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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Monopods vs the TSA
Lucas Jackson, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 12:35 PM on 11.22.06 |
->> Anyone else had issues checking a carbon fiber monopod? I usually get the TSA to look at it and say hmmmm, what is this, but when I tell them they allow it. I got blocked today and had to check it, I was just wondering if this is actually covered somewhere in TSA literature so that I might be able to print this out to show to the next person who says. "It just doesn't feel right, I just don't think it is actual camera equipment."
Arguing only goes so far :/
Any help would be appreciated. |
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Gene Boyars, Photographer
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Matawan | NJ | United States | Posted: 12:54 PM on 11.22.06 |
| ->> That is strange Lucas. I have not had any problems this year. I know the "rules" are always changing but I have specificly asked at the clown desk in several airports to avoid problems and they say, no problem. You probably got a newbie who is clueless. |
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Dave Cheng, Photographer
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Toronto | ON | Canada | Posted: 1:14 PM on 11.22.06 |
->> What airport? Destination?
I've never had any problems with TSA. Maybe a question or two, but a simple explanation and I was on my way. |
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Jim Sykes, Photographer
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Montgomery Village | Md | | Posted: 1:42 PM on 11.22.06 |
| ->> I usualy put monopods in checked bags just to avoid any issues at security. I figure its an easy enough item to find something on the other end should the bag get lost. I might be eating those words one day though. |
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David Seelig, Photographer
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Hailey | ID | USA | Posted: 2:14 PM on 11.22.06 |
| ->> I jsut had a problem with my monopod at New Orleans . There is a tsa guy at the delta entrance who likes to play bad cop. Other then that since 911 no problems in Boise Oakland SF NYC KC Denver Houston Dallas Atlanta |
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Louie Traub, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Las Vegas | NV | United States | Posted: 2:26 PM on 11.22.06 |
| ->> I had my monopod attached to the side of the Think Tank Airport Security roller and had no problems on a recent round trip flight. They opened up the bag and used that wand, which happens normally one in every two flights, but other than that, no problems this time. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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New England | | USA | Posted: 3:20 PM on 11.22.06 |
->> I just flew in and out of Reagan National Airport (DC) this past weekend with two lightstands in my carry on.....and a Gillette Mach 3 Razor. No one said anything or stopped me.
I have flown many flights with a Gitzo monopod and have never beed stopped or even questioned. It falls under "photographic equipment" and is allowed on. |
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Aaron Vogel, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Ventura | CA | USA | Posted: 4:19 PM on 11.22.06 |
->> Luke, the last time went through security and had to take my monopod the screener gave me grief and went to check with his supervisor. I overheard the guy say, "We allow canes, why not that?" So since then I've planned to use that logic if I ever have to try to convince someone.
But, it sounds like your problem was with the screener not believing it was actually photographic gear. I doubt TSA goes so far as to specify what is "photographic equipment" in their guidelines. So you're pretty much at the mercy of the screener to interpret that. Try getting the supervisor next time if they really won't listen to you. |
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Bob Markey, Photographer
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Royal Palm Beach | FL | US | Posted: 11:26 PM on 11.22.06 |
->> I've had one problem (Fort Lauderdale on Southwest) in around 30 attempts. The TSA stopped me.
Back at the check-in desk, the SWA folks said it was allowed. I didn't push it. (BTW, I fogot that I checked it and had to drive 20 miles back to Richmond when the airline found it and called my cell number.)
I connect it to the outside of my backpack and when questioned, I state: "Professional photo equipment". Some agents ask what it is and do not understand the word "monopod," so I say "... like a tripod with on one leg."
"Oh, yeah ..." Then they get it and let me through. |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 8:59 PM on 11.23.06 |
| ->> What's to keep a terrorist from buying a cheap camera and a big heavy monopod, saying he's a "photographer," and then beating the tar out of the flight crew with it? |
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Jeff Frings, Photographer
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Milwaukee | WI | USA | Posted: 11:29 PM on 11.23.06 |
->> Chuck,
I guess nothing is stopping a terrorist from as you put it,
"buying a cheap camera and a big heavy monopod, saying he's a "photographer," and then beating the tar out of the flight crew with it?", but then there's nothing stopping a terrorist from faking a limp and bringing a heavy cane on board and doing the same with the cane, or from concealing a ceramic knife and taking over the flight with it.
There are lots of ways a terrorist could take over a flight, I highly doubt one would think using a monopod would be the most effective way to do it. |
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Bob Markey, Photographer
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Royal Palm Beach | FL | US | Posted: 2:21 AM on 11.24.06 |
| ->> They've allowed knitting needles on board, oddly. |
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Nic Summers, Photographer
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Mount Prospect | IL | USA | Posted: 10:24 AM on 11.24.06 |
| ->> Jeff, now that most, if not all, planes have the reinforced cockpit doors and some have secondary barriers, I seriously doubt a terrorist can "take over" a flight but I guess that depends on your definition of "take over". I seriously doubt it could be done with even a gun so the thought of a cane or monopod is laughable. They might "try" to take the cabin but I am of the opinion they would be lucky to escape with their life if anything was attempted. |
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Mitchell Clinton, Photographer
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Carlsbad | CA | USA | Posted: 11:14 AM on 11.24.06 |
| ->> What blows me away is that young punks skateboards is ok (am I showing my age?). If anything could be used as a weapon its a skateboard! |
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Chad Greene, Photographer
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Galveston | TX | USA | Posted: 11:38 AM on 11.24.06 |
| ->> I have a friend who travels for football and told me that he was stopped by security once for his monopod. They asked him what it was for and he explained that you put the camera on it to keep it steady and hold the weight. They guy called his supervisor over and they both looked at it for a while and came back and the supervisor asked him about it and he told them again, it’s for holding the camera and weight. The supervisor says kinda like a tripod then, and he says yeah kind of but only one so it’s a monopod. The supervisor told him that tripods are allowed on but he didn’t think the monopod was allowed on however if he had three of them it would be OK. My fiend is told that he has to take it back out to the car or check it. He already had a back up checked so he took all of his gear and dropped off the monopod in the car. He comes back in the gets in line and the supervisor says, it’s ok he’s already been through and waves him through with his camera bags without screening a second time. Very funny if you ask me. |
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Mike Last, Student/Intern, Photographer
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London | Ontario | Canada | Posted: 12:28 PM on 11.24.06 |
->> Mitchell,
I was flying from London Heathrow to Dublin and on the way there I was allowed to bring my skateboard on the plane. However, on the return flight, security forced me to go back and check the skateboard. Pretty interesting mixup of rules.
I've had no problems with tripods or monopods going onto planes.
Once when I was in Switzerland, the screening people found my syringes for my Type 1 diabetes and escorted me to the gate. They also made me be the last person to board the flight and I was supposed to inform the pilots, stewards and stewardesses that I was carrying syringes. Absolute waste of my time. Other than that flight I've never had anyone even ask what the syringes and vials were for. |
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Jeff Frings, Photographer
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Milwaukee | WI | USA | Posted: 3:22 PM on 11.24.06 |
->> Nic,
If you would go back and read my post, You'll see that I was not the one saying this was a viable means for a terrorist to hijack a flight. I was pointing out that I thought there were any number of more effective weapons than a monopod, that would be just as easy to get on board a flight. My overall point was that it was kind of ridiculous to not allow a monopod based on the argument that chuck made. |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 6:45 PM on 11.24.06 |
->> I can think of a few thousand people who "highly doubted" people flying into a building after taking over a plane with improvised weapons. And to be sure, I wasn't "making an argument" but simply asking a question.
If I was going to make an argument, I suppose it would be that every time I encounter an "absolute waste of my time" I am thankful at least someone is being careful about my security.
PS Actually, Mike, I'm still trying to figure out how being the last person on your plane was an "absolute waste of your time." The plane still got where it was going - safely, I presume - and I imagine your seat was still waiting for you when you got on the plane. |
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Lucas Jackson, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 12:05 PM on 11.25.06 |
->> It was a TSA woman in Newark who hassled me. I just carried my computer on and checked my computer bag stuffed with one monopod. From what I gathered after talking to a couple of different TSA personell this was most likely an agent who had made her decision and was not going to back down and lose face because I made a direct challenge to her authority by saying that it was indeed allowed and she was incorrect in front of her co-workers. I asked to see the supervisor but he was apparently "busy" and she was the ranking officer at the checkpoint. I don't know how it could be mistaken for anything but camera equipment either, I had it in my Airport Security bag (does anyone else wish it had just one more inch of room to squeeze a computer in there when just rolling around and not flying?) with my gear and I declared it as such.
It wasn't a serious issue this time but I do a lot of travel with nothing but carry-on luggage and was wondering if anyone knew somewhere to find exact wording of what is/is not allowed on flights now because a lot of times checking luggage is not an option for me.
Gotta love it when angry ladies enjoy flexing their power and making my life more difficult!
Thanks for responding in the first place though, always fun to read other people's stories. |
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