Overhead bin/locker sizes?

[RSD]

I have to carry a lot of very expensive camera gear for work, and increasingly insurance companies are stating in new policies that they will only cover gear that is in carry on luggage which is going to cause me more headaches.

Can anyone tell me the maximum practical vertical dimension for a bag to go into an overhead bin on 737 or bigger aircraft? Can you go much past 25cm in that dimension?

Any info on front to back dimension would be helpful too.

I can't believe that after all of these years I never actually took too much notice of exactly how big the bins are - as long as it fitted life was good.

 

[737]

Hi,

I cannot give u the dimensions of the actual overhead bin on any of the aircraft, but on QF, any carry on luggage must fit within certain dimensions or it will need to be checked in as luggage.

I got the info from here: Fly - Baggage - Carry-on Baggage - General, which basically says that the hand luggage must fit within:

56cm x 36cm x 23cm (linear dimension of 115cm)


So i guess the overhead lockers are not much bigger than that. However, if your bag/package does not fit in the overhead locker, then we can't fit it in a cupboard or anything else, as these aren't approved stowages for these such items.

There are test units at the gate which you can see if it will fit into, but you'll be able to find more detailed information on what size of luggage can be brought onboard. Although the overhead bins can be quite large, we have to limit the size of the luggage for safety reasons, regardless of the bins onboard.

I hope that helps, sorry to just link you to a website, but that would best explain it.

Cheers

737

 

[RSD]

Hi 737,

Many thanks for the reply. I'm hoping to go for a new bag that is 28cm in the vertical dimension when going into a locker. I was fortunate on my last trip (just got back from Antartica) that a few phone calls in advance and a flight that wasn't full enabled me to put 73kg of camera gear in the overhead lockers. That was an unusual trip though as I don't normally need quite that much gear.

 

[RSD]

I'm thinking that overhead locker sizes may have increased slightly over the years as planes have developed, but the standard carry on baggage size that is quoted may not have.

 

[rtyuiop]

The other issue with camera gear on planes is weight - it doesn't take much camera gear to go over the maximum 7kg on Qantas (for instance).

Not that they check all that often, but it does happen - and it might be more likely if your bag looks heavy. And if you were expecting to carry it on and are forced to check it or not fly, that could be a bit of an issue...

Danny

 

[oz_mark]

I'm thinking that overhead locker sizes may have increased slightly over the years as planes have developed, but the standard carry on baggage size that is quoted may not have.

The issue is also about weight - as things falling out of lockers and landing on someones head can be a problem if the falling item is very heavy.

 

[RSD]

The other issue with camera gear on planes is weight - it doesn't take much camera gear to go over the maximum 7kg on Qantas (for instance).

Not that they check all that often, but it does happen - and it might be more likely if your bag looks heavy. And if you were expecting to carry it on and are forced to check it or not fly, that could be a bit of an issue...

Danny

I've had my camera gear weighed a few times - and each time it is overweight, but once they see that it is camera gear and I explain that I am on an assignment and that I am happy to pay excess baggage for it they are usually happy for it to go through - most airlines aren't keen to put camera gear in the hold. Only once have I had to remove things and that was at an airport that is notorious in our industry for giving grief - fortunately check ins can't police fashion so that is when the massive cargo pants and custom photographers vest came out to hold the excess - the look on her face was priceless.

 

[RSD]

The issue is also about weight - as things falling out of lockers and landing on someones head can be a problem if the falling item is very heavy.

It hasn't been a problem so far, I guess the closer I can match the bag size to the locker size then the less the chance that it will fall out.

 

[Actualise]

Hi there RSD,

I too am a photographer and know your dilemma.

737 has done a great job of telling you the rules. I'll let you in on a secret... I flout the rules, generally with impunity. My gold FF membership helps I suspect, and does help with checkin baggage when needed.

My camera bag is 14kg generally and that is only taking the bodies/glass I need. That is a LowePro backpack. And wait, there's more! I frequently need to carry my laptop bag which itself is 9-11kg (has wheels).

You'll be pleased to know I've only had to checkin the laptop bag once, and never had the camera bag weighed (it's technically too fat too (31cm).

The worst is those Q400's and other regionals where you generally will get kept to one bag but even then, they've not weighed it.

Get early in the boarding queue even if you're in the lounge and make sure your bag is not the one that doesn't fit (and thus attract the ire of 737's colleagues).

Make it look like your camera bag is light as - if it's just the camera bag that you need consider a tow along.

In short, if you've got the guts to (judiciously) test Qantas' good nature you'll generally get away with it - but do not expect DJ or JQ to be forgiving at all.

Cheers
Andrew.

 

[NM]

I got the info from here: Fly - Baggage - Carry-on Baggage - General, which basically says that the hand luggage must fit within:

56cm x 36cm x 23cm (linear dimension of 115cm)

and in my experience, the 23cm "shortest" dimension is about the maximum limit for fitting into many overhead compartments. The compartments with the narrowest dimension are (not necessarily in this order)

744 upper deck
744 lower deck centre aisle (non-ER type bins)
ex BA 767 (ZX registration) centre aisle

Strange as it may seem, the "narrow" dimension on 737 seems more generous that some of the wide-body birds.

But do ensure it fits into the test jig. While its possible to sneak on board with bags larger than will fit in the jig, sometimes they do make you test bags and then gate-check is the only option available to you.

 

[RSD]

Hi there RSD,

I too am a photographer and know your dilemma.

737 has done a great job of telling you the rules. I'll let you in on a secret... I flout the rules, generally with impunity. My gold FF membership helps I suspect, and does help with checkin baggage when needed.

My camera bag is 14kg generally and that is only taking the bodies/glass I need. That is a LowePro backpack. And wait, there's more! I frequently need to carry my laptop bag which itself is 9-11kg (has wheels).

You'll be pleased to know I've only had to checkin the laptop bag once, and never had the camera bag weighed (it's technically too fat too (31cm).

The worst is those Q400's and other regionals where you generally will get kept to one bag but even then, they've not weighed it.

Get early in the boarding queue even if you're in the lounge and make sure your bag is not the one that doesn't fit (and thus attract the ire of 737's colleagues).

Make it look like your camera bag is light as - if it's just the camera bag that you need consider a tow along.

In short, if you've got the guts to (judiciously) test Qantas' good nature you'll generally get away with it - but do not expect DJ or JQ to be forgiving at all.

Cheers
Andrew.

Cheers Andrew,

I'm always overweight on the carry on, but up until now I have been able to keep pretty close to the size limits, but some new gear is going to need a bigger bag - I'm waiting for one of these to hit the country for me Tamrac - Model 5589 Expedition 9x Photo Backpack for my new gear.

In the past when they have tried to ping me on the weight I have shown them what's inside - seeing a piece of precision glass 9.5 inches in diameter makes them back off pretty quick and agree that carry on is the best option. It's still scary flying with a backpack with $30,000 worth of gear in it.

I always carry one of these The Vested Interest and a pair of cargo pants with me in case they want me to lighten the camera bag

Which LowePro backpack are you using?

 

[RSD]

But do ensure it fits into the test jig. While its possible to sneak on board with bags larger than will fit in the jig, sometimes they do make you test bags and then gate-check is the only option available to you.

I would much prefer gate-check to regular check-in - no conveyor belts used for gate check.

 

[NM]

I would much prefer gate-check to regular check-in - no conveyor belts used for gate check.

Conveyor belts and regular transportation still used for delivery. Gate-checked bags are still delivers at the destination in the same manner. But likely to be first onto the delivery conveyor .

 

[RSD]

Conveyor belts and regular transportation still used for delivery. Gate-checked bags are still delivers at the destination in the same manner. But likely to be first onto the delivery conveyor .

It depends on where you are - some places bring gate checked bags to the air bridge, others will do it if you ask politely and explain why.

 

[munitalP]

Why don't you just buy a good airline proof box to put the camera gear in and check it on...

People who think they have a God forsaken right to break the rules pi$$ me off to no end - I have been in so many situations (even yesterday) where my simple laptop bag, a soft sided Mont Blanc, 260x350x72 bag wont fit into overhead because of inconsiderate cough and inconsistent gate crews so my $1400 leather bag is on the floor under the seat! I too have a right to overhead locker space, and the sooner airlines start to partition it the better!

My staff carry fragile electronic test equipment worth in some cases >$500k, checked on and always arriving safe weekly across Australia - a task made simply by spending an extra $1K or so on the right transport cases - camera gear can't be much different in MY VERY HUMBLE OPINION (and we have no insurance problems)

I'm sorry, but this thread really makes me angry...

munitalP

:evil::evil::evil:

 

[RSD]

Why don't you just buy a good airline proof box to put the camera gear in and check it on...

Let's see -
2003 - camera gear was checked in and then got all of the way to the Bahamas for a job only to see it fall off the barrow and the lens elements knocked out of alignment - had to wait eight days for new lens to arrive from Nikon Japan
2004 - on a trip to the Sudan - I arrived, gear didn't and so didn't get the images - gear never seen again
2004 again - Got to the Bahamas ok this time and got the images, but then some of the gear disappeared between the Bahamas and Norway for another job - gear never seen again
2005 - simple trip to Cairns via Brisbane - gear was run over by an aircraft tug after it fell off a barrow in Brisvegas - didn't bother catching flight to Cairns
2006 - every year should be named 2006 because nothing went wrong all year.
2007 - made up for 2006 - watched $30,000 worth of kit get thrown from the hold onto the barrow - big bounce - onto the apron - clearly camera lenses aren't built as strong as your testing gear because only 2 out of 5 lenses worked properly after that - thankfully it was on the way back from a shoot so I got the images. This was the first of three claims for 2007 - unfortunately I was on the outbound legs when the other two happened and so shoots screwed up again.
2008 - insurance company advised that given my past claims history they would only insure gear that was carried on, no cover for checked camera gear. My insurance broker could not get anyone to insure the gear.
2009 - funnily enough a good year - nothing stolen, broken or otherwise screwed up despite the best efforts of TSA in the U.S.
2010 - so far so good.

A lot of my work has to be done at a specific time of year due to things like weather, moon phases, species migration, and other events beyond my control. If I'm not at the location with all of the camera gear in full working order on the right day then I (and my clients) have to wait another 12 months.

People who think they have a God forsaken right to break the rules pi$$ me off to no end - I have been in so many situations (even yesterday)...

Hey did you think to measure the size of the overhead locker for me while you were on the flight?

My staff carry fragile electronic test equipment worth in some cases >$500k, checked on and always arriving safe weekly across Australia - a task made simply by spending an extra $1K or so on the right transport cases - camera gear can't be much different in MY VERY HUMBLE OPINION (and we have no insurance problems)

Tell you what - seeing as you are so convinced that it can be done safely then would you be willing to let me use your insurance policy for a small annual fee?

I'm sorry, but this thread really makes me angry...

munitalP

:evil::evil::evil:

Never would have guessed...

 

[docjames]

The issue of oversize/overweight/excess carryon always stirs things up.

I guess if everyone "broke the rules" the plane wouldnt go anywhere since there's no way everything could get stowed.

I too get annoyed when if you're not in the first few on board there's nowhere to put carryon bags (other than under the seat) this is an issue for me as i'm 6'5" and basically cant move if there is no under-seat room.

Frankly, that litany of damage to checked luggage is unacceptable - are you placing in regular checkin (ie drop at checkin counter/bag drop counter), or are you going via "special" baggage services (usually called "oversize baggage services" by most airlines)? Were all the above on one or two airlines or across many?

Cant say i'm surprised you got checked gear "lost" (I read as "stolen") arriving in Sudan.....

FWIW: The 738 bins are pretty tight even if you have a bag the size listed above. I agree with earlier comments that they are in fact better than some 744/763 bins, and better than the 734 bins too.

 

[RSD]

Frankly, that litany of damage to checked luggage is unacceptable - are you placing in regular checkin (ie drop at checkin counter/bag drop counter), or are you going via "special" baggage services (usually called "oversize baggage services" by most airlines)? Were all the above on one or two airlines or across many?

All of the above happened with One World airlines. 2003 - 2007 insurance claims totaled over $110,000 for damaged/destroyed/lost kit, and that's without trying to put a dollar value on lost time, money etc for shoots that were screwed up by these issues - going all the way to Norway to shoot killer whales and then discovering that the bag with the appropriate lenses hadn't made it wasn't a good day.

My normal routine at check in was to seek out the person who was in charge of check in for that flight and explain to them what I was carrying and then they usually directed me to a counter and organised everything from there including sending me to special baggage etc.

Cant say i'm surprised you got checked gear "lost" (I read as "stolen") arriving in Sudan.....

I don't even know if it made it as far as Sudan. It's for these reasons that I carry the camera gear on now - nobody can throw it, lose it, drop it, run over it, or steal it. Haven't missed a shoot for any reason since I went to carrying the gear on.

FWIW: The 738 bins are pretty tight even if you have a bag the size listed above. I agree with earlier comments that they are in fact better than some 744/763 bins, and better than the 734 bins too.

Many thanks for the info. I'm going to have to be very careful packing but hopefully it should all be ok - the height of one new piece of equipment is going to be the biggest concern I think.

 

[ejb]

Why don't you just buy a good airline proof box to put the camera gear in and check it on...

People who think they have a God forsaken right to break the rules pi$$ me off to no end - I have been in so many situations (even yesterday) where my simple laptop bag, a soft sided Mont Blanc, 260x350x72 bag wont fit into overhead because of inconsiderate cough and inconsistent gate crews so my $1400 leather bag is on the floor under the seat! I too have a right to overhead locker space, and the sooner airlines start to partition it the better!

My staff carry fragile electronic test equipment worth in some cases >$500k, checked on and always arriving safe weekly across Australia - a task made simply by spending an extra $1K or so on the right transport cases - camera gear can't be much different in MY VERY HUMBLE OPINION (and we have no insurance problems)

I'm sorry, but this thread really makes me angry...

munitalP

:evil::evil::evil:

munitalP,

I second this post (or if I was in Canberra, hear!hear!)

Could you imagine this gear falling on your head. I am sorry but my head is worth more that any camera.

I am in transport and if we can pack gear worth millions and transport them across the country without a problem you can spend the money and pack the gear well enough to travel or stop traveling.

To quote Viper from TopGun (albeit badly)"Rules exist for the safety of you and your fellow officers they are not negotiable" (I hope that is close).

ejb

 

[RSD]

Could you imagine this gear falling on your head. I am sorry but my head is worth more that any camera.

The amount that I go over the weight limit isn't that much - QF have a 7kg limit for carry on, JQ's limit is 10kg and that is normally where I'm at with the camera backpack. I'm happy enough to sit underneath it on every flight.

I am in transport and if we can pack gear worth millions and transport them across the country without a problem you can spend the money and pack the gear well enough to travel or stop traveling.

I wasn't using Pelican cases - all of the gear used to be carried in custom made aluminium cases that were made for me by a company in Melbourne. The big problem is lens elements being knocked out of alignment. I don't think it is going to matter what you pack it in if it is run over by an aircraft tug or stolen or misdirected though.

To quote Viper from TopGun (albeit badly)"Rules exist for the safety of you and your fellow officers they are not negotiable" (I hope that is close).

Yeh well I guess Viper had enough weapons hanging under the wings that he didn't have to worry about someone stealing his luggage!