A few experiences: Oslo - Newark 2004: a Sachtler 75 with a large Foba ballhead. Collapsed legs 80 cm long. SAS allowed it as carryon from Oslo, but not on the return flight. Wrapped the legs together with plastic tape, and it arrived safely in Oslo. Oslo - Forth Worth, Tx, 2007, same tripod in checked-in luggage both ways, wrapped in clothes inside a soft bag Flew via Amsterdam. Handle on ballhead broken on return flight between TX and Amsterdam. Changed planes in Detroit. UA first, then KLM. Manfrotto 455C with 40mm RRS Ballhead numerous times between Oslo and destinations in Europe, all good. Mostly as checked in, but SAS and Air France allowed it as carryon. The Sachtler in combination with a 55mm RRS ballhead traveled with me to Argentina for the Antarctica trip in 2009. On this trip I separated the legs and the head in the packing. Checked in luggage, huge soft bag and clothes. All good through SAS, BA and Aerolinas Argentinas. Used same strategy with an Induro carbon fibre pod and the RRS head to Svalbard in 2011 and to California in 2013. All good. Based on my experience, I think I'll stick to that strategy in the future too. However for short trips I use a small tripod that no airline has objected to as carryon. The rule of thumb for carryon seems to be 'less than 50 cm long and no sharp looking ends'.
Jostein Den 1. april 2016 18.54.19 CEST, skrev Igor PDML-StR <pdml...@komkon.org>: > >Darren: > >I haven't taken any tripods (accept for Ultra Pod 2 that is tiny) >on the airplane. >If I did, I would be concerned on the elements of the head, such as >adjustment handles (those that look as a stick with a knob at the end), >- >those could be bent if something heavy is placed on top of the tripod. >But maybe I am underestimating those... > >Also, I would be concerned about various plastic knobs on the head. >For those, I'd consider wrapping a large-bubble bubble wrap around the >head (with a clear packing tape on top and/or rubber bands below the >head). > > >This is unrelated to the concern about the tripod, but Paul's comment >regarding Pelican hard cases brought up some important aspects. >The advantage of those is not just in the protection they provide >against >the impact, but also the fact they don't have zippers, as zippers can >be >easily "unlocked" with a pen: >http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2626254/Shocking-video-shows-easy-break-suitcase.html >(I disagree with that guy about non-TSA-approved locks: bags get >checked >behind the scene, and they have no way of calling you to open the >lock.) > > >But at the same time, I would not fully trust the "Travel Sentry" locks > >(aka TSA-approved, etc.). You can read this article, why: >http://arstechnica.com/security/2015/09/video-3d-printed-tsa-travel-sentry-keys-really-do-open-tsa-locks/ > >But even, if the keys were not compromised by Washington Post, there >are >plenty of unscrupulous people who have access to those keys in the >world. >Especially travelling internationally, I would be very much concerned >checking in any of high-tech items in the luggage. > >Still, a case that makes it more complicated to get in quickly probably > >makes sense. But it also attracts more attention (as the entire case >can >"walk away"). > >One alternative is to ship via UPS/FedEx. But that gets expensive for >international shipments. But if you are on assignment, and want to >assure >your gear shows up when needed, that might be worst the cost. > >You can also considering "wearing" things on you in a multipocket >jacket: >http://globaltravelclothing.com/ >http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/13/AR2011011305749.html >Some of those remind me of the "photo vests" that many here are >familiar >with. >(I've been going around the weight limitation for the carry-on items in > >Europe by placing some of the lenses and the flash from my photo bag >into >my jacket's pockets, but it was a regular jacket.) > >Best, > >Igor > > >On Fri, Apr 1, 2016 at 9:06 AM, Darren Addy wrote: > >> No this isn't an April Fools post on how to accomplish the Wright >> Brother's achievement, using nothing but a tripod; It is a request >for >> information on the best way to transport a tripod via commercial >> airlines. >> >> I should have thought about this long before now, but... I've got a >> "normal" Manfrotto (good sized) tripod. I'm going to take the 3-way >> head with. I've got the Manfrotto soft (zippered) case for it. Is >that >> good enough to trust to the gorillas that throw baggage around? I can >> pack with some bubble wrap in there, if that will help. >> >> Alternative suggestions? Thanks in advance. >> >> PS... I plan on carrying-on a backpack with camera video gear that is >> going with. My clothes suitcase can be checked-in. >> -- Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
