Binoculars and aircraft luggage

[PAULBOY]

We are due to travel to Spain in a few weeks and want to take our bins. If we can't take them in carry on luggage they would have to go into the aircraft hold.

There are issues around insurance and general safety- but would the bins be affected by the change in pressure? The birders I have discussed this with have a variety of views. Some have expressed the view that the lower pressure in the aircraft hold would lead to problems as the bins are nitrogen filled. Some have suggested that the lower pressure would cause the bins problems as the internal pressure would remain the same as it would be at ground level.

Anybody thought about this?

[dogfish]

Can see no reason why you can't take them in hand luggage. I'm just back from Spain (Ryanair) and took bins and scope in hand luggage. Bag was searched and optics scanned (on way out only) but no problems. There have been a good few contributions to this forum on the subject of bins in the hold; the consensus was that they would come to no harm. But I recommend a search to view the relevant threads.

Sean

[Tero]

Bicycles travel
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,50773,00.html
and the tires do not blow up.

Binoculars have O-rings or similar parts to hold the nitrogen in. If some leaks out, air will go back in as it returns to regular pressure. The air works just like the nitrogen, but may oxidize some parts with time.

[willibet]

The holds on most, if not all modern aircraft are at the same pressure as the cabin, they are both within the pressurised area and cabin air normally bleeds into the hold to maintain it at cabin altitude. It is not seperately heated thuogh and can become cold, but nowhere near the same extent as outside air temp at atitude. Remember that pressurised aerosol cans (and dogs!) travel in the holds of aircraft.

[Atomic Chicken]

Greetings!

There is NO WAY I would EVER, EVER, EVER check a pair of my optics in my luggage... I don't care if I have to leave everything else and take them as my only piece of carry-on luggage, they are staying WITH ME!!! I've had too many banged up pieces of luggage, damaged items, and one stolen/lost/misplaced bag to EVER trust the airlines with a pair of my precious binoculars!

Best wishes,
Bawko

[bentleyg]

Can see no reason why you can't take them in hand luggage. I'm just back from Spain (Ryanair) and took bins and scope in hand luggage. Bag was searched and optics scanned (on way out only) but no problems. There have been a good few contributions to this forum on the subject of bins in the hold; the consensus was that they would come to no harm. But I recommend a search to view the relevant threads.

Sean


Just been to Paris, took a pair of Zeiss 8x32 in my hand luggage with no problems. Bit of a waste of time though. Heard some unrecognised calls at Versailles but saw nothing I couldn't see in my garden there or anywhere else. Paris itself seemed devoid of life. A few sparrows, feral doves, some BH Gulls and mallard on ornamental ponds. One quick flash of a black shape with an unusually long tail from the airport bus this morning was the only thing of note, birdwatching wise that is. A week in Paris with the wife had other highlights |:D|

[London Birder]

and all the world is football shaped, it's just for me to kick in space, and

[TonyC]

I too heard weird calls at Versailles and looked up to see a Serin on a TV aerial on one of the admin buildings round the back.

[Steve Lister]

I flew to Sardinia and back with Ryanair early in the week. No problem with having bins and scope in hand luggage BUT electrical equipment inc cameras, torch, alarm clock WAS allowed in hand luggage on the way out but WAS NOT on the way back.

Steve

[snowyowl]

I flew from Boston to Shannon in June and carried my binos and camera as hand luggage. No problems then but I wonder what the new regulations will do. It seems that everything has to be checked and that thought scares me. Thefts and damage to checked luggage is just too common.

[Jos Stratford]

If security can check a laptop bag, beats me why they can't check a standard camera/optics bag. Whole thing stinks - from a security point of view, a laptop (permissable) is no less 'safe' or 'dangerous' than equally fragile cameras and lens. Ta, UK government, bow down before terrorist threats and screw those types that fly (except of course, the important business types who must be sucked up to)

[Steve Lister]

If security can check a laptop bag, beats me why they can't check a standard camera/optics bag. Whole thing stinks - from a security point of view, a laptop (permissable) is no less 'safe' or 'dangerous' than equally fragile cameras and lens. Ta, UK government, bow down before terrorist threats and screw those types that fly (except of course, the important business types who must be sucked up to)

The use of the name 'laptop bag' is confusing as what they mean is actually a bag the dimensions of he old style shoulder-strap flightbag, ie 45x35x16.

If electronic cameras are not allowed as cabin baggage then laptops won't be either.

Steve

[StuartReeves]

I'm currently on business in Copenhagen. I flew here KLM with my handbaggage consisting of a small (20L) rucsac containing my laptop as well as my scope and bins. No problems so far, apart from the usual rigmarole of having to take the laptop out to put it through the scanner separately at Amsterdam airport.

Stuart