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Carry On Camera Gear

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Juicy-J
Posts: 1901 - Karma: 1,765
So I'm flying to Montana soon, and was preparing a camera bag to bring out to film and take pictures of my trip. I was wondering how I should pack and deal with some certain items. For instance, I want to bring along my tripod. I have researched and it looks like you can carry on a tripod as well as camera gear, but my bag does not have a "tripod strap" and sticks out the top when I place it inside. Should I bring along my tripod bag, and will that count as a carry on bag or "personal item"? I need one carry on for clothes and the other or camera stuff. I hope I didnt forget anything.. Thanks!
Jul 24 2013 8:17PM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,084
I think if your tripod is in your hand, its ok.

Some crazy bitch on my flight a few weeks ago had two huge bags, a hand bag and a kitty carrier. FOUR FUCKING BAGS

the airlines dont give a shit apparently. worse comes to worse, you could gate check your clothing bag for free.
Jul 24 2013 8:57PM
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_RNS_
Posts: 172 - Karma: 736
As someone who has flown a ton with my camera gear, I can say that airlines are getting incredibly restrictive with carry on gear. If you are carrying on all of your clothes + gear, you will be limited to two items. If you can't strap it to your bag, put it inside even it it sticks out. If you have a large enough clothes bag, try to fit it in there. When you get to the overhead bin, you can pull the tripod out of your bag and put it near your bags, but it is risky to carry three items though the gate.
Jul 24 2013 9:05PM
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Chinchi
Posts: 1591 - Karma: 4,211
I shoved all my shit into a backpack, including my glidecam, dslr, few lenses, tripod, they don't really give a shit about camera gear
Jul 24 2013 9:59PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
I'm curious, would you be allowed to put your tripod in your pocket? I'm sure you could fit 1/2 legs, what's the rules on things like that.
Jul 24 2013 10:38PM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,084
haha are you kidding me?
Jul 24 2013 11:10PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
People have worn ski boots on planes... I'm not kidding, I wasn't planning it myself, but I'm curious, they allow items in pockets, when is it too big?
Jul 24 2013 11:27PM
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eheath
Posts: 61603 - Karma: 123,084
You have a wild imagination. Just use something to tie it to your bag.
Jul 24 2013 11:36PM
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M3TRO
Posts: 645 - Karma: 5,391
ya are you guys seriously kidding me?
either your drunk or i am... and I AM
strap that shit on your bag
they don't give a fuck about what you do with it once your on the plane
Jul 25 2013 2:23AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,313
It really does depend on the airline, with KLM I can walk aboard no problem with two bags, an extra laptop bag, a camera bag and my tripod and helmet dangling on the side of the largest bag.
Jul 25 2013 4:37AM
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_RNS_
Posts: 172 - Karma: 736
Your right. Most non-american airlines are more flexible with carry on baggage. American companies tend to overbook their aircraft, so overhead space is at a premium. I had just automatically assumed OP was flying an American airline.
Jul 25 2013 4:43AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,313
Or maybe OP flies FC, you can get away with so much in First.
Jul 25 2013 5:00AM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
is this some sort of a joke?
Jul 25 2013 8:46AM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
I prefer to think of it as eccentric curiosity.
Jul 25 2013 10:42AM
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skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
One important thing when flying with camera gear, make sure you are one of the very first people in line for your boarding zone. So many people bring ridiculous oversized bags that they end up having to check a lot of bags at the very end of boarding. Obviously you can't check that shit but they'd probably try to make you do it.
Jul 25 2013 10:59AM
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Juicy-J
Posts: 1901 - Karma: 1,765
thanks for all the help. Im flying united airlines out of newark, changing flights at denver then landing in missoula. so I guess my final questions would be, how likely of a chance is it that they let me on with my camera gear in a backpack (t2i, 3 lenses, glidecam and tripod sticking out top, it all fits in the bag with the exception of the tripod sticking out the top) or will they likely force me to check that bag, which isnt an option for me. And if anyone else has flown with united airlines, how leniant are they about these rules and restrictions?
Jul 25 2013 3:50PM
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Juicy-J
Posts: 1901 - Karma: 1,765
this would ultimitely be ideal, because just throwing the tripod in its case and having that in my hand would free up space and make my bag a carry on for sure. has anyone done this? even if its just the legs
Jul 25 2013 3:54PM
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.qzyxya
Posts: 1479 - Karma: -26
eheath is a mod?
Jul 25 2013 4:05PM
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
I would recommend adhering to policies just to avoid any potential issues, but I have never had problems. I used to get held up at security (and sometimes still do) if I had lenses wrapped in t-shirts or something, but even then at most it it just having someone take a minute to look it over, and they know that camera gear isn't cheap, so they are usually nice, let you take it out and just show them. For a tripod, make sure there are no spikes exposed on the feet. And I know I said stick to there policies, but I have take a massive hiking backpack with my ski helmet dangling on it, and a smaller backpack with my laptop and camera gear. The small one was a little under their dimensions, the big one was way over, no one even gave me a second look.
Jul 25 2013 4:06PM
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