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Anybody travelled to Egypt recently


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John, 

 

I have never risked putting my DSLRs or lenses in the hold luggage wherever I have flown to; - having watched the way some baggage handlers handle hold luggage on YouTube videos etc; I hopefully never will have to either!

 

Regards

 

Kumar (the Doc one)

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I'd pull out my toenails first. The wheels didn't get broken off my sister's suitcase from gentle handling. It's pretty bad when you have to buy a new suitcase for the flight home. And no, she couldn't hand carry the broken one. It was right at the 50 lb limit.

 

We were lucky that we flew in to a tiny airport, so it was only a matter of 15 yards to wrangle it into our rental car.

 

And wrangle is an appropriate word. I don't enjoy being around sissy when she's furious. ;)

Betty

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John, 

 

I have never risked putting my DSLRs or lenses in the hold luggage wherever I have flown to; - having watched the way some baggage handlers handle hold luggage on YouTube videos etc; I hopefully never will have to either!

 

Regards

 

Kumar (the Doc one)

 

I agree ............. NEVER .............. EVER - get an airline approved carry-on bag!

Not worth the risk

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John, 

 

I have never risked putting my DSLRs or lenses in the hold luggage wherever I have flown to; - having watched the way some baggage handlers handle hold luggage on YouTube videos etc; I hopefully never will have to either!

 

Regards

 

Kumar (the Doc one)

Kumar,

 

Neither have I before, but there is a new restriction on sizes of electronic equipment you can take so a DSLR won't fit in as hand luggage.

 

I'm not keen on the idea of putting a couple of bodies and lenses in the hold, so not sure about what to do.

 

I thought about buying one of those aluminum cases, but would that just scream "camera equipment - please steal me!"

 

John. 

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..and if you did, did you risk putting your DSLRs and lenses in the hold luggage?

 

John.

 

If you are talking about flights from Egypt to the UK, then there is no problem with cameras and lenses as cabin baggage. See the following link https://www.gov.uk/government/news/additional-hand-luggage-restrictions-on-some-flights-to-the-uk

 

The US restrictions are more wide-ranging I believe and do include cameras as far as I know.

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Paranoid myself about hold luggage generally, so understand your worries. However ther are, as we know, specialist cases out there - for a price, designed for the rigours of the baggage handler brigade

.

In the past I have travelled to various destinations with large format equipment, admittedley no sensitive electronics. It was all to large to carry on so had to go into the hold.

I was lucky and never had any problems, not even a broken ground glass screen.

Mind it meant that I had to pay excess baggage charges, which is even more a problem these days with current limits.

 

For me if it was a choice of taking a camera or not, I would take it but pack very well. To be honest damage is less of a problem I am more concerned with loss.

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..and if you did, did you risk putting your DSLRs and lenses in the hold luggage?

 

John.

 

If you are talking about flights from Egypt to the UK, then there is no problem with cameras and lenses as cabin baggage. See the following link https://www.gov.uk/government/news/additional-hand-luggage-restrictions-on-some-flights-to-the-uk

 

The US restrictions are more wide-ranging I believe and do include cameras as far as I know.

 

Another look says no spare batteries more than 15mm thick can be carried at all.

So if you need a spare battery, take a spare camera with a battery in it. And put the charger in the hold.

Even my non-smartphone is thicker than 15mm. What a pain in the neck.

Sticking to Europe as long as they let us in.

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time to think about a compact mirror-less for travel if travel is your thing?

 

I used to travel a lot, but the only things which ever went in the hold were a back-up body or a long lens which I could do without at a pinch. The way things are, if I had to travel with a big DSLR kit I think I would be thinking of organizing a strong case fitted inside a really duff uninteresting beaten-up case or duffel type bag. A drab soft bag could be rolled up and stashed until return flight.

 

Film in quantity was always a problem, at least these days you can keep a quantity of cards in your pockets. Sounds like batteries may get to be a problem. I knew a chap who did so much work in Egypt, he kept a spare kit there and just traveled with his film.

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John, 

 

I have never risked putting my DSLRs or lenses in the hold luggage wherever I have flown to; - having watched the way some baggage handlers handle hold luggage on YouTube videos etc; I hopefully never will have to either!

 

Regards

 

Kumar (the Doc one)

Kumar,

 

Neither have I before, but there is a new restriction on sizes of electronic equipment you can take so a DSLR won't fit in as hand luggage.

 

I'm not keen on the idea of putting a couple of bodies and lenses in the hold, so not sure about what to do.

 

I thought about buying one of those aluminum cases, but would that just scream "camera equipment - please steal me!"

 

John. 

 

mmmm... its going to be a problem isnt it? I have already been questioned about the number of camera batteries in my hand luggage and told not to put any in the hold in the past 18 months due to the danger of fire. So now maybe the danger of terrorism is greater than the danger of fire in the hold?

 

I think if this is going to be a problem I would buy a strong suitcase, and wrap camera body/bodies and lenses separately in clothes and put them near the centre of the suitcase. Maybe also switch off IS on the lenses. 

 

As Trevor Chriss says, then the main problem could well be baggage loss rather than damage...

 

Am going to Houston later in the year - should be interesting!

 

Kumar (the Doc one)

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my usual advice to fellow travelers was to go and buy one or two British-made GLOBETROTTER cases. They look like they're made of blue cardboard (but they're not) are strong enough to stand on and used to be cheap. Kick them down a couple of flights of stairs for that distressed look and you're good-to-go. I once was visiting my Dad in Canada when he pronounced: "What you need son, is a new suitcase"  "DAD, that is a new suitcase!"

 

I became aware that they have become trendy and fantastically expensive. Their website shows Daniel Craig making his way through an airport carrying exactly the same bag as currently houses my Elinchrome kit. I paid about £35 for mine (a good few years ago) Daniels is currently priced at £1000 or so. The Queen seems to have a slightly customized set with faux-tartan and a pair of leather straps. Mine have leater straps as well: belts from a market stall. My biggest one isn't so much distressed as in agony. It once spent a night floating about a cellar bedroom in Riminy. Didn't leak and is still serviceable, though a little deformed. Offered to lend it to my son when he was moving last year: "Thanks, but we can manage Dad"  What do kids know?

 

edit: just checked the site, you have a hard job finding any case under the £1,000 mark these days and that's just the so-called "traditional" range in blue or brown. The rest have snappier colours and extra straps, but are still a very basic no-nonsense design with no posh interiors and set you back more like £1500 to £2000. Crazy!  that makes my old Elinchrome case worth more than the flash heads. Mr Craig, if you need a spare, I might cut you a deal.

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I have recently flown back through Turkey and all electronic devices were checked and anything too big confiscated. My Leicas (in hand luggage - allowed) were checked and I was asked - sorry - it was demanded of me, that I turn them on so the security guy could see an image on the screen. Easy with the digi Leica M, but then he pulled out my M6........................

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Interesting replies.

 

Asked Egyptair about their protocol and they said I could put a camera and spare body in my hand luggage going out but they must be in the hold for the return trip!

 

More confused then ever!

 

John.

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I went to Luxor this time last year and had zero problems with any aspect of taking pictures there, but - like many of the replies here, I would never check my gear in. Just. Never.

 

Rgds,

Richard.

 

PS I went with Egyptair too.

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Interesting replies.

 

Asked Egyptair about their protocol and they said I could put a camera and spare body in my hand luggage going out but they must be in the hold for the return trip!

 

More confused then ever!

 

John.

 

This makes sense.. the new restrictions apply to flights coming from some countries, like Egypt. They don't apply to flights to the same countries.

 

 

I went to Luxor this time last year and had zero problems with any aspect of taking pictures there, but - like many of the replies here, I would never check my gear in. Just. Never.

 

Rgds,

Richard.

 

PS I went with Egyptair too.

 

Yes.. but the new regulations about not being able to carry electronic devices like laptops, tablets and cameras on flights from certain locations hadn't come into force (or even been dreamt up) this time last year.

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Interesting replies.

 

Asked Egyptair about their protocol and they said I could put a camera and spare body in my hand luggage going out but they must be in the hold for the return trip!

 

More confused then ever!

 

John.

 

This makes sense.. the new restrictions apply to flights coming from some countries, like Egypt. They don't apply to flights to the same countries.

 

 

I went to Luxor this time last year and had zero problems with any aspect of taking pictures there, but - like many of the replies here, I would never check my gear in. Just. Never.

 

Rgds,

Richard.

 

PS I went with Egyptair too.

 

Yes.. but the new regulations about not being able to carry electronic devices like laptops, tablets and cameras on flights from certain locations hadn't come into force (or even been dreamt up) this time last year.

 

 

Yes, the restrictions have only recently been implemented.

 

John.

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We are considering a trip to Jordan/Egypt later this year and I have done loads of research online but have to say that the advice is ambiguous. All I can find is that on flights returning from these countries cameras are "usually" allowed. No help at all. Separate lenses ought to be fine since they are not electronic devices per se, but optical devices, but again that isn't clearly stated either. I would really value some better advice but it seems impossible to find.

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We are considering a trip to Jordan/Egypt later this year and I have done loads of research online but have to say that the advice is ambiguous. All I can find is that on flights returning from these countries cameras are "usually" allowed. No help at all. Separate lenses ought to be fine since they are not electronic devices per se, but optical devices, but again that isn't clearly stated either. I would really value some better advice but it seems impossible to find.

The official advice from the British Government

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/additional-hand-luggage-restrictions-on-some-flights-to-the-uk

 

It specifically says that cameras are allowed - the restrictions do not apply to cameras.

 

Of course it could have changed by the time you fly and you never know what interpretation the airport security people will have, especially as the US advice does restrict cameras.

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We are considering a trip to Jordan/Egypt later this year and I have done loads of research online but have to say that the advice is ambiguous. All I can find is that on flights returning from these countries cameras are "usually" allowed. No help at all. Separate lenses ought to be fine since they are not electronic devices per se, but optical devices, but again that isn't clearly stated either. I would really value some better advice but it seems impossible to find.

The official advice from the British Government

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/additional-hand-luggage-restrictions-on-some-flights-to-the-uk

 

It specifically says that cameras are allowed - the restrictions do not apply to cameras.

 

Of course it could have changed by the time you fly and you never know what interpretation the airport security people will have, especially as the US advice does restrict cameras.

 

 

MDM, I too looked at the government website and it appears cameras are OK to take as hand luggage.

 

As I stated earlier, the advice from Egyptair is that cameras can be taken in hand luggage on the outbound flight but must be in the hold on the return flight to the UK.

 

I will just have to wrap my cameras in t-shirts etc for the return flight and keep my fingers crossed!

 

John.

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We are considering a trip to Jordan/Egypt later this year and I have done loads of research online but have to say that the advice is ambiguous. All I can find is that on flights returning from these countries cameras are "usually" allowed. No help at all. Separate lenses ought to be fine since they are not electronic devices per se, but optical devices, but again that isn't clearly stated either. I would really value some better advice but it seems impossible to find.

and I fear the final decision will be made by some aircraft employee jobsworth at the point of checkin at your return airport...

 

Kumar (the Doc one)

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We are considering a trip to Jordan/Egypt later this year and I have done loads of research online but have to say that the advice is ambiguous. All I can find is that on flights returning from these countries cameras are "usually" allowed. No help at all. Separate lenses ought to be fine since they are not electronic devices per se, but optical devices, but again that isn't clearly stated either. I would really value some better advice but it seems impossible to find.

and I fear the final decision will be made by some aircraft employee jobsworth at the point of checkin at your return airport...

 

Kumar (the Doc one)

 

 

Kumar, that's my fear that I take equipment thinking I can put it in hand luggage, as advised, only to find some jobsworth saying you can't take those on board they will have to go in the hold.

 

As Sally says it would be good to get some definitive advice.

 

John.

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  • 1 month later...
On 01/06/2017 at 10:28, Stokie said:

 

Kumar, that's my fear that I take equipment thinking I can put it in hand luggage, as advised, only to find some jobsworth saying you can't take those on board they will have to go in the hold.

 

As Sally says it would be good to get some definitive advice.

 

John.

It seems that definitive advice doesn't exist from what further research I've been able to do. The travel agent we use advised that they knew of only one of their customers who was asked to put their camera in the hold. It appears that is down to the vagaries of whoever you have to deal with when at the airport. 

Anyone else had any recent experience? 

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