[Leica] Hand Baggage - Three Questions

[grduprey at mchsi.com (grduprey@mchsi.com)]

David,

you can get TSA approved locks, which they have keys for.  But do not know 
if these are approved for International flights.

gene


-------------- Original message from David Young <telyt@telus.net>: 
-------------- 


> All: 
> 
> I've been fortunate enough to have travelled widely. Always, I've 
> taken my cameras as hand (cabin) baggage. 
> 
> Now, as you've likely all heard, in the UK cabin luggage has been 
> severely limited, and cameras (among many other things) are no longer 
> allowed and must be handled as checked baggage. While many hope that 
> this is a temporary measure, this morning's press reports from the UK 
> indicate (according to at least one government spokesman) these 
> changes may well become permanent. 
> 
> Personally, I am pleased that the Brits appear to have foiled the 
> plot, and have no problems with the enhanced security or even longer 
> airport waits, for I'd rather have the inconvenience and arrive alive. 
> 
> However, it brings up a problem with cameras and the LHSA convention, 
> next month in Wetzlar/Solms. Naturally, I'd planned to take my 
> Leicas. Now, of course, they must now travel as checked luggage - 
> something I have always avoided. 
> 
> Worse, the airlines are saying that they cannot be responsible for 
> [a] loss nor [b] damage, if fragile/valuable items are in checked 
> baggage, and suggest we all confirm with our insurance agencies that 
> we will be covered. (This from the British Airways website, this AM.) 
> 
> I'm now thinking of buying an inexpensive piece of rolling luggage 
> (probably carry on size), filling it with firm foam and carefully 
> packing the gear. Has anyone here had experience with this sort of 
> thing? Any success? (I know Ted had a bad experience with the 
> US-TSA, but this trip is Vancouver-Heathrow-Paris, returning from 
> Heathrow. 
> 
> As an alternative, I was given (lucky me!) a Pelican look-alike case 
> (approx 21x 14.5x 10 in. or 54x 37x 25.5 cm) that is older, well 
> used, but in superb mechanical condition. Again, I'd fill it with 
> foam and custom cut around it. There are, three problems with it. 
> 
> First of all, it's heavy ... 11 pounds or 5 kilos - and that's before 
> we add foam or gear! 
> 
> Secondly, I'll have to remove the large decal which reads 
> "SEISMIC*STAR DETONATORS - Class 'A' Dinosaur Hunters (Austin Powder Co.)" 
> !!! 
> 
> Thirdly, because it has, in past, been used to carry explosives, it 
> may still test positive for nitrates at the airport. Does anyone 
> here have a sure fire process to eliminate all nitrate residue from 
> an all plastic case? 
> 
> Last question: 
> 
> In the USA, baggage is not to be locked, as the TSA want to be able 
> to open it for inspection. However, I have been unable to determine 
> if locked luggage is still permissible overseas. Obviously, a locked 
> case is more secure from theft... you only have to worry about losing 
> the entire case! Does anyone know which, if any, locks are presently 
> allowed, outside the USA? 
> 
> Any thoughts or experiences in this area will be greatly appreciated. 
> 
> Cheers! 
> --- 
> 
> David Young, 
> Logan Lake, CANADA 
> 
> Limited Edition Prints at: http://www.telyt.com/ 
> Personal Web-site at: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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