mcausus Posted November 12, 2015 Share #1 Posted November 12, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, I was just wondering if there are any special precautions that one should take when travelling with a Leica (Q) through U.S. airport security. I plan to travel with my Q as carryon inside a Pelican case inside a knap-sack (not quite a matryoshka situation!). Because of the Q's size, would one have to explicitly take the camera out to place into a plastic bin for the x-ray conveyer belt? Or is it OK to leave the camera inside the Pelican case and knapsack and send that through x-ray by itself. I'd just as soon like to avoid any possible theft, say, or any unintended 'oops' moment by eager security folks handling my Q -- and limiting the Q's exposure (pardon the pun) would seem safer ... Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 12, 2015 Posted November 12, 2015 Hi mcausus, Take a look here Travelling with your Leica Q through U.S. airport security. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
trunkafunk Posted November 12, 2015 Share #2 Posted November 12, 2015 don't take anything out (except film) unless asked! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Msohio Posted November 13, 2015 Share #3 Posted November 13, 2015 Been through six airports, four in the USA, twi in Europe recently. Had my Q in my carry-on backpack in a padded case. It was never checked in any way beyond the scan. And I never put it in a plastic tray. Stayed in the backpack. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
reynoldsyoung Posted November 13, 2015 Share #4 Posted November 13, 2015 It was never checked in any way beyond the scan. Ditto...always in a carry- on tote for easy access if I see a shot. Never been "bag checked" anywhere. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanJW Posted November 13, 2015 Share #5 Posted November 13, 2015 Just carried an M and a Q in a bag to London from New York last week and return yesterday. Was not asked to remove either camera. Was selected for a security spot check at the gate yesterday in London. They looked in my bag but did not ask me to remove any cameras (I even offered, in order to expedite the process; they said it wasn;t necessary; but this was not at the x-ray machines but a hand check at the gate). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigkraig Posted November 13, 2015 Share #6 Posted November 13, 2015 I've flown with a ton of SLR gear in a carry on bag, never been asked to remove anything Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orguy Posted November 13, 2015 Share #7 Posted November 13, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Right, I did same to and fro Italy and France from US this fall. The xray can see inside. Mine stayed in a Lowepro nylon bag inside a backpack. The xray will see it, no problem. There may be an issue of the spare lithium battery as checked (FAA says no, I think) , but it is ok carryon. i.e., bring in carryon with the camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcausus Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share #8 Posted November 13, 2015 Great! Many sincere thanks for sharing so many world-wide experiences!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leitztozeiss Posted November 14, 2015 Share #9 Posted November 14, 2015 It's OK to stay in the bag. The only electronics that have to come out of the bag are laptops, everything can stay in your bag. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougg Posted November 14, 2015 Share #10 Posted November 14, 2015 As said, no need to take any cameras out unless requested. And if the laptop has SSD only, no hard drive, then it doesn't need to come out of your bag either, same with iPad, etc. This year I swapped the hard drive for an SSD in my old 13" MacBook Pro, so now I can leave it in the bag when embarking for Hawaii this month, very nice further advantage for the SSD... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viv1857 Posted November 14, 2015 Share #11 Posted November 14, 2015 Mainland Chinese airports are the only ones I hAve come across that require removal of camera equipment from carry on baggage along with laptops etc for checking. Never had a problem though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanetomlane Posted November 14, 2015 Share #12 Posted November 14, 2015 I've been through US airports many times (last being last Saturday in Seattle) and I regularly carry a bag with M, Monochrom and three M lens. Have never been asked about them or had to show them. Don't worry; no problem. Regards, Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmak817 Posted November 14, 2015 Share #13 Posted November 14, 2015 As said, no need to take any cameras out unless requested. And if the laptop has SSD only, no hard drive, then it doesn't need to come out of your bag either, same with iPad, etc. This year I swapped the hard drive for an SSD in my old 13" MacBook Pro, so now I can leave it in the bag when embarking for Hawaii this month, very nice further advantage for the SSD... I have carried a laptop with SSD through many US airports (over 100 flights) and have always been asked to remove it from my bag if I do not put it in a separate bin. I have also been required to remove my iPad from my carry on to get through security in London. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marchyman Posted November 14, 2015 Share #14 Posted November 14, 2015 Leaving Paris a few years ago I had to take my DSLR and lenses out of the camera bag. When I asked the attendant said it was mostly a size thing. If the camera is "big" it has to come out of the bag. At least that was the story then and there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewDD Posted November 17, 2015 Share #15 Posted November 17, 2015 I fly a lot, and I have on occasion been asked to open the bag - and M and a Q together make a big lump of metal! As for theft, you've a bigger risk of someone "accidently" picking up your laptop on the other side of the machine - that's happened to me twice. When confronted, both of them apologised, gave me back my laptop, but didn't try to pick up their own one - just walked off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iduna Posted November 17, 2015 Share #16 Posted November 17, 2015 Don't worry. I have also carried a lot of gear in my photo-backpack. The only thing that happened twice was at the security check at DUS-Airport Germany. I had to take out the lenses, not the bodies (I had 3). Not in USA, not in China, not in London, not in the Czech Republic but in Germany. The told me it was a new guideline then. When I askes whether I should explain every lens, they kindly refused.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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