Traveling with photographic equipment can be a challenge. Airlines limit the size and weight of hand luggage to the point where it is nearly impossible to carry all devices as hand luggage. Although I have accepted that my tripod must be checked in, the camera, lens, filter, and laptop must be with me. In this article, I share a travel tip that helps overcome carry-on baggage restrictions.
In ten years of traveling, I have had to weigh hand luggage three times. Each time my bag goes over the limit by about 5 kg, usually 7 or 8 kg. For the first time, I was able to convince the airline staff that my photographic equipment was too precious to fit in checked baggage and that there was never a problem with stuffing it in the overhead compartment.
The second time, I had to get rid of a few items: I have some less important gear, which I can put in checked baggage. And luckily, then they didn’t weigh my bag – it was still too heavy.
Before boarding my flight from the Seychelles back to Germany, I ran into a bigger problem. When I dropped my big bag and got my ticket, the lady at the counter didn’t want to let me keep my camera bag as a carry-on due to its weight. She refused to handle my luggage and give the ticket, and I couldn’t convince her otherwise. After a few minutes, I saw a Qatar Airways person, whom I was flying with, passing by and quickly spoke to her. Thankfully, she understood and I was able to bring my camera gear.
Those three problems showed me that I was having a hard time with my camera gear. It was only a matter of time until I ran into more serious problems as airlines enforce their carry-on baggage policy more and more in the future. As it stands, it’s simply not a good idea to test any valuable equipment. Today, too much checked baggage is lost or damaged. So it was essential for me to find a solution that would allow me more wiggle room the next time I was stopped.
Hand luggage solution
Most airlines allow not one carry-on item, but two items. You can usually carry your laptop and small personal items in a separate bag. The total weight remains the same, but handing out your device can still help the next time you’re stopped by airline or airport staff to weigh your hand luggage.
In the featured video, I present a solution for weight distribution at check-in. Mine Dell XPS 15” enters the powerful Inateck laptop case with several accessories. I put this case in an Eagle Creek packable Daypack. It is very thin and weighs almost nothing. I put it in my big front compartment NYA-Evo Fjord 60c . Camera Backpack.
My camera bag usually weighs around 13 kg when I travel. Before going to the counter to drop off my checked baggage, I took my backpack out of my backpack. In addition to my laptop, I keep my passport, wallet, power bank, headphones, and other small devices in it. In the end, it weighs a little more than 3 kg. As a result, I now carry three bags: a large bag that I want to check in, a camera backpack on my back, and a small backpack.
Usually, no one notices the daypack when I put it down in front of the counter. If my carry-on luggage has to be weighed, I take the backpack over my shoulder and put it on the scale. It is still too heavy, but 2-3 kg is much less of a problem than 6 kg.
If I’m wearing a jacket, I can put my backpack underneath it. It’s low profile and won’t go unnoticed. If you have pants with large pockets, you can stuff more stuff in them.
More comfortable
Carrying luggage for the day doesn’t just help with carry-on baggage restrictions. It also makes traveling much more comfortable. I usually wear the NYA-Evo Fjord in the back and the daypack in the front when I’m at the airport. I have easy access to my travel documents and I get through security faster because I can quickly get my laptop out.
After boarding the plane, I put my backpack under the seat in front of me. This way, I don’t need to access the top compartment if I want to get my headphones or cell phone that I also put there.
I stored the Eagle Creek package at the NYA-Evo Fjord again before collecting my post-flight check-in baggage. From there to the hotel, it’s easier with just two bags.
Conclusion
I know that carry-on baggage restrictions are there for a reason. Passengers carrying heavy bags often slow down the boarding process, and those overhead compartments are designed with those limitations in mind. That’s why split weights, as I showed above, are a great solution. It doesn’t just help you if you have to weigh your hand luggage. It also makes boarding much faster and reduces the need to access the upper luggage compartment during the flight.
Such a travel package can also be useful for the rest of your travel. You can use it to buy groceries or for a quick trip to the beach if you don’t want to carry your camera gear.
Now let’s hear some of your stories in the comments. Have you ever been in trouble because your hand luggage is too heavy? How did you handle the situation?
