traveling via plane

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DVX100Shooter

Veteran
This topic has come up before but I wasn't paying much attention until now. I am going to FL next week and I am taking my camera as a carry on of course! Those of you that traveled, did you have to open your case up and show them everything you had in there? All I have is the essential stuff, I won't need screwdrivers or anything like that so its not in the case. I bought a lock for my pelican case but I think I won't lock it until I pass through security.

Any tips you can give me about traveling with your camera dealing with the airports appreciated...

thanks.
 
Re: traveling via plane

Just watch out for the X-ray machines and your tapes. Last time I flew and checked a bag that was locked. It was cut off. But that wasn't a carry on. Out of L.A.X. 8)
 
Re: traveling via plane

yeah, if it looks like you're hiding/protecting something, believe it they'll hack off a lock in a split second...
 
Re: traveling via plane

I wouldn't worry about the X-Ray machines. They assured me that the tapes and camera would not be affected, and they weren't. Not so much as a single droupout.

They also didn't personally inspect my softcase when I carried it. And . . . DO carry it on.

This was Boston.
 
Re: traveling via plane

Oh wow. I was planning on putting a lock on my suitcase that will be checked. The camera case doesn't have to have a lock on it but I just wanted the extra security.
 
Re: traveling via plane

Locked bags are a no-no these days. I sometime use those nylon wire ties (don't tighten them all the way) so the TSA can get them off (as can anyone else) but the bag won't open accidentally. The XRay machines won't hurt the tapes - I regularly check a bag with hard-drives & video tape and haven't had any problems. (but it will kill film) And I do always carry-on the DVX.
 
Re: traveling via plane

while travelling a lot (with and without the DVX) this is my setup:
- Varizoom Bag with all sensitive and not quickly replaceable
gear is carry-on and I never had problems with it.
The bag is small enough to even fit into small overhead
compartments (Canadair Jet, Fokker 50 etc.).
I never lock it, this usually raises suspicion.
So from time to time the security people rummage through
the bag and now and then they want to x-ray the camera
separately but apart from that, no problems yet.
Just remember: the people doing airport security checks
are most often underpaid and get treated quite badly.
So a smile and good behaviour helps a lot.
- Tripod in hardcase and the suitcase with all the rest
is of coursed checked baggage (would like to see the flight
attendant even on a A340 or B747 when you tell her/him to
find a space for the Bogen/Sachtler/Vinten thing...)
I also stopped locking these bags, because as soon as
something suspicious comes up on the screen they break
the lock anyway (and these days they seem to have the
biggest bolt-cutters available at airports) and on top of that
your bag might not be taken onto the flight and you'll have
to wait for it at your destination for hours or days.
Theft at airports is of course still an issue (lost a Sony
digicam once while changing planes in Washington/Dulles,
was certainly stolen by airport personnel).
 
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