[Leica] Extra photo bag on the plane

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (Ted Grant)]

Hi Simon,
As much as I hate to admit this, because when I do, it merely shows how 
stupid I and other photographers were way back in the early '60's. when 
flying overseas.

In those days everything you carried was weighed, hand bags, suit cases, 
camera bags whatever you were carrying went on the scale at check-in. And if 
that combined weight exceeded the allowable weight the passenger paid a 
penalty.

However, some photographers, certainly myself upon arrival at the airport 
would get a locker and unload the bulk of the gear in the shoulder bags. 
Then we'd check in and just barely make the weight re-restrictions. Once 
checked in and boarding pass in hand we'd return to the locker re-fill the 
camera bag, sometimes with major weight of cameras and lenses.  Then board 
plane.

In those days it was prop driven aircraft therefore I expect a greater 
danger in weight ratio to engine power, however we never thought of the 
danger in over loading as all we wanted to do was save money. And being over 
weight was quite a hefty cost factor in those days. Certainly when we took a 
major load of long lenses and all the other stuff it could almost amount to 
the cost of another passenger ticket.

These days I carry as little as possible and save the energy for the shoot. 
The only problem with that is, now my cases have to be left unlocked at 
check in and each time that happens I give all the cameras a kiss and pat 
with the prayer.... "I hope I see you once again at the other end!" :-(

Or worse, the well trained, highly intelligent, camera knowledgeable TSA 
people while checking through your unlocked cases don't smash the innards of 
yer lovely new M7's to pieces. An old story and nothing resolved as yet 
because... "we take no responsibility for any damage as it's National 
Security!" Well OK eh! :-( :-(

But as you pointed out, sucking a bird or two into an engine on take off 
might be more than a dead bird because of too people over loading bags. But 
how do the airlines allow for a big fat body who basically takes up two 
seats while trying to fit in to one? Surely they make some kind of allowance 
when they look at the passenger? I mean, do they slip an unseen toe onto a 
floor button, press on it adding an extra 100 lbs or so compared to the 
skinny gal or guy who's as thin as a fence post? ;-)

We weren't all that clever in the old days at saving a few dollars, when we 
might have lost millions if the plane packed it in! :-(

ted