Topic: Flying to shoreline furthur shows, how should i bring my gear on the plane

[vegeta_ban]

hey all,

My dad and I are flying to California for the shoreline furthur shows. We have never flown anywhere with our gear before, how is the best way to do this. I was thinking carrying on for our microphones, or should we check it?

I wanted to bring my laptop backpack with our mics, my r44, camcorder and laptop.

Anyway, here is what we would be bringing,

edirol r44
rc batteries for it
2 nak 100s, with cp4 shotgun caps
2 superlux cmh8k
h2
camcorder
camera
and mic stand

any thoughts would be helpful

[Fried Chicken Boy]

The mic stand you should probably check in.  For the mics, recorders, cameras, etc (ie: anything that could easily be damaged) I wouldn't even consider going any route other than carrying them on the plane with you.

[vegeta_ban]

thanks for the tips

[jibooer]

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=76790.0

This link as well as others have valuable info., especially concerning 'power supplies'...

[yug du nord]

More info:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=117167.0

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

The mic stand you should probably check in.  For the mics, recorders, cameras, etc (ie: anything that could easily be damaged) I wouldn't even consider going any route other than carrying them on the plane with you.

^ This pretty much sums it up.

Personally I just bring a clamp for Phish shows I fly to...usually there is another taper there that will let me clamp. 

[page]

Personally I just bring a clamp for Phish shows I fly to...usually there is another taper there that will let me clamp. 

agreed. Unless its something obscure, I fly with clamps.

In addition to the comments in the two links, I recommend getting there 30 minutes earlier (you will be searched), and bring MSDS sheets for your batteries if at all possible. Last, make sure you know what the regs are for battery amounts (specifically lithium ion, although others wouldn't hurt to know). I actually have too much li-on to fly with now in my standard rig and have to pare it down to just what I absolutely need when I fly.

[darktrain]

Flew from Milwaukee to Dallas and back with my gear last month and carried it on and figured i would get stopped because of how the mics, tinyboxes, and wires look, nope, sailed right on through both ways.

[page]

Flew from Milwaukee to Dallas and back with my gear last month and carried it on and figured i would get stopped because of how the mics, tinyboxes, and wires look, nope, sailed right on through both ways.

my 722 makes them wig out more then anything else I have. Before that, it was the busman stereo mic which looked like a pipebomb when xrayed but the fr2-le didn't bother them. It's strange what does it.

[rastasean]

In addition to the comments in the two links, I recommend getting there 30 minutes earlier (you will be searched), and bring MSDS sheets for your batteries if at all possible. Last, make sure you know what the regs are for battery amounts (specifically lithium ion, although others wouldn't hurt to know). I actually have too much li-on to fly with now in my standard rig and have to pare it down to just what I absolutely need when I fly.

Does too much vary from airline-to-airline or is that more of a TSA regulation? I ask because the other two threads people were asking about specific airlines. What is TOO much? Can you check it in and still fly with it?

[gewwang]

When flying don't check anything you wouldn't be able to easily replace if they lost or missplaced your luggage. Especially if you are flying somewhere and planning to tape later on that day. Airlines do occasionally put luggage on the wrong flight and when they do it can take a number of hours before they find it and get it back to you. In the event of lost luggage, they are only liable up to a replacement value of $500  per bag so you definitely don't want to check any gear that costs more than $500.

[vegeta_ban]

When flying don't check anything you wouldn't be able to easily replace if they lost or missplaced your luggage. Especially if you are flying somewhere and planning to tape later on that day. Airlines do occasionally put luggage on the wrong flight and when they do it can take a number of hours before they find it and get it back to you. In the event of lost luggage, they are only liable up to a replacement value of $500  per bag so you definitely don't want to check any gear that costs more than $500.

thanks didn't know the $500 limit

[Cheesecadet]

I fly with my mics, cables, batteries, and preamp as carry on and if I bring a stand I check it.  I have found that if you find an old cardboard box that golf club drivers are shipped in, they fit mic stands perfectly and keep them from getting dinged up.  Usually sporting good stores will have some that clubs were shipped in and give them to you for free.

[page]

In addition to the comments in the two links, I recommend getting there 30 minutes earlier (you will be searched), and bring MSDS sheets for your batteries if at all possible. Last, make sure you know what the regs are for battery amounts (specifically lithium ion, although others wouldn't hurt to know). I actually have too much li-on to fly with now in my standard rig and have to pare it down to just what I absolutely need when I fly.

Does too much vary from airline-to-airline or is that more of a TSA regulation? I ask because the other two threads people were asking about specific airlines. What is TOO much? Can you check it in and still fly with it?

its a TSA reg. Read over the regs carefully as you can't check loose lithium anymore.

I vaguely remember being tipped off when I bought the 3450-10 battery extender, a little note came with it saying "both of these together do not exceed the TSA regulation blah blah blah" but I couldn't take anything else and the TSA folks had a debate as to whether the sony L batteries under the 722 counted against that total or not.

When flying don't check anything you wouldn't be able to easily replace if they lost or missplaced your luggage. Especially if you are flying somewhere and planning to tape later on that day. Airlines do occasionally put luggage on the wrong flight and when they do it can take a number of hours before they find it and get it back to you. In the event of lost luggage, they are only liable up to a replacement value of $500  per bag so you definitely don't want to check any gear that costs more than $500.

thanks didn't know the $500 limit

Also, getting them to pay up is a real bitch too.

[flipp]

When flying don't check anything you wouldn't be able to easily replace if they lost or missplaced your luggage. Especially if you are flying somewhere and planning to tape later on that day. Airlines do occasionally put luggage on the wrong flight and when they do it can take a number of hours before they find it and get it back to you. In the event of lost luggage, they are only liable up to a replacement value of $500  per bag so you definitely don't want to check any gear that costs more than $500.

Check with your airline as it varies from carrier to carrier. I have a Southwest flight tomorrow and I just checked their website, also read your carriers particlars about filing a claim:

Related Information
Liability:

Southwest Airlines' liability for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage is limited to $3,300.00 per fare-paying Customer.

Claims:

Damaged or lost baggage must be reported, in person, within four hours of Customer's arrival at destination.

[lastubbe]

If the battery is connected to the 722, does it have a greater chance of getting through unnoticed?

Also on the clamp issue.  Can it be carried on with no issues?  I was concerned it would be considered a dangerous metal object.

I'm flying next weekend for Phish, so I need to get everything in order soon.

I also would check nothing of real value.  My parents were flying back from a vacation a few years back going through Philly on US Airways (rough), and thought it was a good idea to pack the new digital camera in the suitcase cause they didn't want to carry it on.  Suffice to say it was gone when they unpacked. 

[vanark]

Anyone know how many 9V DVD Li-ion batteries (6000 mAh) I can carry on with me?  Probably only need 2, but would like to take 3 in case.

Going to a 2 day fest in Mississippi - I've already arranged to borrow a stand in Memphis - I may be the only taper there but would prefer not to drag a stand with me.

[page]

If the battery is connected to the 722, does it have a greater chance of getting through unnoticed?

I didn't try and push the limit, I figure I can pack a charger and just not run an external with it. They've always had trouble with my 722, I asked once and they said it's because there is just a ton of stuff inside so they never get a good xray.

Also on the clamp issue.  Can it be carried on with no issues?  I was concerned it would be considered a dangerous metal object.

Never had a problem with my superclamp. My extendable arm got a glance once but never the clamp.

I also would check nothing of real value.  My parents were flying back from a vacation a few years back going through Philly on US Airways (rough), and thought it was a good idea to pack the new digital camera in the suitcase cause they didn't want to carry it on.  Suffice to say it was gone when they unpacked.

I concur for similar reasons.

Anyone know how many 9V DVD Li-ion batteries (6000 mAh) I can carry on with me?  Probably only need 2, but would like to take 3 in case.

Going to a 2 day fest in Mississippi - I've already arranged to borrow a stand in Memphis - I may be the only taper there but would prefer not to drag a stand with me.

Technically if it's really li-ion then you probably can get 3, but bring MSDS sheets if you can find them to explain what the compound is and that the watt-hr rating is low enough that you are not exceeding 8 units of their equivalent scale (so a max of 25 units per person). The rub is what they consider "larger" batteries. Their publication (PDF) says you get 2 larger ones which are "8 equivalent units" which translates to around 100watt hours per with a max of 25 units per person per flight. The sticky point is lithium vs lithium ion and how much lithium is in the later. All of this is on the books because they can't put out a lithium fire with what they carry on the plane.

Now, will someone in bumfuck usa understand the reg of equivalent units? Dunno, I've never wanted to get into it with these folks since they have plastic gloves and vaseline.

[vanark]

Anyone know how many 9V DVD Li-ion batteries (6000 mAh) I can carry on with me?  Probably only need 2, but would like to take 3 in case.

Going to a 2 day fest in Mississippi - I've already arranged to borrow a stand in Memphis - I may be the only taper there but would prefer not to drag a stand with me.

Technically if it's really li-ion then you probably can get 3, but bring MSDS sheets if you can find them to explain what the compound is and that the watt-hr rating is low enough that you are not exceeding 8 units of their equivalent scale (so a max of 25 units per person). The rub is what they consider "larger" batteries. Their publication (PDF) says you get 2 larger ones which are "8 equivalent units" which translates to around 100watt hours per with a max of 25 units per person per flight. The sticky point is lithium vs lithium ion and how much lithium is in the later. All of this is on the books because they can't put out a lithium fire with what they carry on the plane.

Now, will someone in bumfuck usa understand the reg of equivalent units? Dunno, I've never wanted to get into it with these folks since they have plastic gloves and vaseline.

Thanks, page.  This pointed me in the right direction.  It turns out since they are under 100 watt hours, you can take quite a few. Now, as you say, convincing someone they are under 8 grams (100 watt hours equivalent) may be another story.

Looked for an MSDS, but couldn't locate one.  I'll look a bit more, but may need to go without.  Last time I flew, no one asked about the batteries.

[cashandkerouac]

Hey, if you end up not bringing your stand you can clamp onto mine.  I'll be at Shoreline for both shows.

[vegeta_ban]

I wound up making a bag for my mic stand, and carried on the rest of the gear, checked my suitcase and mic stand.

they searched my gear bag twice and were a little weirded out by the shotgun capsule box for the nak 100's until I showed them the mic. also they looked closely at my ni-mh batteries, but everything got on the plane.

[page]

I wound up making a bag for my mic stand, and carried on the rest of the gear, checked my suitcase and mic stand.

they searched my gear bag twice and were a little weirded out by the shotgun capsule box for the nak 100's until I showed them the mic. also they looked closely at my ni-mh batteries, but everything got on the plane.

were the batteries in pack form with a random cable coming out (aka "home made plastic explosive" style)? I had a TSA lady in Boston who did the same thing once cause she got a glimps of the bag as I put it on the table before scanning. 

[vegeta_ban]

nah, they were radioshack rc car batteries, brought 4, and the charger. I taped the cable ends of the batteries so there could be no shorts and had them wrapped in a separate plastic baggy in my taping case. Really condensed the case this time.  they were also curious about the zoom h2 haha

I wound up making a bag for my mic stand, and carried on the rest of the gear, checked my suitcase and mic stand.

they searched my gear bag twice and were a little weirded out by the shotgun capsule box for the nak 100's until I showed them the mic. also they looked closely at my ni-mh batteries, but everything got on the plane.

were the batteries in pack form with a random cable coming out (aka "home made plastic explosive" style)? I had a TSA lady in Boston who did the same thing once cause she got a glimps of the bag as I put it on the table before scanning. 

[fleish]

I wouldn't bring a stand at all if you know of someone else you can clamp to. I checked mine for Bonnaroo a few years back and it was damaged - I'm pretty sure during TSA inspection. It's a Sure S15A and it wasn't destroyed - but the threaded top was bent a little. I bent it back out myself so I can still screw things on to it - but it's not a smooth a process as it was when before the incident.

As for carrying on gear, it's funny to hear the varying levels of problems people have had. The worst I've ever gotten from the TSA was @ SEATAC 2 years ago. The woman running the X-ray machine asked me what was in my bag "out of curiosity" ... she didn't hold my bag or ask for secondary (re)screening or anything ... she just wanted to know what the stuff was. I told her and away I walked. Another time coming back from Indio for Festival 8 I waltzed right through with an R4 & 2 sets of mics + all the my cables ... while a fellow taper who wasn't carrying any gear was stopped and screened because of disc golf plastic ... and was told to pull that out of the bag next time and send it through separately. You just never know what's gonna do it IMO.

[yltfan]

I wouldn't want to fly with an Nbox--the inside of those look sketchy as hell...

[F.O.Bean]

I wouldn't want to fly with an Nbox--the inside of those look sketchy as hell...

so true

[Seth01]

Last summer I flew with a large Pelican hard case.  Designed to just meet the carry on specs.  It was packed full of mics, pres, cables, batteries and all kinds of goodness.  On top of that, I had a padlock on it.  Never got asked to open it.  One person asked me what was in it and when I said audio recording gear they said OK, x-rayed it and let me through without ever having to open it.  I checked my stand and it took quite a beating but survived.