Packing a TT Airport Antidote???

[pigtailpat]

I'm flying at the end of the month for the first time with my gear. The last time I flew was over 10 years ago to go to my sister's wedding, and I have never flown before with so much expensive equipment.

I'm flying on a small, 50-seater regional jet on Continental Express on a short haul route, and for that reason, picked up a TT Airport Antidote. As much as I love my TT AS, I just couldn't risk a gate check with it on the smaller plane.

Doing a little research here on POTN as to how people pack their stuff, I have seen some people pack the camera bodies horizontally, you know resting on their bottoms, and some pack the bodies (especially in the backpacks) on their sides vertically. Is it safe to transport bodies on their sides? And if you do pack on the sides vertifically - which side should rest on the bottom of the case and which side should be up (card slot up??)

The only pieces of equipment I want to take is my 2 bodies (30d gripped, IIn), the 70-200, 24-105 and 50 1.4, 580 flash, and the batteries & chargers for the bodies. I'm not transporting the 120-300 for this trip.

Any photos specifically of a TT antidote setup would be helpful. I have looked at the camera bag photo thread, I saw some acceleration photos, but not sure if any antidote photos posted, and to go through 147 pages is alot.

Thanks so much.

[Andrushka]

i carry all the stuff in my sig in my TT Airport Antidote without issue + backup batteries for everything, chargers, CP filters, plus a film Rebel body - and the TT Antidote fits without incident in every plane i've flown on - which is a good amount considering i fly back and forth between the US & Ukraine


ok i re-read your post - and i have carried a Rebel XT i was borrowing in one of the lower side compartments on a trip from Kiev-Rome-NY-LAX with no problems, but i generally leave my 30D mounted to either the 17-55 or 24-105 (same physical dimensions basically) and sit it in the upper middle slot as it fits just right and happens to be the least exposed compartment. I have flown with it on its side (CF slot up) and also battery grip down. Can't notice a difference. The padding is good enough - i mean i'm not throwing mine unto to concrete or anything, but its padded pretty well.

All that to say, you will be fine!

[pigtailpat]

Thanks so much, but what I meant was, when the camera bodies are detached from the lens, I do not plan to fly either body attached to any lens (I am following Fish's advice on that subject). So my question revolves around whether or not it is safe to rotate the camera body and sit it on its side for transport on a flight, or, whether they should be resting horizontally on their bottoms.

[gromeo]

Here is a picture from TT web site, it show a camera body on its side http://www.thinktankphoto.com/images/prod-photo-ANT-3.jpg. I use the TT Airport Security, I have 2 bodies sitting on their bottoms and 1 body on its side.

[stathunter]

You can visit www.flyingwithfish.com for tons of valuable info on flying with your equipment.
I travel with my camera but not familiar with the plane you will be flying on--- not sure the specs on size requirements. I can tell you that the trick is always look as if it is not heavy -- my issue is typically my bags are over weight-- so I found that carrying them in a way that makes them "appear" as if they are not burdensome seems to do the trick.

[fishfoto]

Pat,

The Think Tank Antidote should slide under the seat of a Continental Express ERJ-145 (their current 50-seater). With your Antidote as carry-on, not 'valet checked/stair checked' (there is a big difference between valet check/stair check & gate checked baggage!) you'll want to have your seats on the B/C side of the aircraft, not the A side of the aircraft.

On the ERJ-145 "A" seats are single and are very limited in their space beneath the seats. The B/C side, while limited offers slightly more space under the seat. The "C" seat, or window seat offers the most under-seat storage space on the CO Express ERJ-145.

As for packing, stand the two bodies up in their bases, pack the dividers tightly, you do not need a lot of padding, what you need is to use your dividers to pack as tight as you can to eliminate any movement. Your batteries can be tossed in the internal zip pockets, as can the 30D chargers. 2 bodies, 4 batteries in use per body, a set of spares...you still only need two chargers. The 30D batteries last a long time. I did a 4 day project with a 5D/20D , 2 batteries in each body, total of two spare batteries...no charger. My batteries were fine for four days, 3500+ photos shot (Canon OEM batteries less than 9 months old for 3 of them, the others were 18 months old).

...I think I missed your e-mail the other day. I am sorry, I have been working on two projects that are sucking up my time like a vacuum.

If you have any more questions let me know, send me a PM, I'll try and get to it as quickly as I can.

Happy Flying!

[ed rader]

Pat -- are you packing into the antidote all the gear in your signature?

i think this is the bag i'm going to get since i will carry-on a shoulder bag too.

edit: i see you "answered" my question in your OP :D.

what is your impression of the antidote...do you have room left over after packing the gear you mentioned?

ed rader

[pigtailpat]

Fish -

Thanks so much!! Because of your extensive experience, I'm definitely going to stick by whatever you say. So I'll pack the bodies flat on their bases (bottoms) then (horizontal right is that what you meant below?). No problem about prior e-mail. I figured you were busy, you maintain a very big blog, plus with your traveling, that had to add up.

One question, since I know nothing at all about airline travel, what is the difference between gate checking your bag on arrival at the airport, and making it up to the plane, and having the airline stew valet check it? Does it mean you get the bag back immediately when you land from the stewardess who put it away? I didn't want to risk any questioning about my carry-on, so I decided to bite the bullet and get the antidote, even though I could have taken a risk with my AS. It's taken so long to get this equipment, I don't want it out of my sight for a second. If it weren't a small RJ, I wouldn't have spent the money, but I had to be sure. I did ask for a window seat when I booked, so I hope to get it.

Thanks again for taking such valuable time out of your schedule to stop and answer these questions. I spent alot of time at your site looking for help, and got alot of information, that made me explore alot further what the risks were to fly with this gear.

Pat

Pat,

The Think Tank Antidote should slide under the seat of a Continental Express ERJ-145 (their current 50-seater). With your Antidote as carry-on, not 'valet checked/stair checked' (there is a big difference between valet check/stair check & gate checked baggage!) you'll want to have your seats on the B/C side of the aircraft, not the A side of the aircraft.

On the ERJ-145 "A" seats are single and are very limited in their space beneath the seats. The B/C side, while limited offers slightly more space under the seat. The "C" seat, or window seat offers the most under-seat storage space on the CO Express ERJ-145.

As for packing, stand the two bodies up in their bases, pack the dividers tightly, you do not need a lot of padding, what you need is to use your dividers to pack as tight as you can to eliminate any movement. Your batteries can be tossed in the internal zip pockets, as can the 30D chargers. 2 bodies, 4 batteries in use per body, a set of spares...you still only need two chargers. The 30D batteries last a long time. I did a 4 day project with a 5D/20D , 2 batteries in each body, total of two spare batteries...no charger. My batteries were fine for four days, 3500+ photos shot (Canon OEM batteries less than 9 months old for 3 of them, the others were 18 months old).

...I think I missed your e-mail the other day. I am sorry, I have been working on two projects that are sucking up my time like a vacuum.

If you have any more questions let me know, send me a PM, I'll try and get to it as quickly as I can.

Happy Flying!

[pigtailpat]

Ed -

My antidote is still in shipping from CA, and won't arrive to me until next Monday. If you want, once I have a chance to open it and pack a few things, I can give you a few impressions. I didn't get the antidote to be able to fit in the 120-300, I have no desire or necessity to fly with that lens. I don't do much airline travel, and what little I do, I seem to end up in the smaller RJ type planes. If I ever got lucky to do a major trip in a big 737 type plane, and if I truly needed the 120-300, I would rely on my TT AS to get me through.

what is your impression of the antidote...do you have room left over after packing the gear you mentioned?

ed rader

[fishfoto]

Pat,

You can see how I pack my bodies in various bags here:
Airport Addicted:
http://bp2.blogger.com/_EhZDCVJeeOU/RbrcC_NXPCI/AAAAAAAAACc/7T9GGKvSy_c/s1600-h/IMG_0015.jpg

Airport Addicted (again):
http://bp1.blogger.com/_EhZDCVJeeOU/RbrcovNXPDI/AAAAAAAAACk/8DJffsuP73I/s1600-h/IMG_0009.jpg

Pelican 1514:
http://bp0.blogger.com/_EhZDCVJeeOU/Rcu8qDzzj6I/AAAAAAAAADU/4Rnh2aKFHHQ/s1600-h/Pelican_07.jpg

Pelican 1514 (again) :
http://bp0.blogger.com/_EhZDCVJeeOU/Rcu80Dzzj7I/AAAAAAAAADc/MmC4o1_iP50/s1600-h/Pelican_08.jpg

GuraGear Kiboko Bag:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EhZDCVJeeOU/SRl3TjllGZI/AAAAAAAAA3E/hmZm5HoDhNU/s1600-h/GuraGear_x14.jpg

Mountainsmith Parallax:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EhZDCVJeeOU/SP80oEKOpGI/AAAAAAAAAx8/WmrIJJmGy_Y/s1600-h/Parallax_x04.jpg

Mountainsmith Correspondent:
http://bp3.blogger.com/_EhZDCVJeeOU/SF-oKjZkLVI/AAAAAAAAAhs/ziZ-XgKOvUQ/s1600-h/MtnSmith_04.JPG

Mountainsmith Borealis AT:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/files/2009/03/runkit_02.jpg


...and the difference between Valet Check and Gate Check can be found here:
30/12/2008 – Gate Checking vs “Valet Checking” Your Bag At the Aircraft Door (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2008/12/30/gate-checking-vs-valet-checking-your-bag-at-the-aircraft-door/)

and here: 22/09/2008 – Leaving Your Bag At The Stairs On Regional Flights, AKA: Valet Check, Stair Check, Planeside Check (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2008/09/22/leaving-your-bag-at-the-stairs-on-regional-flights-aka-valet-check-stair-check-planeside-check/)

[pigtailpat]

Fish -

thanks so much, I know what to do now. :D

Pat

[jklewer]

Pat -- are you packing into the antidote all the gear in your signature?

i think this is the bag i'm going to get since i will carry-on a shoulder bag too.

edit: i see you "answered" my question in your OP :D.

what is your impression of the antidote...do you have room left over after packing the gear you mentioned?

ed rader

Ed, I just picked up my Antidote yesterday and I like it very much. I also purchased it for travel work. I have everything in my sig in there along with my HV30 with wide angle adapter, hood, shotgun mic, deadcat, and all the necessary extras. My MBP slides right in front in the supplied (freakin awesome) laptop case. GREAT bag, carries wonderfully.

[ed rader]

Ed, I just picked up my Antidote yesterday and I like it very much. I also purchased it for travel work. I have everything in my sig in there along with my HV30 with wide angle adapter, hood, shotgun mic, deadcat, and all the necessary extras. My MBP slides right in front in the supplied (freakin awesome) laptop case. GREAT bag, carries wonderfully.


thanx jklewer. i'm about 99% certain that the antidote is what i'll get :D.

ed rader

[Moonjo]

Here are some pics of my Antidote.

If you click on the images it will take you to my flickr page where I detail what each item is.

I'm headed of to Vegas tomorrow so I'll be putting my Antidote to the test. :)

[ed rader]

Here are some pics of my Antidote.

If you click on the images it will take you to my flickr page where I detail what each item is.

I'm headed of to Vegas tomorrow so I'll be putting my Antidote to the test. :)


thanx. the laptop pocket is more spacious than i thought. that's good to know :D.

ed rader

[Moonjo]

Yeah, with the laptop packed the Antidote looks rather huge. I think I'm going to carry my laptop separately. The funny thing is I bought the Antidote so I can carry both my laptop and gear in one bag! And I still will, but I'll separate them for flights.

[jklewer]

thanx. the laptop pocket is more spacious than i thought. that's good to know :D.

ed rader

I stuff my MBP in the sleeve, than the front billowed pocket holds a good thick notepad, pens, my big charger and a full size mouse. The whole thing also slides right into the sleeve on the front of the Antidote when everything is fully loaded! Very cool bag indeed!

[ed rader]

Yeah, with the laptop packed the Antidote looks rather huge. I think I'm going to carry my laptop separately. The funny thing is I bought the Antidote so I can carry both my laptop and gear in one bag! And I still will, but I'll separate them for flights.


i've got a 10" netbook that i'll probably carry in a different bag so i'll use the laptop compartment for other stuff.

ed rader

[hollis_f]

As for packing, stand the two bodies up in their bases, pack the dividers tightly, you do not need a lot of padding, what you need is to use your dividers to pack as tight as you can to eliminate any movement.
When I'm travelling abroad I like to pack small items of clothing around the more expensive stuff. This really helps eliminate movement and it means I have some spare socks, etc. if my main baggage should be lost.