I frequently travel with not only a scope and binoculars but camera
bodies and 4 lenses, the largest being a 500mm. I will not carry the
scope and the 500mm lens in the same trip, too much weight. I became
increasingly concerned that my backpack might not be allowed as it is
JUST within the regulation size and you never know, they might decide to
say no, you can't take it on. Every TSA regulation I have read says the
discretion is up to the airlines and the agents so those regulations may
not help you. What I have started doing is to put my backpack and
tripod in a large suitcase that I check with all of my clothes.
Depending on the trip it might be two suitcases. I take all of my
optics and wrap them in t-shirts and put them in a bag that is well
within the carry on limits. I am VERY careful when carrying and putting
this bag down due to the lack of padding. I tell the security personnel
what is in the bag before it ever gets scanned. Sometimes they scan it
for bombs and such and every once in awhile they want to remove
everything. They allow me to watch everything and have always let me be
the one to repack the bag.

I have gone this route because the interpretation of the rules seems to
differ dramatically from airport to airport. I keep myself well within
the rules so I don't have issues with how they are interpreted. I used
to put my equipment in a locked pelican case but since you can no longer
check a locked bag I am concerned about doing this. Although theft is
obviously a concern I am just as concerned that by some freak series of
events the case will come unlatched (there are four heavy duty latches,
but sometimes things just happen) and I will see my equipment bouncing
off the luggage truck as I sit helplessly on the plane.

Cathy Wise
Snohomish, WA
Cathy.wise at attws.com