rkgatteleport Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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Times they are a changin'...
Seems like every year or two I have to come up with a new bag configuration due to changes with the airlines. My old "go to" bag was my f-stop loka - you could actually get the multiple bodies/lenses/flashes/tablet or laptop, etc I always needed for paid gigs in it with no problems... Until I found I couldn't reliably get an overhead bin space even with getting to the airport early, carefully choosing seats so you boarded earlier than later, etc. And even if you get a coveted overhead bin space on the first leg, all bets are off on the connecting flights.
The last straw was United's latest changes, which I'm sure others will follow soon (I heard American already has, but YMMV). Their new maximum size for your "personal item" is - 9X10X17 inches - they also specified a size for carry ons, but that was more reasonable. the fun part is that if its too big and there's no overhead bin space, it goes in the belly .
Sounds like they aren't enforcing this strictly -yet-, but I've had check in personnel ask me to stuff my bags in the templates before, and... (the loka was fun that way - it -always- fit with space to spare, much to the bag nazi's chagrin).
Apparently they are also looking at charging for gate checked stuff in some cases, so I can see them being motivated to enforce these rules more diligently in the future.
http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/travel/Pages/BaggageCarry-On.aspx
I've used the 20 pound coat trick before when flying international. while it works great to get around the weight restrictions, the trouble is that it doesn't help you with the volume. With no overhead bin space by the time you get on the plane, you have this tiny carry on that goes under the seat in front of you which will probably already be full and a long coat full of batteries, flashes, lenses, chargers, etc. that you will probably end up with riding on your lap the whole flight. That sucks.
As I really fear checking stuff I need to have working at the other end other than tripods/the odd light stand (rant about old samsonite ad being depressingly close to the truth about what can happen to your bags deleted), my new strategy is to plan on shipping/renting/borrowing all my redundant gear to/at the destination. Pelican bags are great, but you really can't put much in them if you're putting in enough padding so your lenses will survive a fall from the loading hatch on the plane to the pavement (it happens), etc.
While I have a number of bags that complied to the old carry on recommended sizes/ were smaller than this new size, I also went and found a bag whose worst case dimensions are 9X10X17 - there aren't many -the most reasonable ones I found were a thinktank glass taxi and an old kata 3n1-20, FWIW.
Good Luck with your choice,
rkg
(Richard George)
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