Will be flying to Alaska early August. I have not flown since 2006 and the luggage regs were not nearly as strict.
Destination is south slope of Brooks Range. Will use motorized canoes up the Bettles River.
Gear: Nikon D700; Nikkor 14-24; Nikkor 35-105 manual; Nikkor 100-300; Nikkor 500 mm reflex; Tripod; MD10 for battery backup with AA batteries; cleaning gear.
Other other stuff: GPS, spotting scope, binoculars.
I will check with the airline but thought some ideas about questions to ask.
1. Camera carry-on? Any recommendations? Go with a formal camera pack or something else. Lowerpro? Can I get the above gear in a carry-on? What is the safety factor for stuff that can't be carried on?
2. Batteries?
3. How large can the "personal bag" be which I read as being separate from the carry-on?
I would carry all your camera gear and other breakables in a camera backpack like a Lowepro. The personal item can be pretty big, like one of those canvas shopping bags, they aren't too strict about that. Bring plenty of batteries, carry them on. Check everything else, including your tripod (Take the head off). You can throw you camera backpack in a dry bag for the river.
Posted by David Taylor on July 16, 2010 at 1:03 AM
+1 to what Carl said. Make sure you have a TSA approved carry on camera backpack and pack all of your camera(s) & lenses in this. You can also carry a personal item - I carry a soft-sided briefcase with my laptop/drives/readers in it. Like Carl said, pack your tripod in a suitcase (with the head off or the legs reversed to protect the head, if you have that option).
In short, don't trust anything to checked luggage and place a TSA lock on all of your checked luggage. TSA can still open it (which is required) but if they do, it registers their entry so you know if it was tampered with. Another option is to ship gear ahead of time, to your lodging or a FedEx/UPS hub. Have a great trip!
I know this is a bit old, but since you've not left yet..
Make sure you have a TSA approved carry on camera backpack
I don't know if that even exists. If it does it's one of the stupider things I've heard of lately. Not your comments, Dave, just the idea that such a thing exists. Regardless, over many, many trips I've never had a problem dumping mass amounts of gear in to divider-less packs of all shapes and sizes, filling them with loose crap, wrapping lenses in t-shirts and such, carrying on my tripod strapped to the pack, etc etc.
Kurt,
I just have a regular camera bag. There are TSA locks available but I don't see anyway to secure the bag and it will be my carry-on. Thanks to everyone for the input. Boarding and departing seem to be the most stressful part of the flight...
I'll post a few photos when I get back in late August. Will be in the Brooks Range, Bettles River area.
the fisch
I agree - this is the most stressful part of travel!
You can go on-line to your airline websites and get the exact allowable dimensions for your carry-on. If your plane is full, as is often the case in the summer, they can be real strict on this. On my last flight on Alaska Airlines from Seattle to Anchorage, they were checking the size of every carry on at the gate, and checking any bag exceeding the limit.
On Alaska Airlines it helps to have a seat beyond row 15 because they are the first wave of non-priority seating.
Thanks for all the constructive comments. I'm pretty much packed. Have my TSA locks. Will review measurement/wt. requirements. Leave on Saturday the 7th. In the mean time I'm doing 1700 stair-steppers in 20 min., Airdyne, jogging with hand weights and ankle weights. I'm back at my college graduation weight and looking for adventure. the fisch
Discussion
6 repliesDestination is south slope of Brooks Range. Will use motorized canoes up the Bettles River.
Gear: Nikon D700; Nikkor 14-24; Nikkor 35-105 manual; Nikkor 100-300; Nikkor 500 mm reflex; Tripod; MD10 for battery backup with AA batteries; cleaning gear.
Other other stuff: GPS, spotting scope, binoculars.
I will check with the airline but thought some ideas about questions to ask.
1. Camera carry-on? Any recommendations? Go with a formal camera pack or something else. Lowerpro? Can I get the above gear in a carry-on? What is the safety factor for stuff that can't be carried on?
2. Batteries?
3. How large can the "personal bag" be which I read as being separate from the carry-on?
Any and all suggestion appreciated.
the fisch
In short, don't trust anything to checked luggage and place a TSA lock on all of your checked luggage. TSA can still open it (which is required) but if they do, it registers their entry so you know if it was tampered with. Another option is to ship gear ahead of time, to your lodging or a FedEx/UPS hub. Have a great trip!
I don't know if that even exists. If it does it's one of the stupider things I've heard of lately. Not your comments, Dave, just the idea that such a thing exists. Regardless, over many, many trips I've never had a problem dumping mass amounts of gear in to divider-less packs of all shapes and sizes, filling them with loose crap, wrapping lenses in t-shirts and such, carrying on my tripod strapped to the pack, etc etc.
No one is going to give you any crap.
I just have a regular camera bag. There are TSA locks available but I don't see anyway to secure the bag and it will be my carry-on. Thanks to everyone for the input. Boarding and departing seem to be the most stressful part of the flight...
I'll post a few photos when I get back in late August. Will be in the Brooks Range, Bettles River area.
the fisch
You can go on-line to your airline websites and get the exact allowable dimensions for your carry-on. If your plane is full, as is often the case in the summer, they can be real strict on this. On my last flight on Alaska Airlines from Seattle to Anchorage, they were checking the size of every carry on at the gate, and checking any bag exceeding the limit.
On Alaska Airlines it helps to have a seat beyond row 15 because they are the first wave of non-priority seating.
Have a great trip!