Endless Photo Safaris » How to Transport Photographic Equipment by Airplane?

For photography enthusiasts, traveling by airplane can pose certain challenges, especially when it comes to safely and appropriately transporting photographic equipment. Not every solution that works in everyday situations will work during a flight or long intercontinental journey.

In this article, I have provided practical tips that will help you secure your photographic equipment during air travel.

Understand your destination and plan your shots: Heading to Tanzania for a safari? You'll find a telephoto zoom (e.g., fixed 400mm or variable 100-500mm) more useful than fixed lenses like 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, or even an 85mm portrait lens in your bag. Wildlife photography often demands quick adjustments, and changing prime lenses can be frustrating. Think about the equipment you truly need.
Plan your requirements: Before air travel, consider the pieces of photographic equipment you'll need. You don't always have to carry your entire arsenal; choose the lenses, cameras, and accessories essential for your planned shots. Remember, fewer items mean lighter luggage and easier travel. There's no point in bringing a flash on a safari – it's not used for wildlife photography (a fundamental rule of nature photography).
Familiarize yourself with airline regulations: Prior to your trip, review the regulations regarding photographic equipment transportation for the airlines you're flying with. Each airline may have different rules regarding weight, size, and the number of carry-on bags. Ensure you meet their requirements and read about regulations for carrying electronic devices. If you're anticipating excess baggage, items other than camera bodies, lenses, batteries, and lights can be adequately secured and transported in checked luggage.
Carry-on luggage: The most important photographic equipment should always be kept in your carry-on bag. In case of checked luggage mishaps or loss, you'll have peace of mind knowing your most valuable items are with you.
Checked luggage: Typically, you'd pack everything mentioned earlier (items that aren't camera bodies, lenses, batteries, or lights) in checked luggage, properly protected with clothing or possibly nestled in rigid mountaineering boots. I've noticed that from project to project, I bring less equipment and use what I have more flexibly. I'll delve deeper into my photographic setup for safaris in future posts.
Notify staff about the contents: During airport check-in, it's wise to inform the staff that your carry-on contains delicate photographic equipment. They might consider this during the scanning of your carry-on or loading checked luggage, minimizing the risk of damage.
Test equipment before departure: It's a good idea to test whether your equipment is functioning properly before departing to ensure everything is in order.
Secure your equipment during transport: By properly securing your photographic equipment, you can prevent damage during the flight.

Here are some tips:
Dedicate a separate bag or case for photographic equipment: (I use the THINKTANK AIRPORT TAKEOFF V2.0, which is both a suitcase and backpack). You can also use soft pouches and protective cases to shield cameras and lenses from scratches and shocks if they're not packed in specialized camera bags or cases.
Attach GPS locators to your bags: I attach GPS locators (I use Samsung Galaxy SmartTags) to my photographic equipment bag (and other bags). Just before takeoff and after landing, I check the Samsung app to confirm the location of my bags in the cargo hold. This provides me with the reassurance that if my luggage goes missing, I can more easily locate it at the airport where it might be stuck. This is how I currently monitor my Endless bag that remains in Arusha.
Charge batteries and remove them from the camera: Ensure that the batteries of all electronic devices are charged (sometimes during personal checks, you may be asked to power on your equipment). Removing batteries from your camera body also safeguards against accidental activation.
Take memory cards out of the camera and format them during the flight: I carry memory cards separately and format them all on my laptop during the flight to be ready for work. On a plane, when you often have over 10 hours of travel time, it's an ideal way to utilize your time.
Detach lenses from the camera body: The connection between the camera body and lens is robust and stable, but I like to ensure nothing happens to my equipment. Therefore, during long transports, I carry lenses and camera bodies separately, secured by caps.
Use transparent drawstring bags: I pack small accessories like batteries, cables, or cleaning kits together and place them in labeled, transparent drawstring bags. I love this solution because everything is in one place and, thanks to the transparent bags, I can see their contents. Additionally, it's a cost-effective solution, and the bags can be useful in other situations, such as an "emergency waterproof shield" for the camera in case of heavy rain. Avoid putting memory cards in bags without protection; they'll quickly wear out due to friction.
Use soft cases: These are great for items like memory cards, microphones, or filters. These cases are affordable – I bought one of my memory card cases for around 12 PLN online.
Close all lids, locks, and put lens caps on: If not done automatically.
If you have a tripod: You can easily check it, but remove the head and wrap it in soft materials to prevent damage to the mechanism.
Insure your equipment: Consider purchasing insurance for your photographic equipment to minimize the risk of loss or damage during transport. As an individual, I searched extensively for a company in Poland that would insure my equipment for regular travel outside the European Union but, to date, I haven't found any. The situation is different for corporate equipment.

Traveling by airplane with photographic equipment can be stressful, but with proper preparation and safeguards, the risk of damage can be minimized. By planning your needs, packing your carry-on appropriately, securing your equipment, and familiarizing yourself with airline regulations, you can travel with your photographic gear without worry. Safeguarding your equipment is crucial to capturing incredible moments and the beauty of the world in every corner of the globe.