I usually carry my binoculars in my carryon but I'm thinking I would like to save the room and put them in my rifle case (Pelican 1750). The rifle case should be a little more secure than regular checked baggage. I'll be flying Lufthansa and Air Namibia. Any suggestions?
Brian

I don't trust nobody and usually have them in carry on, but why not. Ask TSA when you check in.

Anything valuable that I can carry on an airplane, and keep always in my possession, I carry on, and keep in my possession.

I am offended, although I somewhat understand, that I am, despite decades of proven, honest, and completely law abiding life, that I am not trusted with a firearm on an airplane.

Yet, I am compelled, if I want to fly, rather than drive, paddle, and walk, to trust that my airplane's pilot is a mature, skilled, sober and well-rested master of my destiny?

Two way street, IMHO.

But take it in carry on, would be my advice.

Nope, no way would I check them. In my backpack, where I know they will be until I need them.

I've had too many locks cut off gun cases and ammo boxes to trust binos or hunting boots to baggage. If I don't travel in boots, they are secured to my back pack.

Binos, cameras, rangefinders, a good book, a change of boxers, toothbrush and toothpaste go in my carryon, no matter what -- as well as anything else you really need. Binos don't take up much room.

I always carry my optics, pic/video cameras, electronics, flashlights, etc. on the plane.

Get a one of those combo roller/backpack things. They are more rigid and will carry weight better.

quote:

Originally posted by BC3:
I usually carry my binoculars in my carryon but I'm thinking I would like to save the room and put them in my rifle case (Pelican 1750). The rifle case should be a little more secure than regular checked baggage. I'll be flying Lufthansa and Air Namibia. Any suggestions?
Brian

I would most definitely advise AGAINST carrying the binos in your gun case. Take them in your carryon.

I put my Swarovskis in my gun case one time. The little metal piece that the straps attach to on Swarovski binos were BOTH sheared off. I had a great gun case, not some cheap plastic thing.

Do yourself a favor. Don't do it.

I agree most with Mike Robinson. If I could, everything valuable would be a carry on. But, alas, we must trust some of it to the baggage apes. Can think of very few circumstances where I would trust my binos in my gun case, one possible exception would be a Tufpak, but definitely nothing with locks that can be cut.

Nope, carry them on!

There is no legal reason not to carry your binos (or anything else you wish and have room for) in your gun case. As you perceive, valuables are a bit less subject to pilferage in the gun case than in other checked baggage; you also want to take advantage of packing your rifle case as close to the 50 lb. weight limit as possible in order to save weight in your other baggage. I agree that it is better to carry valuables on your person in the cabin, but there are practical limits to how much bulk and weight you can get into your carry-on luggage so you sometimes have to make a choice of which articles to subject to the vagaries of the checked baggage hold.

I ran into a friendly TSA official the last time I flew with a rifle. After the gun case was inspected I started to wrap regular packaging tape around the case and over the locks. He intervened and offered to wrap the locks for me with TSA packaging tape which was imprinted with "INSPECTED BY TSA". My gun case arrived in Namibia with the TSA tape fully intact. I don't think that anyone wanted to mess with the TSA "sealed" case. The next time you travel with a gun case, ask the TSA officials politely if they will wrap it with their tape.

That's probably a good idea to get TSA to wrap the rifle case with their tape!

However, concerning the binos, I ALWAYS carry them on. Really no reason not to!

This past September, I had the TSA inspector tape the locks on my gun case with the "INSPECTED BY TSA"tape.
It arrived with the tape intact.

I also still carried my binos in my carry on.

Good luck on your trip.

I've never carried my binos in my carry on. I put my binos, Sat phone and extra camera in a bag and lock it inside my Tuff Pac. I've never had an issue. But I can understand how you could feel better with them in the carry on.



Doug

Carry-on for me.

Don't tempt "honest" baggage handlers and inspectors.....carry them with you.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
I ran into a friendly TSA official the last time I flew with a rifle. After the gun case was inspected I started to wrap regular packaging tape around the case and over the locks. He intervened and offered to wrap the locks for me with TSA packaging tape which was imprinted with "INSPECTED BY TSA". My gun case arrived in Namibia with the TSA tape fully intact. I don't think that anyone wanted to mess with the TSA "sealed" case. The next time you travel with a gun case, ask the TSA officials politely if they will wrap it with their tape.

Love that guy! I will definitely try to achieve that next time around. Thanks.

if you use cheap binos, put them in a checked bag( any bag). if you use good binos- put them in your carryon. would you put an expensive camera in your gun case? anything i own that is worth over $500 goes on the plane with me! i would never assume that ANYTHING going via checked luggage is safe....

quote:

Originally posted by DPS:
I've never carried my binos in my carry on. I put my binos, Sat phone and extra camera in a bag and lock it inside my Tuff Pac.
Doug

Me too. Four trips all fine.


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Carry-on only.

Carry-on policy, valuables: sat phone, range finder, camera, binos, spotting scope (tell them it's a telephoto camera lense); fishing reels; toiletries; required medicines; and at least one full change of clothing.

I'm starting to see a trend. Thanks for feedback.