Question for TSA: Tripods?
 

Hopefully, I can get a definitive answer from someone (preferably one of the TSA folks who post here).

Tripods -- yes or no?

I've got a carbon fiber (meaning very light) tripod. It doesn't have spiked feet. When collapsed, it's smaller-than-carryon size. The TSA website is completely silent about tripods (I can't believe this doesn't come up more often). This is a $600 piece of equipment, and I'm not about to risk confiscation.

Is there a clear rule? Is it "inspector's discretion"?

Thanks for any info.

I'm not TSA but I have carried on my lightweight tripod (also collapses to very compact - to about 14 inches or so) with not so much as a second glance by the TSA. TSA will also allow a third bag with carryon photo equipment:

http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/e...orial_1248.xml

But no guarantee your airline will allow the extra bag.

I'm pretty sure you'll be ok. But, I have seen supervisors ask them to be checked. As long as its lightweight, I think you'll be fine. TSA has no rules as to how many pieces of carry on you can have. If the airline lets you through with 10, as long as there are no prohibited items, you can have 10. the rules for luggage are airline rules. You can always call the airline at your airport, they are usually pretty knowedgeable about what the TSA allows at their particular airport.

Incorrect.

From the link I posted above - your agency's website:

Your assertions that the TSA has no rules on the number of carryons is simply false.

The One carryon plus one "personal item" dates to October 8, 2001, when it was enacted by Norm Mineta in a Security Directive.

The TSA has never published a publicly available regulation containing the limitation, but since it's in a Security Directive, it's the rule.

From other portions of your agency's website:

http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/e...orial_1052.xml

I don't why you persist in posting incorrect information concerning the allowable number of carryon bags, but each time you do, someone will probably counter with facts. And the fact is that the TSA limits the number of carryons permitted. Airlines are free to further limit it, but the 1+1 rule is federal, not airline.

What's the basis for asking them to be checked? As I said, this is a $600 piece of precision equipment, and I'm not about to just hand it to the airline without it being packed in something. Is this a discretionary thing? Is there any rule I can point to, i.e. "it weighs less than X pounds," or whatever?

Nope, there's no such rule. The basis for disallowing it as a carryon would be if it were heavy and club-like. See the Flashlight thread from the past couple of days. As yours is not heavy (and is extremely light), it is OK.

A multi-D-cell Maglite (typically used by LA cops to beat suspects) might very well be disallowed while a mini-maglite would pass unquestioned.

That said, I have traveled with a lightweight tripod (though not $600 worth) and never been questioned.

And despite the misinformation in bambi47's post, you are allowed an extra carryon containing your photographic equipment, provided your airline agrees. I'd call your airline in advance and ask about it.

I see tripods everyday and they usually dont get a second look. The only ones that do are the ones that are very small and compact because of the heavy density that they have due to their size. Yours should be fine. However you might want to read the limits of liability on your ticket sleeve. The airlines wont pay for anything that is damaged especially in carry on.

As far as FWAAA says and the number of bags: I tried to get to the bottom of this issue over a year ago. I can tell you that it is murky. While the TSA website tells you what the number of bags are that are allowed, the TSA doesnt take enforcement action. As far as checkpoint screeners are concerned, they dont care. At DEN it is up to the private ticket checkers before the checkpoint to inform the pax that they are over the limit on the number or size of carry on.

Excellent post.

There's some rumors floating around AA employees (I am NOT an employee of AA or any of its affiliates) that AA was recently fined by the FAA/TSA (don't know which and nobody I've talked to seems to know) for allowing pax to ignore the one plus one limit. As a result, AA has begun crackdowns at the entrance to the checkpoint in some cities and crackdowns at the gate in other cities, forcing pax to use the sizer boxes (which weed out a lot of oversized carryons).

As with many government mandates, the enforcement is left to the airlines. With the threat of government fines for noncompliance.

How heavy of a head do you have on this tripod? My landscape tripod is carbon fiber but with a pretty heavy ball head, I have never even tried to carry it on, I take my pelican case for my cameras and then I check a roller bag with the tripod in it. I figure that a tripod is not the sort of thing a bag thief will be that interested in, my cameras, however would look quite tasty (even though they are film).

I could envision a TSA minion thinking (rightly I might add) that the combo of the heavy head and the strong legs might become in effect quite an effective cudgel to knock people around with.

This is what I'm worried about, as "light" and "heavy" are very relative words when it comes to tripods. The sticks are about 4 pounds, and the video head is about 2 pounds. Compared to aluminum or magnesium tripods of the same size, it's about half the weight and, at least to me, doesn't appear "club like" (as some one else posted). I've always packed the tripod in a checked bag, but have never been comfortable doing that as it goes against my "no valuables, ever" rule for checked luggage. Even discounting theft, the likelihood that the bag will be misrouted is simply too high, so I'd prefer to carry it on with my camera gear. It fits very nicely on the back of my LowePro Minitrekker backpack, which contains all my gear.

I remain worried, though, that some inspector who is having a bad day will simply arbitrarily decide, "this could be used as a weapon," and refuse to allow it on board. I did read the discussion on flashlights -- as I understood it, conceivably, an inspector could decide that my MINI maglight, which weighs a couple of ounces and is about 5 inches long, could be used as a weapon and seized. I always keep a minimag in my carryon bag (it's smart to have a flashlight on an airplane and in a hotel -- you never know). If that get's excluded, I'm out $10. My tripod, on the other hand, is just too expensive to play inspector roulette with.

Thanks, eyecue. It's the "usually" that I'm focused on. This tripod isn't heavy or dense, I think, but they're rather relative terms. This is the tripod:

http://www.binoculars.com/products/B...ion_24823.html

and this is the video head:

http://www.mnwxchaser.com/mount/mount001.jpg

I'm well aware of the airlines liability exclusions, which is why I want to carry this on in the first place.

Yeah. That's what I was thinking also. The photographer sees "tripod". The inspector sees "mace". (As the midieval weapon, not the chemical.)

You know, I'm getting tired of you saying that I am posting misinformation. I know what the TSA rules state. But I'm telling you what ACTUALLY happens everyday on the checkpoint. And I'm telling you that if the airlines ticket checker lets you through with 10 bags, the TSA isn't going to say anything unless there is a prohibited item in them. I see it EVERYDAY. NEVER have I seen the TSA mention anything to anyone about the number of bags they have.

I couldn't care less what you think of my posts.

I realize that the TSA checkpoint personnel don't routinely count the number of carryons. But that's not what you posted. You posted that there are no TSA rules regarding the allowable number of carryon bags, and that is just plane FALSE.

Face it, your post was flat out incorrect. A falsehood. Made-up. Inconsistent with reality.

Don't like people pointing out your incorrect assertions of FACTS?

Then stop posting made-up facts. Easy as that. :)

Folks, you can rant and rave, wrench your guts and vent your spleens about travel security and safety issues until the cows come home. All we ask is that you treat your fellow posters and their opinions with respect and courtesy. And keep these otherwise interesting threads civil.
Thanks for your cooperation.

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Cholula
Travel Safety/Security Forum Moderator