Airline Carry-on Limits

As the topic description states, we'll be flying to Bonaire in about 6 weeks. Being keenly aware of the liabilities associated with flying via Puerto Rico, I am interested in carrying as much photogear as possible onto the plane. So I briefly reviewed AA's luggage restrictions and found the following on their web site: FAA security measures limit customers on all AA flights to one carry-on bag plus one personal item. They list a camera, laptop computers and other items as personal items. So here's my question as to people's real-world experience with carry-on luggage. I have a Lowepro Computrekker II that I carry my camera, lenses and various other photo gear in, typically not including the underwater housing, ports, strobes, ect. My laptop would travel in the backpack. Based on this backback being rather large (even though it should easily fit into the overhead compartment or possibly even beneath the seat in front of me - though that may be tight), I am thinking that AA will count this backpack as my one and only allowable carry-on (plus the laptop). Has anyone experienced otherwise, ie have any of you been able to take a photo backpack (maybe smaller than the Computrekker II) in addition to a laptop and a 'standard' carry-on?

What I am thinking is that I may actually be better off carrying on a standard wheeled carry-on in addition to my laptop rather than the backback as I can probably fit more overall camera gear such as my housing and ports plus camera and lenses into a standard carry-on than the backpack. Of course, there also is the 40# weight limit...

Thanks for the feedback!

GG

I've done this route several times, latest was in January this year. I carry on my laptop in it's case. There is a side pocket that I shove 3 lenses in. I pack my camera, dome, housing, 1 strobe, 1 arm, 1 sync cord in a hard sided carry on. The reason for the hard side is, the flight from P.R. to Bonaire is on a small jet and they take the carry on from you as you board and put it in the storage locker.

The laptop goes in the overhead but it's much smaller than normal.

I pack the rest of my camera gear in a Pelican case then put that in a non-descript softsided case to avoid arousing the baggage handlers. This bag is checked at departure from home. So far, no problem.

Unless American has lowered it's weight limit recently, it's 50 lbs. per checked bag. But once you're in P.R. no one will bother you about your bags. They will grab and stow the carry on as you board and leave you with the smaller personal one to carry on.

Rand

Thanks Rand! I should have been a little clearer as to the weight restriction. As per AA's web site the 40# limit applies to carry-ons. The checked in luggage is still listed as 2 pieces with a weight limit of 50# ea. Both carry-ons and checked in baggage has the usual size restrictions.

GG

My Computrekker is my laptop case. It is the smaller of the Computrekker line and fits under the seat ahead of me. The larger Computrekker (which I also own) barely fits anywhere, let alone under the seat. If I get questioned, my logic is that I am only taking up one spot in overhead, since the Computrekker fits under the seat.

My carry-on is a simple, cheap, non-descript suit case with roller handle. It meets the 45 linear inch limit. It holds my housing (in bubble wrap), all ports, 2 Ikelite DS125s, cables, arms and a couple of chargers. It's a bit heavy, but pretend it isn't when you toss in the overhead.

Depending on what camera gear I am taking, my 3rd strobe is either in the Computrekker or wrapped inside a BC and wetsuit. I also do not use "dive gear" bags.

I just returned a few days ago from Bonaire through San Juan. I used a CompuTrekkerAW and a MicroTrekker 200 to carry the cameras on-board. They fit perfectly under the seat. The underseat dimensions on the ATR-72 are 9.5 in tall, 23 in wide and 13.5 in deep. The overhead bins are very small, perhalps 8 or 9 in tall and not very deep. There is a small space between the side of the aircraft and the seat post that you could fit a small fanny pack. There were valets outside the aircraft in Bonaire targeting roller bags for storage underneath.

Hope this helps,

-Jim

So from what you guys are saying I'd basically be s.o.l. with the Computrecker II as my carry-on for the leg between PR and Bonaire? By the sound of it I may be better off travelling with a standard hard-sided suitcase looking carry-on for the camera and housing gear, wrapping it in whatever protective material space allows for and then carrying my laptop in hand. Not sure I like this idea, but then again, I may not have any real options. )~;

Thanks for the additional input!

GG

I travel quite a bit with photo gear. I use the Seahorse wheeled plastic box loaded with lotsa gear. It is bigger (and deeper) than the Pelican 1510. Most airlines have a 15 lb. weight limit per bag. I can only tell you that this case is more than 40 lbs itself. So far, I have not been weighed. I do, however hide the case from the ticket counter folks. My sisters and I take turns checking in and watching each other's bags.

The "personal item" is a large soft bag crammed with camera, portable storage, other electronic items, book, munchies and lots of other stuff. I hook it onto the handle of the wheeled case for transport.

My traveling companions have it all worked out how we help each other with the heavy boxes into the overhead bins. That way, they don't look so heavy. I can carry pretty much all my camera stuff. Chargers and some other stuff is carefully packed in a suitcase that in NO way resembles a camera case and checked.

I have traveled many times to the pacific islands with little trouble. The worst that has happened is having to gate check the hard case on some of the flights. I don't mind this as the case is very protective and there is little way for anyone to paw through the gear.