Camera gear on planes

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nc_killie

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I have only taken camera gear as carry on when travelling on planes but am going away later this week and the allowance is 7kg per item and you are allowed two items! Hope that they do not enforce it! Have jacket ready to stuff with lenses if challenged! Has anyone seen this enforced on non-budget airlines long haul flights?? TIA
 
This is something which has concerned me on a number of occasions....my strategy is the same as yours.

I have a 'jacket of many pockets' and know it will happily accommodate bodies and shorter lenses if required. I watch as we are queueing to check-in / board and have the items which I know i can move to pockets readily available.

I can only think of 1 occasion where I have had to shift weight to my jacket!

Good luck and enjoy your trip.
 
nc_killie said:
I have only taken camera gear as carry on when travelling on planes but am going away later this week and the allowance is 7kg per item and you are allowed two items! Hope that they do not enforce it! Have jacket ready to stuff with lenses if challenged! Has anyone seen this enforced on non-budget airlines long haul flights?? TIA
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Am I misunderstanding this? When I fly long or short (from UK) its usually 10 kg for the bag total and my 5Div and several lenses and filers etc usually come to below that. Never come across a weight per item restriction
 
It is always a concern in regard to weight and overall size but still staggers me that other non photo gear travellers have (to my eye) large and heavy wheelie cases as carry on. Plus, I have no intention to sound sexist but some women cannot left their bags into the overhead lockers........ requiring the intervention of the cabin crew (male or female) to heft the bags into place.

I use a Lowepro 400AW III which by measurements is spot on for the airlines I have travelled on. Latterly BA long haul and Airlink in Africa.
NB AFAIK many photographers use much(?) larger bags than mine and they still are carry on usage.

I surmise the weight might not pass inspection but I recall reading that you need to carry it like it is not too heavy i.e. don't look like you are 'weighed down' by it on your back and if carrying it use only one hand!

PS I have checked again and Airlink say this....

"One piece of cabin baggage up to 8 kg (17 lbs) with maximum dimensions of 56 x 36 x 23 cm (total 115 cm linear)"

On BA they have a very similar size restriction but don't mention the weight, though do say that you should be able to lift unassisted into the overhead lockers!
 
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I recently flew to the U.S with KLM and had no issues at all. Camera and lenses in Lowe Pro backpack. But I think my weight limit was 10kg. Id double check that 7kg limit.
 
Mitzyboy said:
Am I misunderstanding this? When I fly long or short (from UK) its usually 10 kg for the bag total and my 5Div and several lenses and filers etc usually come to below that. Never come across a weight per item restriction
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Yup, it's 7kg per item, 2 items allowed!
 
Box Brownie said:
It is always a concern in regard to weight and overall size but still staggers me that other non photo gear travellers have (to my eye) large and heavy wheelie cases as carry on. Plus, I have no intention to sound sexist but some women cannot left their bags into the overhead lockers........ requiring the intervention of the cabin crew (male or female) to heft the bags into place.

I use a Lowepro 400AW III which by measurements is spot on for the airlines I have travelled on. Latterly BA long haul and Airlink in Africa.
NB AFAIK many photographers use much(?) larger bags than mine and they still are carry on usage.

I surmise the weight might not pass inspection but I recall reading that you need to carry it like it is not too heavy i.e. don't look like you are 'weighed down' by it on your back and if carrying it use only one hand!

PS I have checked again and Airlink say this....

"One piece of cabin baggage up to 8 kg (17 lbs) with maximum dimensions of 56 x 36 x 23 cm (total 115 cm linear)"

On BA they have a very similar size restriction but don't mention the weight, though do say that you should be able to lift unassisted into the overhead lockers!
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Thanks BB - I agree with the appearance is everything approach but my concern is in Edinburgh for flight to Heathrow - they can be pedantic! My camera bag does meet the size requirements, guess I will have to man up!!
 
FWIW, I have taken 3 Airlink flights over the last few weeks (incl. j'burg - Kasane and Maun - Cape Town). No issues with (12kg!!) camera rucksack.
 
whyone said:
FWIW, I have taken 3 Airlink flights over the last few weeks (incl. j'burg - Kasane and Maun - Cape Town). No issues with (12kg!!) camera rucksack.
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You wouldn't want to take much more weight, given how low they fly!
 
I reckon I’ve done 50ish flights in the last 8 years, and once I had a cabin bag weighed, and when I think back, I probably misunderstood an instruction and that’s why it got weighed.
They range from budget airlines to flag carriers.

From other people’s experience, I’d say the budget airlines are where you’re likely to have problems, if at all.
 
Phil V said:
I reckon I’ve done 50ish flights in the last 8 years, and once I had a cabin bag weighed, and when I think back, I probably misunderstood an instruction and that’s why it got weighed.
They range from budget airlines to flag carriers.

From other people’s experience, I’d say the budget airlines are where you’re likely to have problems, if at all.
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That's been my experience too.

Only issue I've had was checking in for an Air Baltic flight from Gatwick to Riga, fortunately my buddy's bag was underweight...

GC
 
The exceptions for me are bush flights...typically 8-12 seater aircraft where it is important for them to know flying weights.

They often weigh everything...passenger and all bags. If they dont, I always show the pilot my photo-gear-heavy carry on.
 
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Box Brownie said:
It is always a concern in regard to weight and overall size but still staggers me that other non photo gear travellers have (to my eye) large and heavy wheelie cases as carry on. Plus, I have no intention to sound sexist but some women cannot left their bags into the overhead lockers........ requiring the intervention of the cabin crew (male or female) to heft the bags into place.

I use a Lowepro 400AW III which by measurements is spot on for the airlines I have travelled on. Latterly BA long haul and Airlink in Africa.
NB AFAIK many photographers use much(?) larger bags than mine and they still are carry on usage.

I surmise the weight might not pass inspection but I recall reading that you need to carry it like it is not too heavy i.e. don't look like you are 'weighed down' by it on your back and if carrying it use only one hand!

PS I have checked again and Airlink say this....

"One piece of cabin baggage up to 8 kg (17 lbs) with maximum dimensions of 56 x 36 x 23 cm (total 115 cm linear)"

On BA they have a very similar size restriction but don't mention the weight, though do say that you should be able to lift unassisted into the overhead lockers!
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You'd hate us then ;) my son gets unlimited bags and weight. I generally only take a rucksack that fits under the seat which will have my camera gear in it.
 
Don't forget you are also aloud to take a separate laptop bag along with your carry on. I usually put extras like chargers / cables / hard drives in that one.
What really boggles my mind is if your carry on is over weight you have to pay extra to put it in the hold. . . . .it's on the same f**king plane! what does it make the plane top heavy so it will fly upside down if it all goes into overhead lol.
 
Had it with Qatar from Kochi to Doha 18 months ago, their limit was 7kg and my Tenba 24L was 14 kg. Just mentioned the word 'lithium' and I was allowed to take it into the cabin.

I've carried my Lowepro 600 AW on various BA flights with no issues
 
Box Brownie said:
On BA they have a very similar size restriction but don't mention the weight, though do say that you should be able to lift unassisted into the overhead lockers!
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Was on a long haul with BA and the allowance was two carry on bags one of which could be within the TSA guidelines - max 56 x 45 x 25 cm, which Think Tank build their airport series to. The weight limit for each carry on bag is 23Kgs
 
jamesev said:
Was on a long haul with BA and the allowance was two carry on bags one of which could be within the TSA guidelines - max 56 x 45 x 25 cm, which Think Tank build their airport series to. The weight limit for each carry on bag is 23Kgs
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I think the 23kg is the checked luggage figure.
IIRC (unless flying business or first class?) the carry on is indeed 2 items but in regard to this discussion the second item is expected to be max a small laptop case i.e. not 2 off of the size you mention.

PS I surmise very few people could heft 23kg above their head to put into an overhead locker. Quite apart from the risk of such a weight falling out onto the heads of seated passengers if the case is mis-handled into or out of the locker :(

PPS copied & pasted from the BA website, this for Premium Economy seats

Checked bags:​

  • 2 bags can be checked into the hold on most routes. On a limited number of routes, there's a 1‑checked‑bag limit. Please use Manage My Booking or the baggage calculator to check your baggage allowance.
  • Max dimensions up to 90 x 75 x 43cm (35 x 30 x 17in)
  • Weight up to 23kg (50lb) per bag

Checked bags for British Airways Club,​

If you are a Gold or Silver British Airways Club member, a oneworld® Emerald or Sapphire member, an AerClub Platinum or Concierge member, you and any travelling companions on your booking have the following baggage allowance:

  • Gold, Emerald or Platinum member travelling in Premium Economy: 3 bags checked into the hold on most routes. On a limited number of routes, there's a 2‑checked‑bag limit. Please use Manage My Booking to check your baggage allowance.
  • Silver, Sapphire or Concierge member travelling in Premium Economy: 2 bags checked into the hold
  • Max dimensions up to 90 x 75 x 43cm (35 x 30 x 17in)
  • Weight up to 32kg (70lb) per bag (this does not apply to group bookings or infants travelling without their own seat)
If you are a Blue or Bronze British Airways Club member travelling in Premium Economy, your baggage allowance is:

  • 2 bags checked into the hold. On a limited number of routes, there's a 1‑checked‑bag limit. Please use Manage My Booking to check your baggage allowance.
  • Max dimensions up to 90 x 75 x 43cm (35 x 30 x 17in)
  • Weight up to 23kg (50lb) per bag (this does not apply to group bookings or infants travelling without their own seat)

Hand bag:​

  • 1 hand bag
  • Max dimensions up to 40 x 30 x 15cm (16 x 12 x 6in)
  • Must easily fit under the seat in front of you
  • May contain essentials like medication, mobile phones, other electronic devices and passports
  • Guaranteed in the cabin

Cabin bag:​

  • 1 cabin bag
  • Max dimensions up to 56 x 45 x 25cm (22 x 18 x 10in) – includes wheels and handles
  • You must be able to lift your cabin bag into the overhead compartment unassisted
  • No valuables, electronics or essential medicines
  • May need to go in the hold
 
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