Taking a tripod through security

I recently purchased an Induro tripod that comes in a terrific case for travel.

Can I expect to get the tripod in its case on board the plane as a carry-on item?

Has anyone had recent experience with this? Is the policy the same in the U.S.

as in other countries? I will be traveling to Argentina on Aerolineas

Argentinas. There will be an international flight from Miami to Buenos Aires

and serveral domestic flights in Argentina.

 

Thanks for your response.

Best to ask the airline as different airlines/airports have different policies.

You should check with the airline (as noted above)and the security folks who will examine you and your carry-on 'stuff.' If the checking crew think your tripod could be a "weapon," good luck in trying to take it under your arm.

Before 2001, security for internal flights within Argentina wasn't very strict, and I think you would have been allowed to take the tripod aboard in a decent case. In 2002, internal flights felt more strict (on the basis of 4 boardings), but international flights were more strict still. My international departure from Buenos Aires (returning to the U.S., where I live) in 2002 was a bit of a nightmare, with some security people checking me while others checked my luggage, so that it was difficult to keep track of my stuff.

 

If you can put the tripod underneath you're probably better off. Many people remove the head and take it as carry-on, while checking the tripod legs.

 

Have a good trip. Where in Argentina are you going?

The specifics will vary from place to place, airline to airline, and time to time. If you can possibly fit the tripod in your checked luggage, I'd do so. I mean, nail clippers, ferchrisakes.

Thanks to all of you for your responses. I will check with the airlines, but will likely put the tripod in our luggage.

 

Larry

Fairly recently within a couple of days of each other, at least two of us tried to take the same model Gitzo carbon fiber tripod through security at the same airport for the same airline -- I was allowed to and he wasn't. So even if you are told that it is OK, you are probably safest assuming that it isn't. Perhaps outside of the US security is more consistent :-)

I think we put ours in the checked luggage recently.

If the tripod is not allowed as carry-on for whatever reason, what do you do? Leave it with security? Retrieve your checked bags and pack it like you should have done in the first place, perhaps missing your flight in the process? In another vernacular, "Do you feel lucky?"