Checking in fragile items... camera equipment

[Cyclogenesis]

Good morning all!
I'm moving to Chicago in June. The company (well actually the US government in the guise of a DoE Lab) is moving our goods (sea freight). I have a bunch of lenses and camera gear that I am not to sure I want to be shipped (more of an insurance issue than a fragility issue)

Now I am not sure I can carry aboard on a whY ticket given I have a laptop + a heap of other stuff...

So what kind of stuff have people actually checked? How much is the "fragile" sticker QF puts on it worth (ie how does it affect the handling)?

Or am I being silly and just send it with the rest of my goods and buy some extra insurance (they insure by the pound, something like $2 per pound... now unfortunately I dont have much stuff so the total insurance will be quite small... Silly system as the company allows up to 18,000 pounds shipping so I may be tempted to ship some heavy inexpensive stuff just to increase the insurance!!)

 

[Maca44]

I thought you could take a small backpack together with one personal item such as a laptop, so could you lens etc not be carried in the backpack?

 

[serfty]

With the Montreal convention there is no insurance for "fragile" items in checked luggage.

As for private travel insurance, I suggest you check your PDS carefully for similar exclusions.

 

[rtyuiop]

If you do decide to check the gear in and don't want to shell out for Pelican cases for the whole lot, I seem to recall there's been a few posts on Australian photography forums about some cases from Bunnings that are fairly similar - get some of those and cut some snug little spots for your gear in some cheap foam, and it'll give some decent protection.

Danny

 

[Bang4Buck]

I've had items labelled "fragile" that have been damaged significantly. Not a big worry at the time, as I expected it. Be forewarned that said damage could only have occured through being thrown around, especially as I had each item thoroughly wrapped in protective cloth and "bubbles". Boxes on each package also showed damage. Get appropriate insurance, if you cannot afford your gear to be damaged.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Thanks all... yes pretty much confirms what I though..

I have been thinking of getting a midrange roll aboard and doing the home made foam thing for some time... this might be the time

 

[vhzkn]

Doesn't help much with the risk on the Pacific segment, but if you wind up opting to check the camera gear in the hold, you could always retrieve at US customs in {LAX/SFO/HNL/...} and then gate-check it for the domestic segment(s). That eliminates at least one pair of runs through baggage handling systems.

 

[BlueAU]

I've travelled with someone who has a 20kg video camera and takes it onboard. No problems on most airlines.

Sure it doesn't even fit in the thing or weigh under 7kg.

I would definitely travel ONBOARD with it. DO NOT put lenses or delicate things in check in ....