On 19/12/09, Christian, discombobulated, unleashed: >Also, I believe it was Rob Studdert that questioned the weight of my new >carry on 500mm lens-holding rolling camera bag. Well, just because it >fits in the carry on luggage rack doesn't mean you can bring it on a >Qantas flight. I got dinged on it today. They allow 7kg per carry on. > Mine with 500m lens, 300mm lens, body, flash etc weight 15kg. Oops. >I had to buy a special bag just for the 500/4...
Interesting. I think some check more than others, especially long distance like Australia. I always go on the maxim that if it looks heavy, it *is* heavy. When I went through check-in with my Lowepro Stealth backpack to America once, it was loaded to the gun'ls with kit and I estimated about 30 lbs. I had it draped casually over one shoulder for the whole time - it damn near killed me but the act of putting it down and picking it up would have aroused suspicion as that was a two- handed job. It worked. Another ploy that I use when working and traveling with someone else (not family) is we check-in separately while one waits out of view of check-in with the hand luggage, and then vice-versa. Check-in staff are often over-zealous newbies who don't miss a trick. Problem is they are often ill-advised under exceptional circumstances. On a recent trip to Rome, check-in staff caused a fracas because my TV camera in it's carry-on bag was too big for carry-on size. Fine I said, I'll check the bag and carry the camera. The camera in itself is not a piece of luggage, it's a camera, and so there is no specified maximum size for carrying on a camera. Apparently when it's in the bag, then it's an issue, although never had this problem before. Zillions of TV crews travel daily around the world carrying the same gear. The newby check-in girl had not come across this. The duty manager was called and a line formed behind us (we had not deployed our separate check-in routine, natch) but after numerous walky-talky exchanges, it was deemed better to carry the camera in the soft case for safety (other passengers as well as the camera's). We were told that security clearance going air- side would be the final determination, and if it was not okay with them, then the bag went separately. At security clearance the first guard said no problem. "Oh we get these crews all the time with big cameras, yeah no problem go straight through". The duty manager apologised. Yet if we'd used our separate check-in procedure, we would have saved 30 minutes and had the same result. Have fun in Oz mate - get some good pics :-) -- Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ---------- http://www.cottysnaps.com _____________________________ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
