Question:
Hi, I’m wondering, how should I carry my tripod on an airplane? Should I checkin in as luggage? Carry it on to the plane as handcarry? It’s a Manfrotto 3221, which is quite big and heavy. If I were to check it in as luggage, is there any precaution that I should becareful of? Please reply. Thanks. ~ Chong
Response:
Sorry I don’t suggest carry on. One is would be not be convenient even if they let you carry it on. I will bet many flights today will not let it on as a carry on. I suggest a cardboard box cut to size. Stop by a box store (WeShip, BoxesRus etc.) and see what they can fix up for you. It might be helpful if it looks a little hand made, like you are shipping some piece of junk back for grandma. — Dia’s Muire duit Joe M
Response:
Carry-on is out of the question, especially in the US. I usually check my 3221, packed in the inexpensive carrying Manfrotto bag, but padded with a couple of layers of bubble wrap (the large kind, not the stuff with the small bubbles.) When I get where I’m going, I pull the bubble wrap out and leave it in the trunk of my rental car until I need it again. I’ve shipped the tripod (often with a monopod in the same case) dozens of times with no problem. A few times, I’ve arrived at my destination to find that the tripod bag has been pulled off the regular luggage carousel and placed with the "oversize" luggage — it does look sort of like a ski or golf bag. A friend of mine uses a similar arrangement, but he uses an old golf bag that he bought used for about $10. Goof Luck! –Les – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I’m wondering, how should I carry my tripod on an airplane? Should I checkin in as luggage? Carry it on to the plane as handcarry? It’s a Manfrotto 3221, which is quite big and heavy. If I were to check it in as luggage, is there any precaution that I should becareful of? Please reply. Thanks. ~ Chong
Response:
Hi, I’m wondering, how should I carry my tripod on an airplane? Should I checkin in as luggage? Carry it on to the plane as handcarry? It’s a Manfrotto 3221, which is quite big and heavy. If I were to check it in as luggage, is there any precaution that I should becareful of?
remove the handles, they unscrew, and carry them in your bag, one less thing to catch on something. Tape the legs together. I bought a vinyl golf club tote on a clearance sale for like ten bucks, this is a heavy plastic cover for a golf club bag, I called it a body bag cause it zipped almost all the way around, it carried my 3051, a couple reflectors and light stands. Even had a long strap. lasted for ages and I’ll get another if I ever think about it.
Response:
I fly for the airlines and got my tripod taken off me by airport security who said it was too long to go as carry on! Ended up in the hold. I got a canvas bag made up for it and I remove the handles prior to letting go of it down some baggage ramp. Colin
Response:
Take the head off and carry that. It is small, moderately easy to damage and (in some cases like Arca Swiss) expensive. Put the legs in your luggage, wrapped in clothing, and check the bag. You may lose the bag given how awful airline service is these days, but, assuming that you get your bag, your pod will travel safely. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I’m wondering, how should I carry my tripod on an airplane? Should I checkin in as luggage? Carry it on to the plane as handcarry? It’s a Manfrotto 3221, which is quite big and heavy. If I were to check it in as luggage, is there any precaution that I should becareful of? Please reply. Thanks. ~ Chong
Response:
I’ve traveled with both my 3021 and 3205LC Bogen tripods (each on separate occasions) with no problems on US Airways. I removed the head and packed the tripod in my checked baggage, making sure it was well padded by clothes; the 3021 tripod fit in my suitcase diagonally. I agree that it would be inconvenient to take a tripod as a carry-on (if they even let you do it). I like to fit my carry-on under the seat and not have to fool with the overhead storage. Derrick Mayhew
Response:
Sorry I don’t suggest carry on. One is would be not be convenient even if they let you carry it on. I will bet many flights today will not let it on as a carry on.
It probably depends on how big it is. I have a 3001 with a small ballhead on it and routinely cary it attached to a backpack. (It fits with 2 legs and the center post through a sleeve of material on the side of the pack, and I pack some lenses in the pack) I’ve never had a problem at the airport (US only), but then again it’s a lot smaller than those steamer trunks on wheels people carry onto planes these days. Before going to this I packed it padded with clothing in the inside of a soft sided suitacse. – Bad idea. One of the leg nobs came out broken. I was probably lucky nothing got bent. If you do put it in baggage, heed the advice about removing the knobs. — Warren Montgomery Lucent Technologies, Bell Labs Innovations
Response:
Hi, I’m wondering, how should I carry my tripod on an
airplane? … You’ve had plenty of good suggestions, so I’ll give you a wild one (that I did). I replaced my 3221 with a Gitzo 1228 (carbon fiber, and three leg lock positions, so it’s more compact). I take off the head and put them both in my bag (they fit quite easily). Problem solved. I have also carried my 3001 on as a carry on without the head using the bogen strap. I didn’t have any trouble, but I didn’t do it regularly. I also used a small tripod bag once again with just the legs. Before you buy.
Response:
I’ve done the same thing,–went with the Gitzo 1228 and their small magnesium head (G1276). I break it down (to include separating the center column from the legs) and put it in the center of my hardsided, but roll on bag with goes with me on the plane. I’ve done this domestically and overseas with no problems at all. After all, what good is a tripod that stays at home?
Response:
Hi, I’m wondering, how should I carry my tripod on an airplane? Should I checkin in as luggage? Carry it on to the plane as handcarry? It’s a Manfrotto 3221, which is quite big and heavy. If I were to check it in as luggage, is there any precaution that I should becareful of?
I pack my Manfrotto tripod in a stiff sided checked luggage bag, wrapped in clothes. It survives no problem. Most pro photogs seem to pack their in custom made round carry cases. I’m thinking of making one of these from PVC downpipe for mine, just to free up some space in my luggage bag. Dion M. ——- Photography, Motorsport Photography, Land Rovers and Radio Scanning: http://dionsplace.terrashare.com/
Response:
strap a small tri pod on my Trekker classic backpack and carry right on!
Response:
Sorry I don’t suggest carry on. One is would be not be convenient even if they let you carry it on. I will bet many flights today will not let it on as a carry on.
I’ve never had a problem with my tripod as carry on. My friend once carried an exhaust from a Harley Davidson onto a plane. He even joked that it was part of a rocket launcher at check-in 
However, I now pack it in my checked in luggage, as I can’t be bothered carrying it. Take the head off, and the handles, and pack all the pieces separately. You’ll be surprised how easy it it. Wrap the handles in a plastic bag though, or you’ll get grease on your clothes David.
Response:
Carry-on is out of the question, especially in the US
Nonsense. I’ve carried tripod onto planes in the US. Airlines will vary in their policies about what will or will not constitute acceptable carry on luggage, but I’ve only once experienced problems, and that was with American Airlines. To state that it’s "out of the question" is clearly not true. David.
Response:
My friend once carried an exhaust from a Harley Davidson onto a plane.
He even joked that it was part of a rocket launcher at check-in << Before I worked for the airlines, I carried a laser tube as carry on and joked with the security that it was part of a bazooka. I was immediately arrested and cautioned which wiped the smile off my face. Now I fly for an airline, I would find it hard to see the funny side of such a joke, so best not try that in this climate! Colin
Response:
Now I fly for an airline, I would find it hard to see the funny side of such a joke, so best not try that in this climate! Colin
I never would. It was a friend that did the rocket launcher thing. I wouldn’t even attempt to take a Harley exhaust onto a plane. I’ve stopped taking my tripod now. Not because I’ve ever BEEN stopped from taking it one (apart from AA, who got a bit snooty), but because It’s just far more convenient to take it apart, and put in in the checked baggage. David. www.david-gregory.co.uk ICQ 73269888