International travel with uw camera kits

I’m sure this topic has been exhausted over the years on WP, but I’m new to the forum and would like to provide my thoughts and observations on traveling with UW kits.  For many years I played “Sherpa” hauling one complete system in carry-on luggage  I did this out of fear of the airline losing my checked kit, leaving me high and dry at my destination.  Accordingly, I would overload my soft-sided Lowe-Pro roller-board with strobes, arms, batteries, macro ports, extensions, lenses, computer, etc., and load my camera, in housing, with 230mm dome port, into a backpack as my “personal item.”  I would then check a second system in a hard case. While painfully heavy to haul around and squeeze into overhead luggage racks on larger jets, I was still reduced to checking everything when larger jets to a destination were not an option.  With more and more airlines becoming stricter in size and weight limits for carry-on roller-boards and personal items, it has become risky to try to beat the system, especially if they ultimately require you to check a roller-board or backpack that has thin protection.  So far, I have been successful in arguing my case allowing me to carry on the heavy system but I’ve recently decided to check almost everything to reduce my stress level while traveling.  Fortunately, major carriers seem to be more conscious of managing checked baggage these days (yes, they still do loose stuff!) and allow instant tracking of checked bags getting loaded on their apps.  While this does not solve a problem if your checked luggage fails to get loaded while you are sitting in your seat, it does give you peace of mind to see your app validate your checked kit has been loaded.  So...for the last several international trips I’ve made, I have been checking both systems in separate cases (in case one does not make it, I can still shoot) and stop fretting about whether I will get hassled for not one, but two heavy carry-on pieces. It does cost me more to check more luggage but with separate kits and minimal carry-on ( batteries and a laptop) I don’t have to stress getting overhead space on a plane assuming I made it through the gauntlet of size and weight restrictions. Now, the pleasure in traveling to cool destinations has been restored.

Thanks for this, Mark. An interesting take for sure - and I can most certainly see the rationale!

Hauling large amounts of u/w camera gear, with the expectation/hope/prayer that you can talk it all into the cabin,  is always a bit stress-inducing.

@mark.b.hatter

Very similar - I've been checking my rig(s) for the last 4-5 years. The only thing I carry with me in the cabin are cameras and a few lenses (and when I travel with the WACP, that as well in a rollerboard)

Housings in separate (hard-sided) suitcases, strobes usually alongside. Domes with wetsuits, etc.

Two teenage kids both shoot u/w now as well. We travel together with usually 3-4 full rigs (D850, 2xD500, A7R4), all checked.

For better piece of mind and if you are an iPhone user, consider slipping an Apple AirTag in your luggage. I did for my last trip and was able to track my suitcase with it. If for some reason your bag doesn’t make the flight, you can at least know where in the world your suitcase ended up.