Moving to NYC, taking a camera on a plane?

Well Oct 1st I'm going to NYC to double check the apartment I'm getting. I'm in Cleveland Ohio so I'm sick of driving there and back and will be flying. I've never ever flown before so I'm already scared and confused enough on how you actually board your plane when you get to the airport. Well airlines let me carry on my Digital Rebel in a camera bag with me? I don't want to put it in with baggage. I'm going to try to take a book bag with my clothing and a bag with my camera. Hopefully I can carry it all on. I'm just going to take my kit lens with the camera and some memory cards, no extra lens or crap. Well maybe a spare battery and charger.

You should under no circumstances pack Your camera and check it in with the bags. Always carry it in Your handbaggage.

Check with the airline You are going to fly with for the max size of bags for carry on to the cabin. Some airlines allow just one bag others 2. Some allow 2 on business class and so on.

Ok, if its only 1 bag I'll jam it in the book bag with my clothing and carry it all on.

Even with the camera inside a book bag, assume that it will be kicked or knocked about, so padding it with clothing is a good idea.

When you pass through airport security, they may want to inspect your camera. Sometimes they will ask you to turn it on, and they may look through the viewfinder to see if it acts like a live camera. Sometimes they may run a fiber patch over the outer case and then analyze the patch for explosives residue. Neither one should cause you any alarm.

---Bob Gross---

i took my elan 7n, rebel, tripod, 3 lenses, and the rest of the small stuff packed in my what seems to be giant Nature Trekker AWII last week on the plane with me, TRI to ATL then down to florida and backup...all a-ok...security actually asked me if I did wedding photography when i got "randomly" screened on the way back...

Hey, is being randomly screened such a popular thing now a days that other people don't look at you much? I'm rather shy and hate attention so I'll turn bright red and who knows what'll happen.. ><

....and you're moving to NY?

Don't worry about standing out. They screen people all the time. One time they tell you to remove your shoes, the next time they tell you to leave them on, & if it sets off the machine, you get the "star" treatment.

One time, I had the inner foil wrap from a cough drop pack set off the metal detector. Another time I forgot my keys in my pocket and nothing happened. One never knows?

Welcome to the Metro area.

Well Queens actually..There no one pays attention to anyone I noticed when visiting my girl last month.. It's like I'm a complete ghost. >< I love it haha.. moving there to be with her... my problems can wait

Having just flown from US to India with my 1Ds I feel I have to comment.
Most airlines will give you extra allowance if you are carrying you digital camera. One airline was going to make me check my camera bag until I pointed out that it was an expensive camera at which point they said go ahead.

I spent some time reading the airline's carry on guidlines and most say 1 carry on (unless you are 1st class but who can aford that after buy the camear ) but then go and list exceptions for computers and cameras.

The best advice I can give is to get on the plane as soon as you can so that you can find a place for your camera bag in the over head bin that is near you so that you can limit the abuse it will receive when other try to suff the bags in.

American Eagles/Airlines site said I get one carry on and one personal item..
I guess my book bag counts as the carry on and camera as a personal item?
Also in small text it says to carry on cameras.. ><

If you get one carryon and one personal item, then check your suitcase and carry your bookbag and camera bag on. That'll be the best way to do it.

Actually I'm not taking a suitcase. I'm only going for 3 days to sign a lease. I'll jam everything I need into the book bag so I can carry it all on.
Thanks.