ALERT - TSA declares all cameras need to come out of your bag at security

[AlanF]

I have been taking my cameras and telephoto lenses in my carry-on luggage for years closed cases all over the world and have been asked to take them out or even open a case. The international regulations require just laptops and notepads, as well as toiletries to be in trays. It's crazy really - my 400mm lenses could have serious amounts of explosives in them, unlike my iPad.

 

[Loswr]

Slowcoach - we cabin luggage only brigade are out way before then.

I can do that with short trips, two days or so. For longer trips, 2-3 suits, 4-5 shirts, shoes, tripod, a change of casual clothes, etc., won't all fit in a carry on. For me, international trips are usually a few days in duration, which helps make the flights worthwhile (although I did once do a round trip to Switzerland where I was there for only ~4 hours). Except for Canada, from here an international flight generally means at least five hours in the air, whereas from the UK, international could be done in a puddle jumper. Reminds me of when I lived in San Francisco, where a driving trip to the next state was a major undertaking…but here in New England, I can drive through three states in my lunch hour.

 

[degos]

TBH I've never heard of 'precheck' I've also never understood why a camera doesn't have to come out as per computer equipment or how jam is a liquid. ???
So with precheck security is now just another money making exercise?

Of course it's just revenue.

Once someone has passed PreCheck they could still be cajoled, threatened or blackmailed into nefarious action or into carrying something 'electronic'.

If PreCheck really was the solution to security issues then everyone would have to undergo the same screening before flying.

 

[Orangutan]

Slowcoach - we cabin luggage only brigade are out way before then.

from here an international flight generally means at least five hours in the air, whereas from the UK, international could be done in a puddle jumper. Reminds me of when I lived in San Francisco, where a driving trip to the next state was a major undertaking…but here in New England, I can drive through three states in my lunch hour.

Yes, out here in the western U.S., sometimes driving to the next county (no "r") is an all-day trip.

 

[Loswr]

Of course it's just revenue.

Once someone has passed PreCheck they could still be cajoled, threatened or blackmailed into nefarious action or into carrying something 'electronic'.

If PreCheck really was the solution to security issues then everyone would have to undergo the same screening before flying.

I disagree, at least it's not directly about revenue. If it were mainly about revenue from travelers, they would charge a lot more. For example, 'gold parking' at Logan Airport in Boston costs $300 for the first year and $100 annually thereafter. All that offers is the convenience of a guaranteed parking space near the terminal...you still have to pay the same parking rates as everyone else.

I suppose one could argue that it's about revenue from the standpoint of lower TSA labor costs because of expedited screening, but that holds true only if you believe TSA cares about how long people have to wait in line, and I doubt they do (at least until it gets so bad that constituencies force their elected representatives to take action at the legislative level).

Rather, PreCheck/Global Entry is really about risk management...prescreened passangers are lower risk. The Real ID requirement (mentioned above, where lack of state compliance with drivers license issuance policies mean those IDs aren't valid for air travel) is similar, it in effect means states must run a (limited) background check before issuing the license.

 

[AlanF]

Slowcoach - we cabin luggage only brigade are out way before then.

I can do that with short trips, two days or so. For longer trips, 2-3 suits, 4-5 shirts, shoes, tripod, a change of casual clothes, etc., won't all fit in a carry on. For me, international trips are usually a few days in duration, which helps make the flights worthwhile (although I did once do a round trip to Switzerland where I was there for only ~4 hours). Except for Canada, from here an international flight generally means at least five hours in the air, whereas from the UK, international could be done in a puddle jumper. Reminds me of when I lived in San Francisco, where a driving trip to the next state was a major undertaking…but here in New England, I can drive through three states in my lunch hour.

2-3 suits! A commentary on a topological paper in Nature on how many ways to knot a tie started with: "When I go to a conference, I have to raid the dirty linen basket to find suitable casual clothes".

Generally, for business trips I travel with smart casual jacket and trousers, and for conferences hardly that. A regular 55x40x25 cm suitcase will house my extensive electrical gear, toiletries, medicines, 5 shirts, 5 underpants, 5 pairs of socks, a pair of chinos and leave room over. If I stay longer, I wash the laundry with hotel shampoo and allow to dry over the bath. I take one pair of shoes that can be used for formal and walking. My camera gear goes in a 30x20x10cm case (5DIV + 100-400mm II). If I really need a suit, I'll wear it. Even Ryanair allows two cabin items now.

On holiday with the wife, I admit it's a big suitcase in the hold, with the 55x40x25 cm case taking to the 400mm DO II etc etc.

 

[kaihp]

But I have the Precheck anyway. Didn't help me flying home from Dublin, though. But I do feel like my $85 for five years was well spent.

That's where Global Entry comes in, and at only $3 more per year (GE is $100 for 5 years), the time saves on even one international trip return is worth it, IMO (but I will point out that GE requires an interview with DHS, usually at an airport). When I fly back into Logan from an international trip, I'm invariably at the baggage carousels before the luggage even starts coming out, and the dedicated exit lane means I'm out of the airport as soon as I get my suitcase.

Global Entry is great if you can use it. Besides US citizens (and lawful permanent residents) it is only available to citizens of 13 countries

 

[amorse]

I think I've been asked to take out my camera gear nearly every time I've traveled with it. My bag's camera compartment is not in an obvious place, so it's always a question of how long I let the agent fumble with the bag before I show them where the zipper is. Offer to help too soon and they think I'm hiding something, offer too late and they can get pretty aggressive with the bag :-\

 

[Mikehit]

Traveling from the UK to Europe, the only time I have been asked to take my camera out of my bag was when they could not see what was what on the X-ray screen. When taking my laptop out pre-check, I have asked if they wanted to see my camera as well and they said no.
My last trip to US was late 2016 so maybe that is the reason?

 

[Luds34]

Slowcoach - we cabin luggage only brigade are out way before then.

I can do that with short trips, two days or so. For longer trips, 2-3 suits, 4-5 shirts, shoes, tripod, a change of casual clothes, etc., won't all fit in a carry on. For me, international trips are usually a few days in duration, which helps make the flights worthwhile (although I did once do a round trip to Switzerland where I was there for only ~4 hours). Except for Canada, from here an international flight generally means at least five hours in the air, whereas from the UK, international could be done in a puddle jumper. Reminds me of when I lived in San Francisco, where a driving trip to the next state was a major undertaking…but here in New England, I can drive through three states in my lunch hour.

2-3 suits! A commentary on a topological paper in Nature on how many ways to knot a tie started with: "When I go to a conference, I have to raid the dirty linen basket to find suitable casual clothes".

Generally, for business trips I travel with smart casual jacket and trousers, and for conferences hardly that. A regular 55x40x25 cm suitcase will house my extensive electrical gear, toiletries, medicines, 5 shirts, 5 underpants, 5 pairs of socks, a pair of chinos and leave room over. If I stay longer, I wash the laundry with hotel shampoo and allow to dry over the bath. I take one pair of shoes that can be used for formal and walking. My camera gear goes in a 30x20x10cm case (5DIV + 100-400mm II). If I really need a suit, I'll wear it. Even Ryanair allows two cabin items now.

On holiday with the wife, I admit it's a big suitcase in the hold, with the 55x40x25 cm case taking to the 400mm DO II etc etc.

That pretty much echos my thoughts as well. I can get a ton of clothes in a carry on size, especially if I start rolling up my pants, shirts, etc. I just did a 10 day trip to France and used a carry on size. However, what kills me is if I have to pack more than an extra pair or shoes. I wear (US) size 13 and those take up a lot of space. Plus a hard dress shoe is awkward and doesn't pack as well as clothing.

 

[Mikehit]

I wear (US) size 13 and those take up a lot of space. Plus a hard dress shoe is awkward and doesn't pack as well as clothing.

Tie the laces round your shoulders and pretend it is a dual-use hard-shell lens case.

 

[rrcphoto]

Going out on a very short and sturdy limb here: TSA-Pre membership is about to skyrocket.

this is really no big deal. other places in the world have had this for a while now.. aka Mexico City.

 

[Loswr]

Generally, for business trips I travel with smart casual jacket and trousers, and for conferences hardly that.

Maybe it's a biopharma vs. academia thing.

However, what kills me is if I have to pack more than an extra pair or shoes. I wear (US) size 13 and those take up a lot of space. Plus a hard dress shoe is awkward and doesn't pack as well as clothing.

+1 – A pair of dress shoes and a tripod, and there's not much room left in a carry-on case.

 

[ahsanford]

Going out on a very short and sturdy limb here: TSA-Pre membership is about to skyrocket.

this is really no big deal. other places in the world have had this for a while now.. aka Mexico City.

I'm not claiming this is the end of traveling photographers -- I'm just saying that people who are traveling with >$1000 worth of camera gear won't bat an eye to pony up $85 for five years of not having to pull it out every time they go through security.

- A

 

[m8547]

I have considered signing up for TSA Precheck many times but didn't think it worth the cost.

As of 10 minutes ago, I have an appointment next Tuesday at one of their locations for fingerprinting and document review. Given the latest additional delays for cameras, I'm all in.

I travel only a few times a year, but Precheck has paid for itself by preventing a few missed flights and reducing stress.

This new rule is annoying, but not terrible. The large electronics ban on some international flights would have required anything bigger than a cell phone to be in checked luggage. No way I'm going to check all my camera equipment. Even with a hard case (which I don't want since it draws attention), there's too much risk of it getting stolen or lost.

 

[ahsanford]

BTW, here are some other electronics items larger than a cell phone:

Tablets
E-readers
Some portable hard drives
Lenses
Speedlites
Some battery chargers
Electric razors
Some laptop power cables

Will all of these need to come out as well?

- A

 

[Mikehit]

BTW, here are some other electronics items larger than a cell phone:

Tablets
E-readers
Some portable hard drives
Lenses
Speedlites
Some battery chargers
Electric razors
Some laptop power cables

Will all of these need to come out as well?

- A

In theory. And prove they work.

 

[Pookie]

BTW, here are some other electronics items larger than a cell phone:

Tablets
E-readers
Some portable hard drives
Lenses
Speedlites
Some battery chargers
Electric razors
Some laptop power cables

Will all of these need to come out as well?

- A

You forgot personal vibrating devices....

 

[Mikehit]

BTW, here are some other electronics items larger than a cell phone:

Tablets
E-readers
Some portable hard drives
Lenses
Speedlites
Some battery chargers
Electric razors
Some laptop power cables

Will all of these need to come out as well?

- A

You forgot personal vibrating devices....

Bigger than a mobile phone..... :-X My electric toothbrush is way smaller.

 

[masterpix]

This is a regular procedure in Europe already. They asked me to take the camera and all the lenses out of my camera bag for X ray each individually.