with the leg

[Alpha_7]

Fair enough, I think on the way back from Singapore, I didnt want to risk it so threw the tripod in my suitcase and just carried my camera and laptop on with me. Didn't even really think to take photo's while on the plane... thought I would annoy other passagers, but then a couple started taking happy snaps... I was tempted..

Edit : Speeling

[fozzie]

Alpha_7,

Just a quick question, what about tripods ? Have people been stopped from bring them on the plane ? I have 7 hours of stop overs on my upcoming flight and was hoping to take both the camera and tripod as carry on so I could take photo's while I wait for the connecting flights.

Trust me you will not get past security. I tried this at Adelaide Airport about 3 months ago when seeing people off and was refused entry with my Tripod. Returned to car and placed tripod in boot, then got through with my Mini Trekker AW with all camera gear inside. It will have to be packed into you luggage.

[huynhie]

A pram can be brought on board a plane but not a tripod.

[MHD]

I've taken my G1277LVL + AUB on a flight to NZ in carry on... no problems! Went through sydney, christchurch and Wellington airport...

[Glen]

I believe the weight issue would be due to the load capacity of the overhead lockers. I was on a flight once where, due to a rough landing, every locker opened upon landing. Chaos.

What makes me laugh about the weight issue, is a mate of mine is a Qantas pilot, he tells me that when they do a USA - AUS flight they do the fuel calculations, then add 10% due to the people, on average, weighing more than aussies. Funny, I can't imagine on the Japan Aus route them telling everyone to take 40kg of luggage as on average the passengers weigh less

[birddog114]

I've taken my G1277LVL + AUB on a flight to NZ in carry on... no problems! Went through sydney, christchurch and Wellington airport...

You were lucky at that time and perhaps you get priority with small child.
Try next time and you'll see!

[MHD]

there are definite advantages to having a small child

[Greg B]

There is a compliance issue here. While I don't suggest that we all behave like stepford wives and mindlessly follow all rules without review etc, obviously a lot of measures are put in place for a reason.

There was a terrible tragedy in Geelong this week when a teenage girl ran across the railway tracks and got hit and killed by a train. There were signs saying don't cross the tracks, we all know you shouldn't cross the tracks, and there were people saying it was the fault of the rail company because they didn't put up a big fence to stop people doing ahat they knew they shouldn't do.

Aircraft have gone down because they were overloaded. Commercial flights have enormous margins for error, but there are also internal safety issues - Glen's post gives an example.

My point is that we expect the airlines to provide safe passage, so it is not unreasonable for them to expect passengers to observe weight and related guidelines. Some requirements are overdone - no doubt. For example, we can turn on our phones just after touchdown now although nothing has changed - but do we want each passenger on our flight deciding which requirements are unnecessary and can therefore be disregarded?

[kipper]

I've flown a couple of Lufthansa flights that have had rough landing where overheads have dropped down and chairs have shifted foward (they're only bolted on rails). Plus one Lufthansa flight returning to Australia hit bad turbulance and dropped quite a substancial height out of the sky. As with Glens flight a lot of the overheads opened up. I can see their point about reducing the weight of items in overheads but they also say if the bag is over X number of kg then they should be placed under the seat in front of you.

Personally I think it's bollocks that they can tell you to put a lens in the cargo hold if you're not prepared with means to do so. I mean what happens if you turn up and you don't have a hard case to check it into the hold or have silica moisture bags? I mean I'm not sure how these lenses fair up on a journey like that in a hold but I know at that altitude it tends to be quite cold

[Paul]

I was up in Hamilton Island of April this year and flew with JetStar, plus I flew to Adelaide with both Qantas & Virgin.
I had the tripod attached to my Mini Trekker AW and they said nothing to me on both journeys.
Guess I was lucky I think in the future I'll pack it in the suitcase, can't be arsed being told to repack my bags at check in.

[nodabs]

No problem DionM,
Take the camera out with the biggest lens which you have and hanging around your neck, after check-ins or boarding the aircraft, pack them in your bag.

Or get these vests, which I have two of them in difference colour, I did use it in few trips and they just looked at me, same as easy for security search or inspection.

http://www.vestedinterest.com/still.htm

and pack your lenses, camera bodies in it, save you lot of hassle to deal with those stupid and dictated check-ins staffs, especially nowaday, you can't talk back to them much nor raising your voice due to your disappointment with their treatment, you can be classified and accused as violation to a security matter by harrassing them and you'll be denied to board the aircraft.

If you have the vest or camera with lens hanging to your neck, will they put you on a scale as an animal?

thats pretty much what i was going to suggest take out some glass and just carry it yourself you could even just carry your laptop or put power adaptors etc in pockets depending how much you need to loose. there are stories of people putting there bags on the scale and just taking out stuff until it is under infront of the check in staff then walking around the corner and repacking the whole lot. it's a very silly rule but hey

[Deano]

I agree with the sentiment expressed by Greg.

To put it a little less diplomatically; (those of you so inclined) can piss and moan all you like but you will not win with that approach. The airlines exist within a heavily regulated environment and have numerous rules and regulations to back up everything they do - whether it makes sense or not. I think this is basically a safety and risk mitigation issue. An airline (or any other business) would rather restrict what you can take on and put in the overhead than face a multi-million dollar suit when a heavy bag breaks someone's neck.

Get over it guys.

To get the perspective and some excellent advice from professional photogs check this site.

On the tripod question, on my recent trip to China I carried my cf tripod in it's bag on several planes and never had a issue.

Cheers
Dean

[ajax]

Last week at Brisbane a/p I was stopped right at gate (I had 2 pieces of hand luggage). She didnt weigh it but took my word for it that they were under 7kg each.

Greg and Deano
I fully agree with you. Having spent few years with airlines,I kow they have to abide by numerous rules & regulations from different agencies.

I had no trouble taking tripod strapped outside the bag. He made me open the bag because of shaving razor, viewed it and allowed to take on board.

cheers,
ajax

[gstark]

I agree with the sentiment expressed by Greg.

To a large extent, I do too, and the issue of compliance is certainly important.

So to is the fact that I have a contract with the airline, to safely transport myself, and my luggage, from a source point to a pre-stated destination.

Unless and until the carriers can gbet their act together and convince me that my luggage will arrive at the same destination as I will, in the same condition, free of any tampering, dropping, whatever, and unless and until they're prepared to immediately and unconditionally accept the consequences of any damage whatsoever wrought by their failures to appropriately convey to any high value items that might be packed within my luggage, then those high value items will travel with me, within the cabin, which is exactly as they advise within their documentation that accompanies their tickets.

THey're trying to have a bet each way, and I won't wear it!

[gstark]

I had no trouble taking tripod strapped outside the bag. He made me open the bag because of shaving razor, viewed it and allowed to take on board.

The inconsistancies applied by these so-called security staff at our major airports are almost as funny as the staff themselves.

What a bloody joke!

Without wishing to raise any ethnic issues here (I'll leave that to Frank this week), I think that it's probably a fair statement to suggest that most of the people likely to place some sort of an explosive device might be able to be said to be of a "middle-eastern appearance".

I don't know who else has noticed this, but it seems to me that most of the people involved in searching our luggage could equally be described as being of a "middle-eastern appearance".

What's wrong with THAT picture?

[birddog114]

They're Rent A Cop!,
Last Friday evening at about 11:00pm, I & stubbsy went to the Sebel Hotel where we proposed to meet earlier to try to get some shots.
The security guy who was on duty right under the bridge behind the concrete barrier was a "middle-eastern appearance".
My question is: why he should be there at that time? and as Gary said: I wonder how is this work?

[gstark]

They're Rent A Cop!

Rent-a-dickhead, more like.

Last Friday evening at about 11:00pm, I & stubbsy went to the Sebel Hotel where we proposed to meet earlier to try to get some shots.
The security guy who was on duty right under the bridge behind the concrete barrier was a "middle-eastern appearance".

So, there's some guy, prancing around under the South Pylon, around midnight, expecting to stop a terrorist attack?? Is he armed?

What's he expecting to do? Anything beyond chimping seems like more than they're capable of.

My question is: why he should be there at that time? and as Gary said: I wonder how is this work?

He's a poliitical statement: protectiong us from .... from ... er ...

um ...

the AFL Judiciary, perhaps?

[birddog114]

No, he's not armed!
I think he won't be survived with a single baseball bat!

[gstark]

No, he's not armed!

So Ahmed drives up in his L300, (bin) Laden with explosives, and Mr Security Guard ....


Chimps!

Wow, I am just so impressed!

[Alpha_7]

It could just as easily be....

Bruce the disgruntal Bridge Climb employee, sacked for drinking on the job, with his Ute full of Diesel and fertilizer.

[gstark]

Craig,

Yes, absobloodylutely.

But the question is, what is the security guard going to do?

a: Chimp?

b: Chimp? or

c: Chimp?

[Alpha_7]

All of the above