Flying with a Tripod

[velvet4269]

I'm sure this has been asked somewhere, but my forum-search-foo is failing me immensely right now.

I'll be taking a trip next weekend, and while I'm planning on traveling VERY light (I'm flying; one carry on bag + camera bag), I'd love to take my tripod with me. It will fold up small enough that I can easily fit it into my carry on bag (21"), but I'm not sure it's allowed. I did look over the TSA web site, but didn't see anything regarding this (at least, nothing listing it as being prohibited). Will I be able to throw it in my carry on, or will I need to check the bag?

[idb]

I don't know the answer but I would just check it. Even if the security types let it pass it might make flight attendants and passengers nervous.
Good luck! and have a great trip.
Ian

[mad editor]

I have flown with a tripod but that was before all the screening changes of the last few weeks.

[curelightwounds]

I flew with a tripod just as they were changing the screening rules.

This was before I bought a backpack to accomodate my camera gear so my tripod was just fastened to the side of my bag. No questions. No problems. Went right through security without a hitch.

Your camera, though, they may ask you to take that out of your bag. It's been hit or miss with me on that front.

[rosserx]

This past August I flew to Jamaica (and back) with a tripod in my check-in bag and had no problems. But as you can see that was 4 months ago. When you put your bag through the x-ray take the tripod out and put it in a basket all by itself and send it through. Let everyone see its not a weapon of mass destruction.

[velvet4269]

Yeah, I have no issues taking the camera out of the camera bag - I've always done that; and the tripod I was planning on putting towards the bottom of the checked bag, but I guess I can stick it on top with the ziploc baggie of toiletries. I'll be putting a luggage tag on both bags anyway, and I'm flying Southwest, so checking a bag isn't a huge issue. I'd just prefer not to if I don't have to.

[Quo Fan]

You should have no problem in your carry on. My wife and I went to Hawaii, and packed our monopods. She has a pistol grip ball head, and going to Hawaii, she had no problem getting through security. Coming back, they had her open her bag and they looked at the ball head to ensure it wasn't a gun.

[fantasmic2tek]

If this helps I flew to Seattle to go on a cruise last year and I put it in my checked baggage. I would think it wold be ok since it runs through the x-ray machines and it doesn't appear to be harmless.