traveling with tripod onboard the plane

i've been looking into a backpack style of camera bag to bring onboard the plane. since these bags have tripod holder, would airline consider the tripod as 2nd carry-on; if that, do they even allow you to bring it onboard?

The TSA has no prohibitions regarding tripods nor do they set baggage policies...Check with your airline.

Best bet, put tripod in checked luggage.

jay.. i was thinking of maybe putting my tripod into my carry on luggage instead of on a backpack. afterall, u could use the tripod to defend yourself if needed.. lol

From personal experience...be ready to be forced to check your tripod.

I have been travelling with a tiny Optex T25 and it was never a problem...until one day (after the airline screwed me around for a day and a bit, cancelling flights on me and flying me all over the Philippines in a ridiculous effort to get me to my destination in the longest possible way), I was required to check it and any protest on my end was met with stern looks, raising of voices and the general hint that if I don't want to make things very painful for myself, I'll do as I'm told.

All it takes is one security officer taking things too seriously or just plain having a bad day and wanting to take it out on someone haha

mine gets packed and checked,

humm... i usually don't check bags. cuz i hate waiting for it afterwards......

David Haye used a tripod as a weapon

rick_reno wrote in post #13933756
mine gets packed and checked,

The safest bet if you trust them...

EOS mE wrote in post #13933783
humm... i usually don't check bags. cuz i hate waiting for it afterwards......

Yeah, same here, plus more than that, I'm afraid of having my stuff lost/stolen...with my tripod they took it away afterwards and put it in a special place, so I got it when I was de-boarding the airplane, I think. I'm pretty sure they put it up with the attendants' stuff...

I'm going to Hong Kong in April, I'm planning to put my tripod in my checked luggage since I don't want any random "inspection" with the TSA agents. Rest of my gear is always carry on
If you really want to know the answer if tripod can be as second hand carry, I can ask my buddy that is a TSA agent in the International terminal at SFO.

^^ charles dailo.. i'm going to taiwan around that time and was thinking about bring it back. can you ask ur friend at TSA? cuz SFO is where i'd be flying out of..

It's not up to the TSA. Carry On regs are set by the FAA / Airlines.

^^ doh! i'm very paranoid especially when my luggage are all zipper type. see here how easily it can be broken in and resealed without you knowing.

click here

You can use fairly substantial locks provided they're "TSA Approved"

No lock will keep out determined thieves but things move pretty quickly behind the scenes and most thefts are from targets of opportunity who don't lock their bags at all or use p*ss poor locks that can be broken quickly and easily.

I use a set from Victorinox and unless you either have a TSA key or real bolt cutters, you aren't getting into my bag for a quick rip and run.

I don't like to take tripods on any trip because I rarely take it out. But I took it with us to HI a few years back to get the perfect Christmas family picture which I did not trust to anyone, so I took the tripod in a Bazooka bag. It never was a problem to take it as a carry on for one of my kids, but it was a problem on the little planes from one island to another. So, call the airline is the best answer.

International inspectors will confiscate a carryon tripod as a blunt instrument, like a cricket bat, or force you to take it back through all the lines to the ticket desk to check it. It may not happen in the US, but abroad in some countries, tripods are listed along with cricket bats and other heavy objects as CHECKED ONLY items.

In the US, you may be OK, but even here the TSA can have idiosyncratic reactions. I would definitely not attempt to carry a tripod onto the plane if you're out of the country.