Shipping equipment

<p>I am planning a big trip to Oregon in April. I am concerned that I might make it to my destination but some of my gear might not. Specifically my tripod. I am pretty sure I will not be able to carry it on with me and putting in my bag leaves me risking arriving at my destination without the most important piece of my equipment except my bodies.<br>

Any experiences along this line out there or ideas? I had thought of shipping to the guide I will be using but am willing to explore other options.</p>

<p>Bob Wyatt</p>

 

<p>Unless you carry it on, even if you ship it, it might not end up there. I have taken tripods on flights with me, packed and carried on, for years and haven't had an issue. I don't remember if I have carried one on since the newer security measures, so you might need to check on that.</p>

<p>The nice thing is that there are plenty of photo stores in Oregon and you could always get one for the trip if there is a glitch--even rentals in Portland.</p>

<p>Robert, I am afraid that you are creating more problems for yourself than it is worth. I have travelled quite a bit with my tripod in the checked luggage, and I have yet to lose it once. Airlines can lose luggages, but those are uncommon and they can usually recover it within a day or two. The last time a piece of checked luggage that didn't arrive with me was back in like 1984 or so, and I got that back one day later.</p>

<p>In your case, worst comes to worst, you can always get another tripod in Oregon as John points out. It isn't like you will be totally out of civilization.</p>

Step number one should be contacting your airline if you're thinking about carry-ons. I've had no

problems at all flying domestically with a medium weight tripod as a carry-on (fit in a 3' x 8" x 8"

canvas bag) on American Airlines Boston to NYC shuttles but I haven't flown since the Christmas

crotch bomber fiasco so I don't have any experience with the new security measures.

 

I have no experience with checking equipment. I either carry-on or ship directly to my hotel for arrival

one day early. If shipping directly to your hotel then just call the hotel ahead of time to let them know

that you're expecting a package and ask them for their shipping policies. Usually they'll sign for a

package labeled "Hold for guest: Yourname".

 

Your mileage may vary but I've shipped dozens of boxes of gear to and from large worldwide events

(Portland, Prague, San Francisco, Barcelona, Dallas, etc.) via Mercury Freight or FedEx and haven't

lost a box yet.

<p>I am not sure that it is a good idea to carry a tripod onto an airplane. I have done that before in the 1990's, but that was before September 11, etc. A lot of this will depend on the TSA personnel who inspects you. If at the security gate they tell you that your tripod can be used as a "weapon" and you cannot carry it on, and your checked luggage has already gone it, you will be left in a difficult position.</p>

<p>I too have shipped a lot of cameras and lenses between the East and West Coasts of the US, and FedEx has never lost anything either. Either checking your tripod in or shipping it should be fairly safe. Just don't do something unwise that will end up causing you a lot of headache.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Contact your airline beforehand but FWIW I very frequently (as in several times a month) carry a tripod and a monopod with me on the plane (plus a 50-70 lb of cameras and lenses) and have had no issues with the TSA in the US or with security personnel in Central America, Europe, etc. My motto is that if I need it 100% - it travels with me 100% of the time. Even on "puddle jumpers" you can talk a flight attendant into stowing your photo bag in the closet (being a frequent flier helps) and most tripods/monopods fit in an overhead even on small turboprops. As an aside, in my experience most horror stories about security screening in the US are an exaggeration and/or result from the passenger being a total ass (and oh boy, do I have stories to tell about the latter..!) and being - rightfully - frisked extra carefully and thoroughly by the TSA.</p>

 

<p>My $0.02 worth...</p>

<p>I pack my tripod (w/o the head) in my luggage all of the time and have never had a problem. In the past year, I've been on airplanes six or so different times - again, no problem.</p>

<p>On one short trip, I seriously thought about packing a smaller bag, but then I didn't know what I'd do with my tripod. I checked the TSA site, and tripods are NOT mentioned as being banned from hand carrying onto an aircraft. But, I didn't want to risk it. However, when I got to the airport and went through security, I asked the TSA staff (fortunately, it was a little slow at that time). They confirmed that you may carry a tripod onto an aircraft, but NOT a monopod. A monopod is perceived to be more readily "weaponizable." Contrast that with Michael's experience, though, since he seems to be carrying the monopod with him. I think that a part of the issue is that you seriously look and behave like a photographer...</p>

<p>But, your mileage may vary...</p>

<p>Good luck,</p>

<p>Tim!</p>

<p>Tim: carrying a monopod has never been an issue, literally I have never heard a word from any security personnel in the US or elsewhere. I should probably add that neither my CF tripod nor monopods - yeah, I do carry two monopods quite often - have spikes, just rubber feet.<br />And expanding on the "being an ass" issue, I did witness a photographer arguing that she should be allowed to carry some screwdrivers and other tools in his camera carry on roller, being rude, demanding to see a supervisor and flashing her credentials left and right (a major no-no...the TSA people routinely search senators and such and don't give a flying hoot who you are...) Her carry on was taken apart and I sincereley hope that she was subjected to a very through cavity search including endoscopy: she truly deserved it!<br />And yes, YMMV, as many TSA decisions can be - and are - descretionary.</p>

<p>Just a thought. Depending on the size of the tripod, what other gear you have etc. it might be cheaper and more reliable to UPS it than either 1. Pay for an extra checked bag or 2. Risk some over-zealous TSA employee disallowing it.<br>

Personally I take mine in checked baggage and carry on the head and have never had a problem but who knows, remember too rules can change any time in response to perceived terror threats.</p>

<p>Ive always checked my pods, they are just to big to store in the overheads. Never had a problem...yet.<br />They also seem to bring undue scrutiny to me and my film. I think the pointed tips look like weapons to the TSA and i don't blame them.<br />They are sharp and hurt when you drop it on your toes ; - )<br>

At worst in most major cities you can call a rental house and have one shipped or pick it up.</p>

<p>I just flew just about a month ago and was able to take my pack with my tripod, no issues with TSA at all.</p>

<p>TSA is inconsistent in what they consider dangerous - partly to keep the bad guys off guard. Rather than risk a trip back to the counter to retrieve my luggage and stow the tripod, I just put it in checked baggage. However, I remove the head (Arca B1) and put it in my carry-on. It's a lot easier to replace a tripod in most destinations than to find a good head.</p>

<p>I wonder how big those tripods are when people carry them onto the plane. If you carry on a huge tripod, the flight attendents may question you also.</p>

<p>Back in the late 1990's, the tripod I took onto the plane was a Gitzo 1228, which was their very first carbonfiber tripod and it is at most a mid-sized one for 300mm/f4 and 70-200mm/f2.8 type lenses with a body. If you have big tripods to support a 600mm/f4 or large-fromat camera, I wonder they'll let you carry it on board.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I wonder how big those tripods are</p>

</blockquote>

<p>For the record: Gitzo 5540LS (head removed) and Gitzo 3540LS (with A/S Z1 head) tripods and Gitzo 5541 and 3550 monopods. Folded length 24, 22 (plus head), 22 and 21 inches respectively. But I did carry a big, 30" folded, wooden Berlebach tripod with me more than once.<br>

Now, I have yet to hear a credible "my tripod grew legs while in checked luggage" story in the US and I often check a big bag with light stands, cables, flash heads and other doodads (can't take 'em on board no matter what...) But shit hapens and that's why the key word is <strong>insurance</strong>: make sure that your equipment is insured (if you are a pro you are most likely already covered and for non-pro use the cost in the US is a bit over $1 per each $100) and that your replacement value insurance policy covers the equipment while in transit and not physically in your posession.</p>

<p>Just returned from and east coast to PDX trip and shipped two well padded soft bags<br>

by FedEx; tripod, camera and lens included with other equipment. Bags were locked.<br>

Total cost one way about $100. Bags were held at the FedEx office on Cornfoot Road<br>

that is about five minutes from the terminal. No damage, no problems.<br>

Gabe</p>

 

<p>Thanks everyone for all the help with this issue. I think I will go with regular checked baggage and cross my fingers.</p>

<p>I flew to Israel with a tripod in checked luggage this past summer, via germany. The only 'problem' was that El Al security did open my bad and bring it up when i was being checked in to ask me about it... ie, when did i get it, from where, etc. If you're worried about security, it can't get much tighter than El Al's/Israel so i wouldnt worry about it too much in checked baggage, other than the slight chance that it might get lost. I always carry on the cameras and lenses though. Flown with it domestically with it in checked a number of times as well.</p>

<p>FWIW, in addition to my photography enterprise, I own a shipping store - along the lines of a UPS Store - but mine is independent (non-franchise).</p>

<p>I'm leaving soon for a week shooting birds in Florida and am shipping all of my equipment to myself. It's a nice break and makes the airport so much easier to manage. </p>

<p>Here are a few tips:</p>

<p>1. As another poster pointed out, *insure your gear*. I went through PPA because they were over $200 less than my commercial liability carrier, and because they will insure for full replacement value - not depreciated value.</p>

<p>2. Be sure you have a complete inventory, including serial numbers so you can claim all losses if the unthinkable happens.</p>

<p>3. If you want to ship your gear, ground is MUCH cheaper than air. Leave enough time to get your gear to its destination at least one business day early. If something goes wrong with UPS or FedEx shipping, that one extra day gives you a much better chance of getting your gear on time.</p>

<p>4. If you insure your gear with the shipping store, make sure that the insurance goes through the carrier, not through an outside insurance company. I use an outside insurance company at my store, but with high value shipments, the carrier seems to play "gotcha", looking for every reason to deny a claim. </p>

<p>And insure your gear for FULL VALUE. Otherwise you will incur a co-insurance penalty. Too long to explain here, but it will result in a drastically lower settlement in the event of damage.</p>

<p>5. Track your shipment early in the process. The faster you can jump on a shipping exception the better your chance of getting it fixed in time to save your shoot.</p>

<p>6. Put padlocks on your bag.</p>

<p>7. Use either FedEx or UPS. Avoid the Post Office like the plague. I have seen too many incidents where things like Certified and Return Receipt have failed due to USPS error. And I can't remember where I read it, but I have seen that the Post Office denies something like 87% of insurance claims. I just don't feel like I can count on that insurance.</p>

<p>UPS has special handling for items that are shipped via Next Day Air with a value claimed at or above $5000.00. Such items get special segregated handling and kid-glove treatment. But the air shipping is pricey. I ship mine by ground.</p>

<p>I ship my gear in a Seahorse case (similar to Pelican). Whatever you use, plan on it getting dropped from 6' onto a concrete floor. Pad it to that standard and you'll be fine. And I'm pleased to report that the luxury of travelling without bags is well worth the price. It's really great not to have to feel like a beast of burden when you're going through the airport.</p>

<p>I hope all that is useful.</p>