Tripods thru security check at airport

[weedwhackers]

Just wondering if its okay to not check your tripod when travelling? Will the security guys at the checkpoint give you a hard time about it?

I know i can take all my other gear via a carryon, but has anyone here had issues with tripods?


thanks in advance

[mikeassk]

I have never tried but the sign i sa when i flew a couple days ago said they could make you check things of that nature:
"Long bunt objects..."

[H20boy]

I've gotten monopods thru in my carryon, but never tried a tripod thru security. Im interested in what everyone else's luck has been like.

[dorkiedoode]

Good question, I'm wondering about this too. when i put my tripod in the tripod bag it look like I'm carrying a freaken sniper rifle.

[snakekid]

http://www.letsgodigital.org/images/artikelen/51/sigma_200_500mm_zoom.jpgtry taking that through security

[dorkiedoode]

if he took his camera off and carry the len alone. it'll look like a little nuclear bomb.

[xarqi]

I have never tried but the sign i sa when i flew a couple days ago said they could make you check things of that nature:
"Long bunt objects..."

How long before we are all thoroughly sedated before boarding, and shipped unconscious?
10 years?
Less?

[tonylong]

I've put my tripod and monopod (with ballheads) in a tripod bag and put it through checkin luggage. Your carryon is lighter and less bulky (the heads factor in) and I think that baggage is much less likely to be stolen than a good camera/lens bag.

[basroil]

small tripod with my kata 103 went right through security around three years ago.. just make sure that the spikes are retracted though

[Technophile]

havent brought a tripod through yet, but ive brought my rocket blower through no problem. they could probably see its just full of air though...

[Lowner]

My M10 travels with me, but the tripod always gets chucked into the suitcase and ditto the monopod.

[DigitalSpecialist]

I've carried a dozen Kites through security on my way to Hawaii for a Kite Festival! Graphite Spars, with some metal in the bag. They got through all right, but I was looked at as if I had Ski Poles, etc!!!

[MadisonPhotography]

with the cramped seats, surly service and long waits on the runway I'd welcome being sedated and "shipped" oblivious..

[20DNewbie]

How long before we are all thoroughly sedated before boarding, and shipped unconscious?
10 years?
Less?

:lol: Obscure The Fifth Element reference.

[weedwhackers]

so no one here has tried to get a tripod thru security?

[Eagle i]

I have been told that a tripod can be carried on but a monopod cant...however, with that said here is a list TSA Prohibited Items(tripod is not listed): http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

[Eagle i]

TSA link to Photographic Equipment: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1248.shtm

Photographic Equipment & Film
Transporting Film and Photographic Equipment

Photographic Equipment
You may carry one (1) bag of photographic equipment in addition to one (1) carry-on and one (1) personal item through the screening checkpoint. The additional bag must conform to your air carrier's carry-on restrictions for size and weight. Please confirm your air carrier's restrictions prior to arriving at the airport.

Air carriers may or may not allow the additional carry-on item on their aircraft. Please check with your air carrier prior to arriving at the airport.

Our screening equipment will not affect digital cameras and electronic image storage cards.

Film
The equipment used to screen checked baggage will damage undeveloped film. Pack your undeveloped film in your carry-on bag. High speed and specialty film should be hand inspected at the security checkpoint. To facilitate hand-inspection, remove your undeveloped film from the canister and pack in a clear plastic bag.

[Roy Webber]

Yes, my friend who brought out my new 055 PROB and 488RC2 from the UK to Fuerteventura (http://roywebber.zenfolio.com/)
:-)

[FlyingPhotog]

Air carriers may or may not allow the additional carry-on item on their aircraft. Please check with your air carrier prior to arriving at the airport.

Key, key phrase from Eaglei's post...

TSA rules don't always (ever?) jibe with the Airlines rules.

[kforde]

I have walked on with my big a** landscape number on various airlines in various airports (usually to the embarassment of my wife). The only time I actually had a problem was at Heathrow when I was thick enough to actually ask the desk clerk (rookie mistake really). After that I just strap it to the side of my carry on pack and keep it simple. Once on the plane I will usually ask the staff if they will let me leave it in the space they keep the prams/strollers near the door, haven't had a problem with that yet. I think a lot of it comes down to the person in charge and how they feel at that moment. Good luck! kf

[LORAC]

Taken tripods to Munich and Frankfurt airports, but always in bags and checked into the hold.

[ed rader]

My M10 travels with me, but the tripod always gets chucked into the suitcase and ditto the monopod.


good idea. i take the head and short column off my tripod. maybe i'll start stashing it in my carry-on, along with my new RRS hi-capacity monopod head :D.

i actually sized my tripod to be be light and small enough to stow in my baggage....but not too light to be unusable for everyday duty.

ed rader

[single_track]

I do it all the time including twice in the last two weeks. Alum monopod, ball heads and CF tripod with small metal spikes. No problem.

Security in Milan questioned my monopod one time, supervisor came over and said it is photo equipment, let it thru. TSA also told me that alum monopods are not supposed to be allowed by plastic (CF) are. That said, I have always been let thru.

I always put the monopods and tripods IN my carry on, not on the outside of my camera bag. Maybe this helps acceptance.

Not to say you won't have a problem but I never have, domestically or internationally.

[Wilt]

How long before we are all thoroughly sedated before boarding, and shipped unconscious?
10 years?
Less?

We already have mindless travelers!

[condyk]

If I travel with a tripod I wrap it in a towel and place in my cargo bag. I just don't see the point risking being stopped and potentially having all your gear, due to weight, dimensions, whatever excuse they can use, taken and put in cargo. I carry my essentials only on board and don't draw attention. A tripod will draw attention somewhere along the line.

[FlyingPhotog]

We already have mindless travelers!

Word...

[PhotosGuy]

How long before we are all thoroughly sedated before boarding, and shipped unconscious? I'd pay extra for that!

[neilwood32]

How long before we are all thoroughly sedated before boarding, and shipped unconscious?
10 years?
Less?

How much extra is that over the basic price? You make it sound like that would be a bad idea!:D

[tonylong]

I'd pay extra for that!

How much extra is that over the basic price? You make it sound like that would be a bad idea!:D

"Would you like some Valium with your whiskey?"

[neilwood32]

"Would you like some Valium with your whiskey?"

Yeshhh pleash hic hic zzzzzzzzzz

[Mystwalker]

I have been told that a tripod can be carried on but a monopod cant...however, with that said here is a list TSA Prohibited Items(tripod is not listed): http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Must depend on mood of TSA personnel. Couple weeks ago, I went through SFO and then Dallas with a Canon Monopod (cheap one) hooked to my Slingshot 300 + a computer case.

[fishfoto]

I fly with light stands and tripods as carry on. They are fine for carry on almost everywhere (except Italy who rarely enforces the ban).

You can read more on flying with tripods here:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2008/10/01/can-i-carry-my-tripod-on-board-my-flight/

You can see how I carry my tripods in airports here:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2009/03/23/traveling-with-a-compact-light-low-cost-tripod-the-flashpoint-f-1128/

Happy Flying!

[fishfoto]

Monopods are allowed for carry on by the TSA. A monopod is classified as "photographic equipment." Due to the TSA tendency to adapt rules on the spot, which is against TSA SOP, I have a red Canon monopod pad on my monopod. This, coupled with the bag full of Canon gear gets them to back off and quickly understand the monopod is photographic equipment.

I was stopped a while back and questioned why I had two Canon bodies, six Canon lenses, one Canon flash and two Nikon flashes though (Nikon flashes are my remotes with Pocket Wizards) . If nothing else I know that the TSA agent was on the ball in looking for oddities in flyer carry on baggage.

[Haribo]

I've taken a tripod through as carry on at a few airports (Hong Kong, Heathrow, Vancouver and a few other smaller ones) without any problems so far.

The tripod is a Velbon Sherpa PRO CF-545, and I just carry it in the small bag that came with it.

[dorkiedoode]

does everyone look at you all weird like your carrying a sniper?

[fishfoto]

Carrying a sniper?

Every sniper I know (and I spent years covering overnight news in a major city and have been an embedded news photog covering conflicts so I have met quite a few)) has been a man, aged 21-40, roughly 6ft and 200lbs with very short hair.

If I was carrying a sniper through an airport I'd get dinged for size and weight restrictions. Plus I really can't carry a sniper, they are really hard to stuff in a carry on bag, even if you folded them over.

[HG1605]

Hi,
I've been flying for years and have only had 4 maybe 5 queries regarding my photgrpahic equipment. Once I was forced to leave my Manfrotto tripod at the airport, that was in Thailand.
I flew back to Australia on a flight from England 4 weeks ago and didn't have a problem with with carrying on any of my delicate photographic equipment, monopod and tripod but packed my film in my cargo luggage. They just put my tripod in where they put baby strollers.

I think it comes down to who you fly with and how the check in person is feeling that day. I'd call the airline to be sure but as I said before one person will tell you can and another person will tell you no you can't.
Would it be easier to leave the tripod at home and buy used one from a second hand dealer or camera store and then sell it when you're ready to leave. It would save a lot of headaches.

You didn't mention if you are flying domestic or international? Not that it should matter.

[weedwhackers]

i fly over 100k miles a year international and domestic... i recenlty got into photography. i figured if i was traveling to all these wonderful places i should document it.

[FlyingPhotog]

Carrying a sniper?

If I was carrying a sniper through an airport I'd get dinged for size and weight restrictions. Plus I really can't carry a sniper, they are really hard to stuff in a carry on bag, even if you folded them over.

Well there's your problem...

You have to fold them in "twisted thirds" like a reflector or car sun shade... ;)

[fishfoto]

You have to fold them in "twisted thirds" like a reflector or car sun shade... ;)

Damnit! I knew I was missing something. Carrying a sniper just shouldn't have to be that hard!:lol:

[_aravena]

Someone mentioned carrying a monopod but I'm surprised it's not on a list of forbidden items with the spike and all. I mean seriously, box cutters and nail clippers are the danger of the world but a metal staff with a spike, sure whatever!

[tin.risky]

I've flown three international trips (Malaysia, Hong Kong, Guatemala) and four domestic flights (one of them to Puerto Rico) with my CF tripod strapped to the outside of my backpack and have never had a problem.

[HG1605]

Someone mentioned carrying a monopod but I'm surprised it's not on a list of forbidden items with the spike and all. I mean seriously, box cutters and nail clippers are the danger of the world but a metal staff with a spike, sure whatever!

I have always carried my monopod with me on board but they have confiscated a set of nail clippers and a nail file from my girlfriend. Go figure.

Maybe it's because the monopod is inside the bag may make a difference, who knows?

[lexi73]

I just traveled a few weeks ago and i took my tripod with me in the carry on luggage. They did want it scanned separately from my other carry on items.

[fishfoto]

When travelling with a monopod/tripod that has screw out spikes, wrap tape above the rubber footings so the spikes cannot easily be revealed. It will keep the TSA folks from making sudden decisions on the spot.

[Wilt]

When travelling with a monopod/tripod that has screw out spikes, wrap tape above the rubber footings so the spikes cannot easily be revealed. It will keep the TSA folks from making sudden decisions on the spot.

Or remove the spikes from the legs (relatively easy to do with Manfrotto or Gitzo) and pack them in your shaving kit left within your checked luggage.

[FlyingPhotog]

Or remove the spikes from the legs (relatively easy to do with Manfrotto or Gitzo) and pack them in your shaving kit left within your checked luggage.

This is exactly what I do. The Induro tool kit + spikes goes in my shaving kit along with my Leatherman and the whole thing goes in checked luggage.

At my destination, I swap the plastic feet out for the spikes and away I go...

[fishfoto]

Neither my monopod nor my tripod have removable spikes.