fuminous Loc: Luling, LA... for now...

In 2003, my now ex-wife asked me to bring one of her fur coats to her in NYC. At that time, in Rhinelander, WI, TSA agents opened your luggage in front of you and inspected its contents. The agent admired the coat... and it (the coat) never made it to NYC. By the way, NOBODY, not the airlines, not TSA, not NY Port Authority, not the NYPD wanted to hear anything about it. "Tough noogies" was the universal response. I, however, heard about it for a long, long time....

Hours after the terrorist attack at the Istanbul Airport (2016), departing airlines allowed NO carry on luggage so my carry on, with D610, 28-300, 14-24, two hard drives, cards and such was handed over and tagged. The trouble is it was tagged for Mogadishu, Somalia instead of Djibouti. I received the bag, about 30 days later, with nothing missing.

I've several times had luggage "lost" for days but, except for the coat mentioned above, haven't lost anything.

tempaussie

Several years ago on a trip to my wife's homeland of Australia, we traveled from Minneapolis-LAX-Sydney. One of our larger bags with hundreds of dollars of Christmas gifts was routed to Philly, opened by someone there and most of the gifts were stolen. There were a lot of irritated letters back and forth with no compensation. Since then, on our international flights we never put anything in a checked bag that is not easily replaced.

Paradox Loc: Payson, Arizona

I have not had camera equipment stolen as I carry that on except for tripods. However, when I was a member of the United States Archery Team going to the World Championships in Australia, I checked in my archery case on Qantas Airlines in San Francisco. It didn't arrive in Australia and I have not seen it to this day. Needles to say the tournament didn't go well for me. I think of that incident every time I see a Koala bear picture (mascot image for Qantas). The ticket stated that Qantas liability was limited to $400 on international flights. Haven't flown Qantas since then.

PeterBergh

I have never had anything stolen from checked luggage, but I nearly had a camera stolen from my carry-on luggage by a TSA inspector. When I saw him picking it out with the intent of stealing it, I commented. I have *never* seen anybody look so guilty after my comment; it was quite amusing. Unfortunately, it would have been my word against his, so it was not worth the trouble to report the incident to police.

Bottom line: there are thieves everywhere, so be alert.

Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

I was flying from West Palm Beach, Florida to Syracuse, New York, with a stop-over
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I had a backpack full of photography equipment
that I was attempting to "carry-on".
The problem was that the passengers ahead of us had taken up ALL of the overhead
storage bins. The last 20 people or so were not allowed ANY carry-on luggage since
there was no room to store it.
I was forced to give up my backpack to become checked baggage.
Somehow it never made it to Syracuse- it stayed in Philadelphia.
I received it several days later. They drove it by truck from Syracuse
to my home in Canada. I opened it in front of the driver to verify that everything
was okay.
The driver explained that this was his full-time job- delivering "lost" baggage
to people's homes.

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

I lost a laptop once from luggage that was diverted to another airport by a handler who printed an extra luggage tag from another passenger. He thought I would never see the bag again because it end up at another airport where the unknowing passenger would never bother with luggage that was not his. After I figured out the scheme, Delta set up cameras and busted a group of four handlers and a partner who helped sell the stuff. They recovered jewelry, computers, cameras, and lenses belonging to about a dozen passengers. There is no telling how many others lost items that were never recovered, like mine. Granted, this was just one theft scheme and it was several years ago. I trust that improved surveillance makes this much harder to pull off. It's great to hear that most people here never lost anything. That is encouraging in case I am forced to check cameras or the like again.

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

My daughter had her camera stolen from her checked in suitcase a few years ago on a journey from Spain to England plus I have frequently heard from others who have had other valuables stolen from their suitcases and also money stolen by the security check desk during the scanning process - all in Spain. When this is reported, the Spanish side has blamed the English side and versa visa. I keep my valuables where I can see them.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

Never had anything stolen out of a checked bag, but have had an entire checked bag disappear on a non-stop flight from Orlando to Boston but may have been for the bag itself; it was a nice small leather duffel bag but too large to pass as a 'carry on'. This was before the TSA nonsense when air travel was almost fun.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

The airlines set the standard for carry on luggage. When they let too many rule breakers slide, people that board in the last group sometimes don't have room left for their items.

cwstratn

I recently moved from the island of St. Croix back to the U.S. mainland. I flew American Airlines to Miami. I had carry-on luggage only and so did my wife. We sort of cheated by carrying three bags each. Between us, we managed to get my Nikon 600mm, f4, Nikon 400mm, f2.8, and my Nikon 300mm, f2.8 in addition to my D4 body and 9 other Nikon lenses onto the plane. My pockets were full of filters, flashes, and other stuff. Thank goodness they don't weigh you when you board the aircraft! Needless to say, everything traveled safely under the seats and in the overhead compartments. I HAVE NEVER, NEVER PUT ANY PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT IN MY CHECKED LUGGAGE, NEVER!!!

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

I am living in FL and going back home to Philadelphia to visit daughter, grandkids for 3 weeks.
I have traveled with various gear for years and everything important is in my hands carry on.

My daughter has management project and wants a good video for the story of a new cafe staffed
with disabled folks etc. This is tough. I would like take a camcorder with a couple of lights stands
etc. But I am going to take a Sony a7s II and couple of lens (pro rode shotgun/seinheiser wireless set
in a small tough camera bag. My comment if asked about 2 small carry ones "it is no bigger then
my wife pocket book. 2 small LED lights will put in my small backpack with batteries accessories etc.
If stopped turn the charm on and say the gear is for my work am doing a charity job. Don't expect any issue.

The one thing I don't have is a portable tripod. Researched for a long time bought a Manfrotto MT190GOA4TB 190go!
Aluminum 4 Section Tripod that folds to 18" the fluid head I can put in my backpack. If necessary I will put the tripod in my suitcase
The small tripods are a joke most are not reliable and a ripoff. I have a camera cage rig but it just it too much to take.
I stabilize the Sony (it does have 5 axis) with use a flash bracket and maybe very small edelkrome plate and arm and a
slider. If you haven't seen edelkrome gear (smart company started in turkey by smart guy) google it.

It is crazy that I can't put all of this in a pro Portabrace bag I have had for years that is not really
big but attracts a lot of attention even by the airline. It is a shamed that we have to play these games.
I see folks with carry ons of their clothes that are big and heavy and they seem to be approved.

Bazbo Loc: Lisboa, Portugal

When you can declare and check firearms, how did anyone determine that your scope was contraband? I have checked rifles before and never had this kind of hassle. Maybe it was the foreign destination, but even that seems weird and inappropriate. I am sure that big game hunters check their gear all the time. Sorry this happened to you.

iggy Loc: Southern Utah

Might be a good use for Fro Knows Foto’s MyGearVault app. I just downloaded it yesterday. It tracks all your gear, including receipts, all on your smartphone. The app appears to be free. They make their money on optional insurance.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

Lots of travel inside and outside the US: Often have expensive gear in luggage, never anything lost or stolen. Once in a long while, luggage delayed for hours never for days.

geoffmalter Loc: NorCal

Minimum wage? They’re union workers. They may and probably don’t make as much as you or me, but minimum wage? Never (I’m speaking of handlers for major US carriers, domestically). You’ll find thieves everywhere.