Air Travel with RED - My Experience This Past Week

[sbroock]

Hi all.

What are some tips for traveling with RED and accessories?

As this question comes up frequently, I thought I would share my personal experience.

Just got back from a trip with the camera to San Francisco (exciting details about the shoot to follow).

Packed a 1510 Pelican with camera, 18-50 lens, and LCD. There is room for the EVF as well, but I didn't have time to pluck out the foam for it.

Packed the 1620 (laser cut version by RED) with everything else.

1510 travels beautifully and is made (and certified) to fit the overhead compartment. The 1620 has to be checked through.

Tip in traveling -- I checked ahead with TSA about the best way to travel with the two cases. At check-in, ask that they take you to TSA oversize luggage. You can be there while they swab and check the case. I had no problems with the batteries BTW. When they are done, you can lock it up with a TSA certified lock (available everywhere).

Once you are done there, go to regular gate security. You can put the 1510 through the X-Ray machine or ask that they hand check it (similar to the 1620). Odds are they will want to check what this alien looking thing is anyhow once it passes through the X-Ray machine.

It was a very smooth experience.

Hope this helps.

-Scott

(PS -- here is a link to a previous post of the 1510 with camera and lens -- I added the LCD after I took this. It sits below the camera, vertically oriented)

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showpost.php?p=96192&postcount=4

[Andrew M.]

Thanks! Scott.

BTW where is the link?

[sbroock]

Thanks! Scott.

BTW where is the link?

Sorry! Corrected above.

[G.A. Kokes]

Keep in mind folks, that you should NOT count on your experiance to be the same as above. Airports and Screeners are not all equal, you may be flagged for other reasons, including statisics, TSA screener may be in a bad mood, you might look like thier ex.....

Hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

Cheers,
G

[sbroock]

Keep in mind folks, that you should NOT count on your experiance to be the same as above. Airports and Screeners are not all equal, you may be flagged for other reasons, including statisics, TSA screener may be in a bad mood, you might look like thier ex.....

Hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

Cheers,
G

Point well taken, but this is the reason to ask to be directly taken to TSA for hand check.

Flagged or not, the goal is to be there while they carefully hand check the items.

[Paul Kalbach]

Hi all.

Tip in traveling -- I checked ahead with TSA about the best way to travel with the two cases. At check-in, ask that they take you to TSA oversize luggage. You can be there while they swab and check the case. I had no problems with the batteries BTW. When they are done, you can lock it up with a TSA certified lock (available everywhere).

Once you are done there, go to regular gate security. You can put the 1510 through the X-Ray machine or ask that they hand check it (similar to the 1620). Odds are they will want to check what this alien looking thing is anyhow once it passes through the X-Ray machine.



http://www.reduser.net/forum/showpost.php?p=96192&postcount=4

Hi Scott,

How many batteries did you have in the 1620? Sounds like you didn't have a battery with the camera in the 1510. I was thinking Security might want you to power up the camera (as has happened to me with various other cameras, Steadicam rigs, etc.).

Paul

[sbroock]

Hi Scott,

How many batteries did you have in the 1620? Sounds like you didn't have a battery with the camera in the 1510. I was thinking Security might want you to power up the camera (as has happened to me with various other cameras, Steadicam rigs, etc.).

Paul

Great question.

I left both of my batteries in the 1620 for check-in.

In a back pack, I carried the charger with aux power cable to the camera just in case this exact scenario arose.

In my particular circumstance they didn't ask for power-up, they just wanted to swab the externals of the camera and asked to take the caps off both ends of the lens.

The TSA folks were helpful and very nice -- both in NY and SF. They are extremely mindful when you explain that the equipment is valuable and they treat it as such.

[Ken Corben]

The TSA folks were helpful and very nice -- both in NY and SF. They are extremely mindful when you explain that the equipment is valuable and they treat it as such.

Scott,

Great post. I too used the Pelican 1510 to hand carry a RED camera system coast to coast. I was able to fit a camera with Birger mount and Canon 10-22 lens, one RED battery and the RED cradle into the case. I carried the RED LCD in my carry on laptop case and will do the same with the RED EVF.

TSA was very professional and mindful during "Bag check" when I stated it was an expensive camera. Didn't get much of a second look and I was on my way. Great idea to pack the AC power if power up is requested by TSA.

Since future projects will require 2 cameras to travel internationally, I have worked on fitting the 2 camera bodies sans lens into the Pelican 1510 and will include the AC power as a necessary squeeze in. The airlines state 22lb max for carry on so I am pushing the limit there but I have never had it weighed in 15+ years.

Now, if my underwater housings, dive gear, batteries/charger and lenses survive the checked luggage adventure and actually arrive at my destination then it's all good.

[Bruce Allen]

The airlines state 22lb max for carry on so I am pushing the limit there but I have never had it weighed in 15+ years.


Be careful. Virgin weighed my carry-on luggage in Johannesburg three weeks ago and told me I had to get it under 6kg (13.2lb). That was on the return leg of a JHB -> LHR -> LAX flight (going there they didn't weigh it).

In the end I just took all of my lenses, put them in a plastic packet (my "personal item"), gave them back the carry-on (which now weighed 8kg) and they let me through.

Then of course I had to go and find a place to sit down where I could put all of my lenses back in the carry-on.

Stupid system!

Oh, and a friend of mine was forced to check their carry-on bag in due to excess weight by another airline. And then of course the airline stole (whoops, did I say "steal"? I meant to say "lost" ;) their carry-on bag with a ton of camera gear. And then the airline didn't want to pay for the stuff that had been lost, of course.

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

[Moir]

Airlines flying out of the UK are really starting to treat baggage as a profit centre. I too have had my carry-on weighed recently (never happened before) and I think this will become an increasing trend.

British Airways now charges (a lot) for checking in more than 1 item, regardless of total weight being below the limit - on certain routes at least.

[Fredrik Callinggard]

Hi Guys! Also tke in consideration that maximum weight for any luggage to travel in cargo these days is 30 kilos (around 66 lbs). Anything above that is considered freight and has to be shipped as such. Just figured it good be good to think of when we design our pelican cases ;-). So don't fill them up to much it's better to consider one more case instead. You can always pay over weight, but you can't send it if it's over 30 kilos (international rule is 32 kilos but some airlines go by 30).

Fred

[Stuart English]

Domestic (U.S) weight limit for checked baggage is 50lbs per item, two per passenger. I have been checking one Pelican 1620 for the various acessories, and bringing the camera and two batteries as carry on in a Pelican 1510.

So far no questions about weight of that carry on Pelican, just some wry smiles from TSA as to "what sort of camera is THAT?"

[Kevin Lang]

I had found a link stating TSA would not allow Lithium Batts. onboard starting Jan. 08. As soon as I can find it I will post it.

[Steve Sanacore]

I had found a link stating TSA would not allow Lithium Batts. onboard starting Jan. 08. As soon as I can find it I will post it.

That doesn't sound logical, as I think almost every laptop has Lithium batteries- as do every compact digital camera as well as cell phones and all pro digital cameras.

For a while there was a problem with the sony laptop batteries but only with Quantas if I remember correctly.

Please let me know if this is the case. But sounds impossible to me.

[Rob Lohman]

When flying through London keep in mind you're only allowed to have ONE carry on bag!!! So no 1510 and a laptop bag! One of the (many) reasons why I avoid flying through there.

Luckely I have a single photographers backback that can hold my DSLR + three lenses, a RED zoom, RED ONE + battery, a 17" laptop and some other small stuff. I should be good as long as they don't weigh it :)

[Andrew M.]

ONE carry on!!
All airlines or jus BA?
What about laptop and small camera, or for female passenger, laptop and usual woman over the shoulder bag?
So if woman brings her bag then she can’t bring her laptop? Very nice, I didn’t know about it. Have to ask girls here how they fly to London (8h flight) without taking laptop on board. Unbelievable….!

[Rob Lohman]

ALL airlines departing in the UK it seems. They advice you to put the hand bag in a larger (laptop for example) bag.

I just bring the biggest bag allowed and put everything in it.

For all information regarding this: https://lfn.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/lfn.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2355

The fun world of airline travel! Sigh.....

p.s. apparently when flying to the UK you can bring two bags (I think), but going back not. It's checked at the airport (I've been through it a couple of times) before you even get to a plane. Flying through Heathrow is a major pain anyway, I avoid it at all cost.

[Graeme Nattress]

Yes, you can arrive with two bags, just not leave. One trick is to wear a photographers vest and stuff the pockets with lenses and things.....

And yes, Heathrow is a right mess.

Graeme

[Andrew M.]

Good that you told me, I would be stuck repacking.
I think I use Gibby's sollution with backpack.
Thanks!
Andrew

Just checked Gibby's thread is gone, I think I have some notes what backpack he is using.
I love his solution....

[Steve Gibby]

(Re-post from lost thread):

In the past six weeks I've been flying extensively with RED #8 - roundtrip to Canada, Jackson Hole, and various other destinations.

The Tamrac 5258 CyberPack 8 has proved be an excellent airline carry-on solution. As I originally posted, and Bruce has quoted, the 5258 is airline legal, plus it also carries a laptop. My air route to Canada was non-stop, but because I bought my ticket for Jackson Hole late, I had to criss-cross all over the western USA using two different airlines to get there. All these flight legs required me to fly on a wide variety and size of aircraft: small turboprops up to regional jets. I had five separate flight legs getting to Jackson Hole, and three separate flight legs returning. On all these small to mid-sized aircraft the Tamrac 5258 fit underneath the seat in front of me – a legal carry-on bag option. It wouldn’t fit in the overhead carry-on bins on those aircraft. On the Canada trip, which was on Boeing 737 aircraft, the 5258 in the overhead bin.

In all these airports I had long walks to other gates, transfers to trams (Denver), and walks to baggage claim (JH). The 5258 is a backpack, with chest and waist cross straps, so the long walks were easy with the load on my body, not in my hand as with a Pelican 1510. Inside the 5258 I packed RED #8 with the RED 18-50 attached, and on the other half, in compartments, I had the RED 300mm (disassembled), an Optex 2x, various cables, and my CF cards – in other words, everything that is hyper-valuable and/or fragile was carry-on, with the remainder of the grip equipment in check-in bags that were zip-tied after TSA did their check-in airport inspection. I zip tie my check-in bags to discourage theft by baggage handlers.

Loaded as mentioned, the 5258 weighed right around 23 lbs, slightly over the 20 lbs airlines specify for carry-on bags, but close enough to simply remove the RED 18-50 if they complained (none did) and put it in my other carry-on allowed – most airlines allow one carry-on + a laptop or purse. The backpack just looks like a normal backpack, so nobody every guessed that it contained $30k USD of equipment – thus security for it was easy.

In Jackson Hole I had the 5258 on my back all week. There were no safes in the rooms, and I wasn’t about to leave #8 with the hotel concierge, in the room, or in the car. The 5258 is very comfortable on and off your back all day. We went out to shoot remotely in Grand Teton National Park nearly every day, which entailed hiking into wilderness with the backpack and a tripod. It was a very easy – backpack on my back, and soft tripod case in a hand or over my shoulder.

Mobility is the core of my business and a backpack solution works best for me. With my laptop in the production backpack with #8, I’m a go-anywhere, get images quickly, and process them on the spot solution. For me, Pelican cases are great for check-in baggage protection, not carry-on solutions. The drop-in case that Macgregor shows is a good solution, but for my high-mobility, long walk field workflow, a single shoulder strap solution isn’t the best choice.

BTW – for the international travel to Canada I stopped by the U.S. Customs field inspection office at LAX with a copy of my purchase receipt for #8 and other serial numbered items (lenses), and simply had them inspect the equipment and sign off on a single form they have that states they verified their inspection of my equipment and my document of ownership. Entering Canada was easy, and returning to the USA, U.S. Customs checked the equipment and signed form from my in-bound flight – no problems whatsoever. It’s important to do all this because you don’t want to be accused of importing equipment and have your equipment confiscated until you can prove that you own it.

I don’t yet have an ATA Carnet for traveling with my RED camera system. If you travel a lot internationally with equipment that’s the way to go.

Link: http://www.atacarnet.com/

I do a lot of international production, so a pre-trip close check on each particular airline used, and each country visited requirements, is indispensable.

If you travel a lot, and your production style centers around mobility and anonymity (for security purposes), you might want to pay close attention to what I’ve written in this post.

Notes on pics
I travel with a 15" MacBook Pro laptop in the laptop compartment of the backpack, but there's also plenty of room for the 17" MacBook Pro to fit in there. That's a "15 PC laptop in the compartment on Pic 4, and that angle doesn't show how much extra room there is - about 4" vertically. Pic 2 is an EFP/cine style kit packing, including the RED 300 stored inside the lens hood, and RED 18-50 on the camera. Pics 5 & 6 are EFP/ENG kit setups, with the Fujinon 13x4.5 and Fujinon 22x7.3 HD zooms. After hearing of my backpack setup, Steve Tammi (RED #17) bought the same pack and just flew to Spain and several other places with it. I talked with Steve yesterday and he mentioned that he really likes the setup - and has had no problems with any airlines for carryon - same thing I've experienced, as I noted above.

[wshultz]

(Re-post from lost thread):

In the past six weeks I've been flying extensively with RED #8 - roundtrip to Canada, Jackson Hole, and various other destinations.

The Tamrac 5258 CyberPack 8 has proved be an excellent airline carry-on solution.

Gibby, do you have a battery tucked in there somewhere?

[Steve Gibby]

Gibby, do you have a battery tucked in there somewhere?

I flew with one RED battery in my carry-on on my first flight to Canada. When I wasn't asked to fire up the camera during security checks for any of the flights on that first trip, I decided to lighten the backpack carry-on weight by simply checking my batteries in my check-in luggage. I've made 14 flight legs since then, and never been asked to power the camera up from my carry-on backpack, and never been hassled about checking the batteries in my checked luggage.

Here's a link to the TSA web site page on permitted items:

Link: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Here's a link to the TSA "Prohibited items list" PDF file. You'll notice on it that TSA has approved camcorders and photo equipment for carry-on and checked luggage. In the small red print they also warn travelers about putting fragile equipment in checked baggage - they obviously know that airline baggage handlers can work over your equipment.

Link: http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/Prohibited%20and%20Permitted%20Items_printerfriend ly_3-16-07.pdf

[Paul Leeming]

I assume the weight restriction has more to do with people getting hit on the head with luggage falling from overhead bins, than from overall weight, given that they don't weigh the passengers.As a former airline pilot I can help clarify a little bit how weights work for passengers.

The "standard" ICAO passenger weight is defined as 77kg(!) with up to 23kg of luggage allowed per passenger in any combination of checked and carry-on. 77kg + 23kg = 100kg total weight per passenger. This makes it easy to configure load and balance sheets for larger aircraft, since even though in the real world a lot of passengers weigh more, some weigh less and it usually averages out to around 77kg per person in weight on a large aircraft. Don't forget these types of aircraft have huge engine power margins above their normal thrust settings, in the event one has a problem and has to be shut down in flight.

For smaller regional aircraft down to Cessnas and the like, the standard weights do not apply since the centre of gravity calculations need to be much more precise and they don't have any margin for error when it comes to thrust performance etc. Those of you who travel to more remote places on these types of aircraft will no doubt have been individually weighed from time to time for just this reason.

For overhead luggage, you are correct that maximum weights are designed to prevent serious injury if they fall on someone, but they also exist to prevent excessive G-loads on overhead compartment bulkheads and latches in the case of turbulence or worse. In a hard landing in which the airframe itself doesn't get destroyed, it is important that the overhead compartments retain their structural integrity to protect the passengers from all that luggage otherwise flying about the cabin.

The reason they charge for excess luggage is that an additional 50kg or so figures into the fuel efficiency calculations as almost another passenger to carry, and in these times of high fuel costs that can rapidly eat away at the profit margin for the entire flight. I don't know for sure, but I imagine that the variance often seen in excess baggage charges is often calculated based on the flight's profit margin quite aside from weight considerations alone.

HTH

Paul

P.S. As always Gibby, thanks for the information and photos, pictures tell a thousand words!

[Mark Thorpe]

(Re-post from lost thread)The Tamrac 5258 CyberPack 8 has proved be an excellent airline carry-on solution. Just bought one myself. No RED in it yet but it sure protects the Z1, many accessories and my 17 inch MacBookPro. Currently in Milan with it adorning my trolley. I did notice that it appears "beefy" but actually slides right in to the overhead compartments. Great find. Nice bag.

Cheers,
Mark.

[Dan Blanchett]

A backpack is a great idea, but I'm not too keen on the prospect of lugging it around an airport. Now this beast isn't too sexy looking, but I like the fact that it has wheels and can accommodate a 17" MBP. It's 2 inches taller than the Tamrac, but not as deep.

http://www.portercase.com/multimedia_22_bp.htm

Anyone have personal experience with this one?

http://www.portercase.com/images/multimedia_22_bp-l.jpg

[Steve Gibby]

Just bought one myself. No RED in it yet but it sure protects the Z1, many accessories and my 17 inch MacBookPro. Currently in Milan with it adorning my trolley. I did notice that it appears "beefy" but actually slides right in to the overhead compartments. Great find. Nice bag.

Cheers,
Mark.

Glad its working out well for you Mark! Steve Tammi (RED #17) also has one and has been flying around using it (Spain, L.A., etc.) - he told me he loves it. On some planes, if it won't fit in the overhead, it still fits easily under the seat in front of you.

Thinkbug - I'm sure the case you pictured would work for some people's needs. One other reason I use a backpack is because I usually travel with two rolling bags: a Pelican case or other hard case for grip equipment, and either a tripod hard case or my own personal bag. Those two check-in bags both have handles and roll. That way I have the backpack on my back, and each hand free to roll the other two rolling cases - thus it's easy to walk a long distance around airports, into/out of hotels, etc.

[Dan Blanchett]

Thinkbug - I'm sure the case you pictured would work for some people's needs. One other reason I use a backpack is because I usually travel with two rolling bags: a Pelican case or other hard case for grip equipment, and either a tripod hard case or my own personal bag. Those two check-in bags both have handles and roll. That way I have the backpack on my back, and each hand free to roll the other two rolling cases - thus it's easy to walk a long distance around airports, into/out of hotels, etc.

Gibby, that makes sense. But if you can have a backpack that converts into a roller with the click of a button, I think all the better. I'm just not sure if the one I mentioned above is durable enough, or has adequate interior space for all the RED gear I'd want to throw in there.

[Steve Gibby]

Gibby, that makes sense. But if you can have a backpack that converts into a roller with the click of a button, I think all the better. I'm just not sure if the one I mentioned above is durable enough, or has adequate interior space for all the RED gear I'd want to throw in there.

Sure...it may work just fine. I checked out the web site. It seems to be made well from the pictures and description. The price is $220 compared to $200 for the Tamrac backpack. Hopefully someone that has used that bag will post their impression of it on this thread.

The Tamrac may not have rolling capability, but the backpack straps and back padding are made for serious hiking too, although it works well for a casual stroll also. As mentioned in a previous post, oftentimes I hike into remote areas, or long distances, with all my equipment, thus I need a sturdy backpack that is comfortable, but also carries my full RED One kit + my laptop also.

[Andrew Benz]

Gibby, that makes sense. But if you can have a backpack that converts into a roller with the click of a button, I think all the better. I'm just not sure if the one I mentioned above is durable enough, or has adequate interior space for all the RED gear I'd want to throw in there.

Heelys for your backpack... Very nice.

Can't wait to get a Tamrac 5258 for my rig... Thank you Gibby for reposting and outlining it's utility in relation to a mobile RED CINE and mobile RED EFP packages. Incredibly helpful...

Andrew

[Steve Gibby]

Can't wait to get a Tamrac 5258 for my rig... Thank you Gibby for reposting and outlining it's utility in relation to a mobile RED CINE and mobile RED EFP packages. Incredibly helpful...

Andrew

My pleasure, my friend! I think you'll dig the 5258 Andrew...

P.S. A few days ago I posted the new dates for LART - November 17-18. Check the RED User LART thread out...gonna be fun!

[Andrew Benz]

My pleasure, my friend! I think you'll dig the 5258 Andrew...

P.S. A few days ago I posted the new dates for LART - November 17-18. Check the RED User LART thread out...gonna be fun!

Steve, I am on it and shifting schedules as we speak. I would not miss this for anything. I do not know which will be more exciting, seeing all those REDs, documenting the tests/elements, or meeting all of you guys? But I can assure you that you will see a big smile on my face the WHOLE time. :wink:

I will e-mail you in the next couple of days regarding LART/flight/hotel stuff.

Thank you for letting me be a part of something bigger...

Cheers my friend,

Andrew

[ericyoung]

A backpack is a great idea, but I'm not too keen on the prospect of lugging it around an airport. Now this beast isn't too sexy looking, but I like the fact that it has wheels and can accommodate a 17" MBP. It's 2 inches taller than the Tamrac, but not as deep.

http://www.portercase.com/multimedia_22_bp.htm

Anyone have personal experience with this one?

http://www.portercase.com/images/multimedia_22_bp-l.jpg

Don't have experience with this one, but bear in mind a roller frame takes up storage room, makes the volume less squashable for tight cabin storage and adds weight - things that would count against it for carry on baggage. Flying from the UK, every cubic centimetre and every gramme is needed for actual contents!

[zak forrest]

When flying through London keep in mind you're only allowed to have ONE carry on bag!!! So no 1510 and a laptop bag! One of the (many) reasons why I avoid flying through there.

Luckely I have a single photographers backback that can hold my DSLR + three lenses, a RED zoom, RED ONE + battery, a 17" laptop and some other small stuff. I should be good as long as they don't weigh it :)

is your backpack the same as gibby's?

[Jonas Nyström]

So how much is the weight? Just camera and the 18 - 50 zoom?