Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/08/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]David, I have only checked in locked cases in travels around Asia & Europe in the recent past, including a trip to France and UK last month. Cheers Jayanand Govindaraj Chennai, India David Young wrote: > All: > > I've been fortunate enough to have travelled widely. Always, I've > taken my cameras as hand (cabin) baggage. > > Now, as you've likely all heard, in the UK cabin luggage has been > severely limited, and cameras (among many other things) are no longer > allowed and must be handled as checked baggage. While many hope that > this is a temporary measure, this morning's press reports from the UK > indicate (according to at least one government spokesman) these > changes may well become permanent. > > Personally, I am pleased that the Brits appear to have foiled the > plot, and have no problems with the enhanced security or even longer > airport waits, for I'd rather have the inconvenience and arrive alive. > > However, it brings up a problem with cameras and the LHSA convention, > next month in Wetzlar/Solms. Naturally, I'd planned to take my > Leicas. Now, of course, they must now travel as checked luggage - > something I have always avoided. > > Worse, the airlines are saying that they cannot be responsible for [a] > loss nor [b] damage, if fragile/valuable items are in checked baggage, > and suggest we all confirm with our insurance agencies that we will be > covered. (This from the British Airways website, this AM.) > > I'm now thinking of buying an inexpensive piece of rolling luggage > (probably carry on size), filling it with firm foam and carefully > packing the gear. Has anyone here had experience with this sort of > thing? Any success? (I know Ted had a bad experience with the > US-TSA, but this trip is Vancouver-Heathrow-Paris, returning from > Heathrow. > > As an alternative, I was given (lucky me!) a Pelican look-alike case > (approx 21x 14.5x 10 in. or 54x 37x 25.5 cm) that is older, well > used, but in superb mechanical condition. Again, I'd fill it with foam > and custom cut around it. There are, three problems with it. > > First of all, it's heavy ... 11 pounds or 5 kilos - and that's before > we add foam or gear! > > Secondly, I'll have to remove the large decal which reads > "SEISMIC*STAR DETONATORS - Class 'A' Dinosaur Hunters (Austin Powder > Co.)" !!! > > Thirdly, because it has, in past, been used to carry explosives, it > may still test positive for nitrates at the airport. Does anyone here > have a sure fire process to eliminate all nitrate residue from an all > plastic case? > > Last question: > > In the USA, baggage is not to be locked, as the TSA want to be able to > open it for inspection. However, I have been unable to determine if > locked luggage is still permissible overseas. Obviously, a locked > case is more secure from theft... you only have to worry about losing > the entire case! Does anyone know which, if any, locks are presently > allowed, outside the USA? > > Any thoughts or experiences in this area will be greatly appreciated. > > Cheers! > --- > > David Young, > Logan Lake, CANADA > > Limited Edition Prints at: http://www.telyt.com/ > Personal Web-site at: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > >