Tripods & Airports

[ssjones]

I have a large Manfrotto with ballhead and chose my checked bag on the basis that it would fit in it. I have checked the setup at least 40 times without problems of theft.          
      I do see people bringing smaller tripods on the planes so they must be allowed.   I carry a laptop and my camera case and typically you are only allowed 1 carry on and 1 personal item. So the tripod would be considered the 3rd piece and not allowed.

[JohnBrew]

I have a large Manfrotto with ballhead and chose my checked bag on the basis that it would fit in it. I have checked the setup at least 40 times without problems of theft.           
      I do see people bringing smaller tripods on the planes so they must be allowed.   I carry a laptop and my camera case and typically you are only allowed 1 carry on and 1 personal item. So the tripod would be considered the 3rd piece and not allowed.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=214229\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I have taken my tripod in carryon with no problems and I fly in and out of one of the largest military bases in the world (Ft. Hood, TX).

[daleeman]

I have taken my tripod in carryon with no problems and I fly in and out of one of the largest military bases in the world (Ft. Hood, TX).
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=217094\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Mil flights?

I guess they let you guys take guns too?

[daleeman]

This weekend I will visit Home Depot and see about the options for buying a 6"  PVC tube and end caps to see what UPS to the far site hotel would cost, (Attention guest: me)

Something else that came to me, as an option. The Induro Carbon C313 and Cullman head will not fit, even apart, in the existing suitcase I have and wonder of the pipe would be cheaper and re-usable?
Lee

[daleeman]

This weekend I will visit Home Depot and see about the options for buying a 6"  PVC tube and end caps to see what UPS to the far site hotel would cost, (Attention guest: me)

Something else that came to me, as an option. The Induro Carbon C313 and Cullman head will not fit, even apart, in the existing suitcase I have and wonder of the pipe would be cheaper and re-usable?
Lee
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=217566\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Here I go talking to myself. Home Depot had 6" pipe, $ 26.00 for 10 feet and they would not cut it. Much to big for my hacksaw. So I am looking more and more for an answer. I still like the ship to hotel open since reading in the Wall Street Journal that the top three airlines in the US loose 23% of all bags for at least a day.

We land and leave town in a rental as soon as we can for a 3 hour drive. Hate to hang about waiting and hoping for the bag with the tripod to arrive on the next flight subject to being canceled.

Maybe a box - it - up place is the answer to ship to remote hotel.

[flyingwithfish]

I'm coming into this conversation a bit late, however the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) considers tripods to be photographic equipment. You may not travel with 'spiked feet' though.  If you have spiked feet you should screw the rubber all the way down covering the spike and place gaffers tape over the top of the rubber-foot screw threads to prevent the rubber feet from being twisted into a position revealing the spiked feet.

Most all international airline security administrations allow tripods to be carried on, provided they meet all carry on requirements. One noticeable exception is Italy. Italy expressly forbids tripods from carried on to commercial aircraft. This restriction is not often enforced, however should it be enforced the security agent is withing their standard operating procedures to block it from entering the airports sterile area.

I addressed the topic of tripods and carry-on allowances on my site for traveling photogs, Flying With Fish. This information can be found here
http://flyingwithfish.blogspot.com/2008/10...n-board-my.html

[vandevanterSH]

"Much to big for my hacksaw."
**********
The diameter may be 6" but the wall thickness is maybe 3/16".....just draw a line and go for it..the cut doesn't have to be pretty..the end cap will cover it.

Steve

[daleeman]

So its been a month after my trip and I successfully moved the tripod out to our destination and back. I pu the Induro C313 legs into an LL Bean drop bottom duffle bag:
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/se...n&cat4=2915

The bottom of the bag was great because it gave enough room for the tripos ent to end. I put a 3/8 nut on the threads, mostly so it did not cut through the canvas. It was just hand tight and was no issue. Being the duffel cost a bunch, I did not want a 15 cent nut keep me from having a hole in the bag, so a trip by the hardware isle in Sears did the trick.

I put the head in my cary on camera bag. To my suprise no one gave it a second look in the X-ray scanner next to my stinky shoes. (I hate taking off my shoes in the airport.)

So the trip went well. Had a good time shooting with the tripod. You can see my shots some on the tripod at:
http://leegephart.smugmug.com/Art

Look in the November in California gallery. Be glad to read any and all comments on the photos. All done with a 500cm with an 80 or 150 lens.

Lee