TSA and camera kit

Sh4rkie · 23 Jan 2015 at 13:01

Travelling to the US this summer (Orlando) and tempted to take DSLR kit with me as carry on. Heard so many TSA horror stories of kit going missing, invasive procedures etc. I travel extensively around Europe due to work and never had a problem or concern with my kit. Is it worth the hassle / risk?

Sh4rkie · 23 Jan 2015 at 14:45

Amp34 said:
How would they go missing in carry on?

During screening / TSA security points valuables go missing from trays, bags, jackets etc

Sh4rkie · 23 Jan 2015 at 16:40

tom_e said:
I've never been to an airport where you couldn't see your kit at all times unless they hide a midget in the scanner to nab things on it's way through

Numerous stories and reports of items going missing from carry on luggage at TSA screening points. One guy got 3 years for stealing $800k worth of stuff over a 4 year period (checked / carry on) and said it was common place among employees.

http://www.naturalnews.com/038601_TSA_anti-theft_video.html

http://petergreenberg.com/2013/08/03/tsa-sticky-fingers-the-worst-incidents-of-theft-at-security/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/...on-convenient-thieving-culture_n_1923003.html

https://www.yahoo.com/travel/bp/airport-luggage-thefts-reportedly-rise-tsa-012317876.html

While i guess it's a very tiny percentage of employees / incidents in terms of overall travel it's still a concern due to how high profile the anti-TSA voice is hence my question for first hand experience.

Sh4rkie · 23 Jan 2015 at 17:06

Thanks guys for the feedback with the first and third hand experiences, most welcome

Sh4rkie · 26 Jan 2015 at 11:42

Nexus said:
As has already been pointed out above, camera gear is not something that security officials ask you to remove from your carry on bag to put in a tray, that seems to be reserved for just laptops and tablets.

In my experience, I've only once had my camera removed from my bag and that was after it had been scanned within the bag, and they then took me to one side to go through it. This was at Heathrow Terminal 5, the security person inspected it and then took some swabs, presumably to check for explosives.

Manchester are more keen, flying out several times in the past few months and each time i left the camera body inside my bag it ends up getting flagged and then the explosives trace swab. Removed from bag with laptop / tablet and no issues.

Thanks for all the feedback again