Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

TSA Pre Check passenger (me)
Luggage: One checked bag, one carry on and one small (12 X 10 X 8”) camera bag with one Canon 5DIV body with 2 Batteries. One Canon 24 to 70 f:2.8, one Canon 600EX-RT flash (8 rechargeable batteries, chargers), two filters, lens wipes, and micro-fiber cloths.
Dates of travel: Oct 2017 – Early November 2017
Places traveled: Va to LA, LA to Australia, New Zealand to LA, and LA to Va.

My observations: The TSA lines moved fast, and there was not a lot of standing around like my travel last year. The inspection process was very thorough. Everything associated with the inspection process seemed well thought out.

Yes, some folks were detained for a more thorough search, but I suspect that they were the ones that did not follow the TSA instructions. Some could have been randomly selected too.

My brief tips: Go to the TSA website https://www.tsa.gov/ and read it thoroughly, and comply with all of the instructions.
Segregate anything that could possibly be suspect to the scanner, or TSA agents into groups (batteries, chargers, any connecting wires, etc., and place these items into separate zip-loc bags. Now, place these items on the top inside of your bag all set for quick removal. Keep a one (gallon) zip-loc bag for the contents of your pockets. Empty all of your pockets into the zip-loc bag as you are walking towards the actual inspection site. Once you have your plastic bin in hand remove all of the plastic zip-loc bags and place them in the bin, then load your camera bag on its side in the bin so that it is as “short” as possible. Now arrange everything in the zip-loc bags in the plastic bin so that they may be easily seen, and place the bin on the conveyor. The tip on using zip-loc bags on the TSA website has served me well.
I wish all of my UHH friends all safe travels. My hat is off to the TSA agents doing a hard job, keeping us hungry, tired, and cranky travelers safe. Please feel free to add your airline carry on travel tips to this post.

Jim Bob

Excellent information. Thanks.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

I thought if you were TSA-Pre Check, you did not have to take your gear out of your case?

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Thanks, Jimmy. Have 2 trips planned in the coming months and this is enormously helpful.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks for the info, but I think my flying days are behind me.

rdemarco52 Loc: Wantagh, NY

We have two trips to Europe coming up, and this is useful information. Thanks for posting.

Auerbach Loc: Chappaqua, New York

I just flew HPN to DCA with a carryon and a camera bag. The carryon had a CPAP machine, iPad Pro, cables chargers, phones and headphones. The camera bag had the full usual stuff. I took everything out of my pockets and off my wrist and hand, placed them in a plastic bag and put everything in a bin and on the belt. Walked thru the scanner and nothing was searched.

Rhinophoto Loc: Davis, CA

Thanks for the excellent advice.

I just returned from India. The only addition I would make is that upon our return from Mumbai last week, my computer received much greater attention than any other item I carried. It is a MacbookPro. I had carried it in a soft case within a backpack. At the line in Mumbai I took it out of both cases and put it in a plastic tray. After it went through the X-ray, it and I were pulled out of line for further examination. It had a hard shell on it that I had applied at the Apple store the day I bought the computer, and I didn't even think of that as a separate "case". The inspector made me pull off one side of the case (breaking it in the process), wiped it with a small pad, then wiped me with a pad, put the pads in a machine for analysis, and then let me proceed.

After going through customs in New Jersey, we went through security again there. There wasn't a similar inspection of my computer there (nor had there been when leaving the US or at 3 prior inspections in India). So it seems that you should expect to have to take any laptop out of a backpack or carrying case. And it may draw more attention than it has in the past.

While irritating at times, I am grateful for the security procedures.

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

Great reminders for all who travel.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

While that sounds like excellent information I have to admit I have carried my camera bag carrying a Nikon D800 and a Leica M10 with five other lenses, Nikon flash, batteries and three chargers through the screening with only putting my bag on the conveyor belt and picking it up on the other side. No muss no fuss. I have never done more than that.

Dennis

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

Good info. Global Entry, which includes TSA Pre-Check, is the only way to go. ZipLock bags are handy even if not traveling. I also wear a multi-pocket travel vest with my in-flight "survival" gear including camera, battery pack, headphones, snacks, etc. Just toss into the TSA bin.

jcboy3

2 weeks in China earlier this year. At every checkpoint I had to remove all cameras, lenses, flashes and batteries from my bag for individual inspection. And one flight would not allow beverages of any kind even when bought after initial security check (they had a special security line for boarding that flight).

No large Lithium batteries were allowed in carry on or checked luggage (that would eliminate some lighting options). I’m keeping my QUANTUM batteries (NiCad and SLA) for some travel options.

You need to have very organized gear bags for travel these days.

gsmith051 Loc: Fairfield Glade, TN

Thanks for excellent information. I like your idea of putting everything from your pockets in a one gallon bag. Coming out of Vegas last week TSA inspected my camera twice with a special X-ray machine and then ran it through the regular line again. Never had that happen anywhere in the world. They let my laptop go through. Vegas was pretty tough with everybody and I can’t blame them. Learned to allow for time catching a flight. 😁

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

Here is something brand new which is going to be everywhere within the next two weeks. Anything bigger than a phone that is electronic has to come out of its bag to be inspected. This includes all cameras. This was in 30 airports one month ago but is now just about everywhere. Faced this in Athens, Heathrow and Seattle and even Juneau, Alaska. in the last month. There are new signs for this popping up at TSA. Heathrow and Seattle even made me put my 7100 in its own bin. So don't bury those cameras too deep.