Traveling on "regional" airplanes

What do you guys do when you travel on regional jets, such as the Bombardier CRJ series?

I just returned from a business trip (so I did not have my camera bag with me), and they did not allow ANY normal-sized carry-on luggage in the cabin... you had to check it at the airplane door. Backpacks were allowed, but not anything with wheels or more luggage-style. My carry-on was quite small, but they required me to check it at the airplane door. Not a big deal; it was clothes, etc., but suppose I had been carrying my larger camera bag on-board?

This was a Delta Connections flight (Pinnacle Airlines).

Have any of you had an airline try to make you check your camera bags at the door? What do you do?

When I know that I will be on one of those jets I take my pelican case with locks and check it at the airplane door. I also inform the guy loading that it has camera equipment in it and they give me the case back at the airplane when we land. So far I have not had any problems.

I thought about this very thing when I was put in one of those small jets from L.A. to San Diego about a month ago. I realize that I'd need to plan for such things in advance. I'd transfer my camera gear into the carry-on backpack which is allowed, or if I'm carrying quite a bit, then Pelican it is.

I always use a backpack for photo gear for this exact reason. They don't look twice even though it's the same size as most people's rollers.

I hand rhem what the want at the door, and get it back when I exit the plane

they should not ask you to gate check a normal or even larger sized camera bag. If they do, just inform them of how fragile your equipment is, trust me they don't want the liability.

Assuming you don't absolutely stuff your camera bag, it should fit in the overhead bin or under the seat of the smallest CRJ jets. My Billingham & TT bags which are both quite large, fit the overhead bins of the tiny Delta Embraer jets which are the smallest regional jets in the fleet.

I always have my camera gear in a seperate insert inside my trolly, when I fly .
It's neither very small nor light, but even the most eager airline agent will let you take it into the cabin .

Stone 13 wrote in post #15795217
they should not ask you to gate check a normal or even larger sized camera bag. If they do, just inform them of how fragile your equipment is, trust me they don't want the liability.

Except that they have little liability. Assuming the country has signed up to the Montreal Convention then the airline is liable for up to $1700 of damage to your baggage. That's a total of $1700 - not per item.

I had to check my pelican on the American Eagle regional jets I have taken. The overheads just aren't large enough. They slap a red tag on them and give them back when you land. At least I know the bag won't be traveling through any sort department and conveyor system in a back room where the likelyhood of theft increases exponentially.

I've flown on plenty of the CRJ's. I put all of my valuable gear in my Dakine backpack; tripod, light stands, and such in my checked luggage. I have carried a tripod a few times before without any issues from TSA or airline personnel, it's just a pain to have to carry around. I've never had any issues with the backpack; it's a bit tough to get it to fit into the overhead compartment - I've had to take my laptop out of it before and stow it under the seat in front of me.

mikeinctown wrote in post #15796727
....They slap a red tag on them and give them back when you land. At least I know the bag won't be traveling through any sort department and conveyor system in a back room where the likelyhood of theft increases exponentially.

That depends on the airline and the airport .
Once your stuff is in the cargo hold, it usually goes to baggage claim after landing, unless you travel on a very small plane, to a very small airport .

Petersman wrote in post #15799456
That depends on the airline and the airport .
Once your stuff is in the cargo hold, it usually goes to baggage claim after landing, unless you travel on a very small plane, to a very small airport .

American Airlines on a 50 passenger jet flying to Chicago O'Hare.

There is a difference between gate checking your bags through the destination and getting them stowed below as a carry on.

The ApeCase 1900 will fit in the overhead on a regional jet and under the seat on a traditional aircraft. It therefore typically does not wind up being gate-checked.

I have one for this exact reason and thus far have never had it refused as a carry-on even on regional jets (which is all that typically come into or depart my local airport.)

I haven't had an issue yet, but if it ever came up, I'd just take the ICU out of my F Stop backpack (since the ICU is quite small), and let them check the bag.

rick_reno wrote in post #15794785
I hand rhem what the want at the door, and get it back when I exit the plane

Yeh...but how do they treat the bag in-between the time you give it to them and when they give it back. Ever see how they load up luggage?