AIRLINE TRAVEL WITH BIG LENS AND CAMERA? (Page 3): Interesting, my bag is designed to fit under the seat. I would never need to check it. I would not consider any bigger than that.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

repleo wrote:

Most airlines allow a 'personal' item like a handb... (show quote)

Interesting, my bag is designed to fit under the seat. I would never need to check it. I would not consider any bigger than that.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Also check the restrictions in effect at the time you purchase your ticket. They do change from time to time. I am flying Emirates later this year. Had I purchased my ticket before the end of February, my luggage allowance would have been much more generous.

gwilliams6

Dave327 wrote:

There are no restrictions. When I travel with most of my gear I use a Lowepro backpack which easily fits in the overhead. I check my other bag. Extra batteries get a strip of electrical tape over the contacts. Batteries can not be in checked luggage. If your not on precheck TSA may ask you to turn on your camera and check your lenses.

Yes good advice. I travel all over the US and the world using Think Tank bags which are correct size for carry-on requirements (check your airline's restriction), and be sure the plane you are on has large enough overhead compartments. A long lens and camera will fit in the various sizes of Think Tank bags with no problem. For sure get TSA Pre (free) to make your travel more hassle free in check-in. I have Global Entry (a onetime fee) (which includes TSA Pre) which makes returning to the US much less hassle in customs. Cheers

Bill P

If the plane is made in Canada (not Boeing or Airbus), it is a regional plane. I have flown a regional plane (Skywest?) ticketed by Delta from Salt Lake to Detroit, so I always check.

just one possibility. The two predominant in the US are made either in Canada or Brazil. In europe, it could be English, German, or god forbid Russia, and any day now, China.

Chris Hayes

I have flown on hundreds of international flights, i have never been asked to turn on a camera, i have been asked once to take the lens cap off a larger lens. As long as your stuff fits in the approved carry on size for the aircraft you are flying on you should not have any issue at all. 100-400 is not even close to being too big for any carry on.
The biggest issue you may have is on smaller regional aircraft like a RJ, ATR, or some Canadair aircraft the overhead storage is smaller. So check you aircraft before you leave.
I have found smaller prime lens do fine in checked baggage as long as they are packaged well, zooms and larger lens i carry.
TSA are only interested in security not baggage size. It's the airline that restrict the bag size, although honestly they are quite liberal with it. Batteries are no longer allowed on checked baggage.
Chris

vbhargava Loc: San Diego

Keep in mind, that on international flights there is weight limitation on carry on bags of 7 kg. On one of my trips on Emirates, while we were waiting at the gate to board the flight, an employee came with a hand scale and was weighing everyone's hand/carry-on bags. Luckily I had packed a shopping bag in my camera bag so I split the contents for the weighing into two bags each just around 7 kg.

johnhjacobs

One interesting camera/fling experience I had while waiting for a flight (in the US) was getting accosted by airport security. I had pulled out my camera out to grab some photos of the planes and the terminal (not the security screening area). I guess I looked suspicious. They couldn't understand why I would possibly be using a camera in the terminal. I tried to be nice but after several minutes of interrogation I suggested that he either needed to arrest me and deal with my legal response to a false arrest or talk to his supervisor. He backed down and left. Interestingly, one of my friends is the official airport photographer and often displays his work in the terminal art exhibits.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

vbhargava wrote:

Keep in mind, that on international flights there is weight limitation on carry on bags of 7 kg. On one of my trips on Emirates, while we were waiting at the gate to board the flight, an employee came with a hand scale and was weighing everyone's hand/carry-on bags. Luckily I had packed a shopping bag in my camera bag so I split the contents for the weighing into two bags each just around 7 kg.

Always travel with a Chico bag clipped to my bag handle. That is one of the reasons.

RAK Loc: Concord Ca

I have a Click bag with 150-600 Sigma Sport, 70-200 Sigma 2.8, 5D4 w/24-105, small canon speed light, several filters lens cleaning accoutrement various cables, triggers and my Kindle all in one backpack by Click gear. That is my carry on, I will not trust my camera to baggage handlers. Although in June I am going to trust my new Explor 600 flash system to them. Have never had a problem and I travel to the east coast twice a year and have for 7 years.

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

POVDOV wrote:

What are the restrictions for carrying on a 100-400mm lens and EOS 7d ii? Thanks for the help

Simply call your carrier for information.

Cheers!

TonyBot

xt2 wrote:

Simply call your carrier for information.

Cheers!

I've never had any issue with carry-on luggage, and I have only been dinged once - for my rescue inhaler.

I usually carry the normal carry-on that will fit in the overhead. If it has to be checked due to aircraft size, etc., so be it. My camera gear goes into a backpack that can fit under the seat. FF DSLR body, and the "trinity" of UWA zoom, Normal zoom, and 70-200, one "crop" body, along with extra batteries, cards, monopod, etc., and meds I cannot be without.

I'll take back the "never ... rescue inhaler" statement. Once, in my checked baggage. I had was gifted a litre of my favorite libation - one not available in my location - and found a nice little note in the suitcase by the TSA saying that it had been inspected. Now, as much as would have liked to, that was one "med" that I couldn't put in my carry-on!

djlouden Loc: Ocala, Florida

ThinkTank bags have already been mentioned but I feel kudos are in order for them. I was concerned about a bag fitting United Air's carry on requirements. They were kind enough to send me a picture of their bag clearly fitting in a United bag sizer.

I've never had any of my gear pulled apart or inspected. Most times they pass me right on through without a word. Guess looking "old" has its privilege.

The only issue I have had occurred twice flying out of Denver. Because I was carrying my 500mm and some extra gear for a two week run, I chose to purchase a seat for my largest ThinkTank bag (Airport Security 2.0) as I was not in any way going to allow my gear to get gate checked. Flight crews harassed me for having a bag in the seat. My ticket for that clearly identified that seat ticket for cabin baggage. They said TSA rules blah blah blah.... Fortunately I anticipated this and had a copy of the United's rules that allowed for baggage in the seat up to I believe 150 pounds, provided it was securely belted in. Which mine was. I have never flown United since and I'm just fine avoiding them for other airlines.

Happy shooting

mdoing

If going on a South African Safari, South African Airways has an 8KG, about 18 lbs limit for your carry-on. That is pretty easy to exceed with Full Frame lenses and cameras, especially if you have I-Pad or laptop also in the bag. When I was there in 2017, my bag was slightly over the limit but they did not check. In the USA, I don't think there is a limit on weight, just size. My new M4/3 outfit will not be a problem :)

TMurphy71

POVDOV wrote:

What are the restrictions for carrying on a 100-400mm lens and EOS 7d ii? Thanks for the help

I like to ship my equipment insured through UPS or FEDEX, have it received at the hotel I'll be staying at. That way it is there waiting for me.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

DaveO wrote:

TSA has nothing to do with carry on baggage dimensions, so again, it is best to check individual airlines on your particular flight. Some do not allow what is considered to be a normal carry on size and there may not be room under a seat. Gate check time and hope it's free.

Never said TSA had anything to do with carry-on baggage dimensions. I said I never had any problems with them checking my gear. Both my bags, laptop backpack & Lowepro Flipside 500AW, fit in the overhead bin. The airlines have boxes near their check-in counters that your carry-on must fit in.