Haven't flown with equipment since 9/11. Is it better to check it as baggage? I would prefer to carry it on but think long metal tubes would raise some eyebrows. Personal experience please, not speculation.
2007-03-24 12:16:42 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
I travel every week and am also a photographer. I carry a small portable tripod with me all the time in my hand luggage (I don't ever check gear). The TSA web site makes no mention of tripods, but walking canes and umbrellas mentioned as allowed. This unfortunately puts you in a "gray area".
Since they are not on the list of prohibited items you can bring it on board. I have never had a problem with my smaller lightweight travel tripod and I have also flown a few times with my monopod in the bag. The risk of being in a gray area, is that sometimes you will meet TSA members who do their best to interpret the rules and if your tripod is big and heavy, you run the risk of scrutiny and might be told to check it.
I would suggest taking it through security, but leave yourself enough time so that in a worse case you can go and check it.
2007-03-24 12:43:57 · answer #1 · answered by Tony 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You would think that a tripod would raise suspicion, but let me just say that homeland security doesn't use their immagination as to what could be a deadly weapon. I travel a lot and from my own personal experience as a photographer, whether or not you are allowed to bring a tripod as carry-on depends upon who is checking the baggage at the security gate. In fact in all my travels only once, while I was overseas, was I not allowed to bring my tripod as carry-on because as they put it, it was too heavy and if it were to fall out of the luggage compartment it could cause serious injury (consequently they did end up bending my $400 aluminum 4x5 tripod during transit). The interesting thing is that I have run into more security check issues overseas than in the United States. Prior to boarding on my last trip I had my luggage checked 3 times before boarding.
Like the last person said, get to the airport early, bring the tripod as carry-on and if they dont allow it, you can always check it in.
2007-03-24 12:46:48 · answer #2 · answered by wackywallwalker 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
that's an easy one all you need to do is put the tripod where others put there strollers and valeted baggages on the Jetway and the airline will deal with it from there that's the easier way because theres to much hustle to carry it on board in my opinion. I'm not to sure about this answer but hope it helps you out :).
2007-03-24 12:42:53 · answer #3 · answered by stanncolt11 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on what sort of work you're planning on doing, you may want to consider taking a Gorillapod instead. I just recently bought one and really like it. And they're amazingly strong and stable! The largest model costs about $50, but it can take a Nikon F4 with an 80-200mm zoom, no problem.
2007-03-24 12:53:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not even sure the tripod would make it to the cabin. But you could check it at the last minute like they do for baby strollers...
Just a suggestion.
2007-03-24 12:19:51 · answer #5 · answered by GigGLeS! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A long as it is compact enough to put in overhead, no problem, that was my experience with Northwest. I have nmever checked my camera equipment and suggest you dont unless mandated to do so.
2007-03-24 12:58:44 · answer #6 · answered by Papa Joe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
mine is carbon fiber but still have to check it
can't even get a mono pod on-board, then think I could use it as weapon
2007-03-24 12:29:17 · answer #7 · answered by Jo Blo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would ship it overnight to my destination, or just buy one when I got there.
2007-03-24 12:20:32 · answer #8 · answered by High-wire 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋