Air travel - monopod?

[Kalrog]

I am heading on a business trip this week and want to bring my monopod with me. I also prefer not to check luggage. Anyone know if there is any problem with taking a 6' metal monopod on an airplane? It certainly could fit inside my carry-on bag.

[Truckman]

Call the airline and ask......Ben

[PhotoWiz]

The airlines won't have a problem with that, its TSA that will object. If its not 'to heavy' I don't think it poses to much of a security risk. I would contact TSA if your in doubt.

[DigitalDiva]

We travel with 2 monopods when we fly but I think we check them. But when we flew from Oahu to Maui we carried on.

[AllenAyres]

I've carried one on multiple times, I imagine it depends on the particular TSA agent and if they've had their coffee yet tho

[Kalrog]

Originally Posted by AllenAyres

I've carried one on multiple times, I imagine it depends on the particular TSA agent and if they've had their coffee yet tho

Uh-oh. I will be going through security by about 7:30am. Not much time for coffee that early.

Thanks for the info - I'm going to call and check though since I haven't been able to find a definite answer. I dislike the "it depends" stuff - even if it is the correct answer.

[KeithnFW]

I carried one on from DFW to Charlotte NC. this year with no problem. But coming back the folks at TSA in Charlotte looked at it like it was a bazooka and I had to check it.

[snydersnapshots]

Originally Posted by PhotoWiz

The airlines won't have a problem with that, its TSA that will object. If its not 'to heavy' I don't think it poses to much of a security risk. I would contact TSA if your in doubt.

Here's a link to the "Prohibited Items" list on the TSA website:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...ted-items.shtm

A lot of it depends on where you are and whom you're dealing with. If you've got other camera equipment, it shouldn't be a problem, especially if it is fairly compact and relatively light. Personally, I've got a compact tripod I carry--pretty light and it folds up to about a foot to 16" long--and I've never had a problem (it's a Quantaray QSX Digi Pro 100 that I got at Wolf (Ritz) Camera).

I deal with TSA every time I go to work. The problem with the TSA is that there is not necessarily a lot of consistency across different airports (or different shifts within the same airport) when it comes down to "gray area" items like a monopod. At one airport (Portland, Maine) I had them tell me I had to put my jacket and shoes in separate bins one week (the guy said it was a "new" policy--but it wasn't at any of the other three airports I went through that trip) and then the following week at the same checkpoint question the flashlight I'm required by Federal Aviation Regulation to carry (Mindful of the "new" policy from the previous week, I piled my shoes and coat into the same bin and nothing was said). If you do take the monopod and they ask you about it, I would--politely--ask to speak with a supervisor, then go with what he/she says. Sorry for the "non-answer" but when dealing with these folks, things are often a "positive maybe".

[Hanky]

If the monopod is metalic it can be modified as a makeshift gun and must be checked.
However as stated above there are so many varibles with TSA proceedure interpretations. To prepare for worst case senario plan on checking it.

[Coelus]

Walk with a limp, use it for a cane ;)

[kula23]

mine was worst......i carried on my tripod, it's pretty heavy ones with nice pad bag on it. the metal machine beep it and they though it was the gun. it's was funny as hell. I was at Texarkana, ARK airport.....small town. It happened to me twice.

[PhotoWiz]

Originally Posted by kula23

mine was worst......i carried on my tripod, it's pretty heavy ones with nice pad bag on it. the metal machine beep it and they though it was the gun. it's was funny as hell. I was at Texarkana, ARK airport.....small town. It happened to me twice.

Small town TSA screeners don't cut you any slack. Its amazing to see the difference in screening between the small and big airports.

[Kalrog]

I have decided to check it. But I'm putting it right on top so that when they open it to see what it is, they don't have to dig through all my clothes to get it.

[kula23]

Oh this remind me last christmas, i have christmas gift, i carried on, i didn't think it was such a big deal but they had to open gifts, I wasn't sure what was in it since it was from my mom that she wanted me to give her older kids. turned out it got pocket knife and i was shocked. so they had to throw away. crazy.

[texkam]

Call and ask

"Uh, ya want to bring a what on?"