Packing Videography Equipment in a Carry on Bag for Air Travel 2

Three more days to go. This Friday morning, I will be flying Jetstar
from Singapore to Bangkok for a business trip.

My business is videography and I will be traveling alone with all my
video gear.

The tricky part is packing.

When I shoot locally, I pack everything in a luggage and drive around
with my car.

The same luggage will be used for the trip, but this time I must pack
in a different way due to restrictions.

Some items can remain in the luggage, while the rest have to go into
the carry on bag. The luggage is checked in at the airport gate
counter and the carry on bag is what you carry with you onto the
plane.

First I have to decide what to bring and what to leave behind in Singapore.

The assignment is to record a 3-day training seminar and workshop in
a hotel function room. There will be a half day outdoor field trip and
some interviews. All editing to done back in Singapore, so no editing
on location.

These are the essential video equipment I use for recording a seminar.

1. Panasonic HMC151 camcorder. The heart of everything.

2. Two batteries and a charger for Panasonic HMC151.

3. Sony MC50 camcorder. This is a backup camcorder and for field trips.

4. Two batteries and a charger for Sony MC50.

5. Video tripod for Panasonic HMC151. I am bringing the lightweight
carbon tripod.

6. Mini photo tripod. As a backup.

7. Sennheiser wireless microphone. Inserted with fresh batteries.

8. Another Sennheiser wireless microphone. For backup.

9. Laptop and charger.

10. Memory cards and external hard drive.

Finally…

11. Assorted AV connectors and adapters, backup headphones, portable
LED video light, lens cleaning cloth, Swiss army toolkit, multi AC
power socket, 32x AA alkaline Duracell batteries.

So those are the items I will be bringing (of course there’s still
clothes, toiletries and documents).

Now about the restrictions…

Jetstar is a budget airline. So the travel insurance I am getting is
also a budget one which means they will cover up to S$500 for every item
should something get lost.

The Panasonic HMC151 costs about S$5000. So I better carry that with me.

But THAT’S NOT THE POINT…

If any essential stuff gets lost along the way, I cannot do my work
and hence I will not get paid for anything.

I have heard too many stories from my friends losing their baggages in transit.

So the safe plan is to carry with me the essential stuff that
allow me work straight away when I get there and stuff that cannot be
easily found and purchased.

However there is a limit to the carry on baggage in terms of size and weight.

Here’s a statement from Jetstar website about the weight limit…
“Jetstar cabin baggage limit:
For our Starter Fares you are permitted one main item of carry-on
baggage and one other small item, with a total combined weight of up
to 10kg. For Jetstar Pacific flights (BL) passengers, the total
combined weight is 7kg. ”

There are 2 dimensions given for the size limit. This is the smaller
one for smaller flights.
48cm x 34cm x 23cm

That means the long video tripod has to go into the checkin luggage.
The mini backup tripod will have to come with me.

On my last trip to Penang Malaysia, I used a regular laptop haversack.

This trip to Bangkok Thailand, I will use a camera bag. Why? It
is designed to the exact carry on bag size limit. It is also padded to
protect cameras and lenses.

From the “essentials” list above, items 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10
go into the carry on. (ironically, what’s left going into
the bigger luggage may be lighter than what I am carrying)

Does the weight meet the limit requirement of 10 kg?

The two bulkiest (and most expensive) items are the Panasonic HMC151
and the HP laptop, which weigh about 1.7 kg each.

Add on the batteries and power chargers, it should be less than 10 kg.
(I don’t have a weighing machine, so I will only know when I get to
the airport customs)

Next… Let me go to the money changer to get some Thai Bahts…

Adrian Lee
http://VideoLane.com

PS:
Follow my trip on my personal blog at http://AdrianVideoImage.com

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