Another one who's packing for a trip

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Originally Posted by Ken MT

All other stuff such as tripod, batteries, cables, filters, etc will go into checked in baggage.

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If that stuff got lost, you could get by without all if it except that you would need batteries. Consider taking them in your carry-on bag or a pants pocket.

Thanks, should have said SPARE batteries

Another addition to the thread is the thought that your planning might need to consider the amount of space in overhead bins. Apparently sometimes there is only space for ~70-80% of the passengers to have room to fit a carry on small suitcase into the overhead bins.
My advice is to get to the front of the boarding queue if at all possible for this reason.
Maybe we need an international gear-loan system between members :)

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Originally Posted by Mike Buckley

If that stuff got lost, you could get by without all if it except that you would need batteries. Consider taking them in your carry-on bag or a pants pocket.

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Lithium batteries cannot go in checked bags. They have to be in your carry-on.

Thanks. Just looked at Air New Zealand website.

"Batteries, spare/loose, including lithium metal or lithium ion cells or batteries, for portable electronic devices that must be carried in carry-on baggage only, they are prohibited from checked baggage. These batteries must be individually protected to prevent short circuits by placement in the original retail packaging or by otherwise insulating terminals (e.g. by taping over exposed terminals or placing each battery in a separate plastic bag or protective pouch)."

"Live and learn every day"

I hope all goes to plan for you Donald, I only wish there was room in your carry on bag for me.
I shall have to console myself with the opportunity of admiring the images from your trip on your return.


Best Regards
Peter

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Originally Posted by Donald

...All I'm going for is photography.

So, all the gear is going....

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That's what the gear is for, Donald. Good on ya'.

I hope the trip lives up to all of your expectations. International travel is frustrating at times. Particularly dealing with potentially less than pleasant officials when you're tired from hours of air travel. The only advice that I have is to keep your mind focused on the overall goal. In my experience getting frustrated with the process never speeds it along but does indeed put a dark cloud over your holiday. One thing you have going for you is that you are taking adequate time for the trip. So an hour lost here or there won't be the end of the world. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the resultant photos and reading about your experiences.

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Originally Posted by DanK

I fly in the US a lot, and in decades of trips, I have never had a carry-on bag weighed or seen anyone's being weighed, although e-mailing them for an answer wouldn't hurt. On rare occasions (too rare, IMHO), they check the size. The main problem I have had is that if you get stuck boarding late, there may not be room, in which case they want to check the bag. Donald, if that happens to you, ask the attendant when you board if they can stow it in the front cabin. They might agree. I've done this twice, but not on American.

Re plug and voltage adapters: Donald is traveling from the UK (240V) to the US (120 V), so he doesn't have to worry about frying anything without a voltage adapter. The only issue is whether the things he will bring are dual-voltage. Even traveling from 120V to 220/240, in my experience voltage adapters aren't needed in most countries anymore. The things I travel with that need to be plugged in (iPhone, camera battery charger, etc.) are all dual voltage, and they work fine in 220/240 volt countries when I travel from the US. I have traveled to 9 countries in recent years that use 240 or 220 V, and I haven't carried a voltage adapter in at least 15 years. YMMV, however.

Donald, you may know all this already, but there are only two types of sockets in the US, type A and type B. Type A plugs fit into both Type A and Type B sockets. Almost anyplace you go, you will find Type B, but you will find some type A in older places, which is a problem if you have grounded, three-prong plugs. I haven't been in a hotel that lacked Type B sockets in as long as I can remember.

If you do end up someplace with old sockets, say, someone's old house that hasn't been brought up to code, you may find a shortage of Type B sockets. You may also find that the old Type A are not polarized--both slots are the same size--and won't accept modern Type A plugs, which are polarized and have one flange that is too big for them. However, all of the few Eurpean-to-American plug converters I have seen are unpolarized and will work in the old Type A sockets. Most of the dual-voltage things I have, such as my iPhone and Canon battery chargers, are also unpolarized, which makes sense, since European two-connection sockets aren't polarized either.

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Ah yes... the odd polarized North American socket. There are ways to get around that problem... several of which probably violate electrical code.

As for the 120/240 issue. Almost all of our (much better half and I ) gear is dual voltage. Most is "plug and play", but a couple things have a little flip/rocker/toggle switch that has to be set correctly to avoid expensive smoke escaping the device.

The charger for my Pentax camera battery is 120V only... curious for a relatively modern device aimed at a global market. Yes, Donald probably doesn't have to worry too much about letting the "magic smoke" out of his charger, but if somebody anywhere reads this thread and says to themselves... "Hey, that might work", then I might have passed along some useful information.

Goodness knows, nobody is going to learn anything about photography from me (sad to say), but I can do Ohms Law and power calculations with reasonable accuracy! :-)

You are 90% there with your preparation. In my recent experience of Heathrow and Gatwick, Namibia and Montreal the more prepared you are the better. Whilst you are dealing with 'the system' you are also dealing with people. If you make their job easier by being nice, pleasant, cheerful you will be rewarded. It is truly amazing how much a positive attitude from you and and interaction with 'officials' makes their day. Say hello, ask them how they are, they start to help you and then if there is a problem work with you to sort it. It is also truly amazing just how many travelers are so rude, be different and you will reap rewards. Donald, apologies, I am teaching you to suck eggs, you I know will always be polite, courteous and friendly.

Tripod definitely checked in, it's an offensive weapon. But everything else should be ok in hand luggage. I have never had mine weighed, even when my limit was all luggage 15 kgs.

Enjoy your trip. Like everyone else I look forward to seeing the evidence