So, you’re off to photograph your dream destination and you have to travel there by plane. My condolences. Things used to be easier and simpler. Today traveling with cameras on planes results in silly, idiotic, restricting, and inconveniencing encounters with various people vested with too much authority and too little common sense, who simply cant think out of the box when it comes to photographic gear. This is definitely something that needs to be addressed by all airlines. It is my hope that this blog, on how to fly with photography gear will help, as I am experiencing these issues first hand. I have researched various websites to obtain this information.

What is one of your worst nightmares as a national or international professional photographer? Losing your luggage.  It happens all the time, unfortunately. Not just one airline in particular; almost all airline companies utterly fail in customer support when it comes to understanding professional photographers and the importance or value of their equipment or job.

I’m not going to tackle airline atrocities, Johannesburg Airport is well known for luggage theft, and more recently two people stowed away on a BA flight to London. Instead, I’m going to concentrate on just one thing: carry-on weight.

Under no circumstances am I ever ever ever going to check my camera or computer gear. It’s like waving good-bye to it as I feel like I’d never see it again. If I have to check my camera gear, then I’m not going! Most airlines allow you one piece of carry-on luggage such as a roller-board suitcase and a personal item such as a backpack, briefcase or ladies handbag. For me that means a backpack.

I have taken some time to review most of the airlines that depart from South Africa to international destinations, to see where we stand on how to fly with photography gear; in general, it is not very clear when it comes to photography gear. It has everything to do with weight or size! On the odd occasion, it actually mentions what size camera can be taken, and nowhere do they say we can be exempt from having our gear with us. There are options on some airlines to book an extra seat, where you gear can travel as a passenger next to you!

What International Airlines Say About Carry-On

Air France

Air France permits one cabin bag plus one accessory (handbag, laptop, or camera) with a combined weight of up to 12 kg. Dimensions must not exceed 55 × 35 × 25 cm.

Source: Air France Baggage Policy

Air New Zealand

Economy passengers may carry one cabin bag up to 7 kg. Premium Economy and Business Class passengers, as well as elite frequent flyers, may carry two bags with a combined weight of 14 kg (one item up to 10 kg).

Source: Air New Zealand Baggage Policy

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific allows one cabin bag per passenger, with dimensions not exceeding 56 × 36 × 23 cm. Weight limits vary by class: 15 kg in First, 10 kg in Business, and 7 kg in Economy.

Source: Cathay Pacific Baggage Policy

Croatia Airlines

Economy passengers may carry one cabin bag up to 8 kg. Business Class passengers may carry two pieces, each up to 8 kg. Dimensions must not exceed 115 cm total.

Note: Policies were current in 2015. Croatia Airlines may have changed or merged since.

Emirates

Emirates allows two pieces in First and Business Class (briefcase plus handbag or garment bag), each up to 7 kg. Economy passengers may carry one piece up to 7 kg.

Source: Emirates Baggage Policy

Etihad

Etihad permits two cabin bags totaling 12 kg in First and Business Class, one bag up to 7 kg in Economy, and one bag up to 5 kg for infants.

Source: Etihad Baggage Policy

Icelandair

Saga and Economy Comfort passengers may carry two cabin bags plus one personal item, each bag up to 10 kg. Economy passengers may carry one bag up to 10 kg.

Source: Icelandair Baggage Policy

Kenya Airways

Premier World passengers may carry two cabin bags plus one accessory, total weight 12 kg. Economy passengers may carry one cabin bag plus one accessory, total weight 12 kg.

Source: Kenya Airways Baggage Policy

KLM

KLM allows one cabin bag in Economy Class and two in Business Class. Dimensions must not exceed 55 × 35 × 25 cm for the main bag, with a smaller second bag permitted in Business. Weight limits are 12 kg in Economy and 18 kg in Business.

Source: KLM Baggage Policy

Lufthansa

Lufthansa permits one cabin bag in Economy and Premium Economy, and two in Business and First Class. Each bag may weigh up to 8 kg. Dimensions are limited to 55 × 40 × 23 cm, with garment bags allowed up to 57 × 54 × 15 cm.

Source: Lufthansa Baggage Policy

Qantas

Qantas cabin baggage allowances vary by class. Economy passengers may carry one bag up to 7 kg, while Business and First Class passengers may carry two bags with a combined weight of 14 kg. Enhanced security measures apply on flights to the UK and US.

Source: Qantas Baggage Policy

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways permits two cabin bags in First and Business Class, not exceeding a combined weight of 15 kg. Economy passengers may carry one bag up to 7 kg. Maximum dimensions are 50 × 37 × 25 cm.

Source: Qatar Airways Baggage Policy

Swiss

Swiss allows one cabin bag up to 8 kg in Economy, and two bags up to 8 kg each in Business and First Class. Dimensions must not exceed 55 × 40 × 23 cm. A foldable garment bag up to 57 × 54 × 15 cm is also permitted.

Source: Swiss Baggage Policy

TAM Linhas Aéreas

TAM Linhas Aéreas (later merged into LATAM) permitted one cabin bag per passenger, with dimensions and weight limits similar to LAN regulations. Policies were current in 2015 and may have changed since.

Note: TAM merged into LATAM Airlines Group. Policies may differ today.

Thai Airways

Thai Airways permits one cabin bag in Economy Class up to 7 kg, and two cabin bags in Business and First Class, each up to 7 kg. Dimensions must not exceed 56 × 45 × 25 cm.

Source: Thai Airways Baggage Policy

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines allows one cabin bag in Economy Class up to 8 kg, and two cabin bags in Business Class, each up to 8 kg. Dimensions must not exceed 55 × 40 × 23 cm.

Source: Turkish Airlines Baggage Policy

United Airlines

United Airlines permits one cabin bag plus one personal item in all classes. The cabin bag must fit in the overhead bin and the personal item under the seat. Weight limits are not strictly enforced, but dimensions must not exceed 56 × 35 × 22 cm.

Source: United Airlines Baggage Policy

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic allows one cabin bag in Economy and Premium Economy up to 10 kg, and two cabin bags in Upper Class, each up to 12 kg. Dimensions must not exceed 56 × 36 × 23 cm.

Source: Virgin Atlantic Baggage Policy

What Southern African Airlines Say About Carry-On

South African Airways (SAA)

South African Airways allows one cabin bag per passenger in Economy Class, up to 8 kg, and two cabin bags in Business Class, each up to 8 kg. Dimensions must not exceed 56 × 36 × 23 cm.

Source: South African Airways Baggage Policy

Mango Airlines

Mango permitted one cabin bag up to 7 kg per passenger, with dimensions not exceeding 56 × 36 × 23 cm. A small personal item such as a handbag or laptop bag was also allowed. Note: Mango ceased operations in 2021, but policies are included here for historical reference.

Note: Mango Airlines is no longer operational.

Kulula

Kulula allowed one cabin bag per passenger up to 7 kg, with maximum dimensions of 56 × 36 × 23 cm. A small personal item such as a handbag or laptop bag was also permitted.

Source: Kulula Baggage Policy

Comair (British Airways South Africa)

Comair, operating British Airways flights in South Africa, permitted one cabin bag up to 7 kg in Economy Class and two cabin bags in Business Class. Dimensions were limited to 56 × 36 × 23 cm.

Note: Comair ceased operations in 2022.

Airlink

Airlink allows one cabin bag per passenger up to 8 kg, with dimensions not exceeding 56 × 36 × 23 cm. A small personal item such as a handbag or laptop bag is also permitted.

Source: Airlink Baggage Policy

FlySafair

FlySafair permits one cabin bag per passenger up to 7 kg, with dimensions not exceeding 56 × 36 × 23 cm. A small personal item such as a handbag or laptop bag is also allowed.

Source: FlySafair Baggage Policy

Air Botswana

Air Botswana allows one cabin bag per passenger up to 7 kg, with dimensions not exceeding 51 × 20 × 23 cm. A small personal item such as a handbag or laptop bag is also permitted.

Source: Air Botswana Baggage Policy

Air Namibia

Air Namibia permitted one cabin bag per passenger in Economy Class up to 7 kg, and two cabin bags in Business Class, each up to 10 kg. Dimensions were limited to 56 × 36 × 23 cm. Note: Air Namibia ceased operations in 2021, but policies are included here for historical reference.

Note: Air Namibia ceased operations in 2021.

Closing Thoughts

Southern African airlines generally follow similar cabin baggage rules, with allowances between 7–8 kg and dimensions around 56 × 36 × 23 cm. While some carriers like Mango and Comair are no longer operational, their policies remain part of the historical record. For photographers, the key takeaway is to always check the latest rules before flying, and plan ahead to protect your gear.

Mega Comparison Table – Cabin Baggage Allowances

What Other Options Do We Have?

Consider a Basic African Safari Kit:

• Backpack
• Two camera bodies (I’ll use D300’s in this illustration; D3 users be prepared for more misery)
• 200-400mm lens
• 70-200mm lens
• 16-35mm lens
• 50mm lens
• TC-14E

What do you think that weighs (not including filters, cards, or batteries)? Well, we clock in at 8.9kg with a completely stripped ThinkTank Airport Ultralight. In other words, even a very basic kit of gear is going to be over the weight limit at the most restrictive airlines. Sometimes they check, sometimes they don’t.
It isn’t that they’re actually concerned about the weight. Because the usual way around the problem is to take items out of your pack and hang them around your neck (camera and lens) or stuff them into your vest pockets (you are wearing a vest with lots of pockets when traveling by plane, aren’t you? If not you should be!). In the above example, just taking one D300 out and putting the 16-35mm lens on it and hanging that around my neck gets me just under the weight limit. And they’ll let you walk on board like that, at which time you put the camera back in the bag and put the bag in the overhead. This tends to slow down the plane loading process for no good reason, but I told you the airlines have tunnel vision.

So what do you do when you need to travel by plane these days and carry a fair amount of photo gear? Well, here’s some advice in a nutshell:
Get the lightest backpack that’ll carry your gear comfortably and that has some padding. The ThinkTank Airport Ultralight is one such bag,which weighs 1.8kg or less but have enough padding to be minimally protective of your gear. The bag has to have padding, otherwise the infamous forced gate check will ruin your day.

Don’t overpack the bag. Find another place for your filters, cards, cleaning equipment, and other miscellaneous gear while on the plane. A small hardshell bag that goes in your checked luggage is one possibility. But basically strip out all but the things that have to go in the carry-on. You’d be surprised at how fast all those little extras add weight.

Wear a vest. As a starter, put all your batteries into vest pockets until you’re safely on board. Since you pretty much have to carry batteries in your carry-on now under current TSA regulations, a handful of batteries adds weight really fast, and you don’t want that burden in your bag when it’s weighed. Lowepro make a really decent package which is cheaper to purchase at B&H in New York than locally.

Have one camera and lens ready to go. If it looks like they’re weighing all carry-ons, pull the camera out and hang it around your neck.

The computer goes in your “personal bag.” Almost everywhere you’re allowed a small laptop bag in addition to your carry-on, so make use of that (it’s a good place for those extra cards, too).

Rethink your kit. There’s usually a lower-weight alternative that doesn’t sacrifice too much. The 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5 instead of any of the AF-S wide angle zooms, for instance. The 70-300mm VR is half the weight of the 70-200mm VR, so if you absolutely don’t need f/2.8 there’s a big savings right there.

Look and act light. Don’t take off your pack in front of airline personnel and then moan and gasp as you try to lift it back onto your back. Stand tall, walk with a spring in your step. Leave the pack on your back as if it weighs nothing. Except at dedicated weigh stations (which unfortunately are appearing with more regularity), no one wants to weigh everything. But they do want to weigh things that look heavy. So don’t look heavy!

Candor sometimes works. Once in Kenya, I was trying to head home and both my checked bag and my carry-one were overweight. The ticketing agent weighed my checked bag and sent me out of line to the notorious “we’re going to charge you more per extra kilogram than high-grade caviar” line. When I had paid my toll and came back to the ticket agent, she eyed my backpack and asked “how much does that weigh?” I rolled my eyes and said “you don’t want to know.” She hesitated a moment, but having already having extracted at least one weight penalty on me, she eventually chuckled and said “asanthe” (thank-you) and added “next time you lose some weight.”

Be prepared for the infamous Gate Check. There will come a time when the airline gestapo absolutely insist on separating you from your bag. They’ll happily “gate check” it for you. I’ve had more equipment broken when gate checked than in any other situation, plus it is more vulnerable to theft. So make sure you have a padlock for the bag. Bring a big and very visible Fragile sign that can be hung from the carrying handle. Have everything in the bag already wrapped with an additional protective sleeve, if possible. As a last resort remember to remind the airline personnel insisting on the gate check that you’ve got thousands of Rands of fragile equipment in there and would they please acknowledge that they’ll insure it if it gets damaged (they won’t, but sometimes this is enough to convince the agent maybe they shouldn’t force a gate check: see “Candor,” above).

Be a frequent flyer or fly a higher class. If you concentrate your flying mileage and work you way up into the higher levels of most airline reward programs, the agents you encounter along the way that can most cause you trouble tend to go easy on you. They know that their livelihood depends upon regular travelers, so they don’t often take their anger out on them (conversely, if they think you’re flying with them for the first and only time, watch out! Indeed, outbound from Africa tends to provoke more weight checks than in-bound).

Note how small the plane is. Travel within some countries can often be by very small plane. Flights from Nairobi to the Masai Mara, for instance, are typically on as small as 12 passenger planes (it can be smaller, but most people are flying on SafariLink or one of the larger carriers, and they tend to use 12-36 passenger props). Bush flights in Alaska, internal flights in Botswana and a host of other countries are often on something as small as a Cessna 172. I once flew a Dash 8 to Somalia, there was no space to swing a dead rat in there! Once you get down into the single or dual engine turbo prop realm, things change. Very small planes generally have very critical weight limits for takeoff, and those are even more critical if takeoff or landing at altitude or in heat is involved. If every passenger averaged 300 pounds of total weight, for instance, most Cessna 172’s would be over their safety limit. You actually want these small “airlines” to weigh you and everything you carry: they simply shouldn’t be taking off without an accurate and complete weight check. You just need to be prepared for what will happen when you are weighed and told that you exceed what they can carry. Usually that means that you have to have some of your gear come on a subsequent flight, which means you need to be already packed for that possibility (e.g. know what you absolutely need and have it packed separately from what you can do without for a few hours or even a day). You also need to be prepared to pay for that extra flight and perhaps ready to grease some palms to make sure that your unattended bag gets met by someone and catches up to you.

Travel with someone. Share the load between the two of you (or more), that way you know your gear is secure.

Hire your gear. As a last resort, if this is financially possible and practical, it may be your only choice!

Where To Stow Your Gear

Place your bag under your seat. Overhead compartment availability and regulations are just too wildly different to be trusted, in my experience. Your absolute best move, your most powerful ally, is your under-seat bag.
Even if you do all your homework and you have an overhead bag that totally fits, you still might find yourself on an over-booked flight with zero room left in the overhead bins. Unfortunately this problem cannot be solved by just arriving super early and being the first person on the plane, because layovers are common and you never know what situation a delay can put you in. Also the boarding procedures may be in rows or groups.
So, take advantage of the under-seat “personal item” option.  It is by far the most liberal and unregulated option.  Yet with the right packing method and the perfect size camera bag, you can easily fit two camera bodies, 2-3 medium or large lenses, a flash, and a laptop.  Your absolute minimum set of equipment for getting the job done right, and it fits under your seat which is a space that no flight attendant will ever hassle you about.

• Extra seat(s) shall be requested and paid for in advance.
• The normal applicable free checked baggage allowance applies for every extra seat booked (EXST). For example, 1 passenger books 2 extra M-Class seats for comfort. The total checked baggage allowance for this passenger will be 3 x applicable free baggage allowance.
• If a seat is used to place items on (CBBG), these items may not weigh more than 46 kg per seat.
• Items placed on a seat should be adequately packed to prevent damage.