Airports: Checking Your Camera Gear

[Shadowman]

Interesting video, I don't know if his suggestions would work but I know I don't want to ever be in this situation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZC65t1NAKk

[gregj1763]

Travelled a lot and never come across this problem. My camera gear always comes on with me in carry on and always will.
On my recent flight to Bali, Virgin left my checked case in Sydney and it didn't get to me in Denpasar until the following afternoon.
Jocks and socks in the case didn't worry me it was my drone I had just bought that I panicked about
Cheers, Greg

[Shadowman]

Travelled a lot and never come across this problem. My camera gear always comes on with me in carry on and always will.
On my recent flight to Bali, Virgin left my checked case in Sydney and it didn't get to me in Denpasar until the following afternoon.
Jocks and socks in the case didn't worry me it was my drone I had just bought that I panicked about
Cheers, Greg

I'd hate to run into the gate checker with the calibrated eye, mentioned in the video who could tell by looking that the bag was overweight. I've had bag checks required when I had my laptop in a roll-on, if that bag gets checked the laptop comes out. I usually carry an extra messenger bag for that type of encounter.

[Hevii Guy]

Pockets. Lots of pockets. As my “job” requires frequent repeat travel to different parts of the globe, I’ve learned that staff at certain airports are more anal than at others. When I know that I’m flying through those places I bring a large light-weight jacket with me. Prior to checking-in I transfer the heavier objects from my carry-on bag into the jacket’s pockets. Then, once I’m through security, they’re returned to the bag.
One time, however, while departing Tiblisi, Georgia I came around a corner and encountered an agent on the bridge between the gate and tha aircraft. He was weighing people’s bags! Without pause, I simply walked past him as he was busy harassing a different unfortunate customer of that airline.

[rpcrowe]

When I traveled to China, I learned that the domestic airlines had a different set of regulations than the international airline on which I flew from San Francisco to Beijing. Luckily I found this out before I left for China.

The international airline only specified a maximum size restriction for the carry-on bag while the domestic airlines had a weight limit in addition to the size limit. I had purchased a small Lowepro roll around camera case that was within the size restrictions of the international airline regulations but, the weight of the case itself was almost at the maximum weight allowed for a carry on aboard a Chinese domestic airline flight...

Before I left home, I switched from the roll around case to my old lightweight Lowepro photo backpack. That pack, supplemented by the pockets of my photo vest kept me well under the maximum weight for the domestic flights.

However, I found out that the Chinese airport folks don't generally weigh over the shoulder cases or back packs but, will frequently weigh the roll around cases

The strictest (and most reasonable) weight restrictions I have ever encountered were on an Alaska float plane flight. It was reasonable because the single engine plane just didn't have enough capacity to carry an unlimited load.



Of course, the fairest and most equitable way of allowing carry-on weight would be to establish a limit for the passenger's weight in addition to the weight of his or her carry-on Isn't it a bit unreasonable that a 110 pound lady is restricted to the same weight of carry-on gear as a 300 pound guy

[Hevii Guy]

I actually watched Granger's video, finally. Simplistic click-bait with an unrealistic arrogant message. "Refuse to let them check your bag". Yeah right, just like you're going to tell the border gestapo agent that his/her questions are too personal and that you refuse to answer them. Sure, it's your prerogative but you had better have time left on your visitor's or business visa. You simply can't win in such cases.
A couple of years ago I had to suck it up and check my camera backpack when trying to leave Kyrgyzstan. The check-in agent was adamant that the bag was too heavy and that it had to be sent into the aircraft's belly. My checked baggage was already at the limit. Bishkek is really quite a nice place to hang out but after a week or so at the client's site at altitude, I really wanted to go home. Thus, with seething, barely audible anger, I placed the bag onto the conveyor. Fortunately, upon arrival in Zürich, I was relieved to see that nothing was missing nor damaged. I was lucky that time.

Isn't it a bit unreasonable that a 110 pound lady is restricted to the same weight of carry-on gear as a 300 pound guy

This is clearly why the airlines' ridiculous policy is flawed. And it's also the reason for me sometimes wearing a big jacket to the airport, even in the sweltering heat of Lusaka. But then again, in the face of a frustrated airline agent who whose ability to have even the slightest impact over others in personal aspects of his/her little life is impotent, neither logic nor sympathetic pleads may have much effect.

[Ken MT]

Richard "Of course, the fairest and most equitable way of allowing carry-on weight would be to establish a limit for the passenger's weight in addition to the weight of his or her carry-on Isn't it a bit unreasonable that a 110 pound lady is restricted to the same weight of carry-on gear as a 300 pound guy"

Samoa air have been weighing passengers since 2013
https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...what-you-weigh

[russellsnr]

Why you should argue to take it with you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMwKyeATCkU
Russ.

[DanK]

I agree with Joerg. The security agents aren't there to negotiate with you. And, of course, you usually have a long line of tired, frustrated, impatient people behind you who will be delighted to wait longer while you demand that the agents go fetch a scale.

The problem isn't limited to security. If you are flying on an airline on which you have no elite status, you are likely to get boarded at the end, and there may be no overhead bin space left. That means that you either don't take the flight (a rather big deal if you have nonrefundable tickets) or let them check the bag. This happened to me twice when I had my gear in a photo backpack. The solution I found--no guarantees that it will work, but certainly worth a try if you get stuck--was to plead my case with the steward or stewardess greeting passengers on the plane. I explained the problem and asked that I be allowed to stow the bag in first class, where there is ample bin space. The first time, the stewardess happened to be a photographer, and she cheerfully took my bag to the front. The second time, the steward wasn't a photographer, but he was happy enough to stow the bag.

[Shadowman]

I try to avoid certain airlines when traveling domestically, some have these small overhead bins on one side and even if your bag meets size restrictions the bulkiness just isn't going to fit. Regarding overseas airlines I know one day I'm going to run into a situation as described in the video and hopefully there will be some way to reach a favorable outcome.

[Shadowman]

I actually watched Granger's video, finally. Simplistic click-bait with an unrealistic arrogant message. "Refuse to let them check your bag". Yeah right, just like you're going to tell the border gestapo agent that his/her questions are too personal and that you refuse to answer them. Sure, it's your prerogative but you had better have time left on your visitor's or business visa. You simply can't win in such cases.
A couple of years ago I had to suck it up and check my camera backpack when trying to leave Kyrgyzstan. The check-in agent was adamant that the bag was too heavy and that it had to be sent into the aircraft's belly. My checked baggage was already at the limit. Bishkek is really quite a nice place to hang out but after a week or so at the client's site at altitude, I really wanted to go home. Thus, with seething, barely audible anger, I placed the bag onto the conveyor. Fortunately, upon arrival in Zürich, I was relieved to see that nothing was missing nor damaged. I was lucky that time.



This is clearly why the airlines' ridiculous policy is flawed. And it's also the reason for me sometimes wearing a big jacket to the airport, even in the sweltering heat of Lusaka. But then again, in the face of a frustrated airline agent who whose ability to have even the slightest impact over others in personal aspects of his/her little life is impotent, neither logic nor sympathetic pleads may have much effect.

That's not my definition of click-baiting, Granger had a story to tell and he didn't "really" lead you towards any other weblink but his own. To me click-baiting is when someone leads you to a link with a list of "top ten list" and then you have to scroll through a slide show on multiple pages in order to get through the list, I guess the reason to design a link that way is you lead the viewer through multiple pages which each has hidden cookies, web splashes, and tickers.

Regarding Granger's comments, he did say he missed the plane through his antics of arguing with the gate agent.