Hi All

This is not an EOS question.

I have to travel to another country soon on a business purpose. I am an amateur photographer and planning to carry my photo gear also with me. Can I carry my photo back pack as a Cabin luggage? I have EOS3 with 3 lenses, flash units, filter kits etc in a Besseler back pack. I am worried wheather they ask me to check it in at the last minute because of security reasons. I want to be prepared in such case. Please reply!

Regards

-- John Peter (eosquestions@yahoo.com), March 21, 2002

Answers

as far as i think you should not have any security problem. take care that you inform them about your gears and get it checked that you have so and so equipments. get a receipt of this. this will be useful when you return back.

-- sajeev (chack74@yahoo.co.in), March 21, 2002.

YES--DO CARRY YOUR GEAR AS CABIN LUGGAGE, provided that you are not over the bag limit and your pack is small enough not to violate the size regulation. You certainly don't want to trust your camera equipment to baggage handlers and risk having it lost or damaged.

As for security issues, it may depend on where you are traveling. When I was in India in October, I carried all my camera gear and film in cabin baggage--but I had to remove the batteries and place them in the checked bags. Not a problem. The guards were midly interested in the flash unit, but as long as it did not have batteries in it everything seemed okay.

There are numerous reports out now about how film will be severely damaged by the high-radiation x-rays used to screen CHECKED luggage but not by the regular machines used for CABIN luggage. So everything in your possession on the flight should be okay, and you can usually get your equipment and film checked by hand if you ask (if that makes you more comfortable).

When I was in India (about a month after 9/11, and traveling through New York and Frankfurt), I did not have a problem. Screeners are used to dealing with photographers and know a speedlight when they see one. I suspect that, wherever you go, you won't really be hassled--unless you're already a suspicious character! ;-)

Happy travels!

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), March 21, 2002.

I always carry my gear as cabin baggage, and have been somewhat over the limit on cabin baggage weight. I was once challenged over this, but argued the point, and was allowed on. There is no way that I'm prepared to check my camera gear.

If you are challenged over weight, you may be able to argue a point over stature...depending on your stature of course. At 105lbs, I can carry 30lbs of camera gear, and still weigh a "normal" amount. I don't have 30lbs of camera gear, but I do have enough to make my cabin baggage (with little else in it) weigh 13lbs.

I don't believe you'll be asked to check things in over security. Weight maybe, but not security.

-- Isaac Sibson (isibson@hotmail.com), March 21, 2002.

Your camera backpack will count as your one piece of "carry-on" luggage. (You may also bring aboard one "personal" item such as a laptop computer or purse.) I've read others' encounters with airline officials that insisted that the straps be stowed within the backpack - I've always had mine stowed. ..and be sure not to carry any sharp tools within.

-- Dave Herzstein (dherzstein@juno.com), March 21, 2002.