How to Travel the lens by air?

I am planning to leave out of country for some tour; I need to take my 400 2.8 L with me as well for that. Just wanna know how to take that on flight, would It would be safe to put it in luggage or can i take it as hand carry.

I wouldnt even risk putting a lens that expensive in the hold.

+1

Definitely, definitely hand carry. I'd rather lose my clothes than that baby. I'll be traveling in May to New Zealand, with my camera and 4, maybe 5 lenses, including a 70-200 2.8. The entire set up is probably not even half the value of your 400 2.8. I'll be bringing 3 bags with me, one of which is a Lowepro with my gear in it. Take a wild guess which one I'll be hand carrying?

Cheers!

I always take my camera and lenses as carry-on, but I do not have anything as big as a 400/2.8. Pelican cases are supposed to be the best for traveling, but I would be really stressed during that flight.

I carry too much gear for carry on, always use locked pelican cases in the hold, with no problems. All fully insured and I know where to hire at location should the worst happen. To date (over 20 years) no problems.

There is a TSA rule that allows photographers to bring a camera bag in addition to your personal and carryon item through security. Though, that doesn't mean your airline won't call you on it as you board.

I've never been questioned for number of bags at security or at the gate but I did just that last week - three bags one of them being my gear.

You could use that to be sure it is carried at least on the outbound. I don't know the rules for where you are coming back from.

Hyper,

At this time many airlines openly state they do not comply with the TSA 'photographer allowance' of 1+1+1. I have discussed this many times here on POTN.

The big question for me is this. What airline are you flying and where are you flying (via what airport). With this info you can get a better picture of what carry-on baggage will be allowable on board. Flying with a packed 400f2.8 is not big deal. Factor in what other gear you'll fly with, your bag options, the airline and layover airports and go from there.

Send me the info if you'd like and I can try and sort it out for you.

Also, if you have not seen it before, I maintain a fairly detailed web site that addresses the concerns of traveling as a photog in detail (along with other non-photo specific travel info). Give it a look when you have a moment at www.flyingwithfish.com

Lens' and cameras stay with me. Tripods and all other accessories go with the luggage. In your case you would have your camera bag and the 400 as carry ons.

I'm exactly like Space, the valuables stay with me, all the rest goes into the hold. I'd rather put the camera in the hold than the glass.

fishfoto wrote in post #6995610
At this time many airlines openly state they do not comply with the TSA 'photographer allowance' of 1+1+1. I have discussed this many times here on POTN.

In addition, what is allowed on a plane is highly variable. I was recently traveling with extra weight in my luggage with no charge on the way out, but had to pay for the extra weight on the way back. Same airline

This is to say that one day you might be allowed to bring an extra bag, but the day after you might have to check it in.