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
Camera gear on planes
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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.
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.
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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
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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!
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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Yup, it's 7kg per item, 2 items allowed!
Wrong, I need her carry on allowance!! In fairness my better half is VERY good and tolerant with carrying my gear!the quickest way to loose weight is to get a divorce or if on a plane leave other half behind
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!!
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You wouldn't want to take much more weight, given how low they fly!
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Fair point....that looked quite hairy!!!
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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.
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...
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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.
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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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.
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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.
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.
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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
I've carried my Lowepro 600 AW on various BA flights with no issues
Depends on the airline.
Rules are variable across different carriers. Enforcement of rules is also variable.
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)
- 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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I have flown some 70 times in last 4 years, mainly Ryanair who are supposed to be the 'worst'. Have taken a proper size back but have often used the expander which makes it oversized and never been challenged. Sale with weight, I guess if you are huffing and puffing with it (and do not look like a frail 85yo woman) they may get suspicious...
Only time it was weighed was in Thailand on an internal flight, they had a full flight and were weighing bags to see what could go in hold. Think limit was 7kg but most bags I saw were well over that and they didnt do anything.
You will be fine!
Only time it was weighed was in Thailand on an internal flight, they had a full flight and were weighing bags to see what could go in hold. Think limit was 7kg but most bags I saw were well over that and they didnt do anything.
You will be fine!
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Fixed that for you!
There are no absolute guarantees if you are over the airlines advertised weight and/or size limits, especially on small (8-10-12 seater) 'planes.
I have also seen AirAsia in SE Asia play 'hardball' with overweight carry-on several times.
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no, my thinktank bag was about 20kgs and my rucksack was about 18kgs. The think tank was fairly easy to get into the overheadI 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
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Well, aside from that 1 time in all my life (200 flights+) I have not had it weighed and even then it was fine. It's unlikely he is on a small 8-12 seater plane - my assumption is a budget airline somewhere. He has pockets as a plan B but there are also no guarantee they have not overbooked flight and he will be bumped off anyway - so nothing is guaranteed, but this is pretty safe
As long as you arent visibly struggling and it fits in overhead or under seat... shouldnt be a problem. Big trips I use the aw400 lowepro. Easier lens storage. Next trip should be interesting...
Only time we had problems was with a cabin wheely on el cheapo airline. They are very picky.
Only time we had problems was with a cabin wheely on el cheapo airline. They are very picky.
I started flying BA again in part because of the more liberal carry on rules in the economy cabin. As compared to the likes of Qatar and Emirates and the 7kg limits - which are not IME rigorously enforced but leave you exposed by small print on the occcasions that they do enforce. The BA rules takes a bit of stresss out of the mix when travelling with photo gear.
OTOH the BA way of doing things comes with caveats, The time to board seems longer as the luggage racks get packed. And BA can operate a multilevel priority boarding system which exposes those at the back of the queue in the lower priority categories to having their carry on bags tagged for putting in the hold. So BA are great if you are a higher tier customer through points or ticket at the front of the queue and a bit less so if you are not.
You can still get caught out on a non-direct itinerary. Buy a BA long haul ticket to a destination they don't frequently serve and you could end up with a BA ticket but one or more sector flown by another airline such as Qatar. And the small print will say that the carry on rules will be those applied by the actual carrier you are flying with.
I also suspect that the 23kg limit for carry on is actually a limit for the occasions where the carry on bag ends up in the hold either because it was deemed too heavy or there was no space in the cabin..