When you fly..

FWIW I've posted this response before but I think ,sometimes people are lulled into thinking airports ,security checks what could happen...30 years ago I worked at JFK in N.Y. in a part time job...end of every week certain baggage handlers would show up selling expensive items,many cameras among them...they would simply rifle the bags till they came up with some profitable goods...always enough folks around willing to get a bargain at someone else's expense...take what you can with you.. Take care,Steve B.

I'm not saying that it doesn't happen anymore but to draw a comparison with what happened 30 years ago that it is today is just plain wrong. Staff are given way more security checks and with bar code scanning it is easier to identify which staff worked a particular flight. It was and is not only baggage handlers. In many airlines this service is contracted to third party contractors. That doesn't make it right either. The sheer number of people that have access to the aircraft and baggage makeup areas is far beyond baggage handlers, you have caterers, fueling personnel, TSA/CATSA staff and the list goes on. That is why I don't use the pelican type of bags. Hell, I even saw photographers stencil their name on the outside in bright spray paint. FWIW, JFK had one of the worst records in the entire industry for this happening and it was always known that alot of the thefts coming off of the airport was driven by a organized crime.

My gear is insured against this and other threats. If you are going to travel and check your gear you should check with your home owners policy to see if you are covered. I have a separate policy not related to my house insurance. You can insure it with the airline when you check in but that can get pricey.

All you have to do is travel smart and you should not have any problems.

I too remember incidents from the 80's where goofy stuff happened at airport s but lets get real, folks. Very few things at airports and on airplanes is the same as it was 20 years ago.

I've implemented systems for airports and can tell you that there are very few areas not covered by WiFi, wayfinder scanners and video cameras. And very few areas where employees and contracters are not scanned entering and exiting baggage areas. I'm not saying it doesn't happen and I'm not saying there aren't small airports with minimum security but if you're flying thru a major airport your bags are tracked everywhere and airport staff are double teamed for safety.

Like Sheldon, I say get insurance and pack well. If you travel, don't take anything you can't replace. I've checked cameras, laptops, guitars and other items and never had a problem for over 30 years. And I work for airports and airlines. Those people that try to carry all their bags onto the airplane and stuff them into the overhead bins are the ones that make me grind my teeth.

What about those guys at the hotels that store your bags while you have breakfast before your flight? A lot of them look pretty suspicious to me. And I'm sure the hotels hiring policy is a lot less stringent than the airport or airline one.

bluefox9er wrote in post #9695309
take your camera gear with you on the plane..it's suicide to check it in the cargo hold. you are probably an american and likely to be offended by this, but your homeland security are nothing more than thugs and thieves. they dont deserve to pilfer through your belongings and very possibly steal your gear.

It is sad in Britain that the department of TSA is so despised, that no one even wants to visit the US anymore simply because of those animals.

Very true...............and a sad state of affairs to boot. It's all just smoke and mirrors, to make people feel good about safety.

Mark

Markk9 wrote in post #9706895
Very true...............and a sad state of affairs to boot. It's all just smoke and mirrors, to make people feel good about safety.

Mark

And you know that .. how?

WaltA wrote in post #9706076
What about those guys at the hotels that store your bags while you have breakfast before your flight? A lot of them look pretty suspicious to me. And I'm sure the hotels hiring policy is a lot less stringent than the airport or airline one.

Yeah, but I've never seen any of them throwing bags 20 feet down onto concrete.

hollis_f wrote in post #9707777
Yeah, but I've never seen any of them throwing bags 20 feet down onto concrete.

My reponse was about stealing - not damage.

I got the impression the the OP was a casual photographer and occasional traveler..not a pro with gear cases and light stand tube carriers. so my anecdote was a cautionary one..and yes I'm aware things aren't what they were, and no I did not assume all Baggage guys to be thieves. As the saying goes..some of my best friends;. that was a personal story of MY experience as a worker on the ramp back Then! Op asked if anyone had any thoughts... As a casual traveler..trust no one if you have items of value, keep them as close to you as you can, as often as you can..someone mentioned bags being thrown..another simple reason to carry what you can...yourself. Take care,Steve B.

carry on only. If you MUST check them I'd only go with a pelican type case and only if I had personal insurance on the gear (which I do).

I've heard a suggestion from some other people about checking cameras though if you need to. Get a gun. No, that's not a joke. Get a starter's pistol (can't even fire real bullets, only blanks) and declare it when you check in. Apparently you fill out a few forms but that bag is then hand carried everywhere and tracked through the entire system as they can't risk loosing a gun. Obviously this opens new cans of worms, but I've heard it works very well from those who've done it. I'll add to that though that the regulations on this will vary wildly from country to country to if you're flying internationally it probably won't work. But in the good old US of A it works well.

That said I still just carry my gear on.

jacobsen1 wrote in post #9719923
carry on only. If you MUST check them I'd only go with a pelican type case and only if I had personal insurance on the gear (which I do).

I've heard a suggestion from some other people about checking cameras though if you need to. Get a gun. No, that's not a joke. Get a starter's pistol (can't even fire real bullets, only blanks) and declare it when you check in. Apparently you fill out a few forms but that bag is then hand carried everywhere and tracked through the entire system as they can't risk loosing a gun. Obviously this opens new cans of worms, but I've heard it works very well from those who've done it. I'll add to that though that the regulations on this will vary wildly from country to country to if you're flying internationally it probably won't work. But in the good old US of A it works well.

That said I still just carry my gear on.

It won't work in most countries.. Trying doing that whilst flying into Australia and you could expect a fine even an escorted trip to the big house for importing fire arms..

yogestee wrote in post #9719970
It won't work in most countries.. Trying doing that whilst flying into Australia and you could expect a fine even an escorted trip to the big house for importing fire arms..

In Canada as well. As I mentioned is another thread, even the Olympics staff have trouble getting starters pistols in most countries so they now use simulated (electronic) starter pistols. I think this is dangerous advice for travellers in this age for cross-border as well as international travellers. You may end up with more problems then the small one you solved.

which would be why I mentioned that.

in the good ol' US of A, flying domestically it's supposed to work brilliantly. But as I also mentioned, it's not worth the hassle for me. I'd rather carry on any electronics. I'll roll the dice on a tripod maybe, but only my backup.

yogestee wrote in post #9719970
It won't work in most countries.. Trying doing that whilst flying into Australia and you could expect a fine even an escorted trip to the big house for importing fire arms..

WaltA wrote in post #9720083
In Canada as well. As I mentioned is another thread, even the Olympics staff have trouble getting starters pistols in most countries so they now use simulated (electronic) starter pistols. I think this is dangerous advice for travellers in this age for cross-border as well as international travellers. You may end up with more problems then the small one you solved.

As mentioned in the thread that was first suggested in, I pointed out that you would likely be escorted into a private room, introduced very intimately to a pair of latex gloves and probably detained for hours.

Thats not to mention that you will probably get a visit from MI5 or Special Branch and be placed on a watchlist!