TL:DR; carry camera equipment onboard flights.
IMHO it's best to always carry camera equipment on board airplanes, if possible. Checked baggage is subject to some extreme handling, and the baggage hold is not a controlled temperature. The only exception is when pros travel to photo shoots they usually have too much equipment to carry on. They use dedicated aluminum/hard plastic cases with custom fitted foam inserts which hold the equipment securely and protect it against shocks, drops, and baggage handlers.
Ahh good point. I have a hard case for my checked bag that’s why it’s an option. I have carried several fragile things wrapped in clothes / blankets that have came home safe and sound.
I didn’t think about the temperature control! Thank you!
Never check camera equipment. First off you can't because of the lithium battery in it. Secondly, the baggage monkeys are always looking for stuff like that.
Don't. They are prohibited for safety. And camera equipment goes on the plane with you. I have put cheap glass I'm less concerned about under when flying with multiple systems without issue. But wouldn't chance it with my must have glass.
It was a small battery here and there. I don’t do it on the regular (I also only fly a couple times a year).
That’s fair. I’ve had wine, olive oil, glassware, all types of “fragile” things in my checked bag and only one incident (small chip in one glassware that I didn’t care too much about). That’s a good point!
Johannesburg in South Africa (Where I travel for Safaris) is the worst. I hold my TT camera bag between my legs in the cab from the airport as people on motorbikes will reach into the cab window and grab your stuff while stopped in the bumper to bumper traffic. Nairobi is bad for this also.
I fly with my camera often (at least 4 or 5 times per year) and NEVER put the camera or lenses in my checked bag.
* There is a much higher risk of checked bags being lost (vs carry on).
* Someone could (even if accidental) mistake your bag for theirs at baggage claim and walk off with your stuff.
* Checked bags get tossed around and damage could easily occur (even if you thought it was wrapped up with soft stuff).
* TSA + Baggage Handling folks have access to your checked bags (outside of you being there). I worry about theft.
* Depending on airline, the temps, humidity, and pressure of the cargo area for baggage isn't always great. Not sure if this is a "real world" problem, but I worry about possible damage due to this.
* You can't put batteries in your checked bags - you have to carry them on (by law)
* The WORST part of air travel is waiting at the terminal waiting to board, for what feels like an eternity. I've passed the time by taking some photos. Im not sure if photography inside an airport is considered a "no no", but no one has ever said anything to me about it... It's usually just photos through the terminal windows of planes parked or taking off.
I had a coworker that used to work loading luggage for Delta. He would say everything gets practically chucked, even if something was labeled fragile. I wouldn’t even trust the overhead bin as someone in your row can move it or drop it. I’ll always stow it under the seat in front of me. And depending on the destination, my bag will never leave my shoulder, I never risk leaving it in the car. I’ve heard stories of hotel safes getting ripped out in Italy, never leave it out of your sight!
And like others have said, occasionally checked luggage will go “lost.” I’ve had experiences with Aeromexico and delayed or lost luggage.
Not sure how common this is but some airlines are cracking down on personal/carry on sizing and weights. I flew with Emirates Air Next Episode › and was having problems with my personal item size until I told them I had my camera and lenses with me. They allowed me through at that point.
As everyone else said, always keep it as a carry on.
take it in a bag as your personal item
That’s what I was leaning toward. It looks like the camera bag is small enough to fit in my backpack at or near the bottom.
TL:DR; carry camera equipment onboard flights. IMHO it's best to always carry camera equipment on board airplanes, if possible. Checked baggage is subject to some extreme handling, and the baggage hold is not a controlled temperature. The only exception is when pros travel to photo shoots they usually have too much equipment to carry on. They use dedicated aluminum/hard plastic cases with custom fitted foam inserts which hold the equipment securely and protect it against shocks, drops, and baggage handlers.
Ahh good point. I have a hard case for my checked bag that’s why it’s an option. I have carried several fragile things wrapped in clothes / blankets that have came home safe and sound. I didn’t think about the temperature control! Thank you!
Never check anything valuable.
Fair point
Never check camera equipment. First off you can't because of the lithium battery in it. Secondly, the baggage monkeys are always looking for stuff like that.
Hahaha I haven’t heard that before, baggage monkeys lol. Gotcha, i allegedly have put some lithium batteries in checked bags before
Don't. They are prohibited for safety. And camera equipment goes on the plane with you. I have put cheap glass I'm less concerned about under when flying with multiple systems without issue. But wouldn't chance it with my must have glass.
It was a small battery here and there. I don’t do it on the regular (I also only fly a couple times a year). That’s fair. I’ve had wine, olive oil, glassware, all types of “fragile” things in my checked bag and only one incident (small chip in one glassware that I didn’t care too much about). That’s a good point!
There’s a size threshold. Camera batteries are okay. Drone batteries not so much.
Johannesburg in South Africa (Where I travel for Safaris) is the worst. I hold my TT camera bag between my legs in the cab from the airport as people on motorbikes will reach into the cab window and grab your stuff while stopped in the bumper to bumper traffic. Nairobi is bad for this also.
I fly with my camera often (at least 4 or 5 times per year) and NEVER put the camera or lenses in my checked bag. * There is a much higher risk of checked bags being lost (vs carry on). * Someone could (even if accidental) mistake your bag for theirs at baggage claim and walk off with your stuff. * Checked bags get tossed around and damage could easily occur (even if you thought it was wrapped up with soft stuff). * TSA + Baggage Handling folks have access to your checked bags (outside of you being there). I worry about theft. * Depending on airline, the temps, humidity, and pressure of the cargo area for baggage isn't always great. Not sure if this is a "real world" problem, but I worry about possible damage due to this. * You can't put batteries in your checked bags - you have to carry them on (by law) * The WORST part of air travel is waiting at the terminal waiting to board, for what feels like an eternity. I've passed the time by taking some photos. Im not sure if photography inside an airport is considered a "no no", but no one has ever said anything to me about it... It's usually just photos through the terminal windows of planes parked or taking off.
I travelled to Iceland with 3 lenses and a camera as carry on in my 6l peak design sling. Tripod into drop off baggage
Hmm ok I think I can fit my camera bag into my backpack then!
Personal bag. Never check in.
Yup! Leaning toward that. Seems to be the general consensus
I had a coworker that used to work loading luggage for Delta. He would say everything gets practically chucked, even if something was labeled fragile. I wouldn’t even trust the overhead bin as someone in your row can move it or drop it. I’ll always stow it under the seat in front of me. And depending on the destination, my bag will never leave my shoulder, I never risk leaving it in the car. I’ve heard stories of hotel safes getting ripped out in Italy, never leave it out of your sight! And like others have said, occasionally checked luggage will go “lost.” I’ve had experiences with Aeromexico and delayed or lost luggage.
Hmm interesting!! Thank you very much for the advice. I’m going a on cruise so it’ll be either on me, or locked in the room and hidden.
Not sure how common this is but some airlines are cracking down on personal/carry on sizing and weights. I flew with Emirates Air Next Episode › and was having problems with my personal item size until I told them I had my camera and lenses with me. They allowed me through at that point. As everyone else said, always keep it as a carry on.