Here's a link to tsa.gov which states the "one bag of photographic equipment in addition to one carry on and one personal item" policy. Airlines could restrict this beyond the TSA (who are only concerned with the checkpoint), but IME--chiefly with UA and US--they do not.

In other words, you can bring an extra bag if it's devoted to camera gear. Whether you take this to mean a second rollaboard (as there are some rather nice photo rollaboards out there) or a more traditional camera bag or something in between isn't specified by the TSA. I often have an over-the-shoulder bag filled with a second camera body, several lenses, a flash head, and various camera gadgets, with the monopod strapped onto the outside of the bag, and have had no problems other than having to state on occasion that the bag is allowed. Additionally, my 300mm telephoto is usually in a lens case attached to the outside of the bag, as it doesn't quite fit inside it.

I'll have to look for the FAA rules; I've got the printout at home from their website, anyway.

Thanks, exerda. I would have just a standard bag with camera, lens and small gear. Usually fits in my carryon but may not if I take the tripod.

Let me get this straight. You are talking about next fall - as in 2008, right? And you're worrying about it now?

Between now and then there are loads of things that could happen, inclusing a psychotic photographer swinging a tripod around in a plane because he(she got claustrophobic and next thing we know is that tripods are banned from carry on.

Wait until you are a week or two ahead of the trip and figure it out then.

On a side note - I check the tripod and carry-on the monopod in the past. Now I'd check both because of the weight. Mine ar cheap anyway.

/E

I am not a big fan of TSA, however, I think if they do not worry about tripods, they certainly should. Not in the form of tripods, but three disassembled legs make really good clubs for 3 people. I have an old bullet proof tripod. I think each leg weighs 5 lbs and extends over 4'. put a couple 3 of those on board, and a plane takeover should be trivial.

I certainly would wory a lot more about the tripods than about my 1960's style corkscrew.

Security at Haneda (Tokyo) once stopped me to inspect my camera tripod. He measured one of the legs without extending it - about 30cm long.

Then he said to me "This tripod will be OK to carry on if it's total length is under 100cm when fully extended. If the legs have three or more extension pieces then it will exceed the maximum allowed size. So how many extensions do the legs have?"

Me: "Um... two?"

And he let me through.

In fact the legs telescope out with three extensions and the total length is probably 120cm when fully extended. The final 20cm is what makes it a lethal weapon in the hands of a skilled photograssassin.... :rolleyes:

2007. I plan ahead. ;)

Also could use this as an excuse to buy a travel tripod. :)

Hi,

Do bear in mind that as soon as you are in Europe, the new rules governing what you may carry on apply to all onward flights on a Europe wide basis. This means a strict one piece carry on rule. So, if you are connecting to Sicily via Rome, you would need to check your tripod in before going through security in Rome.

There is no sign that these rules will be relaxed for things like additional camera bags and tripods.

My advice? Get a cheap but sturdy tripod that you throw into your check in luggage.

Shouldn't this be in the new forum? ;)

Would that be the "new and improved" (not to mention long overdue) forum?

OP on April 22. First post in TP on April 23. ;)

I have been concerned about that. Last year, we flew ORD-FCO-VCE and had no problem with carryon plus laptop bag. FCO-VCE was Alitalia. AA rep told me that continuing on to VCE would not require security check in FCO, which I think was the case.

I assume the rules have changed. Also, the CTA-FCO return would be a problem. Guess I will check the tripod in my luggage and hope for the best.

I do the same....No need to argue with TSA over this one. Pack it and hope that it is still there when you land.

I'd rather pack the Tripod and carry camera, lenses and computer.

Instead of starting a new thread, I thought I'd bring this up for a 2010 update.

I have a spendy carbon fiber travel tripod that I am both afraid to try to carryon lest they confiscate it as a weapon, or, check it lest TSA steal it.

Anyone have any recent experiences to share?

I have had zero problems carrying my Gitzo carbon-fiber on at least 20 domestic flights over the last two years.

The only suggestion I have is to put your cameras through the X-ray machine first; that way, the screener will already be thinking "photo equipment" when the tripod shows up on his/her screen. I do carry a bit of equipment - at least two dSLR bodies, several lenses and, sometimes for extra fun, I also thrown in an old Mamiya 645 body and lens.

On most trips, the tripod is attached to my Tamrac "big wheels" rolling backpack. The model I have is an older version of these:
http://www.tamrac.com/697.htm

I've had three recent trips on which I couldn't avoid taking a CRJ. For those trips, I left the "big wheels" at home and used a shoulder bag instead -- the "big wheels" won't fit in an overhead bin on a CRJ.

I hope this helps.

Thanks! I have the Gitzo as well, wonder if we have the same one.

Coming home I will be in Austria... I only carry one body, one lens. (7D and 24-105L). You take a lot! Where do you put your clothing?