Transporting gear (airlines, shipping, etc.)

[Don Shreve]

I've been in a quandary for a long time about the best way to get my gear to my locations.
I recently came up with this configuration- A Think Tank Airport Security for my camera gear with an Airport Check-In for my laptop, cables, glasses, wallet & all the other stuff. I can carry these items on the plane except in the small commuter planes, where I have to gate check the camera case (reluctantly, with a big FRAGILE tag on the handles).
I put my tripod, clothes & anything else in a rolling hard shell golf club case. This sometimes exceeds the 50 lb. limit & have to pay oversize fees, usually $50. But this lets me get through the airport rolling only two (heavy) items. It's a struggle but doable.
Obviously what's missing here is lighting gear. I've just worked primarily with ambient light for interiors, but I'm never satisfied with the results & have to spend an enormous amount of time creating HDR's & post-processing to compensate for not being able to carry lighting gear.
I just opened a UPS account & ran a test airbill to calculate cost on shipping a 47 lb. tripod/lightstand case & a 30 lb. lighting case from where I live to say, Houston, TX., via 3-day ground service (not guaranteed, or even insured..)
It was $300, one-way. It would cost more than my airfare to ship my gear & I would be without it for at least 3 days on each end of my trip, which is a problem. I bill all expenses to my clients, but to suddenly add at least $600 to my invoices will create an "issue" with my main client, who would have a hard time understanding all this.
SO.....How do other folks deal with this situation?
Please share with everyone here, and/or contact me directly-
don at shreveimaging dot com

Thanks,
Don Shreve
Fayetteville, AR

[MossPhotography]

Don-

Welcome to the age of air travel. When I fly, and that's only for jobs over 900 miles away, I always fly Frontier. They have a media rate for baggage checked by professional film crews. They charge me $25/bag, no matter how many bags I check. I usually fly with 10 bags. I also carry on my phase back and my laptop. I just tell my clients up front about the cost. Remember to also include about $40 per leg for skycaps. It really saves your back.

Most other airlines have media rates as well. Check their "Contract of Carriage" (Google it) for baggage allowances, that is usually were you find exceptions. Also, print out the appropriate pages of the COC. In my experience, most check in clerks don't know about those clauses in the COC's. Also, allow more time at check in. They usually have to call a supervisor to help code the bags.

~Vic~

[CFandel]

Hi Don,
Sorry I'm a bit slow at responding. Traveling with gear can be a challenge. First and foremost, I never trust my photo bag to anyone! When I fly any plane, including the tiny sky-hoppers, I always carry it on...period. I tell the flight attendant that it is expensive stuff and stays with me. My laptop is tucked in with my gear as a top layer...my bag accomodates that. If the seat next to me is empty, no problem. If not, they tuck it away in a storage area right by the front door and you can see it all the time. As for lighting, I use unbreakable stuff like Lowel lights. The delicate bulbs go in a glasses case surrounded by cotton for protection. Now, when they throw my bags around, I know that my gear will work when I get there.

[pkubilus]

I have flown nearly 15,000 miles so far this year and have a system down.

The rates are as follows for airline checked luggage:

$14 for the 1st bag
$25 for the 2nd
$105 for the 3rd

It does make sense for the third being $105 since some people bring to much crap on vacation.

It is very doable bringing 2 large pelican cases of lights, and two stand bags and still avoiding huge fees. Just bring an assistant! You arent going to fly bringing most of your normal gear without one. Just split the 3 or 4 cases between both of you and it would be between $14-40 extra per person flying. You can also perhaps tape the 2 stand bags together creating one bag. Also shove extension cords in the stand bags. Now for smaller commuter craft, they try and tell you you cant bring a camera bag on board and make you check it, just shove it under your assistants seat and put the laptop case above you and just hold on to your carry ons.