Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/04/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Well all thank you for such an incredible response. For the record a post has been sent to the TSA explaining the situation and I now await their response. It'll be past on when it occurs. I will be speaking with the airline people tomorrow for their re-action and will also let you know their response. Considering I've been flying commercial and chartered flights, military and you name it flights since 1951, in many situations checking 5 camera and photographic equipment cases and a couple of clothing cases, one would think I should understand flying and carrying equipment. Actually on a few occasions carrying on board a 400mm 2.8 on an R camera body and motor drive. That was it, as I knew as soon as we arrived it was showtime and action without waiting for bags and cases to be unloaded, so the camera and lens were in the overhead bin for the ride.:-) Oh yeah also carrying a camera bag with a couple of other Leicas and lenses ready to go into action. :-) In all my years I never experienced a loss nor damage to gear so this is the first situation of it's kind. And to all who suggested I should've carried the M7's as carry on, well I suppose that's Monday morning quarter backing and I should have. But I considered already carrying a shoulder bag with a couple of motor driven R's and lenses was more than I'd be allowed with two, so I went prepared to "obey the in flight law" as such. Of course it pained me greatly to leave the case unlocked but that's the situation of flying today with all your checked bags whether you like it or not. Certainly as it pertains to flying into the USA. The next time if there should be, I'll take the shoulder bag loaded and the Halliburton on board, one under the seat and one in the overhead bin, thusly having it all with me for inspection and travel. Clothes you can always find a shop only too glad to sell you new clothes. Cameras? That's another situation. :-( So for the moment it's wait and see. Once again thanks to everyone for their sympathies and suggestions and even though I've not been burnt in over 53 years flying there's always the inevitable "first time" for everything. ted Ted Grant Photography Limited www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant