Now let’s be honest: no one really enjoys traveling that much, but there is no one that dreads it more than photographers! Bringing expensive and delicate camera gear on any journey is naturally stressful, but when you are flying your nerves can get completely out of control. That is why I have put together some of my top tips for traveling by plane with your beloved camera gear – and getting there in one piece!
O’Hare Airport At Night
1. Check with your airline first.
Almost every airline is different, and they will all have different rules. This means that you will have to check with them whether you can carry on your camera gear, as some of them for a safety precaution insist that it is stowed in checked luggage.
2. Get to the rear of the plane.
You’ll have slightly more space in the overhead to store your camera gear, and it means that you do not have to drag it up and down the plane.
3. Package your gear up carefully.
If you have no choice but to send your camera gear on with your clothes in your checked luggage, then you will need to ensure that everything is absolutely safe and secure. I’m afraid your gear will get knocked, so make sure it is packed properly with padding.
4. Always make sure you have insurance.
This is the number one thing that people forget! You can never ever be sure that your camera gear is going to arrive safely, and just as you would never travel without health insurance, your photographic gear should never journey without travel insurance.
As you can see, traveling with photography gear can be difficult, but it is not impossible. You will need to plan ahead, and make sure that you do everything in your control to keep your camera gear safe.