Taking kit abroad

ryanyboy

ryanyboy

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I'm off to Greece in less than three weeks to shoot my first wedding abroad.

In terms of stuff I don't want nicked or damaged I'll be taking D3s, D700, 14-24, 24-70, 70-200, 85, 50 and 105mm lenses + three flashes.

I'll also take loads of lastolite modifiers, reflectors but these can go in the suitcase I hope (right?)

My HUGE concern is letting my babies get lost or damaged on the flight. I've been told that the hand luggage limit is 5kg. I have the lowepro Magnum 400 but if I fill it it'll be far more than 5kg.

It may be worth noting that there will be other's on the flight that are going to the wedding and my other-half is coming with me too.

If anyone can give me any advice I'd be really grateful.
 
Will your other half really need her 5kg of hand luggage? It would put your mind to rest if you had 10kg's of your kit with you at all times, even better others on the flight can sacrafice their 5kg too.

I know when I go on holiday all I take on my hand luggage is a clean t-shirt/pants, my passport and wallet, unless i'm taking my camera.
 
When we flew out to barbados last year had the same problem. Basically, before we left, we split the essential kit amongst 3 of us in hand luggage [and less important stuff was in the middle of the suitcases], including his rucksack and daughters shoulder bag, then once through check in, it was all put back in the kit bag so it was protected a little better.

The problem is whether they bother weighing your hand luggage or not. Some do, some don't and there is no rhyme or reason to it. On the way back, they didn't bother at all :shrug:
 
I've never seen handluggage weighed. Just make sure you don't make it "look heavy" by straining to carry it, or sruggling when loading it overhead and you're probably fine. Failing that, as said transfer a few pieces to other people's bags for the walk through secrurity/gate then back in your bag afterwards.
 
Why not leave the D700 with me along with the 24-70 and you can take my lighter D300 and Tamron 28-75 :D

If you have the hard shell suitcases, you could put a lens or 2 right in the middle of that surrounded by clothes to lessen the amount of hand carry stuff.
 
I travel a lot (had about 50-60 flights last year) and have never had carry-ons weighed.. once I was sent back from security when the lady wanted a peek inside and almost couldn't get the bag off the belt on her own :lol: Well it was more like 15kg with 2 laptops, cameras and lenses inside.

Just went to another security check queue and through without problems. I'm guessing the budget airlines have stricter regulations.

You can always cross-dress and take a handbag the size of a small car as an "additional personal item".. :naughty:
 
In past years, I've never had my hand baggage weighed but this year, guess what? Yup, I was well over the 5kg limit! No problem, I slipped a couple of the heavier lenses out of the bag and into pockets until I was under the limit. As soon as I was out of sight of the check in desk, they went back in the bag.

(Coming back, SWMBO was over by a couple of kg in her hold baggage (honey and olive oil) and got charged about €50. To add insult to injury, we discovered that exactly the same honey was available in the duty free shop and was cheaper than she'd paid!)

ETA We were travelling to Crete which is a Greek island with Thomas Cook airline. Flying from Bristol to Heraklion. I did notice that people using other airlines were also having their carry on baggage weighed.
 
when we go away i tend to have my hand luggage on the floor between my legs at the check in
they just ask how many bags and thats it as long as it fits in there cage it should be all good
i will test it out thursday for you with 12kg of kit
 
Thanks so much folks. The general consensus looks like I'm not likely to have my stuff weighed and if I do I'll put some stuff in my girlfriends bag until we're on the plane.

Simon - lol :D The thought of putting lenses in the suitcase hoorifies me but the hard shell suitcase idea is a good one. I take it these airlines don't mind things like lenses being in the luggage?

Vaizki - how did you know about my cross dressing??

Terry - would love to know how your 12kg goes :)
 
ryanyboy said:
Thanks so much folks. The general consensus looks like I'm not likely to have my stuff weighed and if I do I'll put some stuff in my girlfriends bag until we're on the plane.

Simon - lol :D The thought of putting lenses in the suitcase hoorifies me but the hard shell suitcase idea is a good one. I take it these airlines don't mind things like lenses being in the luggage?

Vaizki - how did you know about my cross dressing??

Terry - would love to know how your 12kg goes :)
Click to expand...

sneaky suspicion they wont cover breakages of glass :s

also with it being a wedding you're boned if you arrive without it

You could buy a big peli and put it in the hold
 
I've had my hand luggage weighed twice on the way out, it never seems to be a problem on the way back though, guess it depends who you fly with and what mood the check in handler is in, last time i spilt the weight with my girlfriend, or i have put lenses in the case before now, well wrapped in shirts etc, however i do have a Samsonite hard shell case which takes the knocks well, the downside of that is the hard case adds to the weight :shrug:
 
Ryanair allows 10kg hand luggage and I just recently got away with about 12 in an oversized bag. They don't properly check. 5kg is sad if it is really enforced.

My advise is to take all expensive / fragile items with you on the plane. They may likely damage anything in the baggage section (and they usually do to my cheap stuff).

Having said that D700 + 24-70 + 70-200 + smaller body + lights is all you *really need*.
 
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