Airline ever asked you to check Camera Bag?

I started a thread 2 1/2 years ago about upgrading from the 200EG to a bigger / better bag. I have decided to get back on point and start researching for this new bag (again). There were several mentioned in the thread and just from googling the recommendations, there are about 7 that seem to all be close in comparison with many aspects.

In order to possibly eliminate one or more I would like to know if anyone has ever been told or asked to check your camera bag. If so, what bag and why were you asked to check it? Hopefully, you were able to change the airline's mind as we all have heard the horror stories with baggage handlers. So, basically I am trying to make sure the next bag I have will never, ever-ever be asked to be removed from my hands and placed underneath the plane while having more storage capacity than the 200EG.

We only travel by air a couple times a year so not much experience.

Please state the bag you travel with.

Thanks for any input and here is a link to the original thread if interested:

https://photography-on-the.net …?t=875586&highl​ight=200eg

We use lose pro pro roller 200 bags. We have rolled them Onto all manner of domestic and international flights. On standard jets there is no reason to check them as they fit into overhead bins like other roller boards. When we take a smaller commuter flight, the bags are locked and left and collected plane side.

Never been asked to do anything with mine.

Not a camera bag but roller laptop bag and the aircraft was a tiny one and it wasn't going to fit so I had to gate check it but no biggie.

I have an ApeCase 1900 and a 2000.

The 2000 is "carry on" legal. But it will not fit under the seat -- which means it consumes my "carry on" luggage item. No no no no no! Not if I can avoid it!

If I can, I bring the 1900. That fits under the seat and thus counts as my "personal item."

It will also fit in the overhead of the commuter jets, which means I do NOT have to gatecheck it. If I can fit my clothes in a carry-on legit suitcase, I now can get away with checking NOTHING, and the suitcase gets gate-checked on commuter planes.

YMMV but this is what works for me - I do not like my camera equipment out of my personal possession. Trash my clothes but not my camera!

Nope - but i travel a bit different to most people.

typically i have one body, one flash, 16-35 and 70-200 and laptop in a crumpler 7million dollar home

the other body, spare batteries, CP-E4, 24-70, 2nd flash, lightstand, brolly and pocketwizards go in my suitcase, wrapped in my clothes, along with my laptop charger and camera charger


this way i have enough gear to do my job when i get to the airport, if my luggage gets lost, i can still work, but it is all crammed into an easily carryon legal bag, which is fine providing it doesnt get weighed

ALL THE TIME!

.... but I have a lot of gear with me .... and it makes them nervous with all of the wires & electronics. ha

I was asked to check my f-stop loka on an internal flight in Nepal...hard to explain how that discussion went without looking like a complete D-bag, needless to say it sat on my lap for the duration of the flight.

Only once was I asked to open a camera bag so they could look inside, was an international flight to Mexico. I use a Think Tank Airport Security and it is packed full. The TSA lady was very professional and courteous and just did a cursory examination, was more interested in all the cables and power adapters. I have the usual battery chargers, laptop cables and power supply, card reader, external hard drive, iphone/ipod stuff, etc. I get the feeling it was just a random opening as she did not really move anything or check any of the pockets, just poked around the mass of cables.

I've traveled by air quite a bit with my ThinkTank UD 50 and, like Firemike, was only asked once to open it after it went through the scanner. TSA told me it was because of all the wires and the "awfully big thing" (70-200 f/4L?). They were nice about it, but curious.

I like the 50 for travel as it holds quite a bit, very rugged, easy to carry, doesn't scream "camera bag" and it fits under the seat quite well. Counts as the "personal item" carry-on. Even holds my kindle and a few magazines/snacks!

*EDIT* If you think travelling with camera gear is difficult, try taking a set of bagpipes through TSA. TOTALLY different ballgame! Last time I brought them I had to take them out & play them for them to prove they weren't some kind of weapon (although with my playing that was up for debate).

Echo63 wrote in post #15450521
Nope - but i travel a bit different to most people.

typically i have one body, one flash, 16-35 and 70-200 and laptop in a crumpler 7million dollar home

the other body, spare batteries, CP-E4, 24-70, 2nd flash, lightstand, brolly and pocketwizards go in my suitcase, wrapped in my clothes, along with my laptop charger and camera charger


this way i have enough gear to do my job when i get to the airport, if my luggage gets lost, i can still work, but it is all crammed into an easily carryon legal bag, which is fine providing it doesnt get weighed

how much does all the weigh? i weighed my 5d3, 70-200 f2.8 a 15inch dell xps laptop , 430ex2 flash and a nifty fifty on my fstop loka bag and it weighed 7kg already and thats max u can carry with u in just about 9/10 international airlines.

i have tried, virgin atlantic(5kg actually), emirates, cathay pacific to name a few

Buy ThinkTank. SInce I moved to them I have never been hassled. I use their Rolling bag(Security 2.0) and several others for shoots and travel. The shapeshifter is an AWESOME travel backpack.

I have been told to LIGHTEN THE CONTENTS of my carryon camera bag, to achieve a 7Kg limit imposed upon carryon luggage. At the check in counter I had to transfer items from camera bag to my checked bag, and only after I was down to 7.5Kg was the check in processess allowed to proceed!

Wilt wrote in post #15452131
I have been told to LIGHTEN THE CONTENTS of my carryon camera bag, to achieve a 7Kg limit imposed upon carryon luggage. At the check in counter I had to transfer items from camera bag to my checked bag, and only after I was down to 7.5Kg was the check in processess allowed to proceed!

exactly. u are really stretching it when u bring a pro or semi pro body, a flash, two high quality wide or tele lenses plus a laptop. that will stretch it for most folks here

never been asked. have flown all over the globe with my camera bag and tripod and always able to carry on and put in overhead compartment