Airline Carry On Rules For Luggage

11 Responses to “I Need To Carry A Tripod On An Airplane.?”

1. Tony on August 9th, 2009 at 4:20 PM

   I travel every week and am also a photographer. I carry a small portable tripod with me all the time in my hand luggage (I don’t ever check gear). The TSA web site makes no mention of tripods, but walking canes and umbrellas mentioned as allowed. This unfortunately puts you in a “gray area”.
   Since they are not on the list of prohibited items you can bring it on board. I have never had a problem with my smaller lightweight travel tripod and I have also flown a few times with my monopod in the bag. The risk of being in a gray area, is that sometimes you will meet TSA members who do their best to interpret the rules and if your tripod is big and heavy, you run the risk of scrutiny and might be told to check it.
   I would suggest taking it through security, but leave yourself enough time so that in a worse case you can go and check it.

2. GigGLeS! on August 9th, 2009 at 4:22 PM

   I’m not even sure the tripod would make it to the cabin. But you could check it at the last minute like they do for baby strollers…
   Just a suggestion.

3. Eric R on August 9th, 2009 at 4:35 PM

   Depending on what sort of work you’re planning on doing, you may want to consider taking a Gorillapod instead. I just recently bought one and really like it. And they’re amazingly strong and stable! The largest model costs about $50, but it can take a Nikon F4 with an 80-200mm zoom, no problem.

4. Papa Joe on August 9th, 2009 at 4:47 PM

   A long as it is compact enough to put in overhead, no problem, that was my experience with Northwest. I have nmever checked my camera equipment and suggest you dont unless mandated to do so.

5. Jo Blo on August 9th, 2009 at 4:55 PM

   mine is carbon fiber but still have to check it
   can’t even get a mono pod on-board, then think I could use it as weapon

6. stanncol on August 9th, 2009 at 5:01 PM

   that’s an easy one all you need to do is put the tripod where others put there strollers and valeted baggages on the Jetway and the airline will deal with it from there that’s the easier way because theres to much hustle to carry it on board in my opinion. I’m not to sure about this answer but hope it helps you out .

7. High-wir on August 9th, 2009 at 5:12 PM

   I would ship it overnight to my destination, or just buy one when I got there.

8. wackywal on August 9th, 2009 at 5:23 PM

   You would think that a tripod would raise suspicion, but let me just say that homeland security doesn’t use their immagination as to what could be a deadly weapon. I travel a lot and from my own personal experience as a photographer, whether or not you are allowed to bring a tripod as carry-on depends upon who is checking the baggage at the security gate. In fact in all my travels only once, while I was overseas, was I not allowed to bring my tripod as carry-on because as they put it, it was too heavy and if it were to fall out of the luggage compartment it could cause serious injury (consequently they did end up bending my $400 aluminum 4×5 tripod during transit). The interesting thing is that I have run into more security check issues overseas than in the United States. Prior to boarding on my last trip I had my luggage checked 3 times before boarding.
   Like the last person said, get to the airport early, bring the tripod as carry-on and if they dont allow it, you can always check it in.

9. E Batchelder on November 19th, 2010 at 3:45 PM

   I just spoke with someone at the TSA on the phone, and I was told that tripods are up to the discretion of the security personnel at the screening gate. Heavy metal or non-collapsable tripods are definitely NOT allowed, she said, while light-weight collapsable tripods will probably be allowed through, but she was careful to say that there are no guarantees. It may be possible to call the airport you are departing from and get a better feel for how strict they are at the time you are traveling.

10. Marcus on January 12th, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    I have brought my tripod with me on every trip since I bought it 4 years ago, and have luckily not had any issues. It is a fairly sizable and heavy manfrotto tripod (about 8lbs, 30″ long collapsed), and I always carry it on its own (not in any luggage as it is even too long for any allowed carryon bag). I always have my Tamrac camera backpack with me as well, which is pretty thick, and many times has to be squished down a bit to fit in the overhead, height-wise. I typically sit by a window and put the tripod under the seat in front of me, even though it sticks out beyond. Since I am by the window, it does not block aisles, and I am guessing my long legs ‘cover up’ the part that is sticking out. I would not trust the airline by checking it, as I have seen how they handle checked luggage. You are asking for it to get broke or bent, even if it is a strong one. I just purchased a carbon fiber one for travel, and I sure as heck hope they never make me check it, as it will get destroyed.

11. sandi on June 16th, 2011 at 2:25 PM

    My collapsable tripod was taken from me while traveling through Naples in Aug 2010. They said it is absolutely not allowed in Italy. As a result, I haven’t tried to carry it on with me since then. I fly out tomorrow to Hungary and am debating on it because I am only bringing a small bag to check.

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