AlClarence Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 (edited) Hi All, Next week I'll be embarking on my first dive trip that requires flying with my camera gear. Are there any tips or tricks anyone has that may make my life easier at all? It seems that getting as much as possible into carry on is the best bet. Making sure my housing isn't sealed is the second thing I've picked up. Any other tips people can suggest? Thanks, Al Edit: Sorry mods, I just realised I put this in the wrong travel forum Edited February 6 by AlClarence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamaros Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 The approach I've been using: - Do your best to pack your main rig in a camera backpack. Carry-on bags might still get checked at the gate for busy flights (and subsequently lost in transit), but the your "personal item" will always stay with you. For me, that'll usually be a D850, housing, 45 degree viewfinder, 2 Ikelite DS232 strobes, 28-70mm lens, a WACP-C, and some arm clamps for wide-angle destinations, or a 105mm + port + Saga Trio diopter for macro destinations. I can't fit float arms in the bag, but it's enough to do close-focus stuff in a pinch, though I do need to disassemble the viewfinder and arm mounting balls from the housing for everything to fit. - For other lenses, ports, and other gear, try to pack them in a carry-on with configurable divider panels. I've found them to be enough that I don't need to bring bulky padded bags for my ports. I personally like the Tenba Air Case for this role because it's very sturdy, but not as heavy or as obvious of a target for theft as something like a Pelican case. - Some airlines like Philippine Airlines weigh your carry-on bags as well, which you should keep in mind if that'll be a concern. If you're forced to fly with one, you may want to consider wearing a photo vest that lets you carry some of your lenses and accessories on your person instead of in your carry-on, though you should be warned that it might not be the most comfortable in a cramped airplane seat. - You can save space by putting your camera body in your (unsealed) housing. I've heard some people expressing worries about potentially causing the camera tray to get misaligned from too much jostling - it's not something I've personally run into, but if you're worried, you could also pack a lot of accessories in there instead. - Avoid leaving a lens attached to your camera body if possible, as you risk damaging the connecting thread if your packing job exerts force on the wrong spot 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apneagraph Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 (edited) I can confirm everything @Kamaros mentioned above. I would also recommend disassembling every arm and connector, for example, and not leaving them mounted in the bag. Anything that doesn't fit into my camera backpack, such as spare parts or non-essential items, goes into a foam-padded softshell case inside my main luggage. Another significant point for me is to keep a close eye (or better yet, both eyes) on your camera backpack when placing it in the plane's luggage compartment. During my last flight, another passenger took my bag and replaced it with her much larger carry-on bag. Consequently, she positioned my backpack in a way that it got squeezed every time the compartment was closed... Edited February 6 by Apneagraph 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimG Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 Stick an AirTag into anything hold loaded. Then, worst comes to the worst, you should be able to see where it has gone. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruehaufsteher2 Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 I experienced several times that my personal item had to be put on the scale and 8kg was max. A7IV + Nauticam + WACP-C + Flash adds min to 12-15kg. Be prepared to react... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaolIla Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 I've the same problem between 10 and 15 kg... I had never problem... only one time on a low cost compagny (Scoot) I had 14 kg ... I open the bag... say it's a lot of money ... ... .--> one second please the man asked the chief ... ok.... that's it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giancarlo M. Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 In my experience, I opted to purchase a backpack/photo trolley(RLX 450 AW), I observed that the backpack on the back is almost never weighed, it is more likely that at the check-in desk they ask to weigh the trolley. I convert it to a backpack before presenting to the desk and after checking in and drop off luggage, I convert it to trolley. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaolIla Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 Yes a backpack is better, I agree 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Architeuthis Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 My photo rucksack was weighted already several times by different airlines. It was always o.k., but limit then was 12kg, now it is 7-8 kg with many airlines. I have now a big fishing vest for traveling - in case there are problems I can stuff items into it until the weight fits, after passing control I would put the items back (so far it was never necessary)... Wolfgang 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaolIla Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 9 minutes ago, Architeuthis said: My photo rucksack was weighted already several times by different airlines. It was always o.k., but limit then was 12kg, now it is 7-8 kg with many airlines. I have now a big fishing vest for traveling - in case there are problems I can stuff items into it until the weight fits, after passing control I would put the items back (so far it was never necessary)... Wolfgang Funny I make exactly the same... I've 0.9 KG of batterie (GoPro, R5, for 4 torche and for 2 retra with batterie extension ..) One time for 6 or 8 years ago... we hada litle bit to much in a backpack and some free weight in the second . At the check-in the person wanted that I move some part from one backpack to the other... the difference was less than 1 KG really crassy ... it was with Etihad in Zürich/CH it was the first and the last time I flight with Etihad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimG Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 Another suggestion : set your charm setting to extreme when checking in. A smile, a bit of rapport, touch of humility…. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Ross Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 Who are you flying with?, this can make a difference as to whether your carryon is weighed. Jetstar for example will weigh carryons so they charge you to check an extra bag. If you have a travelling companion temporarily off loading some gear to their carryon can be a strategy. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex B Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 A large belly bag can be very useful too. I pack mine with 3-4kg of camera stuff 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimG Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 Chris is right on the issue of which carrier you use. Often using a low-cost airline is not, err, low cost. So many add-ons. We've had really good experiences with Air France, KLM and Emirates. Yeah, they cost more but when you start adding in the add-on charges that low-cost carriers raise, the different shrinks rapidly and allowances for baggage increase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johno1530 Posted Thursday at 12:13 PM Share Posted Thursday at 12:13 PM Buy a jacket with lots of pockets. I have one from Kit Pimp and it's great. You can fill the pockets with lenses and other heavy items, go to the check in desk with an emptier bag and then filled it up again after. On both of my last trips I have had hand luggage weighed and we tend to travel with 'Spares' of most things. A big jacket has helped me out ALOT with avoiding excess baggage. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobyone Posted Thursday at 02:08 PM Share Posted Thursday at 02:08 PM Travel with a companion that travels light. Let them carry some of the gear. This works with my girlfriend. Also I pack some of my housings in hard cases and check. I always use locks and tie wraps to seal. If you bag comes out with any tampering you will know. Report immediately. Use bright colored hard cases are harder to hide for cameras and other personnel. I use orange and yellow. I have also traveled domestically with checked coolers, marked fish. Did not get opened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimG Posted Thursday at 03:36 PM Share Posted Thursday at 03:36 PM 1 hour ago, Tobyone said: Travel with a companion that travels light. Let them carry some of the gear. This works with my girlfriend. ..... who, she tells us, is an avid reader of Waterpixels......🤣 1 hour ago, Tobyone said: I have also traveled domestically with checked coolers, marked fish. Did not get opened Briliant!!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustinO Posted Thursday at 06:20 PM Share Posted Thursday at 06:20 PM I use a combination of the following- and so far, I've not had an issue. And I feel no issues with taking the moral high ground when I see the size of some people's "personal item". But i can't say it isn't without it's stress level. 1. Take a fishing jacket, like Wolfgang does. I've also not [yet] had to fill it. 2. Use a Manfrotto rucksack for most of my gear. This is "short and fat" so it seems smaller than it is... coupled with standing up as straight as I can helps make it seem lighter. 3. Use my personal item allowance (laptop case) to the max. Amazing how many lenses/ attachments can fit around a laptop. 4. Use my other half for excess. But now she's getting GAS, I think that is a curve of diminishing returns... 5. Use a soft oversize bag for check in. If it doesn't quite fit in the chute, then the sides seem to reduce the weight up to about a kg or two. If that isn't enough, then a well-placed and subtle foot seems to help lift the weight off the belt a bit (well, my doctor says that putting weight mostly on one leg is good for us)! 6. If nothing else works, engage the check in staff in a load of random conversation. My partner's great at that. ...and I hope none ever read this thread or we're all buggered. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaolIla Posted Thursday at 07:07 PM Share Posted Thursday at 07:07 PM 31 minutes ago, JustinO said: 1. Take a fishing jacket, like Wolfgang does. I've also not [yet] had to fill it. Same for me 32 minutes ago, JustinO said: 2. Use a Manfrotto rucksack for most of my gear. This is "short and fat" so it seems smaller than it is... coupled with standing up as straight as I can helps make it seem lighter. Same a Manfrotto rucksack and same attitude 33 minutes ago, JustinO said: 3. Use my personal item allowance (laptop case) to the max. Amazing how many lenses/ attachments can fit around a laptop. Similar with torches but I give the case to my wife.. I use a big duffle of North face the back is really light... but no wheel 😞 I also use a big I can put the batterie in it... over 1 kg ( 6x32650 + 32xAA + some AAA + other (6xGoPro + 2xInsta360)) I can put my tshirt over it to hide a little bit ( 😉 ) I used that one time before flying back from Cebu with Scoot. ( I had over 12 Kg in the backpack... ) I oppened the bag and explained that it is very expensive and fragile.. it was ok .... 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bghazzal Posted yesterday at 01:46 AM Share Posted yesterday at 01:46 AM (edited) On 2/7/2024 at 12:41 AM, Architeuthis said: My photo rucksack was weighted already several times by different airlines. It was always o.k., but limit then was 12kg, now it is 7-8 kg with many airlines. I have now a big fishing vest for traveling - in case there are problems I can stuff items into it until the weight fits, after passing control I would put the items back (so far it was never necessary)... Wolfgang I do the same, and have had to do it quite a few times actually, with my wife. Our strategy is actually 2 "fishing" / utility vests - can fit 6kg in each easily - when I was carrying the regs in carry-on (which I don't do anymore) I once had to place the two regs in the vest's zippered back pocket. Our strategy is to be nice and agreeable, show up early and be ready for action. 2 "personal items" (small back pack, computer), carryon backpack for my wife and super light 2 wheel roller for me. If we anticipate that it might be a tough check-in, we'll get the roller down to 7 kg, as this is the most commonly weighed carry-on, and check in with full-pockets. You get to know what to expect after a while, but there are always surprises. One notorious thing to look out for is the systematic weighing of rollers in Kuala Lumpur's Air Asia dedicated KLIA2 terminal (a special gate you go through) for instance. I always hand carry the roller in the queue and try to look comfy (rolling seems to increase attention and weight-checks). We check in the bags (as analog nomads without a home for a little under 10 years now, we're quite minimalist but with the dive gear, spares, pharmacy, tools and extra imaging stuff etc needed to live/work in remote areas like we have been doing we do have 3x 23kg check-in bags (2 120L Decathlon soft trekking bags, and one 100L), plus a lot of carryon (2 computers, camera, lenses, etc etc) If the carry-on is weighed, we step aside and proceed to fill the vests as much as possible. Also jacket pockets. No bum-bag but it sounds like a good idea. One idea I've been toying with is to strip the Nauticam compact housing of the tray, and a shoulder strap and carry it on me like a camera (with the camera inside), as it's quite heavy. After the great carry-on transfer, we proceed to re-weight, finish check-in then sit down somewhere and tranfer back to the carry-on. (re-weighing at the gate is rare on airlines we use - Jetstar is notorious, also for their food-hunt, as are some flights using small local planes in Indonesia, ATRs for instance) For the anecdote, last time we had to do the carryon-transfer was on our flight from Osaka in Japan to Guam and on to Palau, where we were going to work, in 2021. Very strict (which was rare in Osaka), and we almost missed the flight. But not because of luggage - carryon got weighed, we had to transfer and that solved it - but because they were afraid we would have entering Guam because regulation require a flight out, and they considered our ongoing flight to Palau was not a flight-out (because Palau is in Micronesia...) Despite explaining that Palau has been an independent country since 1994 and is not part of the Federated States of Micronesia, they wanted to take no chances of us being denied entry... We had to sign an form agreeing to uphold financial responsiblity for airfare if we were denied entry to Guam, and were allowed to board only at the very last minute... Just as cabin crew was about to prepare the plane for take off, someone hops on, moves to our row and tells us they reached Guam and it was confirmed it was ok (of course it was!) Gotta love Japan / flying and luggage.... 😁 (as an epilogue, our immigration process in Guam consisted of the following exchange: "where are you guys off to?" - "just transitting two nights, then off to Palau for work" "oh Palau, very nice, enjoy!")... Edited yesterday at 02:09 AM by bghazzal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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