Cathay Pacific Airlines carry on weight limatation?

Not sure if I am in the proper forum to ask this but does anyone have any experience with Cathay Pacific Airlines and their carry on bag weight limitation of 7kg (15lbs). I am covering a sporting event in the Kuala Lumpur area and I was wondering if this will be strictly enforced on the flight I have been booked on from Los Angeles to KL. I have flown on Turkish Airlines , which has a similar carryon bag weight limitation, several times but it was never enforced.
I travel with my Think Tank Airport International full of camera gear weighing around 45 lbs plus my lap top and extra batteries in a Think Tank Urban Disguise 50 brief case and I was wondering if I will be able to board the plane with all of this. Does anyone here have any experience flying Cathay Pacific ?

I just flew from San Francisco to Hong Kong and back on Cathay two weeks ago.
Their official stance is 15 lbs and one carry on for economy. But I did not see it enforced either way. People were carrying huge pieces (more than one) of carry on luggage on board with no comment by the crew. I was surprised.
But LA could be different and it could also depend on the staff at that time.

They sometimes make you weigh it, but I thought it was 12kg?

Either way, 45lbs is almost as heavy as you are allowed for checked luggage (or is it more for american flights? I'm not sure), so you may have a problem...

Sirrith wrote in post #13083683
They sometimes make you weigh it, but I thought it was 12kg?

Either way, 45lbs is almost as heavy as you are allowed for checked luggage (or is it more for american flights? I'm not sure), so you may have a problem...

50 lbs seems to be the going weight in the US for checked luggage.

If this carry-on thing is an issue, wear a coat with big pockets and put the heavy items from your carry-on in the pockets after you clear the TSA checkpoints. I've never seen them weigh passengers.

I flew back and forth to Indonesia via Hong Kong with my pelican 1510 full of my gear and its not a light case and had no problem on Cathy Pacific
On another trip I had this case and full of equipment and they asked me to weigh it and told them what was in it and they let it pass as they didn't want to be responsible and let it pass.

15lbs but it's more or less up to the security check if they pass it the stewards usually let it go too, the weight restrictions are usually for safety reasons especially when you hit air pockets and someone didnt close the overhead compartment properly 15lbs might stun you, 15+ might kill you

auto-clicker wrote in post #13084491
15lbs but it's more or less up to the security check if they pass it the stewards usually let it go too, the weight restrictions are usually for safety reasons especially when you hit air pockets and someone didnt close the overhead compartment properly 15lbs might stun you, 15+ might kill you

That makes sense. There was a lot of turbulance over the pacific on the way back, and I probably would not take kindly to being beaned by overhead luggage.
Come to think of it 45 lbs on a carry on seems a lot.
The most I did was 25 lbs with 5 L lenses, 5D with grip and gitzo 1541T (I am not a pro photographer).
But then again, I did not carry really big glass. You might want to reconfigure your set up and/or ship it insured to your destination in advance.
Maybe you want to check sites like pro sports shooter or something like that.
They have some good suggestions.

As a sports photographer I have a lot of big glass that I will need for my event . I have flown extensively in the US, Asia and Europe and never encountered such a restriction on any airlines. Turkish Air has a similar restriction but from my experience it was never enforced.

I am considering taking my chances that they will not check but then again I really do not to be forced to check my bag at the gate. I have no issue paying extra if I can carry on my camera bag. Perhaps my best bet is to call the airline to see how they handle pro photographers traveling to work events.

as far as American Airlines which is part of One World with Cathy Pacific they have a policy that i believe is $50 USD per camera bag with a large limit per bags for professional photographers, videographers and TV and News Crew to be checked in the luggage compartment. As far as calling they will always state what is their official policy and not necessarily what they practice.

Thanks for the info Scott, my dilemma is now do I show up at the gate my think tank bag, which has no padding, and if it is refused at the gate it ends up going in to checked baggage my cameras would probably be damaged. My other option is pack my camera gear to go in to checked baggage with tons of extra padding.

Shipping it is not really an option as I have an event in Florida the weekend before and after one of my events there is a lot of camera cleaning to do and I don't think I could reliably ship my camera gear from Orlando to Kuala Lumpur in 3 or 4 days.

At this point probably my best option is it check in as baggage, pack my cameras in my Pelican case tons of foam and worry all the way across the Pacific that my cameras are not lost or damaged.

I just tell them when they ask what's in the case that I have about $10,000 USD worth of camera equipment and they just let it pass

From aa.com
http://www.aa.com …/LiabilityLimit​ations.jsp

Customer Service FAQs - Liability Limitations
Q:* What are American Airlines Liability Limitations for lost baggage?
A:* Items not covered in our limit of liability include, but are not limited to: camera equipment, jewelry, computers, cash (whether checked or carry-on), antiques, artwork, books and documents, china, videos, optical equipment or any other similar items. Passengers should carry these items with them.

sas8888 wrote in post #13088811
Passengers should carry these items with them.

Passengers should get insurance independently.

Don't hate me if it doesn't work BUT the roller IS regulation size...just roll it to security check...they will give you that look, just tell them you're a pro shooter going to an assignment. It's not at the counter, all they care and ask is how many checked bags you have...it's TSA check you have to worry about, they will more than likely let you thru.

Just don't ask any stewards to lift the bag into overhead bin, they don't do that as a general policy...it actually should fit under the seat (in front of you partially sticking out)..you just won't be taking it out if you're in the middle or window seats...on a full flight.

So my advice...just roll it in. Good Luck.

sas8888 wrote in post #13088811
I just tell them when they ask what's in the case that I have about $10,000 USD worth of camera equipment and they just let it pass
From aa.com
http://www.aa.com …/LiabilityLimit​ations.jsp
Customer Service FAQs - Liability Limitations
Q:* What are American Airlines Liability Limitations for lost baggage?
A:* Items not covered in our limit of liability include, but are not limited to: camera equipment, jewelry, computers, cash (whether checked or carry-on), antiques, artwork, books and documents, china, videos, optical equipment or any other similar items. Passengers should carry these items with them.

Also from the AA site
"If the item is too large to carry-on, we suggest purchasing a ticket for the adjacent seat, for details call American Airlines"

auto-clicker wrote in post #13089156
Don't hate me if it doesn't work BUT the roller IS regulation size...just roll it to security check...they will give you that look, just tell them you're a pro shooter going to an assignment. It's not at the counter, all they care and ask is how many checked bags you have...it's TSA check you have to worry about, they will more than likely let you thru.

I have flown extensively all over the world on other airlines and never had a problem with the size and weight of my carryon bags with the TSA. In the US the TSA is really only concerned with keeping prohibited items off a flight and they don't care about the number or weight of you carryon baggage. From what I have seen in other similar threads on this forum is the gate crew regularly weighs roller bags but and not back packs so perhaps by best strategy is the wear my Think Tank Airport International as a back pack and not ask any questions

auto-clicker wrote in post #13089156
Just don't ask any stewards to lift the bag into overhead bin, they don't do that as a general policy...it actually should fit under the seat

There is no way the Think Tank Airport International will fit under the seat I think you are thinking of their smaller bag the Airport AirStream
Thanks again for all the helpful suggestions

From the Cathay site:

http://www.cathaypacif​ic.com …ingyoutravel/ca​binbaggage

You can carry a laptop/briefcase bag in addition. This may be a case of YMMV but don't ever let them check in your gear. I've rarely seen carry on being weighed, though in my experience for international flights.