LA to New Zealand baggage allowance?

[transcend]

I will be flying qantas in a few week to new zealand to cover an event. I know how strict the carryon regs are in europe (even tho i seemed to get by them fairly easily). I am just wondering how harsh qantas is about them. My camera bag easily fits inside the max dimensions for carryone, but is far outside the weight. Will this be an issue?

Also, my luggage is 65 inches total, as opposed to the new max of 62 on the qantas site, again, any have any experience on qantas with this?

[Wazza]

Last time I flew, I was on Qantas, and took my camera gear carry on, but only had a 20D, 17-40, 70-300, 50mm 1.8, and few accessories. Wouldn't have been close to the 7kg limit.

I say build some muscles, carry with one finger, and pretend it's almost empty. ;)

The Rotorua mountain bike stuff does look like fun.. 31st July? Too bad I'm working :(

[transcend]

Last time I flew, I was on Qantas, and took my camera gear carry on, but only had a 20D, 17-40, 70-300, 50mm 1.8, and few accessories. Wouldn't have been close to the 7kg limit.

I say build some muscles, carry with one finger, and pretend it's almost empty. ;)

The Rotorua mountain bike stuff does look like fun.. 31st July? Too bad I'm working :(

Rotorua is the world championships this year. It will be Aug 20-27, with the major events on the last 2 days. It will be one hell of a good time, as worlds always is. Getting a press pass is next to impossible though without a national press card.

I will be travelling with:
1d mk2,
10d,
4 x 10d batts
2 x 1d batts,
17-40,
70-200 2.8,
300 f4,
50 1.8,
1.4x,
4 Pocket wizards
3 flashes
various small tripods for flashes
monopod
+ various accessories, chargers, cables and filters. As you can see, I have a backpack full of junk.

[Yellow_Fuzzy]

With that much gear I would probably say its wouldnt be worth risking being unprepared and being forced to send all your gear as checked baggage. Mabye take a smaller bag with your bodies and a lens or 2 and the rest put through as checked baggage, mabye in a Pelican or similar hardcase if you can get one.

Zac

[Wazza]

But with no press pass, how close could a general public person get on say the last Friday and Saturday?

[ssim]

All airlines go through phases where they instruct their front line people to become vigilant in enforcing the rules as laid out. I have noticed that most airlines in the past 6 months or so have become very stringent on this. It is typical in the summer months for this to be enforced too as the traffic levels are at its highest. You have to worry about 4 checkpoints, your initial checkin, the security clearance, the gate agent and finally the flight attendant. Don't be fooled that just because you cleared one of the first ones that you will be ok on the rest. I've seen many people literally in tears because they get to the aircraft and the flight attendant has deemed the bag to large or overweight.

You avoid this what I do is to pack alot of my gear in a hard sided suitcase. It is well packed inside with additional clothing items being packed around the photogear. Sometimes I ship ahead of myself and other times I just pay any excess baggage charges. I know that some swear by the pelican type cases but having spent 30+ years working at an airline, these things just scream "steal me". So many of the airlines don't have their own baggage handlers anymore with this service having been contracted out. I have made some 10+ long trips with these suitcases and have yet to have a problem.

Don't get caught off gaurd at the airport. Be prepared and this to me is to get as much of the lesser expensive and less fragile into your baggage. Batteries, chargers and other accessories.

[transcend]

But with no press pass, how close could a general public person get on say the last Friday and Saturday?

Fans will be lining the course. I believe you have to purchase a spectator pass to be allowed onto the venue. The press pass allows use of the media room, allows us on course (inside the tape) and gives us access to the gondola and media/rider shuttles that are heading to the top of the dowhill course.

You don't actually apply via the event for a pass as it is world championships. They are extremely tight or else there would be an insane amount of people on course. I believe in livigno last year they only accredited around 200 people.

[transcend]

All airlines go through phases where they instruct their front line people to become vigilant in enforcing the rules as laid out. I have noticed that most airlines in the past 6 months or so have become very stringent on this. It is typical in the summer months for this to be enforced too as the traffic levels are at its highest. You have to worry about 4 checkpoints, your initial checkin, the security clearance, the gate agent and finally the flight attendant. Don't be fooled that just because you cleared one of the first ones that you will be ok on the rest. I've seen many people literally in tears because they get to the aircraft and the flight attendant has deemed the bag to large or overweight.

You avoid this what I do is to pack alot of my gear in a hard sided suitcase. It is well packed inside with additional clothing items being packed around the photogear. Sometimes I ship ahead of myself and other times I just pay any excess baggage charges. I know that some swear by the pelican type cases but having spent 30+ years working at an airline, these things just scream "steal me". So many of the airlines don't have their own baggage handlers anymore with this service having been contracted out. I have made some 10+ long trips with these suitcases and have yet to have a problem.

Don't get caught off gaurd at the airport. Be prepared and this to me is to get as much of the lesser expensive and less fragile into your baggage. Batteries, chargers and other accessories.

Sheldon,

Thanks for that info. I will be attempting to split my stuff up between my camera bag and my laptop bag. I would prefer not to put things in my checked baggage due to the horrible luck i have with lost baggage. I would hate to get there and not be able to work. I am also paranoid about theft, as you mentioned. Do the gate agents actually have scales and such as well? I wasn't aware of that. I thought they just kept on the lookup for large bags etc.

[Wilt]

I will be flying qantas in a few week to new zealand to cover an event. I know how strict the carryon regs are in europe (even tho i seemed to get by them fairly easily). I am just wondering how harsh qantas is about them. My camera bag easily fits inside the max dimensions for carryone, but is far outside the weight. Will this be an issue?

Also, my luggage is 65 inches total, as opposed to the new max of 62 on the qantas site, again, any have any experience on qantas with this?

I travelled to Australia for a conference in April, then took holiday in New Zealand. Air New Zealand and Qantas are both quite strict about carryon size and weight, particularly weight!!! 7 kilo (the goal, they will stretch it only a bit) or make you move things from carryon into your checked bag! They do weigh your carryon when you check in, and they do make you put your carryon into those size checking things near the gate to verify the size. I had a carryon whose main body was within limits, but because the plastic FEET and wheels caused it to protrude past the size checker near the gate, I was forced to put it into checked baggage at the gate! Fortunately I removed my camera bag from its interior, so it went in the cargo hold nearly empty!!!

[transcend]

I travelled to Australia for a conference in April, then took holiday in New Zealand. Air New Zealand and Qantas are both quite strict about carryon size and weight, particularly weight!!! 7 kilo (the goal, they will stretch it only a bit) or make you move things from carryon into your checked bag! They do weigh your carryon when you check in, and they do make you put your carryon into those size checking things near the gate to verify the size. I had a carryon whose main body was within limits, but because the plastic FEET and wheels caused it to protrude past the size checker near the gate, I was forced to put it into checked baggage at the gate! Fortunately I removed my camera bag from its interior, so it went in the cargo hold nearly empty!!!

I believe when i check in, I am on American. The last flight is a qantas flight, but I am supposedly on American all the way through, so who knows. My bag fits perfectly in the little bit, no issues there. Weight, however, will end up being a big concern as I am honestly not sure how light I can get it, just based on cameras and lenses alone (even if i emptied out everythinge else).

[Wilt]

I believe when i check in, I am on American. The last flight is a qantas flight, but I am supposedly on American all the way through, so who knows. My bag fits perfectly in the little bit, no issues there. Weight, however, will end up being a big concern as I am honestly not sure how light I can get it, just based on cameras and lenses alone (even if i emptied out everythinge else).

Note that regulations in International flight is not as strictly policed, and are a bit looser than Domestic flight. We had no problem going to Australia or coming from New Zealand as US origin. But there was more hassle in the legs within countries, expecially within New Zealand.

[transcend]

That is pretty much what I understand. I fly about a dozen times over the summer to events, but the baggage stuff has gotten really tight lately over here even, so I was just wondering what it was like down under. Never flown qantas before.

[theflyingkiwi]

But with no press pass, how close could a general public person get on say the last Friday and Saturday?

Are you looking at going?

[transcend]

It'll be a good time, that is for sure. I haven't looked forward to worlds this much in years.

[tim]

Anyone who plans on coming to Wellington is more than welcome to drop me a PM :)

[nation]

Qantas has recently become a pain both at check in and for carry on over the last 6 months or so. So beware that they may be very strict about their baggage limits. Also be aware with carry on that until you're on the plane you're never safe. They can stop you at the point of boarding if they suspect your carry on is too heavy.