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Hi guys,
Just want to ask for your tips and experience on going through TSA security check with your photography gears. The last time I traveled with my gears I could leave everything in the camera bag. I read that the rules changed last year and now you would need to remove all your gears and place them in bins. I will be flying to Hawaii from LAX with just my 1DX, 24-70 f/2.8 II and an extra battery, all packed in a Lowepro toploader.
Thanks for tips guys!
Hey Nate,
I remember when this came out about a year ago, people would have to remove all electronic devices larger than a cell phone. The concern was this would include photography equipment. Of course, this could vary from airport to airport and agent to agent (I am looking at you Madrid Spain who confiscated my photography multi-tool when all other security screeners haven't even said a word).
But I am a pretty frequent flyer. I do have TSA PreCheck. I have never been asked to take any photography gear out of my bag whether I go through the regular or TSA Precheck lines. Nor have I ever seen anyone having to take their cameras out of bags. Simply put, I just have not seen this concern materialize.
That said, I do recommend TSA precheck. It is supposed to help with photography, but it can also be a life saver at busy airports. Most of the time it will save you a few minutes and some hassle (shoes stay on, etc). But, then there are times when the times when the line is crazy long for the regular screening and the TSA PreCheck line is a few people deep. And, each time coming back from Hawaii, I remember some long security lines, so I'd give it some thought.
Enjoy Hawaii!
Brant
Hi Brant,
Thanks for the tips/input. I'd get TSA PreCheck in a heart beat if I travel a lot, I only flight once every few years, and plus this trip I'll be traveling with 18 of my family members so leaving them behind including my son and wife won't look very good :). Just talked to a few people I know who traveled recently, they told me that they didn't have to take anything out of their camera bag or see anyone doing it. So hopefully it'll be the same for me this weekend.
Nate
That is consistent with what I've seen and experienced. I think they were really targeting iPads/Kindles with the "all electronic devices larger than a cell phone."
I will say, I have had my camera bag tested for explosive residue about 5 times, which is just them wiping it down with a small towel and running a quick analysis on that towel. So they are paying attention.
When I went to Tokyo earlier this year, I did indeed have to remove the camera from the bag as we went through.
No lenses, just the camera.
This was different than the previous times I flew.
Thanks guys for the replies,
Brant, when they tested for explosive residue did they open your bag?
HD, I'll be keeping my lens mounted on the camera, did you have to remove the lens from the camera for them to check?
I'd say about half the time, yes. They have you walk to an area toward the back of the screening area, lay the bag flat, ask if there are any sharp objects, etc. Then they wipe either the outside with the cloth or they did a couple of times open the bag and have the cloth touch a couple of the lenses, etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sinh Nhut Nguyen
No, I just pulled it with the lens out of the case and they would run it through.
I have had the explosive wipes for my hands but never for my gear.
Thanks guys for the replies, when it comes to traveling with gears I have very little experience so I'm very nervous. I know what I'm bringing is so little comparing to you guys.
Last summer went to Norway/England and all that was done was pull and separate rifle through the cameras & lenses.
Haven't done a large scale trip - but will be trying in ...... September..... Maybe October.... Work has been really demanding
Want to have some fun? Try traveling with a wet apple juice box in your medical kit (I'm a type 1 diabetic). I typically carry a Gatorade/Powerade in my medical bag which is just fine for travel purposes according to the TSA, but while on a recent vacation to Hawaii, I drank my Gatorade and replaced it with a small juice box. Unfortunately, because the ice pack in the kit had sweated, the juice box was slightly damp. As such, TSA couldn't perform the usual wipe-test to check for explosive residue on the juice box, so they gave me the full pat-down procedure while very closely examining every part of my medical kit at 2 consecutive airports. I initially thought the first airport was simply being overzealous, but when the same thing happened at the following airport, I realized what was causing the issue. That's when I threw the stupid juice box away and bought another Gatorade.
As far as the photography equipment goes, I did take each of my camera bodies out of their respective camera bags and placed them in a bin by themselves. I may not have had to, but by my reading of the regulations, I thought it was best to avoid any issues.
Thanks for the replies guys, I just checked with my two friends, they didn't have to remove their photography gears on their recent trips. I'll just pay attention to the crowds. Also my wife flies quite frequently for her work, she never saw anyone removing their photography gears, only laptops and tablets.
Sean, last year I traveled to Vietnam with my wife and my 20 month old son, we brought non refrigerated milk for the 18 hour flight for him. TSA allowed you to bring milk for your kids but you have to be subjected to a full body pat down. The TSA agent asked if I wanted the pat down done in a private room, I decided to get it over with and done right there in front of hundreds if not thousands of other travelers. Never felt so violated in my life :)
Yep, my pat-down was in public. They offered the private pat-down, but I told them it wasn't necessary. They were definitely thorough, though. On the plus side, I don't think I'm going to need a prostate screening at my next doctor's appointment; TSA cleared me as good to go.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sinh Nhut Nguyen
I would only take the private pat down if I could get a female TSA agent.
It has never been offered so if it happens it is in public.
;)
I had to edit this I had almost forgotten about it, in Japan I was patted down by a young Japenese girl at the airport. (Yes she was their security)
Privacy wasn't offered and the wife watched. Later the wife asked if I enjoyed it.
Of course I had to tell her no.
lol!Quote:
Originally Posted by HDNitehawk
Went to Palm Springs in January, got the full pat down of me, my boot (injured foot) and my camera gear. They ran my camera through the scanners twice, then ran the batteries 3 times, and finally my camera bag 3 times. Returning a few days later, the Palm Springs airport TSA pulled my camera out and ran it separately of my bag, along with my Kindle.
Odd. I was in Palm Springs in April. Breezed right through. But, are you precheck?
Might be making more of a difference than I gave it credit for.
Just got back from the trip, overall good trip, not a lot of photography though. We were randomly given TSA precheck status both times so going through security was easy, for some reason my iPhone needed a full wipe down. TSA confiscated my son's 6 ice packs for his milk, they couldn't test the liquid inside, it wouldn't be a problem if they were frozen, but because we left early in the morning they all melted by the time we got to security.
Edit: We forgot a pair of scissors in my son's diaper bag, TSA never caught them.
In 1985 I walked in to the airport walked up to the counter and for $20 got a ticket to the next City over.
The airplane was loading right then, I walked on board and then 20 minutes later I was walking out of the other airport 120 miles away.
We in the US have lost many of our freedoms and rights.
@Kayaker72: I have thought about going with Precheck (or the other pre-check system), however I don't fly enough to warrant it. And about half the time I need a wheelchair, so I don't have to wait in lines.
@HDNitehawk: I remember those days, even going to the gate to greet my dad coming home from overseas. Back in the day, I could get to the airport an hour before (or even 30 minutes) and still make the flight.
Just booked a trip to Austria to see 1 stop on the Four Hills Tournament (Ski Jumping) for January 2019. Since this is a bucket list item, I am likely to rent a larger lens and camera body. What do I need to look out for with TSA, Four Hills event staff and security services leaving Europe? Back in 2010, I took photos at the Olympics in Vancouver of the Ski Jumpers....the event staff didn't seem to care as long as I wasn't a 'pro'. Back then I had an XTi and the Tamron 200-500.
Also, what should I bring for gear? I don't want it to weigh too much. I was thinking of the 7Dii or the Sony A7iii with a Sigma 150-600 Sports.
Thanks!