Flight with zoom lens

[slat]

We will be traveling to GTNP in late spring. I want to take my Tamron 150-600 with me. I was thinking of using a hard case that has the foam insert and use it as my carry on. Is that the best way to do this? Does anyone have a better option?

 

[denum]

We will be traveling to GTNP in late spring. I want to take my Tamron 150-600 with me. I was thinking of using a hard case that has the foam insert and use it as my carry on. Is that the best way to do this? Does anyone have a better option?

I don't travel a whole lot, much less with camera gear, but I would assume carry on would be your best option. I don't trust baggage handlers to be gentle. By the way...what/where is GTNP?

 

[slat]

Grand Teton National Park.

 

[RAZKY]

We will be traveling to GTNP in late spring. I want to take my Tamron 150-600 with me. I was thinking of using a hard case that has the foam insert and use it as my carry on. Is that the best way to do this? Does anyone have a better option?

A well-padded carry-on hard case is the only way in which I transport my long lenses.

 

[denum]

Grand Teton National Park.

Oh...now I get it. Beautiful place. I look forward to any images you might post.

 

[Thiophilos]

My Canon 100-500 L lens goes into my rollaboard when flying. I usually wrap it in a t-shirt or similar. It's fine, I'm not going to toss it around. I always have a small bag in that rollaboard too, in case I am forced to gate-check the rollaboard. That hasn't happened yet, not with the lens in it, but if it does, I will get the lens out and put it in that bag and take it as carryon.

Before I had that lens, I had the 100-400mm L. It was a little bit smaller than the 100-500, and went into my laptop case, together with other camera stuff (and the laptop). With that gear, the laptop case was pretty thick to qualify as a personal item. It was never challenged, though.

You never know what they are going to demand, so always have a plan B.

 

[Spirit Vision Photography]

Always in my carry-on photography backpack.

 

[Dale H. Cook]

I use a LowePro Nova 200 series camera bag for my Pentax K-70 and accessories, which is always carry-on luggage when I fly. My Pentax-DA 18-270mm lens, when collapsed, fits into a padded compartment in the bag.

 

[SquarePeg]

My Canon 100-500 L lens goes into my rollaboard when flying. I usually wrap it in a t-shirt or similar. It's fine, I'm not going to toss it around. I always have a small bag in that rollaboard too, in case I am forced to gate-check the rollaboard. That hasn't happened yet, not with the lens in it, but if it does, I will get the lens out and put it in that bag and take it as carryon.

Before I had that lens, I had the 100-400mm L. It was a little bit smaller than the 100-500, and went into my laptop case, together with other camera stuff (and the laptop). With that gear, the laptop case was pretty thick to qualify as a personal item. It was never challenged, though.

You never know what they are going to demand, so always have a plan B.

The extra bag is a great idea. I always use my roller bag for my camera gear as well. But I put my full camera bag (which could fit under the seat) into the roller bag so if there’s no overhead space and I’m forced to gate check, I can pull the camera bag out to take with me and gate check the half empty bag.

OP - if you don’t have status with the airline, and its an option, it’s worth it to pay a bit more to upgrade your ticket to get early boarding so you are able to store your gear. Some of the airlines are unpredictable as to whether they will board front to back or back to front so it’s hard to strategically choose your seat based on the most likely option ensuring overhead bin space.