Camera kit and flying

[Tobyh]

Hi all,

I'm looking to go to Mull early next summer and as i'm down in the South East corener of the country am considering flying up. When I say considering I mean the wiffe has said there's no bloody way she's going by car.

So....I'd want to take my 500mm, 180 macro and and 18-105 with all the gubbins plus bag, tripod and head. When I weighed these recently they weighed around 35lb.

Does anyone have experience of travelling with this kind ofkit that they can share please? I think I would try to keep the large lense with me in it's original padded case and maybe the body also in hand luggage. Perhaps the wife can manage some too. I'm paranoid about having to put the decent glass through as hold luggage and am worried it ould be damaged.

Anyone offer some advice please?

Thanks

TobyH

[Tringa]

Provided the hand luggage is no bigger than a certain size I don't think there is a weight restriction. EasyJet for example say about hand luggage -

No weight restriction applies within reasonable limits — i.e. a you must be able to place the piece of luggage safely in the overhead storage bins without assistance.

I guess the tripod would be OK in the hold. Are there any other items that are tough enough to go in the hold?

I'd always take a camera and any lenses as hand luggage.

If you don't mind a longer journey you could consider using the train and you are in control of all your luggage. Booked early enough there are some good deals on train tickets.

Dave

[Ukwildlifeo]

Dont put any camera equipment in your cases. Always keep it as hand luggage. On myr ect trip to Kefalonia (last year) they didnt even weigh my camera kit which was my hand luggage. On my trip to lnazarote (this year) however they wieghed it and it was about 8kg! So I had to put my lens in my gfs bag (at least through baggage and customs. )

[waxcap]

As has been said; it's the overall size of the baggage that matters and some airlines only allow one piece of hand luggage. You should be able to fit all of that gear into a cabin bag unless you have an f1.2 500mm lens.

[RoyW]

The suggestions that it is only the size of hand luggage that matters is incorrect - it depends which airline you fly with.

I would personally not put any camera or lens (or a laptop or other expensive equipment) in hold luggage, and most airlines actually specify that this type of ewuipment should not be in hold luggage (presumably so they can avoid paying compensation for damage or loss). I do put my tripod in hold luggage, but wrap it well in clothes & towels to protect against damage.

Airline hand luggage restrictions are based on size and weight.
Easy jet currently have no weight restriction (but you need to be able to lift the bag into the overhead locker unaided), with the weight restriction on most other airlines being 10kg. The lowest weight allowances that I have come across are 6kg for Virgin, and a paltry 5kg (and a much smaller size for hand luggage than other airlines) with Fly Thomas Cook. Other airlines do have more generous hand luggage allowances - I believe that British Airways allows 23kg, but the flight tend to cost more than budget airlines.
Some airlines do make a point of weighing hand luggage, so think carefully about the equipment you want to take - and if you are a serious photographer try to avoid Fly Thomas Cook (a few lens and a laptop easily comes to more than their limit).

You can usually get away with some equipment in pockets, but sometimes airlines won't allow this and insist that everything goes in your luggage.

[waxcap]

What a great answer. Two points to add.

1. Airline liability for loss or damage to hold baggage is limited under the Montreal convention to 1131 SDR (Special drawing rights) which is equal to £1130 at the moment. You can't claim any more than that regardless of what they do to your hold luggage!!

2. British Airways can be cheaper. Once you have added all of the extra charges from the low cost airlines go back and compare the result with the BA site - you may be surprised.

[Tobyh]

Thanks everyone - plenty of info here which should make my trip as painless as possible

TobyH