Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate - TSA allows 3rd carry-on if it is just camera gear. Anyone tried this?

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1248.shtm

Photographic Equipment

You may carry one (1) bag of photographic equipment in addition to one (1) carry-on and one (1) personal item through the screening checkpoint. The additional bag must conform to your air carrier's carry-on restrictions for size and weight. Please confirm your air carrier's restrictions prior to arriving at the airport.

Air carriers may or may not allow the additional carry-on item on their aircraft. Please check with your air carrier prior to arriving at the airport.

I saw a post about this at a pro photographer forum. The OP said he printed out the page from the TSA website and had not had a problem with bringing his gear in a 3rd specific carry-on bag when he showed it to anyone who questioned him and also had not had a problem with any specific GA's as he boarded the plane. As a pro, I travel with a lot of gear but and usually another bag that has my lap top and other travel related items I prefer not to check. Sometimes my wife helps out and carries one of my longer lenses if she can fit it in her computer bag. :)

In my experience it is the contract employee who lets you into the TSA premier lane that would be the problem. They are usually low level employees who only go by what they have been told. My wife routinely has to shove her purse into her laptop or small suitcase just to get past. I only recall one UA GA in Chicago who insisted my wife consolidate her carry-on before being allowed to board the plane. I have on occasion on long international flights brought on a bag with food items if the airline meals are not what I can eat and only once got into an argument with a GA about it, I think it was on Virgin out of LHR.

I haven't tried it as a third carry-on, as I never traveled with more than one checked suitcase and one carry-on bag holding camera bodies and lenses.

I *have* had to argue with FAs over doing a gate check for my carry-on, as no airline I'm aware of will accept responsibility for electronics or camera gear in the cargo hold.

I haven't tried it as a third carry-on, as I never traveled with more than one checked suitcase and one carry-on bag holding camera bodies and lenses.

I *have* had to argue with FAs over doing a gate check for my carry-on, as no airline I'm aware of will accept responsibility for electronics or camera gear in the cargo hold.

I guess I have been lucky but I also have only had 2 bags. On my last flight to South Africa I had my full backpack camera bag that also holds a laptop and my 800mm lens in it's own suitcase which is a bit big but they didn't seem to care. I sometimes find international flights a bit more willing to bend the rules.

Since when does TSA have any authority to limit how many bags you take through security?

joe

Since when does TSA have any authority to limit how many bags you take through security?

joe

Note that TSA only regulates how much carry-on luggage moves through the screening process as a means of controlling volume. Just because TSA screens an item does not mean that it meets a particular carrier's carryon policy. TSA points this out:

You may carry one (1) bag of photographic equipment in addition to one (1) carry-on and one (1) personal item through the screening checkpoint. The additional bag must conform to your air carrier's carry-on restrictions for size and weight. Please confirm your air carrier's restrictions prior to arriving at the airport.

Air carriers may or may not allow the additional carry-on item on their aircraft. Please check with your air carrier prior to arriving at the airport.

Most domestic USA carriers do not have a camera bag exception and still limit you to two pieces of carry-on which fit their sizer.

Note that TSA only regulates how much carry-on luggage moves through the screening process as a means of controlling volume. Just because TSA screens an item does not mean that it meets a particular carrier's carryon policy. TSA points this out:

You may carry one (1) bag of photographic equipment in addition to one (1) carry-on and one (1) personal item through the screening checkpoint. The additional bag must conform to your air carrier's carry-on restrictions for size and weight. Please confirm your air carrier's restrictions prior to arriving at the airport.

Air carriers may or may not allow the additional carry-on item on their aircraft. Please check with your air carrier prior to arriving at the airport.

Most domestic USA carriers do not have a camera bag exception and still limit you to two pieces of carry-on which fit their sizer.

Yeah, I got that. Nothing new there. But where does it say that TSA has any limit on items through the checkpoint, other than that one paragraph on the page specifically for photographic equipment. Or the authority to impose a limit in the first place.

What if I'm bringing items through the checkpoint that I'm not taking on an airplane? Maybe I'm meeting someone who's already through security? Or a meeting at a club with someone who's flying in?

joe

Since when does TSA have any authority to limit how many bags you take through security?

As long as there are sheeple who believe anything said by someone in a uniform with a tin badge, there will be TSA employees lying to them about what is or is not allowed at the checkpoint - whether or not their statements are supported or contradicted by Boggy Bob's commentary.

I've been successful in explaining to the subcontractor private security in the US that generally polices carryons prior to the TSA checkpoint that I've merely pulled out my small camera bag from my roller board. Only once have I had a guard ask me to put in the bag. I complied, but did it in such a way that she'll regret ever asking anyone ever again to repack it, only to be unpacked for security scrutiny.

Air carriers may or may not allow the additional carry-on item on their aircraft. Please check with your air carrier prior to arriving at the airport.[/B][/I]

Most domestic USA carriers do not have a camera bag exception and still limit you to two pieces of carry-on which fit their sizer.

True but as I mentioned in all my wife's and my travel we have only once had a UA GA request my wife stuff her purse into one of her other carry ons. And most major airlines don't take issue with a bag containing food for consumption while flying even if it puts you at 3 pieces.

Since when does TSA have any authority to limit how many bags you take through security?

joe

^ I think they call it "mission creep!"

^ I think they call it "mission creep!"

No, it's just a bunch of creeps who think they're on a mission.

No, it's just a bunch of creeps who think they're on a mission.

^^^^^

Yeah, I got that. Nothing new there. But where does it say that TSA has any limit on items through the checkpoint, other than that one paragraph on the page specifically for photographic equipment. Or the authority to impose a limit in the first place.

What if I'm bringing items through the checkpoint that I'm not taking on an airplane? Maybe I'm meeting someone who's already through security? Or a meeting at a club with someone who's flying in?

joe

CFR is your friend. Available freebie in electronic form. Let us know if you want to research it. My view is that it's quite clear that the Secy of DHS has sweeping authority to regulate every aspect of the checkpoint so long as she can point to even a minute interest in security. The volume of screened materials would seem to fit that. Not a challenge I'd bring. But, there are 94 US district courts where you can !

CFR is your friend. Available freebie in electronic form. Let us know if you want to research it. My view is that it's quite clear that the Secy of DHS has sweeping authority to regulate every aspect of the checkpoint so long as she can point to even a minute interest in security. The volume of screened materials would seem to fit that. Not a challenge I'd bring. But, there are 94 US district courts where you can !

Not sure how that's going to help since the TSA doesn't publish any of their security policies in the CFRs.

joe

Not sure how that's going to help since the TSA doesn't publish any of their security policies in the CFRs.

Nor anywhere else. Makes it a lot easier for the TSA employee who wants to steal your stuff to lie to you about policy.