Taking gear overseas

[glamy]

I am glad to learn Emirates now allow 30kg luggage. At the time I bought my ticket (going to France in 3 weeks time) the limit still was 20kg. I may stash a bit more gear in the suitcase

[colin_12]

But what extra will you take?
You probably have had yourself set for a couple of weeks on what you would take and now you have the option for more.
Most of us bring back more than we take so it might be worthwhile to be frugle with that new found weight allowance.

[Sillumjai]

I just came back from Japan, I carried most of my gear in a camera bag. I flew with Qantas, and they didn't include the camera gear as extra luggage, as logn as you carry it on.

I guess depending on what you carry, it could get a bit heavy.

[glamy]

But what extra will you take?
You probably have had yourself set for a couple of weeks on what you would take and now you have the option for more.
Most of us bring back more than we take so it might be worthwhile to be frugle with that new found weight allowance.

7Kg do not go far... I was planning to take the D2x with 17-35,24PC,10.5,28-70. I now may add the 70-200. On one of my previous trips I left a tripod there, but I still have to take the head along. I have always been pretty even in weights going and coming back as I take presents for the parents and relatives. The only thing is that I may not be fit enough to lug 30kg along

[DaveB]

I don't generally "believe" in putting cameras or lenses into check-in luggage (although I have put a backup lens in there once or twice). All those go in my carry-on luggage, along with the laptop, hard drives and medicines.

For me the check-in luggage is for clothes, tripods, ballhead, chargers, cables, extra batteries, flash brackets, camera bags, etc.
Yes, camera bags. Usually now I use a regular roller bag for my carry-on, and put my camera bag (stuffed with chargers/ballhead/etc) inside my check-in duffle.

So I'm not sure what else the extra 7kg of check-in allowance would do for me, other than peace of mind in not having to worry how close to the 23kg limit I was at each check-in.
You're not also taking some "domestic" flights on a second airline that you have to worry about are you?

[gstark]

I do pretty much the same as Dave.

Don't forget that you can also, if you're getting close to the weight limits, pull the heaviest camera body and lens out of your carry-on bag, mount the body on the lens, and wear that around your neck.

[losfp]

I have also never known airline check in staff to weigh my jacket pockets

[devilla101]

I have also never known airline check in staff to weigh my jacket pockets

hahaha now thats brilliant and I would definately keep that tip in mind

[DaveB]

True, my own strategy includes moving items from the roller bag to my pockets if the bag is getting weighed. I make sure I'm wearing clothes with big pockets. Also, having a vest can make it easier to traverse security checkpoints (e.g. put all your keys/phone/etc in the vest and you're less likely to have to get scanned multiple times to find all the bits you forgot). Of course, it's useful to have a travelling companion to double-team the security checkpoints and avoid having things (like a very valuable vest) stolen...

But be aware that on SOME flights you will get weighed!
For example on small regional planes there are overall weight limits, and sometimes it's just so they can balance the weight on the plane so that it can fly safely.
In fact I've heard of this happening with a jet airliner that was flying out of a certain South Pacific island country where the locals were on average a lot heavier than you or I...

[Photopotamus]

But be aware that on SOME flights you will get weighed!
For example on small regional planes there are overall weight limits, and sometimes it's just so they can balance the weight on the plane so that it can fly safely.
In fact I've heard of this happening with a jet airliner that was flying out of a certain South Pacific island country where the locals were on average a lot heavier than you or I...

I've had this happen in the Good Ol' US of A! Granted, it was a small airline (Cape Air) for a 30 min flight from Nantucket to Martha's Vineyard. It was a bit disconcerting to be told to stand on the scale when I was checking in... Although, I have to say too that on the occasions I have traveled to the hinterlands of NSW on PelAir, they have given both my "roadcase" and/or toolbox the "hairy eyeball"!