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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Carrying monopod on plane.
Troy Thomas, Photographer
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Kansas City | MO | USA | Posted: 9:33 PM on 09.26.12 |
->> Has anyone tired or successfully carried a monopod on to a flight?
I have a quick overnight trip and trying to avoid checking anything, but I do need to take a monopod.
Flying American and United. |
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Chuck Yadmark, Photographer
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Ann Arbor | MI | United States | Posted: 10:02 PM on 09.26.12 |
| ->> Have carried them on in plain sight hundreds of times in the past ten years no problem |
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Doug Pizac, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | USA | Posted: 10:03 PM on 09.26.12 |
| ->> I've done it on Southwest and Delta without a hitch. Don't know about American and United. |
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TJ Root, Photographer, Student/Intern
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Towson | MD | United States | Posted: 11:21 PM on 09.26.12 |
| ->> Have done it on Continental (so United kinda) for an international flight, they gave me a little trouble on the way back but let me take it on. |
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David Hungate, Photographer
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Roanoke | VA | United States | Posted: 12:38 AM on 09.27.12 |
->> Done it on Delta, Southwest, Unites and American.
The only time I've ever had a question is when someone sees me sticking it in the overhead and asked how I got it past security (at least 3 times!). I say I smuggled it in my pants.
In my experience, TSA has no issues with it. |
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David Hungate, Photographer
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Roanoke | VA | United States | Posted: 12:40 AM on 09.27.12 |
->> Some people call it United.
Sorry. |
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Andrew Fielding, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 1:24 AM on 09.27.12 |
->> I fly all the time on major and minor carriers around the world can personally attest that you should have no problems on those carriers with a monopod.
Though, security theatre may have an issue if you have a metal spike tipped monopod but I always travel with my rubber tipped Gitzo with not problems. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer, Photo Editor
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PLANET | EARTH | | Posted: 8:33 AM on 09.27.12 |
| ->> Just jokingly tell them it's a pipe bomb and you'll be fine.... |
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Gene Boyars, Photographer
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Matawan | NJ | United States | Posted: 8:47 AM on 09.27.12 |
->> Liddy, that is as bad as me telling the TSA folks that my dad was a PhD chemist who specialized in explosives and solid propellents and my son is a PhD chemical engineer who specializes in plastics and coatings.....It is true but not something to tell them...
Troy, on serious note, I have not had any problems in the past 5-6 years flying the former Continental, United or US Scareways |
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Tim Vizer, Photographer
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Belleville | IL | USA | Posted: 10:17 AM on 09.27.12 |
| ->> Reminds me of flying back from D.C. in 2007 from the national APPM convention and the TSA guys at Dulles asked me to open the suitcase to show them what on their x-ray machine must have appeared to be an artillery shell. I forgot about the metal Nikon coffee thermos the exhibitors handed out - yikes! Once I showed them, all was good. Never had any problems with any kind of camera gear though. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer, Photo Editor
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PLANET | EARTH | | Posted: 5:28 PM on 09.27.12 |
| ->> Well the absolute worst thing you can do is be jet lagged and tell the customs officer (in Detroit "the friendly city") you were "on vacation" in Afghanistan....not wise. Serious baggage search ensues. |
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Wally Nell, Photographer
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SAN DIEGO | CA | USA | Posted: 6:03 PM on 09.27.12 |
->> A few years ago I flew from Cairo to the US via Amsterdam, Netherlands. My passport had a Yemen stamp in it, and in Amsterdam, on my second leg to the US, I was given the third degree about that stamp! Questioned, and when I told them I covered the Yemen presidential election, they went and checked whether there indeed was an election, and about which time... I wonder what they will do now that I have Libyan and other stamps in my passport...!
Oh about the monopod; I have flown with it for years, never an issue... |
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Troy Thomas, Photographer
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Kansas City | MO | USA | Posted: 7:40 PM on 09.27.12 |
->> Great. Thanks everyone.
I usually put mine in checked but this is such a quick trip that I am barely taking a change of clothes.
As a backup I am taking the printed page from the the TSA's website " Can I take ___________ on the plane" search feature that says it's allowed.
Happy shooting. |
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Al Diaz, Photographer
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Miami | Fl | USA | Posted: 8:32 PM on 09.27.12 |
| ->> No issues with American Airlines, Delta or TSA on domestic flights. I carry it on the side of my Think Tank Photo Airport Security roller. Once I start rolling through the aisle I pull it out and hand carry it. The only time I really notice anyone looking at it is at the end of the flight when I am approaching the cockpit to exit the plane. Then all the flight crew is eyeballing it. They just smile and say "thank you for flying with us". No worries unless you listen to Chuck :) |
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Thomas E. Witte, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Cincinnati | OH | USA | Posted: 11:03 PM on 09.27.12 |
->> I actually ran the math for this about two years ago for an article; Since 2000 I've logged juuuuust about 6 round trips to the moon while carrying my gear with me. Over all that time, the only time my monopod was ever brought in to question was when I was detained at BWI over a misunderstanding.
I've never been denied getting any gear onboard but I can tell you if you want to really have a fun time with the Xray screeners, put two super telephoto lenses in a roller and hastily pack batteries, chargers and trigger cords around them and between them. Holy shit, have a hidden camera ready.
Wally- That's hysterical. |
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Sam Morris, Photographer
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Henderson (Las Vegas) | NV | USA | Posted: 7:34 PM on 09.28.12 |
->> Or, you could always create some stickers with a TSA logo that says "TSA Approved" and slap it on the monopod. Then you could sell them to other photographers as well. I think it worked well a while back when the TSA took issues with some types of batteries.
(P.S. This fishy sounding advice is not meant to be taken seriously) |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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New England | | | Posted: 3:32 PM on 09.29.12 |
->> The Transportation Security Administration allows monopods to be carried on board commercial flights as "photographic equipment." The only stipulation is that the monopod fits completely in the overhead bin or underneath the seat to conform to FAA regulations.
This has always odd allowance as the TSA does not allow items such as pool cues or lacrosse sticks to be brought on board flights as a carry on item.
You can always print the following out and bring it if you have a problem - http://1.usa.gov/Qp6vW7 |
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Brian Blanco, Photographer
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Tampa / Sarasota | FL | USA | Posted: 9:35 PM on 09.29.12 |
| ->> Now look what you've done Sam. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer, Photo Editor
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PLANET | EARTH | | Posted: 11:15 AM on 10.01.12 |
->> I have to say after reading the guppy's post I find the TSA even more hilarious.
The Transportation Security Administration allows monopods to be carried on board commercial flights as "photographic equipment."
Do, pray tell, tell me what a monopod is besides "photographic equipment"?
I can see this conversation.
TSA agent- "Sir, is this monopod used as "photographic equipment".
Monopod owner- "Well it depends. I also use it as a fishing pole and often it will double as a club to quiet excessively noisy passengers on the plane."
TSA agent- "Okay that's fine. Any other uses?"
Monopod owwner- "Well occasionally I do use it when I'm shooting one of my big, giant, very expensive, professional kind of lenses. I have six or seven you know.....because I'm a professional after all.."
TSA agent- "Okay thanks for your co-operation...is that all you use it for?"
Monopod user- "Well once I went into a pool hall and didn't like any of their cues so the monopod did quite well as a substitute."
TSA agent- "So sir, are you telling me this was used as a pool cue?"
Monopod owner- "Well, only that one time in an emergency."
TSA agent- "I'm sorry sir but this is a banned item and you must put it in with your checked luggage or have it shipped separately. Move along. NEXT!!" |
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Michael Proebsting, Photographer
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Barrington | IL | USA | Posted: 3:10 PM on 10.01.12 |
| ->> I was considering letting my ss.com membership lapse, no way, not now...........Welcome back Fish! |
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