Leave one of the 28-135 lenses at home. Take the 100-400 and leave the 100-300 at home. By all means take two bodies, a camera breakdown three days into a $20,000 trip can really spoil your day. You will be required to have your laptop and any lithium batteries in your carry-on, but put all of the other etc stuff in your checked bags. Leave your Kindle at home and read the airline magazine or the newspaper. If this doesn't get you down to 15 pounds then bubble wrap one of your big lenses and stuff it into one of those cardboard tube boxes that good whisky comes in, and put it in your checked bag. Why are you flying with Emirates anyway? British Airways allows you two carry-on bags with a total weight of 101 pounds - all they require is that you can lift them into theoverhead storage without help.

Thank you for the practical advice, I will look into the cardboard tubes. I am flying with Emirates because we are on a tour that my sister chose. This is on her bucket list and it never occurred to me to check their limitations prior to booking the tour. I have never had a problem with other airlines. As an aside, I went to Italy for three months and only took an iPhone and a backpack with seven articles of clothing. It was the biggest mistake I ever made as far as traveling light. That was a bit too light. This is one of those trips, seeing the African scenery and the animals that exist in other places only in zoos, that will never be made again by us, and I do not want to repeat the Italy camera phone again.

There may be an option that has not been mentioned. I have an F-Stop bag (the Anja) and the full line of F-Stop bags utilize the ICU (internal camera unit) concept. These ICU come in a variety of sizes and configurations. When I travel I only take my ICU, which is detachable from the bag, on the airplane which has my camera, filters and lenses. This ICU fits conveniently under the seat in front of me. I check my bag which has clothes and other items, compass, head light, first aid pack and a myriad of other photographic gear. I stow my tripod in a second bag along with my clothes.

With F-Stop gear the bag and ICU this affords me an opportunity to carry on my camera and lenses. As for lenses I think that you can leave your 100 to 300 lens home since your have this focal length covered with the 100 to 400.

I am flying on Emirate Airlines to South Africa for 12 days, two of which will be in an open vehicle on safari, and they have a strict one bag rule in the cabin. One, not a carry-on and a personal item, only one bag on board with a weight limit of 15#. I am stressing about putting bubble wrapped items in the belly of the plane, even with additional insurance on them. My list contains two bodies, two 28-135mm lenses, one 100-400mm lens, a 100-300mm lens, an a 20mm lens, plus batteries, chargers, etc. In addition I will have my Mac for transferring images nightly. In the bag it weighs about 25#, and to get the things I need on the long flight, Kindle, inflatable pillow, eye covers, sani-wipes, ect. I cannot take it all on board. I will be wearing a photo vest, and could put some lenses in the pocket, but I cannot get all equipment in the vest and camera backpack. After boarding the plane it will be necessary to move items from the pockets into the backpack, and there will not be room along with my other things. Should I cut out one 28-135 lens? Should I opt for the lighter 100-300mm lens? Shall I eliminate the 20mm lens? I need advice from others who have encountered a similar situation. I have called Emirate to double check and see if they have special rules for photo equipment, and the answer has been no twice. There is always a chance they will not weigh it, but it they did I would be in trouble. Please advice.