Check your travel agent airline or just google it. Doha Qatar was one that I got caught up in. This should likely pass quickly, but ... who knows!

Nothing bigger than a cell phone is allowed on some of these routes. No cameras, laptops, tablets, drones, GoPro .... nothing electronic except your phone is allowed as carry on.

Here is an important tip that may or may not help you. The ban is specific (insert Mideast country) TO THE USA ... no other leg! So, when you board in Joberg, do not let them make you check your carry on. (If you can help it. I did win that battle fortunately) I can almost guarantee you will loose your cameras in Joberg. Even the check in attendants agreed. You will likely loose it.

Theft in Joberg is the worst I have seen in any country.

Take a lockable carry-on sized case. Like the Pelican 1500 series BA22 or the like. If you can't, Bring long (24-36") heavy duty zip ties! I zip tied the hell out of my backpack where it was impossible to get anything out of it.

I had about $6k in camera gear alone in my case and we had close to $12k in camera gear all together.

Ridiculous rule. But, we have to play by them.

This could be a huge problem for anyone traveling through Mideast to the USA.

If you can, check your carry on at the gate when you board in Doha, Dubai, etc. NOT JOBERG OR ANYWHERE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA the chance of theft in the Middle East is significantly lower than in Joberg.

I flew emirates back last week.

Emirates will take the electronics at security put it in a nice safe bag and give it to you back at baggage claim.

The whole rule is a joke and it's primarily protectionist stuff to get back at middle eastern airlines. The U.K. Allows electronics from Dubai Doha and Abu Dhabi.

The airlines are prepared for it - I would just check with them.

I would not leave anything of value in my bags at joburg.

Mike

This is a real concern. Heading to Africa this summer and flying emirates through Dubai.

I can deal with not having my laptop with me, but am very worried about having to check camera gear. Would HATE to check it in Johannesburg.

can we take a small hard drive with us? As much as losing the camera gear would hurt, losing the pictures would hurt more.

ANYTHING electronic may be removed from your person. So best to put your data files on a 128GB thumb drive or two and put them in your carry on. Thumb Drives, and SD cards are not considered electronics. At least not so far. If that become a problem, go to cloud storage like DropBox.

The rest of your electronics should be packed in your checked luggage. I would strongly suggest hard sided luggage without ANY zippers and add a security strap. So far, this combination has been Johannesburg proof after 32+ passes through the gauntlet of baggage thieves.

Luggage Suggestion

quote:

Originally posted by Opus1:
ANYTHING electronic may be removed from your person. So best to put your data files on a 128GB thumb drive or two and put them in your carry on. Thumb Drives, and SD cards are not considered electronics. At least not so far. If that become a problem, go to cloud storage like DropBox.

The rest of your electronics should be packed in your checked luggage. I would strongly suggest hard sided luggage without ANY zippers and add a security strap. So far, this combination has been Johannesburg proof after 32+ passes through the gauntlet of baggage thieves.

Luggage Suggestion

Buy the bag opus recommends. The best deal is buy the used one amazon is selling. You get a brand new bag.

I have bought 2 and will buy another 2. This is as close to built proof a bag as you can get.

Buy some stickers to mark your bag - no gun, us or hunting stickers if traveling overseas. I use fishing stickers.

Only negative is bag is big - 2 will not fit in taxi trunk.

On electronics - airlines have it figured out to get you electronics safe on last leg into us by checking it in directly at security.

13 hours with emirates entertainment beats 13 hours on a laptop.

Also emirates let me take in the Bose noise canceling headphones.

Mike

Have you ever been charged a surcharge for using that luggage? It's 64 Lineal inches.

quote:

Originally posted by Slider:
Have you ever been charged a surcharge for using that luggage? It's 64 Lineal inches.

Have not - I have taken it to Asia - India Thailand etc

I have taken it to Europe.

It is super easy to wheel distances and it is bullet proof.

The biggest issue is 2 bags and 2 people won't fit in a taxi.

Mike

I just ordered 2 of these for our trip in a few weeks. Ordinarily I just have clothes in my checked bag but this time I anm taking a Garmin GPS dog tracking receiver and 11 collars for a friend. I would hate to have over $3000 in equipment stolen!! BTW he wants the stuff to outfit his bush pig hunting dog pack.

Samsonite also makes a 28" in the same design.

28" Flite Spinner

I easily hit 50 pounds before I run out of space with the 31". So I also have several in 28". I use my 31" as a clothing hauler and the 28" when hauling more equipment.

I looked at the smaller version but they were $40 more a piece than the 31" bag, at least in orange color. I am sure my wife will manage to fill them up going and coming