Backpack and carry-on restrictions

I will fly Alaska Airline for a gig and will be likely bringing a carry-on suitcase (medium within their size limits) and a backpack for most gears with me on the plane. Here is the fine prints on their website.

You're allowed one carry-on bag, which can measure up to 10" H x 17" W x 24" L (25 x 43 x 61 cm), plus one personal item, such as a purse, briefcase or laptop computer. At least one of the items should be stowed under the seat in front of you.

I have a medium size Canon Deluxe Photo Backpack 200EG backpack. 15 x 12.2 x 7 inches. It can be bigger after adding my gears. I wonder if anybody have the experience with carrying this backpack as 2nd carry-on item (called one item) on airplane recently.

Thank you very much.

Last time I flew Alaska (in May), I carried on a small wheelie and a Lowepro Phototrekker. Neither fit under the seat. Four flights and now one said anything to me.

Perhaps I was just lucky.

rustylewis wrote in post #5808832
Last time I flew Alaska (in May), I carried on a small wheelie and a Lowepro Phototrekker. Neither fit under the seat. Four flights and now one said anything to me.

Perhaps I was just lucky.

Did you place both overhead?

TSA technically allows you a separate 'photobag', but it's still up to the Airline to determine the amount of bags they will allow

With high fuel prices and airlines looking for any means possible to get your $$$, best bet is to call them to find out what they will allow.

its all about who you run into at the check in counter... my wife brought 3 real bags and a grocery bag on our last flight from LAX-NY-Kiev, Ukraine... haha so its all about who "doesnt" notice what you are carrying on... i always push my carry-ons right up against the counter when im checking in so the agent doesnt notice them - out of sight out of mind is the rule!

if your traveling with someone, thats always helpful, then its not so obvious that ONE person has a bunch of stuff... also i have carried more than you mentioned in your first post, domestic and international, and if you dont make it look heavy or like its gonna take up a bunch of space, no one should hassle you... also, few people will want to hassle you since your carry-ons are full of photo gear... that seems to be something like are willing to overlook...

and technically yes you can have a seperate photo bag and i'm always ready to spout that out to the first person you gives me trouble when im boarding a plane, but most likely they are talking about a p&s in a pouch hanging around your neck though that isn't stated anyway (which is the real trouble!!)

all in all you should be fine

brucea wrote in post #5809353
With high fuel prices and airlines looking for any means possible to get your $$$, best bet is to call them to find out what they will allow.

1st check in is free anyways if I am asked to give them my roller and keep camera bag as carry-on. However, it is just hustle to wait for the luggage at destination. Just called alaska/arizon, CSR was not sure, but said possibly I had to checkin my roller.. Man, I have to figure how to place the bag into the roller if it happens to me at LAX...

It all depends who is on duty...
On a recent flight someone had a duffel bag that they could hardly carry, and put in the overhead...
I got told to weight my backpack, told it was overweight, explained it was camera gear, the guy turned out to be a real nice guy that was into photography too, let me take on on the plane in the end

I agree that it's whoever is checking you out. You may be lucky to get both on. I've been lucky. Even with my large Adventure 9 bag, I can pretend it fits under the seat. So, I take that with my laptop and camera gear and have the Airport International for the rest of it.

While the TSA does allow for 1+1 + a photo case (legal carry on) airlines are not required to adhere to the TSA allowance. At last check, which was in March, Alaska Airlines had a policy in place (as do nearly all US airlines) that they do not adhere to the TSA allowance of a '3rd bag' for photographic equipment.

That said, you'll be fine with a full-size roll aboard and a backpack. Only one US airline is actively measuring and weighing carry on baggage,and currently only at one 'station" (American Airlines) at Dallas-Ft. Worth.

You can search carry on restrictions for flying photogs on my blog for flying photogs at www.flyingwithfish.com