For those of you who fly in the US . .

Since airlines are not allowing us to lock our luggage anymore, do you pack your camera bag in your luggage or just carry it on the plane?

I never have put anything valuable in checked luggage. Cheap locks never were an impediment to dishonest baggage handlers.

I've just done a 7 month trip all over the US & I ALWAYS carried my camera gear on as hand luggage!

In fact you are not supposed to lock checked luggage, so it can be inspected.
Jim

Right, but locking your luggage provided NO security even when you could. Now, if security want to inspect your bag and it's locked, they simply pop the lock, just like the handlers used to do when they inspected your luggage for valuables.

Always carry on and stowed under the seat in front of me. I want it in my sight and under my control. The last thing I need is someone going into an overhead compartment and grabbing the wrong bag, or jostling it and causing it to fall.

My $0.02 (US),

Mark

I avoid the issue by never going to the States.

robertdrake wrote:
I avoid the issue by never going to the States.

I can't do that, but I rarely fly, and only if the employer insists. I don't think they'd let me carry all my kit onto the plane anyway.

I think all airline is allowing one personal item and the camera bag can be a parsonal item.

Never check it.

The TSA recently said that if the ariline allowed, a third bag could be carried on if it was photo equipment. I have used JetBlue because they are a really good airline and very inexpensive, but also because they have allowed me a third carry-on for the gear. I would carry a backpack as a personal item with my laptop and chargers etc. a Lightware bag with my 500 in it as my carry-on and a rolling Tamrac bag with my two 1D and the rest of my gear as my extra photo bag. Never a problem.

However, for next year in order to get a little more freedom of airlines (in case they dont allow the third bag) I am going to a Tamrac backpack for the laptop and some gear and the 500 and the rest in the rolling bag. As long as both are within specs it would work fine.

Monopods and less important gear go into the checked stuff surrounded by clothes.

I've spent all year travelling around Europe. I have never ever checked my camera. I always carry it with me. I have never been stopped because I have two bags - my laptop in a rucksack bag and my 20D (was Minolta A2) in a Lowepro Nova 4.

Same here. Always carry on, even tough knowing I'll be picked for a more detailed search. I only check my tripod.

Baggae is a no no. Some guy just his camera llifted.

If they touch my camera or lens they end up with one short arm.

Carry it on.

Hmmm....Is that Jamaican luggage?

The moderators are quick tonight!