FS7: Flying with gear

Donny 123 said:
was told point blank that cameras NEVER go in the over heads..
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Technically true, if it's not in a case it has to under the seat in front. If it doesn't fit, well you're screwed. Ultimately, it's up to the cabin crew to determine what you can and can't do as they are responsible for onboard safety. No point arguing, just have a back-up plan if you can, and if you can't, be prepared to take the pain when it comes your way.

I stick my FS7 in a roller bag, which while it's a legal size it's overweight for most airlines. I've been stopped at the gate many times, but always been able to blag it. My luck will run out soon enough...
 
Liam Hall said:
Technically true, if it's not in a case it has to under the seat in front. If it doesn't fit, well you're screwed. Ultimately, it's up to the cabin crew to determine what you can and can't do as they are responsible for onboard safety. No point arguing, just have a back-up plan if you can, and if you can't, be prepared to take the pain when it comes your way.

I stick my FS7 in a roller bag, which while it's a legal size it's overweight for most airlines. I've been stopped at the gate many times, but always been able to blag it. My luck will run out soon enough...
Click to expand...

Yes was in a bag.. Portabrace smuggler.. fitted easily into jumbo over heads.. and within the size limits.. even weight that time.. .. and my main point was I had bought it over in the same plane.. same flight.. same airline.. they were saying that no tv camera ever goes in over heads on any airline.. a total lie of course..and what they insisted I do.. buy a seat was totally against safety regulations.. as I already knew.. sort of mad guy I think close to some sort of break down.. sad in that sense.. but I could have merrily garroted him at the time.. Ive found they never ask me about weight anymore.. not sure why.. just size.. but then I see people with suitcase size carry on walk on by .. basically just a pain as everyone says.. but I won't put it in the hold.. and I cant turn down any job with flights ..
 
My experience is varied. Recently shot in the Carib and went through my home airport YUL no problems. I carried on an legal sized pelican and personal backpack. My producer/director did the same. They scanned and asked to open and did the visual and wipe test and I was done no grief. The rest was in baggage but mind you I use regular Swiss roller suitcases now and not pelicans because mine are the old school pelicans and too damm heavy. So these have worked out well as I put everything in them well padded. Nothing was stopped.
However with the same basic shooting kit we were recently in Atlanta, what a nightmare. Getting there was the same as above. Getting out they opened the Pelicans, took everything out including lenses out of lens cases, tossed it all in the plastic bins where my glass was rolling around and banging. They were SUPER RUDE and like all of us, I just shut up with the exception of politely saying in good Canadian English, "please let me help, this is my living and they are fragile", I got shouted at to move back and stop telling the TSA officer what to do.
I am not keen to repeat this experience so my next shoot in Philly, I will drive and as for after that, I don't know. Someone explain how one goes about getting a TSA pre inspection please.
Also wanted to add that I have not had this experience elsewhere, Europe but that may have just been luck. In the past two years it has become increasingly difficult flying with gear as airlines crack down on luggage. But it still amazes me that they let some people board with monster bags and rollers and the moment they see a pelican case or other camera bag they give you a hard time. Delta, despite having a tag that one of their people put on my pelican, stopped me at the gate, told me my bag was oversize and I had to check it. I argued and brought the person over to the measuring stand and proved it. Meanwhile the woman behind me had a bag that was definitely over. Nuts!
 
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It's becoming more and more difficult; I purchased a Sony FS5 for this very reason. I use a non-descript roller bag that is within the airline's spec for size but it's always overweight, and it's only a matter of time before I am questioned on its weight.
I have friends that ship camera gear in the hold in Pelican cases but the abuse given to these cases is worrying and a non-starter for me. Even in a Pelican case, there are signs of damage. I have a had a well-packaged tripod damaged, and the airports do not want to know never mind missing hold baggage that is all too common.

My B plan is if challenged is to remove the camera body and let the case with my lenses go to the hold.

Recently re long haul, I have insisted on travelling business class, and my clients initially refused but did come around. Business class is better but not perfect.
Good luck out there.
 
Brian mentioned driving to his next shoot. Over the last few years(10?), I've come around on driving and if it's ~seven hours or less for the drive, you are better off driving to the shoot instead of flying. By the time you factor in travel time to the airport, arriving early enough to get checked in and go through security(allowing for possible delays with lines, etc.), the flight itself, waiting on baggage on the back-end and then doing the rental car dance, loading & unloading gear from the rental, packing & unpacking packed gear, etc... Plus having to possibly compromise and pair down what you take vs. what you would have with you at home in your own vehicle. It's a no brainer for me.

I actually had a shoot a few months ago for a client. It was down in FL. For some weird reason I thought I was shooting with one of their cameras and didn't ask up-front, which I normally do. The day before I was supposed to fly out I text one of the production managers and asked. Nope. It was my gear. At this point it was too late to ship ahead and not spend a fortune, so I asked if I could drive, instead(they had already booked my ticket). They said yes and even got me a rental car(which actually ended up being a loaded SUV). Yeah, I ended up driving ~13-14 hours in total over the two travel days, but I was both down there and back home much sooner than if I had flown and it was 10x less stressful.
 
Totally agree about driving where possible. Two weeks ago did a shoot in mid France, travelling from the UK and had the option of flying, train (Eurostar) + hire car or driving my own car + ferry. Weighed up the costs, total time, hassle, etc and it was a no brainer. I drove my own car, packed how I wanted with what I wanted, stopped when I wanted, arrived fresh as a daisy. Ok, not quite that fresh but in nothing like the state I would have been with airport or Eurostar security jobsworths doing their worst. Who trains those guys? Do they feed them on raw red meat? Lock them in cages overnight and poke them with sticks? Do they get fired if they even hint at being human or pleasant?
 
BrianMurphy said:
My experience is varied. Recently shot in the Carib and went through my home airport YUL no problems. I carried on an legal sized pelican and personal backpack. My producer/director did the same. They scanned and asked to open and did the visual and wipe test and I was done no grief. The rest was in baggage but mind you I use regular Swiss roller suitcases now and not pelicans because mine are the old school pelicans and too damm heavy. So these have worked out well as I put everything in them well padded. Nothing was stopped.
However with the same basic shooting kit we were recently in Atlanta, what a nightmare. Getting there was the same as above. Getting out they opened the Pelicans, took everything out including lenses out of lens cases, tossed it all in the plastic bins where my glass was rolling around and banging. They were SUPER RUDE and like all of us, I just shut up with the exception of politely saying in good Canadian English, "please let me help, this is my living and they are fragile", I got shouted at to move back and stop telling the TSA officer what to do.
I am not keen to repeat this experience so my next shoot in Philly, I will drive and as for after that, I don't know. Someone explain how one goes about getting a TSA pre inspection please.
Also wanted to add that I have not had this experience elsewhere, Europe but that may have just been luck. In the past two years it has become increasingly difficult flying with gear as airlines crack down on luggage. But it still amazes me that they let some people board with monster bags and rollers and the moment they see a pelican case or other camera bag they give you a hard time. Delta, despite having a tag that one of their people put on my pelican, stopped me at the gate, told me my bag was oversize and I had to check it. I argued and brought the person over to the measuring stand and proved it. Meanwhile the woman behind me had a bag that was definitely over. Nuts!
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Good move in driving to Philly.

They are the worst only second to Atlanta.
 
Donny 123 said:
Yes was in a bag.. Portabrace smuggler.. fitted easily into jumbo over heads.. and within the size limits.. even weight that time.. .. and my main point was I had bought it over in the same plane.. same flight.. same airline.. they were saying that no tv camera ever goes in over heads on any airline.. a total lie of course..and what they insisted I do.. buy a seat was totally against safety regulations.. as I already knew.. sort of mad guy I think close to some sort of break down.. sad in that sense.. but I could have merrily garroted him at the time.. Ive found they never ask me about weight anymore.. not sure why.. just size.. but then I see people with suitcase size carry on walk on by .. basically just a pain as everyone says.. but I won't put it in the hold.. and I cant turn down any job with flights ..
Click to expand...


Serves you right for flying BA :-) Bloody Arrogant, Barely Adequate, Bastard Airways...
 
Liam Hall said:
Serves you right for flying BA :-) Bloody Arrogant, Barely Adequate, Bastard Airways...
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haha yes.. I didnt book the tickets .. but I have avoided them since..even for personal flights.. honestly I think its the traffic warden,little Napoleon thing too.. its a crappy job with low pay.. they see someone with a better life.. and well.. if they are in a worse mood than normal.. they take it out on you.. consciously or not.. just human nature I guess..
 
It's a total crapshoot what you get when you fly. I used to fly with Beta and HDCams in Portabrace bags and put them in the overhead. Good luck with that these days. Now, I put the cameras in well padded Pelicans and check them. I carry on a backpack full of bricks, and a carry-on size pelican for the lenses and gopros.

That being said: regional jets are a pain. Try to make sure your booking agent checks the plane type before buying your ticket. On the larger regional jets, a 1510 pelican will just slide into the overhead, and will fit under the seat. But I've also had a flight attendant tell me point blank that FAA rules forbid any wheeled luggage anywhere inside a regional jet. (Spoiler alert: she was lying.) Like one of the posters above, I've had some success deploying the "I've got $10K worth of lenses, and I'm Zone 8" tap dance to get permission to board earlier, and this year have also been paying $30-40 at the check in kiosk to get priority boarding. Cheap insurance against having your Pelican full of lenses taken away and thrown off the ramp by the Baggage Gorilla.

TSA precheck is worth it for no other reason than not having to take all my bricks out of the back and put them in a bin, along with the electronics. And shoes and hat and belt. But occasionally (like my last trip over the weekend), they still like to take stuff out and swab it. But I've never had a TSA agent manhandle the gear. usually they're pretty chill and want to know what you're shooting.
 
TSA Pre Check will be the best purchase ever. I just flew from Boston to Las Vegas and they never opened my camera bag with the FS7 or my backpack with Lithium batteries and my lenses. No need to remove laptops or shoes. The other good part is that anyone traveling with you usually also gets Pre Check. The other DP I was with never had his bags opened either. I think it’s 5 years for $80. If you travel to places like Orlando for work, it’s worth it.
 
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