Tripods as carry on?

LaMer

Stupid question maybe but has anybody brought a tripod on a plane as carry on luggage, or have they had any problems doing this? I've never seen anbody with one before, and I don't want to put the tripod in my hold luggage (it's a backpack anyway).

Slidinginfinity

I have had the same question. I looked online and as far as I could tell it is up to the discretion of the security officers on duty.
I would love to hear personal experiences on this issue.

Stephen

If I was you I'd check it in and carry on the rest of your gear.

Burnt

I have carried my tripod on to flights around europe with out any problems. Usually i take the head off though.

FWIW it's a Manfrotto 055XPROB

LaMer

Cheers I might try carry it around, just worried because it seems like it could be pretty easily used as a weapon, I might give it a chance. I'm not sure about checking it in, I'm going through an African airport renowned (within family circles) for "losing" loose items! And plus I doubt it'd fit in my backpack.

Creamy Goodness

try for carry on, if not definitely take off the head and put that with the rest of your gear.

Burnt

LaMer wrote: »

it seems like it could be pretty easily used as a weapon

Be sure you don't tell security that . I try not make a big
fuss or draw undue attention to it, simply strapped to side
of my rucksack and walk on.

CabanSail

This has been discussed a few times recently. Look here for a recent thread

Creamy Goodness

bedlam wrote: »

The one downside to this is that it then has to go into the hold unprotected if they don't allow it through security. You run a greater risk of it getting damaged or going missing than if it was packed in your checked luggage.

true i had never thought of that

soccerc

As cabinsail pointed out this issue has been discussed previously and he has provided a link.

Since that time I've been through Dublin, Berln, Heathrow, Glasgow, Birmingham and Bari with either a monopod ,tripod or both as carry on without problems.

I've seen other passengers have umbrellas, both standard and collapsible, confiscated at security a few times while another passenger lost a climbing stick, which to me is no different from a monopod.

If you ask me, Dublin Airport has the most stringent visible security screening

sunny2004

It will depend on the airport and the problem is if its taken you have to go back to check in and get it checked through...
London Heathrow is a no-no as is most American Airports, you will hear different stories from different people and I am not disputing them.
My experience is based on traveling 6 months of the year for a living and I have given up trying to get them through security and just put them in my luggage as there is nothing as bad as trying to get a flight and getting refused by airport security and having to go back..

Just my experience..

gorilla_image

Flew to Italy last year: Flight from Dublin to Milan (Aer Lingus) No Problem, Flight from Forli to Dublin (Ryan Air) had to check it in at the last minute got charged €20 extra! Agree with Sunny2004 just put it in your checked baggage it will save last minute runnig back to the checkin-in desk. and extra charges!

City-Exile

I usually strap my monopod to the side of my storm case an bring the lot on with me.
Never had any problem.
Used to carry a small tripod before without any problem either.

If you really wanted to bludgeon someone to death on a plane, there are plenty things you could use, rather than damage a perfectly good tripod.