Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/11/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I've flown about four times since 9/11. A few comments. AS everyone else says, it just depends a whole bunch on the airport. I pulled up at curbside check-in at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and practically had to wake up the guys who check-in baggage. There were no fliers at 4pm. Then it took about five minutes to get thru security. Very quick. I flew out of LaGuardia (LGA) last week. Again curbside was great. In both cases I checked my bag and got my boarding pass and was done. I highly recommend curbside where you can do it, especially if you can get your boarding pass there. Inside LGA was an absolute nightmare. The line at the American Airlines ticket counter was extremely long. I cannot imagine anybody was getting thru that line in less than an hour. Lines at Love Field in Dallas for Southwest Airlines have been reported to be pretty bad. So, if you can arrange your seat ahead of time, use curbside baggage check-in and also receive your boarding-pass -- then all you have to do is go thru security. Security's a mixed bag. I had them hand inspect my film (Tmax3200) in Dallas. They looked at me like I had a chrome lens on a black body. But they took the film. They laid it on top of the "sniffer" machine. I waited for my two bags & G4 (Domke803 & Lightware attache) for a while to come out of the carry-on "x-ray" machine while they ran some computer-geek's bag thru the machine three times to figure out what he had in it. By the time I got to my film, it was still sitting on top of the sniffer machine in a basket with nobody around. I picked up the film and that was it. Both trips --when returning--I just threw the film and all thru the machine and didn't worry about it ( I've had the Tmax3200 go thru machines with no problem, including a couple of foreign airports.). The lines at security took about 20 or so minutes at LGA. Indianapolis was eight or so minutes. DFW was short. I don't think your three hour arrival time is all that bad an idea. Either you'll need most of it or practically none of it. I always have stuff to read and ofcourse the G4. Airports are great for people-watching and perhaps a few grab-shots with the Leica. John Fulton Fort Worth > >Hello, > >I am new to list and enjoying it very much. I checked >the archives and did not see any recent discussion on >this topic. If this is is too off topic, I apologize. > >I am planning a trip out west at the end of December >and am interested if anyone has any recent experience >with airport security and carry-on of camera >equipment? I will be taking my m6ttl and 2 or 3 lenses >and would like to avoid having to check them. Film I >will purchase once there and ship back via fedex or >the like. > >Any input is appreciated. Thank you. > >Regards, >Doug Lee - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html