Go shoot something.
September 23, 2006 9:16 PM Subscribe
Worried about your expensive camera gear (or other stuff I suppose...) getting lost by the airline? Be sure to pack a pistol.
Why stop there? Put a gun in all your luggage. Pretty good idea.
posted by bob sarabia at 9:41 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by bob sarabia at 9:41 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
How about a camera-gun? Two birds, one stone.
I am a provider of solutions.
posted by secret about box at 9:50 PM on September 23, 2006 [2 favorites]
I am a provider of solutions.
posted by secret about box at 9:50 PM on September 23, 2006 [2 favorites]
Finally a reason for the second amendment that everyone can agree on.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 9:59 PM on September 23, 2006 [2 favorites]
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 9:59 PM on September 23, 2006 [2 favorites]
One problem with putting a gun in every piece of your luggage, is that every peice of your luggage is going to have to be a lockable, hard sided case. Might not be an issue for many, but for those of us accustomed to the soft-sided 2 suiter, or a B4 bag [see reference in 12th paragraph], it's something of a consideration.
posted by paulsc at 10:01 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by paulsc at 10:01 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
They don't let you carry camera batteries with you?
posted by delmoi at 10:02 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by delmoi at 10:02 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
paulsc: The idea is to do this with your really expensive stuff, which you are going to want to have in a locked, hard-sided case anyway, I would imagine.
posted by delmoi at 10:03 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by delmoi at 10:03 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
I was just thinking of having all my luggage be hard and lockable. I think the inconvenience is balanced by the very good guarantee that you'll get your luggage back. But I don't fly much. Also, I think you'd be put on some kind of list for always traveling with guns in all your luggage. Maybe not, though.
posted by bob sarabia at 10:08 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by bob sarabia at 10:08 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
Guarantee that the TSA pays attention to your camera/laptop/etc. for a mere $19.13! Not bad.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:11 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:11 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
The day they start requiring checking in of camera equipment, is the day I'll get a Fedex account...
I am not trusting baggage handlers with that stuff, no more than I'm going to start wearing a tag that says "sucker" on my forehead.
posted by clevershark at 10:23 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
I am not trusting baggage handlers with that stuff, no more than I'm going to start wearing a tag that says "sucker" on my forehead.
posted by clevershark at 10:23 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
They don't let you carry camera batteries with you?
I think that only applies in Kashmir.
posted by bob sarabia at 10:33 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
I think that only applies in Kashmir.
posted by bob sarabia at 10:33 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
I often have to check very expensive gear when I fly and I've never had an issue. It's mostly lights but occasionally I'll shove a film camera in my baggage. I've never heard of this but it seems to be a brilliant solution.
btw - using FedEx to ship gear is VERY expensive and not fool proof. Depending on how much gear you have it can run hundreds of dollars. I generally pay an extra $25 for an over weight bag under 70 lbs.
posted by photoslob at 10:34 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
btw - using FedEx to ship gear is VERY expensive and not fool proof. Depending on how much gear you have it can run hundreds of dollars. I generally pay an extra $25 for an over weight bag under 70 lbs.
posted by photoslob at 10:34 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]
Also on Schiedner: Free money, (but I wouldn't suggest taking it). Right after the camera gear and gun article. Very interesting.
posted by Bort at 10:54 PM on September 23, 2006
posted by Bort at 10:54 PM on September 23, 2006
Obviously it's different if you're a professional photographer -- then you have special insurance for your gear, and if you need to replace it it's a business expense. I can't risk having my $2000 or so of camera gear "disappear" during a flight. By pro standards it's nothing I'm sure, but I just can't realistically afford to replace it. If I had to go to the UK tomorrow I would have to fly to Paris and take a train from there.
posted by clevershark at 10:56 PM on September 23, 2006
posted by clevershark at 10:56 PM on September 23, 2006
This is a fantastic idea and I don't think it would have ever occured to me. Even with insurance that will replace my gear I would still be left lacking gear upon landing if it was lost or damaged; that's no damn good at all if I need it for a job anytime before it can be replaced.
This will be a great thing to know next I need to fly since carrying on isn't always so possible. woooo, thank you blaneyphoto.
posted by Stunt at 11:53 PM on September 23, 2006
This will be a great thing to know next I need to fly since carrying on isn't always so possible. woooo, thank you blaneyphoto.
posted by Stunt at 11:53 PM on September 23, 2006
They don't let you carry camera batteries with you?
I think that only applies in Kashmir.
I spent most of December 2005 in Bombay, and boarding the return flight to London Indian security made us discard all loose disposable batteries. They also separately screened anything that was battery powered; a careful hand inspection followed by a separate trip through the x-ray machine.
posted by Mutant at 12:32 AM on September 24, 2006
I think that only applies in Kashmir.
I spent most of December 2005 in Bombay, and boarding the return flight to London Indian security made us discard all loose disposable batteries. They also separately screened anything that was battery powered; a careful hand inspection followed by a separate trip through the x-ray machine.
posted by Mutant at 12:32 AM on September 24, 2006
Reading the comments on the linked page, it sounds like this is far from a solution. Following a suggestion there, I Googled gun theft o'hare, and it does look like a lot of checked firearms go missing as well. Possibly it even makes your baggage more of a target, by standing out from the crowd as having something valuable on the black market inside.
Is it just me, or is this one more step in making air travel impractical?
posted by String at 12:33 AM on September 24, 2006
Is it just me, or is this one more step in making air travel impractical?
posted by String at 12:33 AM on September 24, 2006
dude i've worked for fed ex before. you do NOT want to ship your stuff cross country with them.
companies like fedex and ups outsourve the aviation companies that run their air delivery hubs in many locations. let's just say their hiring standards are.....probably lower than your average fast food restaurant.
ground shipping you might be ok, but FYI they used to pack the trucks by just throwing all the small stuff in, then throwing all the big stuff in. wherever it landed, there it stayed (or didn't stay, as was often the case).
posted by lazaruslong at 2:26 AM on September 24, 2006
companies like fedex and ups outsourve the aviation companies that run their air delivery hubs in many locations. let's just say their hiring standards are.....probably lower than your average fast food restaurant.
ground shipping you might be ok, but FYI they used to pack the trucks by just throwing all the small stuff in, then throwing all the big stuff in. wherever it landed, there it stayed (or didn't stay, as was often the case).
posted by lazaruslong at 2:26 AM on September 24, 2006
A frickin' starter pistol along with the camera. Wow.
That's the best airline advice I've gotten since a Jewish friend recommended I start requesting the kosher meals.
posted by pax digita at 5:00 AM on September 24, 2006
That's the best airline advice I've gotten since a Jewish friend recommended I start requesting the kosher meals.
posted by pax digita at 5:00 AM on September 24, 2006
When I worked for UPS our method for filling trucks was a bit better than "Throwing stuff in", but yeah, if you're considering shipping your very expensive camera equipment via one of these companies I'd reccomend packing it very carefully.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 7:01 AM on September 24, 2006
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 7:01 AM on September 24, 2006
paulsc writes "One problem with putting a gun in every piece of your luggage, is that every peice of your luggage is going to have to be a lockable, hard sided case. "
Just the gun needs to be in a hardsided case. You can then put the small pelican holding the pistol into a larger bag and gun check the whole thing.
posted by Mitheral at 7:23 AM on September 24, 2006
Just the gun needs to be in a hardsided case. You can then put the small pelican holding the pistol into a larger bag and gun check the whole thing.
posted by Mitheral at 7:23 AM on September 24, 2006
Mitheral, that breaks the intent of having the gun. You want the gun in the same hard sided case that your camera is. If you just put the gun in a hard sided case in your soft sided bag containing your other luggage TSA will inspect your soft sided luggage, put aside your gun and not inspect it, replace the gun and close your soft sided luggage.
As for the numbers on guns gone missing it's possibly excaberated by the number of cases that arrive at checkout that are obviously guns. They're in travel cases designed to carry a gun and some ammunition so if you're inclined to steal guns for their value on the black market then they're easy to identify. The cases aren't tagged "This is a gun" by TSA but because the case was designed to store a gun and only a gun you've assisted potential thieves.
You'd be better off getting a small cooler retrofitted to carry your gun and/or camera.
posted by substrate at 7:47 AM on September 24, 2006
As for the numbers on guns gone missing it's possibly excaberated by the number of cases that arrive at checkout that are obviously guns. They're in travel cases designed to carry a gun and some ammunition so if you're inclined to steal guns for their value on the black market then they're easy to identify. The cases aren't tagged "This is a gun" by TSA but because the case was designed to store a gun and only a gun you've assisted potential thieves.
You'd be better off getting a small cooler retrofitted to carry your gun and/or camera.
posted by substrate at 7:47 AM on September 24, 2006
pax digita writes "That's the best airline advice I've gotten since a Jewish friend recommended I start requesting the kosher meals."
OK... why is that good airline advice? Were you trying to avoid pork & shellfish?
posted by clevershark at 5:47 PM on September 24, 2006
OK... why is that good airline advice? Were you trying to avoid pork & shellfish?
posted by clevershark at 5:47 PM on September 24, 2006
Because the kosher meals are prepared specially and are of better quality than the standard airplane glop. Same thing goes for vegetarian meals or any other special request. Most airlines have a long list of special meals you can request. Check into it next time you buy a ticket for a flight that is serving meals.
posted by spacewaitress at 7:57 AM on September 25, 2006
posted by spacewaitress at 7:57 AM on September 25, 2006
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posted by farishta at 9:20 PM on September 23, 2006 [1 favorite]