Tripod travel help

I know this question may seem silly to some, but in this day and age of flight restrictions, I felt that I should seek some answers first.
I will be travelling to Mexico in April from Toronto, Canada. My question is, has anyone encountered any problems at the airport because of their tripod.
I know it sounds silly, but it is a fairly large piece of metal. It will be going in my luggage, not as part of my carry-on.
Any help would be great as to avoid delays at the airport.

If its going in your luggage I think you will be fine.

As long as its checked luggage you should be fine. Remember to not go over the airlines weight restriction though as the fees can be rather steep.

Is there a hard case that is available for a tripod? I'm about to travel in the next few months too and I'm already concerned about what to do with the tripod.

Thanks for the help. I figured it would be fine if I put it in my luggage.

I put a cheap tripod in my luggage to UT last time and it broke. The handlers had no mercy. This time I'm hoping to fit it in my carry-on. But if not, the legs will go in the luggage and the head in my carry-on. Must have it this time, unfortunately. And in July I'm heading to UT for national parks shooting. Need the tripod again.

Good luck in your journey!

Its best to check with the TSA website ahead of time since they're always changing their minds about what can be carried on. That being said, I traveled through UT and AZ last fall for about nine days and went through DFW, Vegas, and Phoenix airports with my tripod as carry on...never had a single problem (and it even has retractable spiked feet).

SuzyView wrote in post #5067651
I put a cheap tripod in my luggage to UT last time and it broke. The handlers had no mercy. This time I'm hoping to fit it in my carry-on. But if not, the legs will go in the luggage and the head in my carry-on. Must have it this time, unfortunately. And in July I'm heading to UT for national parks shooting. Need the tripod again.

Good luck in your journey!

I would be extremely surprised if you were allowed to take a tripod as carryon. After all, it is a large piece of metal that in this age of fear mongering could be used as a deadly weapon. If they refuse to let you carry it on, it is usually too late to put it in your carry on as it is long gone. Then what do you do??? I don't even really want to think about what i would be doing in that case.

We've experienced both yes, it can be carried and no, it can't. We've gone completely to hard side luggage for checked stuff now and solved the tripod problem that way. With an extra strap or two to make up for cheap latches, we feel pretty safe. Does anyone else remember when we all traded our hardsides in for softsides, doesn't seem that long ago. Also, we have begun to see talk of restrictions for not only weight but how many bags you check without a fee. Haven't had it happen yet.

pocket sheep wrote in post #5068427
After all, it is a large piece of metal that in this age of fear mongering could be used as a deadly weapon...

TBH, anything you bring into the airplane cabin can be a deadly weapon, including your laptop cord or pen for that matter. When I checked in at the Phoenix airport, there were signs placed at several points along the security line by TSA stating what could and couldn't be carried on. Believe it or not, they allowed pocketknives with a blade length less than a certain number of inches (forgot the exact length). Just be darn sure to have your little bottles of liquid in a one-quart ziploc bag, not the gallon-sized bag. Go figure.

I can't speak to other countries, but in the US, I carry my tripod on the plane two or three times a week.

150 flights last year. No one ever said a word.

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I guess it might make a difference just how big the tripod is, wether the head is removed, etc.

I'm actually really glad to hear that PHX didn't give any problems as I'll likely be flying out from here to Newark later this year and definitely want to have my tripod with me.

Here is the TSA's list of prohibited items. Tripods are not mentioned.

http://www.tsa.gov …ted-prohibited-items.shtm

I am heading to London next week for a several days as our oldest son is studying abroad. I bought the Manfrotto tripod bad MBAG 90 that will be checked. I am taking the 190X with a couple of heads. This tripod is lighter so I can carry with my Lowepro Mini Trekker AW all day if neccessary.

I traveled 3 times after i got into photography and i always put my tripod in my luggage and i never had a problem.
Now my problem is that i just carry light tripods for travel, but maybe oneday i may want to carry my tripod GT5540T which is not small, so i don't think i can have a room in my luggage sometimes, so what to do? My mom always filling my luggage with many stuff that i can't have a room for my gear sometimes.