In case we need to check our cameras...

[pxlbarrel]

Ok, I see that in the future and perhaps in the very near future, we may be required to check our cameras rather than carry them onto the plane with us...as they are doing in the UK right now.

Trying to be proactive here...what kind of case should we be looking at that will prevent damage by baggage handlers and look menancing to thwart would be thieves? Pelicans are very expensive...are there alternatives?

I'm thinking about getting one because I shudder at the thought of my camera sloshing around in my unprotected suitcase. I'd also like to buy a case that would be big enough to slip my laptop into it. Oy, the thieves would have a feast...

Any recommendations from the knowledgeable people on this board?

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I've cancelled all my international photo sessions until this stupidity revoked. I'm not putting $10k worth of equipment without my constant supervision.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I've cancelled all my international photo sessions until this stupidity revoked. I'm not putting $10k worth of equipment without my constant supervision.

Ok, that is discouraging.

I was hoping for more encouraging words.

My stuff is a lot cheaper but still, when coupled with a laptop ,will be well over $3k. Maybe I can find a Pelican to hide in the regular suitcase (camoflage?) It'll be protected and "hidden".

There is no solution to this...is there...

 

[Anewman]

I would say something like this, but if it ever comes to that I would only take expendable equipment when needed.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I'm not afraid about the damage, that can be easily prevented. I'm afraid of theft. My insurance will NOT cover theft if I check my equipment in with the baggage.

Also, it's not only about the insurance. Even if they reimburse me fully, how am I supposed to do my job (or in other people's cases: take pictures during their vacation) without a camera? Also on the way back, since no electronic things can be brought with you, then what are you going to do with the memory cards etc? What if they got lost?

After the receiving official letters from Westjet, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, JAL and Korean Air Lines with regards to this matter, I've so far told 6 of my clients that I may not be able to do the job and advised them to start looking for back up photographer.

Also my photo hunting trip to Prince Edwards Island have been cancelled because of this ridiculousness.

 

[OCSurfCity]

My Canon digital cameras are packed in a Pelican case and locked with 3 different locks. This Pelican case is made of tough and durable plastic and can be dropped at great distances without any harm. You can pluck out squares to custom fit your equipment into it.

 

[WillCAD]

My Canon digital cameras are packed in a Pelican case and locked with 3 different locks. This Pelican case is made of tough and durable plastic and can be dropped at great distances without any harm. You can pluck out squares to custom fit your equipment into it.

That's wonderful, but leaving aside for a moment the fact that Pelican cases are incredibly tough and can protect your equipment from the luggage gorillas, there is one big problem with that - the TSA is empowered to cut any lock off any checked bag and visually inspect the contents.

You can tripple lock all you want, but the more you lock, the more likely TSA is to cut the locks off and inspect your case, and once the locs are off (replaced with zip ties when the inspection is over) any theft protection you might have is also gone, since zip ties can be removed easily with nail clippers.

I'm not a pro photographer, and I don't have $10K worth of gear, but I'm with Kelly - my laptop and camera gear go onto the plane with me whenever I fly, and if the US ever bans electronics from carry-ons, I will simply not fly.

The air travel industry in the US is huge, and is already hurting badly from increased fuel costs, increased security costs, and increased infrastructure costs as every major airport in the country seems to want to turn itself into a high-class latte-sipping art musuem instead of a simple transportation hub.

The added imposition of no carry on luggage is going to hurt the international carriers, and if they add that foolishness to US domestic flights, the air industry will find its best and most loyal customers - business travellers who NEED their laptops - up in arms and figuring out ways go avoid travelling.

Fortunately for me, I only fly when I go to WDW, and I am just close enough to drive there in about 14 hours, so driving is an option for me.

 

[Goofyish]

I'm sure you have them in the US, but we have TSA approved locks and luggage straps in the UK that are designed so the TSA people can unlock your cases without breaking any locks with special master keys. Useful as we are adviced to leave all cases 'unlocked' when flying to the US to allow for internal inspections.

The TSA locks mean we can comply with the TSA requirments and still be covered by our travel insurance, who insist on locked cases!
'Valuables' are not cover in our travel insurance though (cameras, camcorders, electronic games, laptops are all classed as valuables!).

 

[JR6ooo4]

The problem is not what lock to use... it is the same as affixing your name to your camera. If someone is going to steal they will steal regardless of locks and labels. An item that looks expensive will attract attention. A camera in the middle of a suitcase surrounded by 1/2 foot of soft clothes is somewhat protected and does not attract the attention that a pro camera case will.

I take two carrryon bags. My laptop and my camera bag. And only check (or bring) anything that can be replaced once at the destination. Clothes, toiletries, DW heheheheee

Mikeeee

 

[Mellie0119]

As of now, for US domestic flights, the electronics are still okay, correct?

I'm flying out early Sunday ( ) and I'll have my camera on me- no way in heck I'm putting that thing in my luggage!

I'm going out today to pick up a few more memory cards and this. I was planning on taking my laptop, but with all the added lines I want to carry as little as possible.
I've also heard that all laptops must be booted in the TSA's presence- mine takes forever and I don't want to hold up the line if I don't have too.

 

[jenny2]

There's no way on earth I'd check my camera gear - there's just no way. Forget that they could get damaged. Forget that they could get stolen. What about the difference in pressure? Or the temperature changes?

It's a no win situation. If you put your gear in a nice, safe, professional bag you're doing the same thing as putting a label on the bag saying "EXPENSIVE GEAR!" It just advertises what's inside. If you put it in a regular suitcase without proper padding... well... anything can happen. Whenever I fly I only put things I wouldn't mind losing in my checked bag (it would stink if the bag were lost... but not be catastrophic). My camera gear definitely does not fall into that category.

 

[pxlbarrel]

See, I would never check my camera equipment either BUT what if you have no choice? Do you never fly again?

I live in the east coast...I can drive to WDW...it'll take me 3 days but sure, I could do it if I didn't fall asleep while driving down (trust me...I could fall asleep driving home from work). But it's hardly practical or even possible in some cases to drive. It would take my entire vacation to drive to California...and I haven't seen a bridge across the Pacific yet when I want to go to Japan or one across the Atlantic to the UK....all trips I had planned to make in the next 2 years.

The thievery worries me...much less than the camera actually being smashed in transit. Maybe I can find a Pelican case (which has the pressurized valve) and then place it in a large suitcase surrounded by clothes. It'll look like an every day suitcase filled with bad fashion.

I'm just thinking aloud here with the hopes that we never have to go this far but if we do, at least we have some ideas of what to do.

How are are UK friends doing these past 2 days? I can't imagine going to WDW without a camera. Getting a disposable one to avoid bringing your digital just seems like a shame.

 

[CarolA]

And if the TSA can open those locks why can't anyone else. Not to mention that considering SOME of the TSA agents I have met are high school bullies in positons of power I can see them "helping themselves" to equipment to as part of thier "rights" (They apparently think that the right to screen passengers already includes the right to be abusive, rude and arrogant!)

I am with Kelly and others my laptop and other equipment is NOT going under the plane.

The airlines conditions of carriage specifically exclude electronics from thier liablity. In other words if they lose or damage it TOO bad....

 

[pxlbarrel]

I am with Kelly and others my laptop and other equipment is NOT going under the plane.

The airlines conditions of carriage specifically exclude electronics from thier liablity. In other words if they lose or damage it TOO bad....

So...if something like what's happening in the UK right now happens in North America...you won't fly? What if you had been in the UK and trying to return to the U.S. right now. Would you take permanent residence in the UK? Ok, I'm being sarcastic now but sometimes there are no choices...so what do you do then? That's what I'm asking...what are some solutions to some difficult conditions? I'm flying in 1 week with my camera equipment and hope never to have to deal with it on this trip.

It stinks...what do we do about it?

 

[spoon2003]

this[/URL].

I just bought this and it works great!


I bought it for our Mexico trip next week so I won't have to bring the laptop.

Sue

 

[Kelly Grannell]

So...if something like what's happening in the UK right now happens in North America...you won't fly? What if you had been in the UK and trying to return to the U.S. right now. Would you take permanent residence in the UK? Ok, I'm being sarcastic now but sometimes there are no choices...so what do you do then? That's what I'm asking...what are some solutions to some difficult conditions? I'm flying in 1 week with my camera equipment and hope never to have to deal with it on this trip.

It stinks...what do we do about it?

But it IS already happening in Canada. I have received official e-mails from the air carriers that I've bought tickets from (for my assignments) stating that NO ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT WHATSOEVER and NO LIQUID OF ANY FORM are allowed on board and yet when I asked them about the liability issues, they all said that they are not responsible checked-in laptops/cameras and/or other electronics.

Losing my gears on the way to my gig = losing the gig + get sued
Losing my gears on the way home from my gig = get sued for losing the images + losing future gigs.

It's a lose-lose situation.

PS: I drink at least 4 pints of water each day, I doubt any airline will keep bringing me water for the duration of the flight when someone drinks that much. Remember, they only give you virtually one sip at a time (and flight to Australia, many parts of Asia, usually take around 24 hours total with connecting flights etc). Ain't that fun!

Answering "what we do about it" is that we protest with our pockets. If the airline industry hurt in the biggest way, they will also retaliate.

I witnessed it myself yesterday at Pearson Int'l Airport, the officers even take away toys from babies and kids and forced them to either put them in check-in baggage or they'll confiscate them.

Like I keep telling people, there is a simple way to curb terrorism.

1. Don't be terrorized. By reacting like this we allow terrorism to win
2. Don't mess around with other countries' politics. How do you like if a stranger comes to your house and start telling how you're supposed to educate your kid, what you can or cannot do, and if you don't comply they ransack and/or destroy your home?

My comments ends here, it's already borderline politics and although I take pictures of many politicians, I have zero affiliation to any of them.

 

[WillCAD]

So...if something like what's happening in the UK right now happens in North America...you won't fly? What if you had been in the UK and trying to return to the U.S. right now. Would you take permanent residence in the UK? Ok, I'm being sarcastic now but sometimes there are no choices...so what do you do then? That's what I'm asking...what are some solutions to some difficult conditions? I'm flying in 1 week with my camera equipment and hope never to have to deal with it on this trip.

It stinks...what do we do about it?

That's right - if they institute a no-electronics policy on US flights, I WON'T FLY.

I'm in a better position than many here; I only fly when I go to WDW, and if I can't fly I am close enough to drive, even though it takes 14 hours.

If I were stuck in the UK and had no choice but to put my electronics in my checked bags, I'd do what I had to do to get home. But since I'm not in that position, I can safely say that if electronics are banned from carry-ons in teh US, I will not be flying in the US. That's it.

 

[pxlbarrel]

But it IS already happening in Canada. I have received official e-mails from the air carriers that I've bought tickets from (for my assignments) stating that NO ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT WHATSOEVER and NO LIQUID OF ANY FORM are allowed on board and yet when I asked them about the liability issues, they all said that they are not responsible checked-in laptops/cameras and/or other electronics.

That's not what they're saying on the news. I was watching CBC this morning and the person in charge of Pearson said that electronics were still allowed on board. Air Canada also has it on their website that the only things banned right now are the liquids/gels. Transport Canada also has the same message. I haven't seen anything in the media where this is happening in Canada.

 

[Anewman]

We all make choices. No one is forced to fly and at the same time the airlines do not owe us anything except safe passage. It may become less pleasant to fly and may cause business issues for some but there are always ways to work it out.

What would I do? I would check a Point and shoot camera that I would not mind losing, or If I really need higher end gear I would arrange rental on the other end of the flight.

Will these restrictions make flights safer? I am not sure, but if anyone runs a google news search for "disposable camera" you may find some interesting reading.

Bottom line if Electronic equipment in the cabins is truely unsafe, I would not want to fly on an unsafe plane just so someone could keep an eye on their gear.

 

[mhutchinson]

Bottom line if Electronic equipment in the cabins is truely unsafe, I would not want to fly on an unsafe plane just so someone could keep an eye on their gear.

Until everyone is flying without luggage and only wearing an airline provided, very thin, rice paper, bath robe (without any strings, ties, or sleeves); and everything that has been brought has been inspected and stowed, no one is truly safe. As it is now you are probably the least safest all grouped up at the TSA checkpoint where at any given time there are more people than will ever be on a single flight. I think the government's goal is to eliminate commercial flights through complete discouragement and allow for only commerce transport and military planes.

As far as checking any photo equipment, most airlines run a very small replacement waiver on what you might bring along with you to WDW. This is usually less than the actual value of a dSLR with a couple memory cards and a Kelly lens. That waiver applies to all your luggage value that they might lose and not just one bag.

Mike