Flying with a tripod

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Archive 2008 · Flying with a tripod

thomps6s
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p.1 #1 · Flying with a tripod

Where do you usually put your tripod when travelling via Plane?
I am assuming it is a no-no to have it in the tripod holder on the outside of my lowepro backpack which will be my carry-on.
I have a small set of CF legs that I bought for travelling and was thinking I would stuff them in my Checked baggage. Since it is a straight flight I am thinking my luggage shouldn't get lost, but you never know.

Just checking to see what everyone else does.

Mar 19, 2008 at 12:52 PM

JimFox
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p.1 #2 · Flying with a tripod

I have done it two ways. One if I remove the head I can fit it into my carryon that I place in the overhead compartment. But I also travel with my backpack and I have it hanging on the outside of that, and no one has ever said anything. I will usually unhook it from the backpack when I stow it, so that it fits better in the overhead bin.

I never check in my tripod or any gear that would leave me dead in the water if it got lost. Like my battery charger, etc, comes with me on the plane. There was someone just last year in here whose luggage got lost, along with his battery charger. He could not find one where he was at, and after a day and half he was in trouble...

Jim

Mar 19, 2008 at 01:02 PM

Romain Nowakow
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p.1 #3 · Flying with a tripod

Just traveled last month from the East Coast to Aruba with a Gitzo 3540xls. Had a Tenba backpack (loaded with camera and accessories and 17" 'puter) and the Gitzo in it's bag as my 2 carryons. The 3540, while light, is a little long even when folded but didn't raise any questions by any of the flight crew. Even with a straight-through flight, I would be wary about stashing the tripod in a suitcase in the hold. Never know what turbulence might come up.

Just my 2c.

RMN

Mar 19, 2008 at 01:04 PM

John S Hudson
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p.1 #4 · Flying with a tripod

I usually stuff my Manfrotto 3021B into my suitcase. I take the head off obviously and it barely fits.

About a year and a half ago I made the mistake of trying to put it in its soft case, and check it as luggage. I padded it with packing material, etc. When I retreived it after my flight, part of the hard plastic around the top had broken off, I assume because it was tossed around.

So be careful

Mar 19, 2008 at 02:20 PM

beerguy
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p.1 #5 · Flying with a tripod

I've traveled all over North America with my tripod strapped to the side of my backpack and no one even looked. Last month, in Florida, I was told that it was a weapon and that I couldn't board with it. I had no choice but to go back to the ticket counter, have them go find my bag, and check the tripod.

I referred the TSA agent to the portion of their regulations that indicate that "photographic equipment" is acceptable as carry-on luggage and was told, rather rudely, that "they can make a judgement call on anything." The fact of the matter is that in a small confined area, like a regional jet, I could do far more damage with my 100-400 than I could with a 2lbs tripod. (I neglected to mention that for obvious reasons)

The moral of the story is that you might be able to carry it on. You're entirely at the mercy of the TSA agent. If they say no, there's no negotiating.

Mar 19, 2008 at 03:30 PM

stompyq
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p.1 #6 · Flying with a tripod

I've always checked mine as luggage. I wrap the tripod in several layers of clothing, mostly my trousers (the legset goes inside the trouser legs

. As long as your bag is well packed and the stuff inside it does not shift around it's fine. I've travelled internationally many times without any issue and without the hassel of dealing with different airport security regulations (especially england). No problems at all. The head goes seperatly either with me or in the case where i take my massive graf studioball inside a old tarac velocity slingbag (with other assorted gear)with the checked bags.

Mar 19, 2008 at 03:31 PM

ajkessler
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p.1 #7 · Flying with a tripod

JimFox wrote:
I never check in my tripod or any gear that would leave me dead in the water if it got lost. Like my battery charger, etc, comes with me on the plane.
Jim

RE batteries, there's a new rule that says you can only have 1 'loose' battery in carried luggage. In other words, if you've got one camera, you can carry 1 battery in the camera, and then 1 spare in your carry on. Search for the announcement as it had some other ridiculous rules in it as well.

You can probably take as many as you want, but if they catch you this means you might be forced to leave some behind. Good news is they don't seem to catch ANYthing.

RE tripod, I've always checked mine in my luggage when flying internationally because 1) it was heavy and I didn't want to carry it around 2) it wasn't a deal breaker if it got lost

Mar 19, 2008 at 03:40 PM

JimFox
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p.1 #8 · Flying with a tripod

ajkessler wrote:
JimFox wrote:
I never check in my tripod or any gear that would leave me dead in the water if it got lost. Like my battery charger, etc, comes with me on the plane.
Jim

RE batteries, there's a new rule that says you can only have 1 'loose' battery in carried luggage. In other words, if you've got one camera, you can carry 1 battery in the camera, and then 1 spare in your carry on. Search for the announcement as it had some other ridiculous rules in it as well.

You can probably take as many as you want, but if they catch you this means you might be forced to leave some behind. Good news is they don't seem to catch ANYthing.

RE tripod, I've always checked mine in my luggage when flying internationally because 1) it was heavy and I didn't want to carry it around 2) it wasn't a deal breaker if it got lost

Hey AJ,

I had heard something similar a while back, but when you check into it, that was referring to batteries that are actually larger then the capacity of our camera batteries For instance my Nikon batteries are 1500mha and fall way under that limit, so they don't limit the # of them.

Course, the government loves to always add new rules or change rules, but as I had last heard, our camera batteries were smaller then the size being regulated.

But then again as Doug so aptly pointed out, TSA is like a god that can make any rule any time it wants really... so just make sure you smile real nice when going through the xray machine...

Jim

Mar 19, 2008 at 04:10 PM

Desert Rat
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p.1 #9 · Flying with a tripod

Had to toss mine in the checked baggage.. would not fit in carryon bag...

Mar 19, 2008 at 04:12 PM

beerguy
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p.1 #10 · Flying with a tripod

JimFox wrote:
just make sure you smile real nice when going through the xray machine...

lol - I tried that too. It didn't work.

Mar 19, 2008 at 04:23 PM

JimFox
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p.1 #11 · Flying with a tripod

Desert Rat wrote:
Had to toss mine in the checked baggage.. would not fit in carryon bag...

Yeah, but aren't you using one of Ansels old tripods cause of those huge 2 ton lenses you shoot with

I am surprised you don't have the crate the thing up...

Mar 19, 2008 at 04:32 PM

dnadal
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p.1 #12 · Flying with a tripod

Not an exact citation, but here's the gist of the USDOT policy:

Effective January 1, 2008, the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will no longer allow loose lithium batteries in checked baggage. These batteries may continue to be packed in carry-on baggage.

Under the new DOT rule, lithium batteries are allowed in checked baggage under one of the following conditions:

The batteries must be in their original containers.
The battery terminals must not be exposed (for example placing tape over the ends of the batteries).
The batteries are installed in a device.
The batteries are enclosed by themselves in a plastic bag.

Loose lithium batteries found in checked baggage may be removed.

You can learn more at http://Safetravel.dot.gov.

Mar 19, 2008 at 05:55 PM

nburwell
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p.1 #13 · Flying with a tripod

I usually remove the ball head, then nesstle the tripod in with my clothing which I usually check-in with the airline. I always bring my body/lens etc. with me as my carry-on's.

-Nick

Mar 19, 2008 at 06:44 PM

Jeffrey
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p.1 #14 · Flying with a tripod

moved to the appropriate forum.

Mar 19, 2008 at 06:51 PM

MartinMcl
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p.1 #15 · Flying with a tripod

It's much tougher at UK airports and so I always pack my tripod as securely as possible in checked baggage when I fly over to NA so far, (crossed fingers, and everything else) no problems. The only time a case went missing was in Canada (lost for 5 days) but the tripod was in the other one

hew: I've always figured to take the risk and if I had to, I'd buy another en sitio, and then haggle over the insurance.

AJK said "Good news is they don't seem to catch ANYthing." WOW!

I hope you are wrong AJ, especially if it's terrorist materials! :worried: :worried:

PS all I wonder why they've removed that nice little blue "worried" face

PS 2 Blimey I seem to have benn transported to another place

Edited on Mar 19, 2008 at 06:54 PM

Mar 19, 2008 at 06:51 PM

thomps6s
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p.1 #16 · Flying with a tripod

I am going to look tonight and see if this little set of CF legs will fit inside the bag if I remove some dividers. The Compu Trekker AW 200 is a fairly large bag.
More to come.

Thanks for the tips!

Mar 19, 2008 at 07:51 PM

dalek53
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p.1 #17 · Flying with a tripod

Checked baggage for the tripod every time. Heathrow is unbelievably strict: if it doesn't fit in the rigid metal frame that describes the upper limit for hand baggage, it doesn't go on the plane.

Mar 19, 2008 at 09:23 PM

arthurh
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p.1 #18 · Flying with a tripod

Pack mine in checked baggage. Made it to China, Russia, Antarctica, and a number of othe parts of the world. Always between layers of clothing. (Feisol 3401)

Mar 20, 2008 at 12:27 AM

Roland W
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p.1 #19 · Flying with a tripod

I always use checked baggage for my tripod legs with no issues, but that has all been US domestic flights. The odds of loosing luggage have become worse in the US these past few years, but are still a reasonable risk. It is very important to remember that the airlines will not cover loss or damage in checked baggage for any kind of photographic or electronic equipment, including tripods, so weigh the risks ahead of time, rather than being really upset if you ever end up getting the bad news. I still put my Gitzo legs in checked baggage, but my RSS head is in carry on.

Mar 20, 2008 at 04:12 AM

thomps6s
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p.1 #20 · Flying with a tripod

The legs will fit in my Lowepro backpack as long as I take out all of the dividers on one side of the backpack and remove the head.

Mar 20, 2008 at 03:55 PM

JohnJ80
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p.1 #21 · Flying with a tripod

I've carried my 1258 (like 2540) and BH40 on to aircraft many times strapped onto my backpack. No issues. TSA doesn't even blink at it nor does NWA or UA or US Air.

J.

Mar 23, 2008 at 11:59 PM

tony dandrea
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p.1 #22 · Flying with a tripod

i carry my manfroto 3021 + 3421 head(also manfroto) strapped on my backpack,

it looks huge behind me ,but never had any problems!

Mar 24, 2008 at 02:19 AM

CPWarner
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p.1 #23 · Flying with a tripod

I use a tripod bag as my second carry-on with my photo back. Never been hassled yet in NA. Just got back from Arizona yesterday. ON that trip I put my 1258 and my wife's in the same tenba bag and it was not a problem.

Mar 25, 2008 at 02:38 AM

ironimages
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p.1 #24 · Flying with a tripod

I always put mine in my checked baggage, over 30 trips and never a problem, (knock on wood!)

Mar 25, 2008 at 12:13 PM

thedruid
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p.1 #25 · Flying with a tripod

You'll get a ton of different answers here as the TSA is unpredictable at best. I always pack mine in checked luggage and carry on head. Overseas carriers especially in Europe can be a lot stricter than US air travel.

Mar 25, 2008 at 02:30 PM


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