Flying With a Camera on Airplanes

Before you attempt to pack your luggage and your camera equipment for your flight, check with both the airline's website and the TSA website to ensure you know all of the rules regarding a camera carry-on item.

Most rules simplify to a handful of best-practice tips.

Pack It Tight

Pack your camera tightly. Look for a padded camera bag that contains separate compartments for the lenses, camera body, flash units, and other accessories. Or, to save some money, keep the original box and padding the camera arrived in and repack it in that box when you prepare for a flight.

Take Off the Lens

Don’t pack the DSLR camera with the lens attached. If force applies to the lens housing because of the way the camera is positioned inside a bag, the delicate threads that connect the two could break. Pack the body and lens separately, using the proper caps with both units. These caps should be in your original box if you still have it.

Smaller Is Better

Verify your camera bag is small enough to carry onto the plane. Otherwise, you may have to check the bag containing your expensive camera equipment and pay the extra fee some airlines charge for an additional checked bag. TSA requests you don't send electronics equipment and loose batteries through checked baggage.

Keep It All Together

TSA may require you to scan your camera separately. Any portable ​electronic device, such as a digital camera, may be left in carry-on bags as they are electronically screened. However, it's possible a TSA agent could request to inspect the camera more closely after the X-ray procedure. In addition, these regulations could change at any time, so visit the tsa.gov website to see the latest regulations.

Have Extras

Keep a fresh battery handy while you’re going through the security line. Security personnel might ask you to turn your camera on during their screening. This follow-up doesn’t happen often, but it’s still a good idea to have a fresh battery available just in case.

Preserve the Batteries

Don't carry several batteries together and loose. If their terminals come in contact during the flight, they could short-circuit and start a fire. Additionally, if the battery terminals come into contact with some metal—like a coin or keys—they could short-circuit and cause a fire. All batteries should be securely and separately stowed during a flight.

Turn It Off

Consider taping your DSLR's power toggle switch into the “off” position. You may need to use some duct tape for strength, but this step prevents the camera from accidentally being turned on inside your bag, should you choose to leave the battery inside it.

Don't Fear the X-Ray

The X-ray procedure at an airport won't damage the memory card stored with your camera, nor will it erase any stored data.

Keep an Eye On It

If you lose your camera while negotiating a security checkpoint, contact the TSA at the airport where you lost your camera. The TSA website maintains a list of lost and found contacts for each airport in the U.S.

If you lost your camera somewhere else in the airport, you must contact the airport directly.

Extra Padding

If you must check your camera equipment, you’ll want a hard-sided case with padding on the inside. It should be lockable. If you purchase a lock for your bag, make sure it's a TSA-approved lock, which means security personnel will have the appropriate tools to open it without having to cut it. Agents then re-lock the bag after inspection. 

Insure It

Before you fly with a DSLR camera, insure the equipment. This insurance isn't be cheap, so you may not want to purchase it unless you have expensive equipment, but it can give you some peace of mind.