Monopod & airtravel? carry-on?

I'm going to travel in a few weeks. I'm going to have a 500/4L and a pair of L zooms and twin bodies. I'm planning to shove everything into a ThinkTank Airport acceleration backpack and one nights change of cloths in a seperate small bag or duffle that would fit under a seat easy. A hip pouch may even work.

I'm hoping to check nothing and have the mono-pod attached to the side of the Thinktank large backpack. No-laptop etc. short trip.

I will be flying on SWA and I asked my flight attendant on a resent flight if she felt this would be ok, and she thought it would be fine. However, the mono-pod will physically measure 25" folded - I believe it's a Bogen 681B? that I own. I've been debating on buying a 4-section model for a smaller travel size just in case but I rarely rent or use a 500L so the monopod is not a daily item for me.

Should I be concerned? I haven't found anything that says you can't fly with a monopod carry-on. In a pinch I can gate check the clothing duffle and I've measured the under seat storage on SWA and the Acceleration even loaded as above should fit under one of the seat sections if I had too (over head is planned). It's just the monopod would have to go overhead in a bin.

So should I be worried? I'd hate to check a bag just for a monopod and a pair of boxer shorts basically it will be a one night trip.

SWA isn't super strict about their carry-on. As long as it will fit you shouldn't have a problem.

i think it falls under the same category as a cane. As long as it can fit in the overhead, you'll probably be ok. 25" is long but thats under the standard carryon luggage length, so you should be good. I've gone onboard with a 3 foot plastic margarita glass we were drinking from in vegas, so I think you're ok.

Thanks guys, I fly SWA a lot on business I live close to Midway. But I never want to be that one yahoo holding up the group dragging my life onto the plane. I make fun of those people.

I suppose the worst case I gate check the monopod if they hassle me. The bag however is definitely going in the overhead or under the seat in front of me come heck or high water as that's a boat load of glass to lug - sheesh.

Thanks again.

I guess it depends on how imposing the monopod looks, my 680b manfrotto + 234RC head had to be repacked on an international flight (it's basically a 1.5kg club, so they didn't like that), while the smaller Slik 381 CF (thinner in diameter and lighter) went through hand held ( I guess, as the other poster mentioned, it was more like a cane).

My 681B is the 3-section version of the 680B so it's 5" longer folded up. I won't be using the monopod head. I'm bringing this only for use on the 500/4L.

Calumet Photo has a cheaper version of the 681B I was thinking of buying just to be safe.