elkhornsun wrote:
I never check a tripod on the outbound section of a trip. I have my backpack on a small collapsible roller cart and the tripod legs strapped to the side of the backpack. When boarding the plane I unstrap the tripod legs and carry it onto the plane in my hand. My small backpack that qualifies as a personal item and goes under the seat in front of me is on my back and I carry in one hand my main backpack (and my Gura Gear bags all have side handles so the straps are stowed away.
I make sure that the tripod legs we use will collapse to 21 inches or less. That way the slide into the overhead bin and take up less than 4 inches of bin space. My wife and I put our jackets on top of the first tripod and then put the second tripod on top of our jackets.
TSA could care less about a tripod unless it has spiked feet. The ticket agents don't care about a tripod anymore than any other personal item (instrument, umbrella, cane, etc.). When boarding I am organized with my gear so I can quickly get to me seat and have the gear stowed away and not impede other passengers.
I have frequent flyer status on a number of carriers and for those where I do not, I pay the extra for a premium economy seat which buys me both a better seat and I get to pre-board before the other economy or coach class passengers which helps with hauling photo gear onto a plane. ...Show more →
True for domestic North American flights. Dubious for internal flights in foreign countries. I've seen enough issues with carrying on tripods onto small local planes that I never carry on tripods.
chez wrote:
Not all TSA agents are made alike. Try going through Taipei security with your 22" tripod and you'll be in for a rude surprise.javascript: multiquote(14830008);
The last time I flew in and out of Taipei was in 2013 and had no trouble at all. No issues with the agents in Hong Kong with the tripod but they would not left me take an empty water plastic bottle onto the aircraft.
TSA cares about dangerous items which varies by agent and whether one is flying coach or first class. It is the people at the airline gate that are literally the gate keepers in terms of what gets on the plane. I have seen too many people carrying very large backpacks and similar bulky items to not take my photo gear on board.
When flying anywhere there are multiple airlines going to most destinations and each airline has different restrictions for coach, premium coach, business, and first class passengers. Going to Asia I always pay the additional cost for a premium coach ticket as I get early boarding and so more places to put my carry-on and I get a roomier seat.
What is important is to avoid being conspicuous and struggling with one's bags while going through the gate and onto the aircraft. Perception is everything unless there is a weigh scale at the gate and that is extremely rare.
Not that the long list of similar replies needs further endorsement, but add me to the list of people who always put tripod and ball head in the checked bag. My overpriced fancy pants tripod and head are too expensive to be risked at the whim of a TSA (or equivalent) agent. Fortunately nobody seems yet to have decided tripods are valuable enough to steal.
if it's the heavy tripod...then checked bag. if its the one that folds compact then it goes in the carry-on. International, always checked bag...so I don't have to carry that extra weight during transit time at airports.
elkhornsun wrote:
The last time I flew in and out of Taipei was in 2013 and had no trouble at all. No issues with the agents in Hong Kong with the tripod but they would not left me take an empty water plastic bottle onto the aircraft.
TSA cares about dangerous items which varies by agent and whether one is flying coach or first class. It is the people at the airline gate that are literally the gate keepers in terms of what gets on the plane. I have seen too many people carrying very large backpacks and similar bulky items to not take my photo gear on board.
When flying anywhere there are multiple airlines going to most destinations and each airline has different restrictions for coach, premium coach, business, and first class passengers. Going to Asia I always pay the additional cost for a premium coach ticket as I get early boarding and so more places to put my carry-on and I get a roomier seat.
What is important is to avoid being conspicuous and struggling with one's bags while going through the gate and onto the aircraft. Perception is everything unless there is a weigh scale at the gate and that is extremely rare.
Taipei airport in 2016 had strict size regulations for carryon tripods. If you are over...they would take it away from you. They even had a glass display case ( trophy case ) which contained many tripods along with a bunch of other items that were confiscated from carryon.
Regulations are fluid. What worked last year might not this year. Best to do your homework prior to leaving so you have no surprises.
