I'm surprised that they allow guns at all. Hell, they don't even
allow cigarette lighters!
Roger
On 17 Dec 2007, at 9:49 PM, Robert Read wrote:
On Dec 17, 2007, at 19:06 , Bob wrote:
The link to the New York Times is waaaay outdated. Eastern
Airlines went away quite a few years ago. Then when I looked at
the date it was 16 July 1988, almost 20 years ago. Things have
changed drastically since then, ever since 9/11.
The insurance will help but you're shafted if you are on vacation
or assignment and your camera gear is missing.
If video surveillance isn't working, the RFID tags, while a good
idea will only tell them where your luggage is when the contents
are scanned for good loot.
What about FedEx or UPS for example to the lodgings you're staying
at. I wonder if you can give them a heads up that you're
expecting a package on or before your arrival?
In this case I'm visiting family, so shipping would be easy. (I've
already shipped most of the gifts - including, ironically, 2 small
cameras.)
I love the "Smith & Wesson" security idea. Alas, I don't own a gun,
and don't have a clue about the various regulations I'd be dealing
with, so definitely not for this trip. I wonder what they would
think when I checked in a gun and a baby seat in at the same time?
I'll bet the baby seat would actually arrive on the same flight,
for one thing.
Gate checking seems like a reasonable alternative, although at that
point it's just carry-on without having to worry about fitting it
in the overhead. You still have to lug it around the airport, etc.
However, the gear would be better protected, and if the case is the
right size, it might be allowed on as a carry-on anyway, with luck.
I'll probably just end up doing what I usually do, carry the
camera, main lens, and laptop, and check the non-essential tucked
in the with the clothes.
cheers,
robert
