Air travel with A/V equipment

Carel wrote on 7/16/2003, 7:07 PM

Sorry for going off topic, but does anyone here have any tips for traveling on a commercial airplane with A/V gear? I am assuming that security might get uptight when they see miniature transmitters and such. And transporting expensive equipment as checked baggage, which cannot be locked anymore, seems like asking for trouble too.

Comments

rwsjr wrote on 7/16/2003, 7:16 PM

I am far from an expert on air travel, but you might consider consulting the following web site for guidance:

http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=1

When I was a trainer, I was confronted with similar questions and issues. If you can stomach it, maybe you can ship your gear separately.

PeterWright wrote on 7/16/2003, 8:36 PM

dse has just written an article on this subject - it's under Features at

http://www.dmnforums.com/htm/homeset.htm

wcoxe1 wrote on 7/17/2003, 1:39 PM

Good post, Peter. Thanks to you and Spot.

richard-courtney wrote on 7/17/2003, 8:47 PM

I didn't read the article but I found it is best to:

1. Keep a manifest with detailed descfription of each item in the camera bag.
2. Keep all units charged and ready to operate. A camera must prove it works
by showing a picture. MP3 recorder must play audio, etc.
3. Arrive early so it can be inspected by hand.
4. Be calm and willing to open any compartment or container
5. Pack only essentials You can purchase extra tapes at your destination.
(and have an excuse to purchase more stauff that your spouse will approve)

Don B wrote on 7/17/2003, 9:23 PM

I travel by air fairly often and just did a 10 day to and from Hawaii with 1 tripod (checked), 1 camera case loaded to the max (carryon) 1 laptop for editing with a seperate FWHDD and some audio gear in the case. Here's what happened going out of Chicago Midway AND Maui OGG(main airport)-Oh yeah, NO damage to 14 hours of tape. Yes it was a paid gig.
They had me take the laptop out of the case so they could see it was a laptop. PERIOD!
I had a PD150,WA Lens,wireless recv'r & xmitter with lav and handheld mic, shotgun mic, tapes, zoom controller, filters, 3 batteries & a 20W on cam light,all in the cam case. They never even had me open it. In the laptop case, the laptop of course, a FWHDD with FW cables, AC adaptors for computer and FW drive, wired handheld mic, audio cables, RCA cables with adaptors, battery charger for camera a charger for the light and a roll of duct tape. They were far more interested in my wifes shoes than any of the electronic gear. Oh yeah, don't ask what I had in my wifes carry on. Headphones, another camera (1chip for use as a deck and her vacation cam-AC adaptor and batteries for that 1)
Never check anything that is fragile or cannot be replaced at minimal cost.
I'll be traveling again in Sept to a closer destination but the routine will be the same.
Hope this helps.
Don

riredale wrote on 7/18/2003, 12:14 AM

I just got back to the Pacific Northwest from Germany. Both coming and going I had a lot of video gear in my carry-on backpack. To my amazement, I was never challenged, even though I can't imagine the kind of x-ray image that backpack created. I'd like to think that Common Sense was gradually returning to air travel, but I doubt it.