Hard case needed for hand luggage

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Cowleystjames

Senior Member
Need some advice guys.
I'll be traveling to Lexington, Kentucky with United airlines to do a shoot at a racehorse stud.
I'm considering buying a Peli 1510 hard case to transport my Nikon D4s and 200-400 F4 and a few other items as hand luggage. Then put my less important kit in the hold with my baggage.
Seems to meet the carry on luggage requirements on UA, but looking for advice from someone who may have more experience than me on taking this sort of thing over to the States.
Transported some kit over to the States six months back and lost camera kit from baggage hold that never showed up again. Insurance paid out but made it a right royal pain hiring kit over there to do the shoot.
Is my thinking sound?
 
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STM

Senior Member
You really can't go wrong with the Pelican cases. Tough as nails and easily customizable to pretty much any gear
 
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Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
I have that case and love it. It is heavy when loaded down but it does have wheels. I use mine in the car when my wife and I travel and it is great to throw in the back of the SUV. I don't worry about it getting bounced around.
 
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dh photography

Senior Member
As they stated, you really can't go wrong with Pelican. I have a Storm im2750. It's all the travel case I could ever need and then some (at least until somebody buys me a 600 or 800 f2.8 just for being a nice guy). Yeah, pretty much all I'll need. :)
 
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WayneF

Senior Member
Cowleystjames said:
Need some advice guys.
I'll be traveling to Lexington, Kentucky with United airlines to do a shoot at a racehorse stud.
I'm considering buying a Peli 1510 hard case to transport my Nikon D4s and 200-400 F4 and a few other items as hand luggage. Then put my less important kit in the hold with my baggage.
Seems to meet the carry on luggage requirements on UA, but looking for advice from someone who may have more experience than me on taking this sort of thing over to the States.
Transported some kit over to the States six months back and lost camera kit from baggage hold that never showed up again. Insurance paid out but made it a right royal pain hiring kit over there to do the shoot.
Is my thinking sound?
Click to expand...

Checked baggage is considered less safe from stealing. It seems to happen.

The hard case is surely fine if desired, but FWIW, the airlines will allow more carry on (at least United and American I know).
Carry-on Baggage | Carry-on Bag Policy | United Airlines

You can have both a carry on, and a slightly smaller personal item, which can be most camera bags. I put both in the overhead. It is good to not be last to your seat, to insure overhead has room.

Spare lithium batteries (not in a proper device) are not allowed in checked baggage, but are allowed as carry on.

PHMSA - Lithium Batteries
 
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BackdoorArts

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
WayneF said:
Checked baggage is considered less safe from stealing. It seems to happen.

The hard case is surely fine if desired, but FWIW, the airlines will allow more carry on (at least United and American I know).
Carry-on Baggage | Carry-on Bag Policy | United Airlines

You can have both a carry on, and a slightly smaller personal item, which can be most camera bags. I put both in the overhead. It is good to not be last to your seat, to insure overhead has room.

Spare lithium batteries (not in a proper device) are not allowed in checked baggage, but are allowed as carry on.

PHMSA - Lithium Batteries
Click to expand...

Not sure on the size of your kit, and I don't know how things vary on International flights, but I just flow roundtrip from NJ to FL on United carrying on a loaded Domke backpack with 2 bodies (1 gripped), 150-500mm Sigma, 24-120mm, 16-35mm, 15mm fish, 2 flashes, triggers and a MacBook Pro, plus a second laptop bag with my work and wife's laptops that could have easily held a third kit. Second time I've done that with nary a second glance from gate personnel.

Given that locks are verboten on checked luggage I would second Wayne's thought on stolen items, and believe that at least 1/2 the theft is done from the inside, so anything I can keep with me whenever possible I keep with me. Heck, this trip each of my carry-on bags weighed more than the suitcases we packed with a week's worth of clothes.

To add to Wayne's comment, if you're boarding towards the end, grab whatever overhead you find the minute you find it as you're likely not going to find anything when you get to your seat.
 
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aroy

Senior Member
From what I have learnt on other forums, it is best to ship your heavy equipment ahead of time (with comprehensive insurance). Many professional photography crew do it on a regular basis. If you negotiate it right, your equipment will be waiting either on site or if the courier has a local office in their office. With cargo, you can securely lock your bags, unlike for US bound flight which require TSA compatible locks (which any handler can open!).
 
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Cowleystjames

Senior Member
Brilliant advice guys, I thought about sending in advance, but a colleague of mine had his camera gear, about £12000 disappear whilst being shipped. Ok it was insured, burr that still left him in a hole.
Pretty much resigned to carry on, UA are pretty generous and after speaking to there customer service, they seem happy to help.
 
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Geoffc

Senior Member
I travelled to the States from the UK recently. I bought a Lowepro vertex 300 backpack which is exactly the size of those cages they test your luggage with. I know this as I went to the airport twice before the day of the flight to check as I'm OCD like that. This case holds loads. I took a D800, D7100, 24-120, 16-35, 70-200 2.8, 50mm 1.8, 105 macro plus loads of chargers and stuff. It weighed about 28Lb in the end. I was worried they would grab me until I was sitting on the plane, as I would never have let it go in the hold. In reality they didn't even look and I had another small bag as well.

US Airways allowed 18kg carry on. Just be careful you aren't going on a small regional plane with greater restrictions.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
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Cowleystjames

Senior Member
Ordered a Peli 1510, as UA confirmed its ok size wise for carry on. Weight wise, I'll be well within the limit, and if necessary I can pay extra.
I'm sending some equipment ahead with the racehorse trainer involved, he's an ex premier league footballer now racehorse owner and trainer.
So all falling into place nicely, famous last words!
 
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