milescherkasky Loc: East Coast USA

For this and other reasons my tripod (yes I know the post is about a mono pod) is always in my checked bag. Got enough weight in my back as it is.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

First off, let’s not criticize TSA agents. Their job is hard enough. I carried at one time a table top tripod. It was light and harmless looking, so I thought. It was in my bag and was scanned by an x-ray machine. The agent saw something that he found questionable. He called over a friend. The two looked at it and still couldn’t figure it out. The two called a third agent. Then, I realized the tripod, folded looked like a weapon. I went to show the agents my tripod. Ooops! My mistake! I almost got arrested. What saved me was my Freemason Ring! The agent who grabbed my hand was also a Freemason.

I will carry my camera as a carryon and in my suitcase I carry other gear. I also put into my suitcase my OBEN tripod. Fortunately, one leg unscrews and becomes a monopod.

Without turning this into a political debate, TSA agents work very hard, are constantly vigilant and are required to protect us all. Show some support!

Table top tripod open and harmless

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Table top tripod closed and could be confused as a weapon

jcboy3

Flight leaving Buenos Aires; nothing to do with TSA.

scubadoc Loc: Sarasota, FL

I had a similar experience in Johannesburg, South Africa. My bag went through the scanner three times, then completely unpacked by the screener until he found the weapon: a similar hex wrench for my camera plate. He asked me what it was and I said a small tool for tightening a plate on my camera. He said “Sorry, no tools allowed on the airplane.”

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

It is important to remember to place most of your items in your suitcase. Tools, scissors, screwdrivers, etc are items belonging in your suitcase.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I am no longh a frequet flyer for work. Mostof the location jobs I accept can be reached by surface transportation.

When I did fly regularly, I always packed anything that can be misconstrued as a weapon in my baggage hold luggage. I only took the camer and lenses into the cabin. I avoided any that look like a gun- like a pistol grip etc. Monopods, especially big ones are suspect. The go in the luggage- never had an issue. The portable powerpack for some of my strobes can resemble bombs- I make cer to have them examined and clear in advance.

I few months ago, I had to fly and as Mr. Murphy would have it, my bad knee acted up. I had to use a telescopic metal cane tah I keep for such emergencies. I did not tell the agent on duty that my long-time hobby is martial arts (just to keep in shape) and Kendo is one of my favorites. I am no Bruce Lee but I can do some serious damage wiht that walking stick. Nobody said anything. All they saw was an old guy with a gray bead wwith a limp and a stick!

That week, some lunatic opened the door of an airliner while it was still in flight. That nearly sucked the other passenger out of the aircraft. The guy was not carrying a monopod or anything else- he simply went nuts! This week, right up here near my city, A Chinook Helicopter fell out of e sky, killing he cre- two pilots for Garrison Petawawa- tragic! Except for the occasional aerial photoghay job, I beginning to believe that flying days are over! It's getting tooexpensive, and riskier, the service is not as it once was and the food is lousy and you gotta pay extra for it!

jcboy3

This is about a monopod.

On the other hand, a camera is a tool.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

I am aware. I keep my baby my camera close at hand everything else can be place in my suitcase.

tonyjag Loc: Bolton, Ma.

Very interesting! Here is another approach to travel with a monopod that worked well for us elderly: Using an old cane handle and a quick-release mount so you can attach the cane handle instead of a camera, make the monopod also serve as a walking cane, also legal AFAIK. After building it, i saw such an adaptor for sale. The picture shows the Manfrotto monopod with home-made cane adaptor at left, set to a good length for walking, which can easily be adjusted to your height or collapsed when not in use.

This setup worked well during our last major travel year 2019, with MIT Alum trips to Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica (also via Ushuaia). There were no issues with any airline or TSA or foreign Security Agents. But because everything... including the deck....is usually moving, it didn't get used much on the Nat Geo Explorer and was left in the cabin during Kayak or Zodiac excursions. With the ship at anchor, it was nice to have on the day I borrowed a Sigma 150-600 mm from the Photo Locker. Even with a Tamron 18-400 on my Nikon D7500, when zoomed out, the monopod was helpful on land or at anchor.

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DICK32

John: The joy of airlines world travel. In Australia you can carry a 6 pack of beer from one Australian city to another on an airliner. So it pays to find out the rules in each country you fly in and out of. Especially with photography equipment.

it's better to be pissed in Australia than most other countries. Because that means you're drunk in Australian. I have stepchildren who live there. They tell me where to go--in a good way. The best airlines to fly on in Australia. They recommended that I go to the Northern Territories instead of Ayers Rock: you'll see the rock in a couple of hours. You can spend a week in The N. Territories. It has National parks 200 miles long. Termite mounds 40 feet high. Crocks 30 ft long that can be 100 years old seen from a tour boat in the Adelade River. Darwin is a neat town in that area. N. Territories are the warmest area of Australia because it is nearest to the Equator. Go to the Whitsunday Islands instead of the barrier reef. You can rent equipment to stay on the beach Take the tour boat thru the islands. And the tour lets you walk thru one of the islands--one of the Beatles had a winter home here. You have to drive on the other side of the road. We would go during the Christmas season. It was fun to see the guys running around with Santa hats and shorts.

Flying Three Loc: Berthoud, CO

I have a monopod and I bought a handle from Amazon that screws directly into the threads and then I have an acceptable adjustable walking cane!!!

tonyjag Loc: Bolton, Ma.

Good solution! As I posted earlier, it works even better with a quick release so you can easily switch between cane and camera.

rwww80a Loc: Hampton, NH

Ya, who would a thought. Put it inside your suitcase and no further worries. Thats what I have done flying all ove the US and Carribean.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Sometimes they change from agent to agent at the same airport on the same day

vbhargava Loc: San Diego

I was traveling to Loreto Mexico from Tijuana airport. We went from San Diego through the Cross Boarder Crossing to Tijuana airport. I had my tripod attached to my camera backpack. I went through the security with no problems. I checked in my luggage and as I was waiting for my boarding pass to print the agent tells me I need to check in my tripod. By then my luggage had already gone. Luckily I had an extra bag in my backpack. I then checked in the Gitzo tripod with Really Right Stuff BH-50 in the extra bag. I was afraid I may ever see them again. But luckily the bag reached safely.