Traveling With Camera Gear: Airline Tips

Travelling with camera gear can be a nerve-wracking experience for photographers, with the risk of damage, loss, or theft. However, with careful planning and preparation, you can minimise these risks and ensure your equipment arrives safely at your destination. Here are some essential tips for travelling on an airline with your camera:

- Know the rules: Familiarise yourself with the regulations of the airline and the TSA (Transportation Security Administration). Check their websites for the latest guidelines on travelling with camera equipment.

- Keep it compact: Only bring the essential gear you need. Limit the number of lenses and accessories to reduce weight and bulk.

- Carry-on vs checked luggage: It is generally recommended to pack your camera in your carry-on luggage to reduce the risk of damage. However, some sources suggest that gate-checking your camera bag can also be an option if you take the necessary precautions.

- Protective packaging: Use a padded camera bag with separate compartments to securely pack your camera body, lenses, flashes, and other accessories. Alternatively, reuse the original box and padding if it fits inside a carry-on bag.

- Battery precautions: Always carry lithium batteries in your carry-on luggage and protect them from damage or short circuits. Do not pack loose batteries together, as they could come into contact and start a fire.

- Memory card management: Keep memory cards with you at all times, even during security checks. Hand-check them separately if possible to avoid X-ray damage.

- Tripod troubles: Tripods are allowed in carry-on and checked luggage but consider placing them in checked luggage to save space in your carry-on. Some airports may have specific restrictions, so it is best to detach the tripod head and pack it separately.

- Insurance: Consider insuring your camera gear, especially if it is expensive or challenging to replace. Check if your homeowner's insurance covers such belongings, or look into specific photographers' policies.

Packing tips: use a padded bag with compartments, or repack equipment in its original box and padding

When packing your camera equipment for air travel, it's important to use a bag that will protect your gear and make the most of the limited space you have. One option is to invest in a padded camera bag with compartments for your lenses, camera body, flash units, and other accessories. This will keep everything organised and protected during your trip. Look for a bag that fits in the overhead compartment or under the seat on the plane to avoid having to check it in.

If you want to save money, you can repack your camera equipment in its original box and padding. This is a great option if you plan to stash it inside a backpack or other carry-on luggage. If you must carry the camera in its box separately, consider placing the box inside a paper bag to avoid drawing attention to your valuable equipment.

When packing your camera, make sure to remove the lens and pack the body and lens separately using the proper caps. Also, be sure to tighten all covers, including USB ports, lens caps, and the battery compartment panel, to prevent bumps and jostles from damaging your equipment.

Finally, don't forget to pack your batteries and memory cards separately and securely. Keep them easily accessible, as airport security may ask you to turn on your camera during screening.

Camera batteries: keep them in your carry-on, and store them securely and separately

Camera batteries are almost always lithium-ion batteries, which are designated as hazardous materials by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As such, there are strict rules about flying with camera batteries that you should be aware of when packing your hand luggage.

Firstly, you must carry camera batteries in your carry-on luggage. The FAA states that "smoke and fire incidents involving lithium batteries can be mitigated by the cabin crew and passengers inside the aircraft cabin". Therefore, it is prohibited to pack spare, uninstalled lithium batteries in checked luggage. If you do, the TSA will confiscate the loose batteries for safety reasons.

It is also recommended that you keep installed batteries in your carry-on luggage. Although it is not outright forbidden to pack cameras with installed batteries in your hold luggage, the FAA strongly prefers that you don't.

Any lithium batteries brought into the cabin should be under 100 watt hours (Wh). Most camera batteries are well under 100Wh, so this shouldn't be an issue. There is no limit to the number of spare batteries you can bring in your carry-on bags if they are under 100Wh.

When packing your camera batteries, ensure that they are stored securely and separately. Don't carry loose batteries together—if their terminals come into contact during the flight, they could short-circuit and start a fire. Tape up the metal contacts on all your batteries to prevent short-circuiting, using camera tape to avoid any sticky residue. You can also put batteries in a small zipper case or a Ziploc bag to avoid them touching metal objects and causing a short circuit.

Tripods: put them in your checked luggage, unless you need them in your hand luggage

Tripods are an essential piece of equipment for photographers, but they can be bulky and awkward to travel with. So, what is the best way to travel with a tripod on an airline?

Well, it depends on whether you are checking luggage or only travelling with hand luggage. If you are checking luggage, it is recommended to place your tripod inside your suitcase or bag. This will speed up your time going through security, reduce the amount of space your hand luggage takes up, and protect your tripod from damage. It will also mean your hand luggage is lighter, which is beneficial if you have a lot of other equipment to carry.

If you are only travelling with hand luggage, you will need to ensure your tripod meets the airline's size and weight requirements. Most airlines will allow you to bring a tripod as hand luggage, but it is worth checking their specific rules. It is also worth noting that you may be subject to additional security checks.

If you are travelling with a tripod, it is recommended to use a tripod that is small and lightweight. This will make it easier to travel with and ensure it fits within the cabin baggage allowance. It is also beneficial if your tripod can fit inside your bag, rather than being strapped to the outside, as this will protect it and prevent it from snagging on things while you move through the airport.

If you are only travelling with hand luggage, it is essential to be mindful of the weight and size of your tripod. You don't want to be in a situation where you have to leave something important behind or pay extra fees because your luggage is too heavy or large.

In conclusion, when travelling on an airline with a tripod, it is generally best to put it in your checked luggage if possible. This will save space and weight in your hand luggage and protect your tripod from potential damage. If you need to keep your tripod in your hand luggage, ensure it meets the airline's requirements, and consider using a small, lightweight tripod that can fit inside your bag.

Lenses: detach your lens from your camera body to avoid damage

When travelling on an airline with camera equipment, it is important to detach your lens from your camera body to avoid damage. This is because the threads connecting the lens and the camera body are delicate and can break if force is applied to the lens housing. Therefore, it is recommended to pack the camera body and lens separately, using the proper caps on both units.

To ensure the safety of your camera equipment, it is advisable to invest in a padded camera bag with separate compartments for lenses, camera bodies, flash units, and other accessories. Alternatively, you can repurpose the original box and padding that your camera came in. If you choose to do this, it is recommended to place the box inside a backpack or other carry-on luggage to avoid attracting the attention of potential thieves.

When packing your camera equipment, it is crucial to consider the weight and size restrictions of your airline. Each airline has its own requirements, so be sure to check before your flight. In general, it is recommended to pack only what is necessary and to find a lens that can serve multiple purposes, reducing the need for multiple lenses.

Additionally, it is important to never let your bags out of your sight. If you are running late and the gate attendant requests that you check your bag, inform them that the value of your gear exceeds the airline's liability limit for lost luggage and that you cannot take the risk. Instead, consider splitting your gear between your overhead carry-on item and your under-seat personal item.

Memory cards: keep them in your pocket, not your camera bag

Memory cards are extremely important when travelling with a camera, as they store your images. It is therefore vital that you keep them safe.

Firstly, it is recommended that you keep your memory cards separate from your camera bag. This is because, if your camera bag is lost or stolen, you will lose both your camera and your images. Instead, keep your memory cards in your pocket, where they are less likely to be lost or stolen.

Secondly, keep your memory cards with you at all times, even when going through security. You can ask security agents to hand-check your memory cards, rather than putting them through the X-ray machine. This will ensure that your images are not accidentally deleted.

Thirdly, it is a good idea to have a system in place to keep track of your memory cards. For example, you could use a small wallet or case to store your memory cards, and turn used cards upside down to indicate that they are full. Alternatively, you could use a label or adhesive sticker to indicate which cards are full.

Finally, always make sure you have enough memory cards. It is better to take larger and fewer cards, rather than lots of small cards, as these can be easily lost or damaged.

Frequently asked questions