airport travel with camera equipment.

skankmaster · 3 Nov 2006 at 00:16

Has anyone recent experiences of taking their DSLR and lenses through UK airports? Usually id keep things such as batteries in the same camera backpack. Would they want the batteries removed from both the camera and flash unit and packed separately into the main hold? This time round, im planning to carry minimal - just a single lens with the body and flash. The rest of the camera bag will be used to carry clothes.

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 3 Nov 2006 at 02:13

I was able to take my lowpro AW mini treker on with me. 25th of September 06

I also carried my camera and 17 - 40 in hand. didn't put much weight into the bag though. (also never to weighed or checked)

FakeSnake · 3 Nov 2006 at 08:36

I flew to scotland about 3 weeks ago, took all my kit on as hand luggage.
I know thats only internal domestic so just phone the airline to check 100%.
Dont see it being an issue though, just no liquids still I think (well it was when I flew)

Richard T · 3 Nov 2006 at 09:05

I flew to the states on the 5th and took my camera and 2 lenses on as hand luggage.

the security guy looked in the bag and asked me to turn on the camera and thats it. No problem

rpstewart · 3 Nov 2006 at 10:33

Flew back from Southampton last night, security is pretty much back to normal with the exception of no liquids (until Monday). I'm off to Stanstead this afternoon with the camera bag so I'll find out first hand.

King_Boru · 3 Nov 2006 at 12:24

let me know as I will be flying to canada 29/11. will be bringing the minni treeker 200 and al lthe kit with me, hand held no way in the hold.

rpstewart · 6 Nov 2006 at 12:34

OK, no problems with the gear at either Glasgow or Stanstead, although the security queues on the return leg were an absolute nightmare but simply down to BAA being unwilling to sacrifice retail space to increase the amount of space for security. Only 13 sets of x-ray & metal detectors in an airport serving 20 million passengers a year is a total joke.

New rules come in to force today which will make the queues worse for a while because everyone will be trying to get their stuff in the wee bag and fighting with the rentacops over what they're allowed but hopefully that will have calmed down by the end of the month.

Scam · 6 Nov 2006 at 17:52

I was travelling with my D50, spare battery and memory cards in my Tamrac Adventure 7 between the 10th Sept and 22nd Oct. Flying from LHR, Hong Kong Intl, Auckland Intl, Sydney Intl and Bangkok Intl -- no one ever asked me to open it.

pany · 6 Nov 2006 at 17:58

I managed to travel with my 10d, lenses, flash, etc in a lowepro backpack. A lot of checking, swabbing, switching on and using etc.

However given the work colleague I was travelling with decided to answer the check-in girls question, " do you have any imitation firearms?", with the oh so witty riposte, "no, but i have some real ones!", I guess I should be happy I avoided the rubber glove.

Have travelled since and always want a look, but never a major hold-up.

skankmaster · 6 Nov 2006 at 19:09

It sounds not too bad then. Just the security delays to expect i guess, but thats bearable. It would have to be a padded pelicase if it was to survive the hold. Even then, pelicase screams "expensive item" on the conveyor.