Too much to carry on airplane??

Flying domestic (US) has never been an issue. Internationally is a PITA. I use a Tamrac roller case (forget the exact one), which holds at least 2 bodies, batteries, cards, etc., and 4-6 lenses, along with my laptop, iPod and headphones. Last trip it tipped the scales at 18kg for my lone carryon .

I just explain to them what's in it, and why I cannot check it, and they've always been pretty understanding, although you've gotta sweet-talk them a bit sometimes.

rnourse wrote in post #5255916
Never had a whole lotta respect for the folks that seem to want to carry everything they can get away with onto the plane. Usually I wind up with my one half-loaded backpack searching up and down the aisle for an overhead with a small bit of space (or helping someone else do the same). In a similar vein, folks I work with brag how they never check luggage when they travel yet somehow seem oblivious to how their self-centered view impacts others around them.

Personally I hope the airlines start strictly enforcing the rules. Wouldn't bother me at all to see all these folks wheeling mounds of carry-ons get turned back at the airplane door!

Remember, I'm not talking about 'reasonable' but rather folks who know they're bringing "everything they can get away with". You know who you are...

It annoys me too, but it's way difference carrying on $5-30+ thousand dollars of camera gear, compared to wankers who pack all the clothes in their closet into their carryon.

TheGreatDivorce wrote in post #5256247
It annoys me too, but it's way difference carrying on $5-30+ thousand dollars of camera gear, compared to wankers who pack all the clothes in their closet into their carryon.

Yeah, check your camera gear. I do and my case is over 25 lbs. It's a Pelican. But then, rather than pushing the issue of how much I can legally carry, I take a shoulder carry laptop bag which holds the lappy, power brick, mouse, headphones, ZVM:60 and a book. And it goes under the seat in fromt of me. I also make sure that I get to be one of the first aboard so that I have plenty of room for the legal and within the "spirit of the law" stuff that I carry.

But, "Common Courtesy" is most noted today because it is so uncommon. It's all about ME and I don't care how many others are inconveienced. And it gets worse every day.

YOU are NOT that important and either, by the way, am I. But people are NOT going to slow down and enjoy their lives and allow others the same

Hi All
Found this which may be of interest to some
http://www.dpsoftware.​co.uk/airlines/

says uk airlines but there are some other international carriers mentioned

TheGreatDivorce wrote in post #5256247
It annoys me too, but it's way difference carrying on $5-30+ thousand dollars of camera gear, compared to wankers who pack all the clothes in their closet into their carryon.

Really? I would have said there's no difference at all. Camera gear, gold bars, whatever... if a traveler takes up 3 x his space allowance it doesn't matter a fig to everyone else what's in his bag.

Not saying this is you and no problems keeping valuable stuff close at hand (agree 100%) but if it can't fit it within carry on allowance perhaps such a traveler shouldn't be bringing $30K worth of gear on board.

I took a flight from NYC to Orlando FL via Jetblue. I brought a MountainSmith FlightPath AT to carry my stuff + laptop, and a small Domke bag that I put in my checked-in luggage.

It was pretty heavy. I had my laptop, 1D MKIII, 50L, 16-35L, 24-105L, 70-200 f2.8L IS, Canon 1.4x TC, 580EXII, charger for 1DMKIII/flash batteries/laptop, 4 or 5 filters, etc...

No problems.

However, I noticed that depending on the airline, you have different allowable dimensions...so that's always a concern.

If you have a compact bag (i.e. "small looking") you could get away with a lot of gear - I've never had carry-on baggage weighed.

But I agree, it's the people with large duffles, stuffed to the gills, taking up an entire overhead compartment - that ought to be thrown in the wheelwells...

Double Negative wrote in post #5260629
If you have a compact bag (i.e. "small looking") you could get away with a lot of gear - I've never had carry-on baggage weighed.

I have - with WestJet here in Canada flying to Halifax. I think its different for different airlines. WestJet has a 25lb limit I think.

Anyway, lucky I had a checked-bag and so could take my laptop out and put it in there and kept my camera with my carry-on.

^ You put a laptop in a checked bag? Eeek!

But I think you're right - it varies on the airline and airport, even.

Double Negative wrote in post #5261019
^ You put a laptop in a checked bag? Eeek!

But I think you're right - it varies on the airline and airport, even.

It was either that or leave it at the airport !!!!

Or maybe run down the concourse to a vendor stall and buy another bag to carry on

Double Negative wrote in post #5261019
^ You put a laptop in a checked bag? Eeek!

But I think you're right - it varies on the airline and airport, even.

Whats funny about that is I worked for WestJet at the time and was travelling on business so it was actually their laptop.

^ LOL! In that case...

You could always say you were testing their baggage system.

recently flew a couple of times on Northwest airlink (Canadair jets) and was rather startled to hear the announcement that only ONE bag was allowed for carry-on. That included purses, laptops, roll-aboards, etc. One meant ONE and anything else had to be gate checked or luggage checked. One gentleman had a small bag and a briefcase with a compuer and they would not let him take the computer on along with the bag even if he checked the briefcase. Gate agent said ONE means ONE (she was nice but firm). This was not true for real NW flights.

I fly Comair regularly and have never seen that before. I always check my main bag and carry-on my briefcase. I somwtimes take my back pack with camera with no trouble. I am not sure what I would do on Northwest Airlink - except fly Comair.

CTM wrote in post #5247783
I know that most of you will not leave your lenses and cameras in your main checked-in luggage. I wouldn't. I carry all my gear in a Lowepro Slingshot AW300, which isn't exactly SMALL. When I travel, I usually have to bring my laptop (for work) and maybe another bag for clothes, toiletries etc. I can squeeze all that in to the laptop bag.

Has any airlines ever given you any problems for carrying so much 'carry on' luggage? If they were, what do you do?? You can't give up the laptop OR the lenses / camera..... Technically, only 1 piece is allowed weighing no MORE than 7kg.

Opinions? Experiences?

I just flew to China and HK with my backpack of camera equipment which would easily weigh 35Kg. My trick is I never let anyone lift it (the last thing you want is a customs person having a bad day to have to lug it onto the xray machine and take it out on you). I have made several trips with this bag and to date have never been stopped.
On occasions I also carry my laptop too.

Oh, also make sure you dont make the bag or backpack to thick so it wont fit in the overhead locker.
I also suggest you buy a backpack that has the waist and chest straps that will save your back if you are going to carry it for any period of time.

It does get to be painful at times lugging everything around, the upside is that you get to photograph things you would never see in your own country.

No doubt you would make an exception for camera equipment?