Camera Bag & Laptop Bag as Carry-On?

Kantankerous on 05/06/2010 - 11:03

Hi guys,

I know this will vary from airline to airline but I'm hoping to take in two fairly decent sized backpacks - one for my camera bag and one for my laptop. Knowing that airlines allow for an extra bag for laptops, I'm not sure if the size of my laptop bag will prove to be too large even though their total weight do not reach 7kg. Here are the two bags:

http://products.lowepro.com/product/Flipside-300,2083,14.htm

http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.aspx?sku=TCG216US (not the exact but similar specs)

If anyone could clarify?

Cheers

General Discussion

Comments

  • inherentchoice on 05/06/2010 - 11:29

    I'd say it should be okay. Technically I think some airlines count the laptop bag as your main bag and only let you carry a small hand bag, jacket or stuff that you bought at duty free. However, in my experience they don't necessarily enforce their carry-on bag restrictions much anyway.

    Lately I've taken advantage of a few of Jetstar's carry-on only fares, both international and domestic. I used a backpack a little like the Targus and carried a separate bag with a large jacket in it. I thought if they question me I could make the other bag disappear by putting the jacket on. When they take your boarding pass I try to make the two bags look less conspicuous by carrying them like shopping bags in my left hand rather than putting the backpack on if you know what I mean.

    Looking at your two bags, could you fit the camera bag inside the other if they question you?

    Would be interesting to hear about this from more frequent flyers or someone who works for the airlines.

  • Kantankerous on 05/06/2010 - 11:49

    That's the main problem, I can't do that! Both are 'compartmentalised' and so leaves you very little room to squash or bend the shape of them though my laptop bag will have basically nothing except my laptop meaning I could flatten it if need be. I can understand that the jacket is rather easy as you can put it on or stuff it in another bag without worry of damage but I can't really do that with heavy and expensive DSLR gear. The last thing I want to do is put my camera inside of my laptop bag and risk some form of damage as it's not designed for it.

    I would definitely love to hear from some staff from airlines to confirm this!

    Thanks for the suggestion inherentchoice but unfortunately I don't think I'd be able to get away with one of these bags looking like a shopping bag haha!

  • Davo1111 on 05/06/2010 - 11:53

    When i travel out of smaller airports i've had issues with carry on. Imho buy a small "wetsuit" style slip for your 17", carry it on and put everything else in your camera bag? if possible.

  • Kantankerous on 05/06/2010 - 12:29

    I was hoping not to do that as I'll be moving constantly..

    To put it succinctly - I'll be going to China moving between 8 cities and also planning to hike 2 mountains of which I will need to leave my check-in baggage at the bottom of these mountains where I'd prefer not to leave my valuables. A slip seems valid though it will be a pain to carry constantly but it can be a possibility if I have no other choice.

    • inherentchoice on 05/06/2010 - 14:32

      Or you could do it the other way round and get one of those shoulder slings with a protective case for the camera… What about a kensington lock for the laptop?

  • tonyjzx on 05/06/2010 - 21:41

    never had a problem with laptop and camera bags with domestic or international

  • tensai on 05/06/2010 - 23:05

    if you check the airline policy for carry-on luggage, they usually exempt carry-on luggage for camera-bag, laptop bag
    i have flew a few times with Qantas, Singapore Air, Cathay Pacific, Virginblue, Jetstar, Tiger with my Camera backpack, and my laptop (sometime i carry 2 laptops - 1 personal 1 work) with no problem.

  • ESEMCE on 07/06/2010 - 07:19

    You probably wont experience much hassle if you're not travelling on a "budget" carrier. ie if you're flying Tiger, expect trouble. If you're flying Qantas, don't expect much difficulty.

  • kasumi on 07/06/2010 - 18:12

    I agree with Scubacoles, that you prob won't have much probs with Non budget airlines

    Hubby has the lowepro mini trekker which is larger than your bag, and he has no problems carrying it on intn flights with a normal carry on suitcase as well.

  • Kantankerous on 07/06/2010 - 18:41

    Brilliant! Just the answer I need, appreciate it guys.
    And just FYI it's with Southern China Airlines so I suspect I should have no hassles whatsoever.
    Huge weight off my mind.

    I actually took the liberty of calling them and the gentleman was rather rude and refused to remotely listen to my question. I ended up hanging up in frustration after he kept cutting off my question thinking he knew what I was going to ask.

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