Problems with TSA

Has anyone had problems with the TSA and their carry-on camera rig? I have a couple 12" aluminum strobe arms and a large aluminum tray for my rig. I was just wondering if I should put the tray and arms in my checked gear.

I travel once a year from Europe over Newark to Costa Rica and carry always my rig.

It get every time opened and controlled but i had never issues with missing or damaged gear.

You only have to use a TSA approved lock or leave the luggage open, otherwise they will break the lock or the luggage!!!

Chris

P.S. I would NOT put the strobe arms in the carry-on, most probably they will create panic under the scanner guys and gals,

i had already once problems with a flexarm....

I carry pretty much everything I need to survive a dive trip in my roller carryon. Two Ike strobes, four 8" arms, cords, clamps, housing, camera, two ports, two lenses, mask, swimsuit and dive computer. They always want to look at it, but never hassle me. Be nice to them and smile and they will be nice to you

John

I carry my complete setup in a roll-on as a carry-on and have never (knock on wood) had a hassle regarding my arms. I use 4 x 9" Stix arms with large floats. The only hassles I have had is with my allen wrenches. I was not allowed to carry them on board at Cayman Brac, had to check them in. At times I have had to remove my housing and have it pass through the x-ray separately and other times all my camera items were removed and looked over. I have traveled through South America, the Caribbean, Asia, the Indo-Pacific and Australia to dive. In Australia I got hassled big time for the weight, they disassemble everything, ports, lens from camera bodies and will never travel there again. I am sure the weight will also be a problem traveling through Europe.

Elmer

Don't carry on anything that could be construed to be a weapon or a tool for dismantling the aircraft. This included (in my case) some small cable ties that I used to seal my bags. They said I might try to join a lot together and disable the crew. Just roll over and go with the flow - although I did have to reprimand a guy in Guam who kept calling me by my Christian name. I said, "It's Mister Bantin to you, son." He responded to the talk from an officer (me).

I think it's best to carry the necessities (like John P. said) in your carry-on, but put your tools in your checked bag. Never had a problem with any camera Eqip., but on a Cayman return flight they made me check one 1/2" Craftsman wrench...pretty sure they he just wanted to add another tool to his collection!

No problems with any of the camera stuff carry-on, incl. arms, strobes, etc, just no tools.

The cable ties are a new one to me. Next, we'll have to check in our shoelaces, and wait until they realise a person can be strangled with a bra.

Yes, I agree with the "no tools" thing. Allen wrenches, pliers and screwdrivers go in my checked bags. If they lose the checked stuff, there's always tools on pretty much any dive boat I've been on. Very rusty ones of course

John

I carry everything (except tools) in my carry-on...and in the last year, it has gotten much easier. I used to get a major remove everything from the bag check, and my last two times (Bonaire and Bora Bora) the bag did not even get any extra checking. They don't seem to care about arms anymore.

Thanks. I just didn't want to be standing at the security check point and see my strobe arms confiscated. That would really be a bad way to start off a trip.

... cable ties...

Strange, how cable ties are bad, but an 18" metal rod with a solid ball on the end is OK...

... but I've never had arm troubles, although I've had cable ties confiscated (and dive gear stolen despite TSA locks being both in place, and replaced).

Tim

Strange, how cable ties are bad, but an 18" metal rod with a solid ball on the end is OK...

 

... but I've never had arm troubles, although I've had cable ties confiscated (and dive gear stolen despite TSA locks being both in place, and replaced).

 

Tim

 

I put those in my checked-in bag/s.

I think it's best to carry the necessities (like John P. said) in your carry-on, but put your tools in your checked bag. Never had a problem with any camera Eqip., but on a Cayman return flight they made me check one 1/2" Craftsman wrench...pretty sure they he just wanted to add another tool to his collection!

Funny, I had to give up a 12mm Craftsman on my way back from Cayman too. Must have been the same guy building his set

Funny, I had to give up a 12mm Craftsman on my way back from Cayman too. Must have been the same guy building his set

Me three

Carry on carries, cam, housing, lights, batteries, chargers and everything related to shooting. Dive gear is checked. Never a problem....so far.

Steve

Just got back from Indonesia. The wife and I traveled on several airlines including 3 of the local ones and were able to carry all our camera gear on each flight. On the smaller planes they took the carry-on as we boarded and gave it back as we exited the plane. At no time was the carry-on luggage weighed.

My wife did accidentally put the tools (a 12mm titanium wrench that I would really dread loosing and the allen wrenches that came with the Nauticam) in her carry on when packing everything back up on the Arenui. We had no problem with the Indonesia flights (Sorong to Bali) nor did anyone say anything when we flew Singapore Air from Bali to Singapore but... when we were getting ready to board in Singapore they did say something and I thought we were going to lose the tools. Lucky for us as it turns out they let us go and said to not take them out of our bag at anytime until we got home. Whhhhewww.

I had allen keys removed from my checked luggage .. there are not hard and fast rules .. they do what they want plain and simple.