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View Full Version : I Wonder What Their Baggage Handling Procedures with View Cameras Is Like...



Len Middleton
10-Jul-2009, 09:43
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo

Donald Miller
10-Jul-2009, 10:46
I flew United from Italy to Phoenix...my first experience with United. I missed my connecting flight in Zurich...was rerouted to Frankfort enroute to Chicago rather than Washington as originally ticketed. When I got to Chicago with boarding pass in hand and the plane sitting at the gate I was unable to locate a ticket agent (desk was unattended) at the gate and missed the second United flight that same day. The customer service people told me that the next flight to Phoenix would be the next morning...no sorry, kiss my ass or go to hell...just a welcome to sleep in the airport that night, which I did.

When I arrived in Phoenix the next morning...no luggage (it seems that it went to Washington without me)...finally three days later my luggage arrived...I will never fly United again ever...of this I am sure!!!!

rphenning
10-Jul-2009, 14:47
you see and experience so much more by car anyways. If there isn't an ocean between you and your destination and time allows, car is the way to go.

Kirk Gittings
10-Jul-2009, 15:29
I once had a shoot in South Dakota and the final leg was on one of those little commuter jets, which arrived late. Looking out the window just prior to a rushed take off, I watched in horror as two burley luggage handlers (one on each end) pitched my VC hardcase and my hard strobe cases up and into the cargo hold. All the cases had stickers on them which said "Medical Equipment-Handle with Care". Guess which airline? Only one strobe was damaged beyond usage, and I got by on the shoot (though everything showed signs of being knocked around).

Len Middleton
10-Jul-2009, 15:34
Looking out the window just prior to a rushed take off, I watched in horror as two burley luggage handlers (one on each end) pitched my VC hardcase and my hard strobe cases up and into the cargo hold. All the cases had stickers on them which said "Medical Equipment-Handle with Care". Guess which airline?

Kirk,

So you can verify that the procedure is the same one for view camera equipment then? :eek:

Len

Kirk Gittings
10-Jul-2009, 15:37
Yes, and because of that experience and the insult of flying in general, I largely quit taking jobs I could not drive to.

Allen in Montreal
11-Jul-2009, 17:11
Somewhere in my file I have a picture of one of these jerks driving a "train" of baggage carts and there must be close to a dozen bags that had fallen off and were sitting on the tarmac behind him!

If they are not stealing it, they are smashing it!

And now you are prohibited from locking your cases making theft all the easier.
I hate flying with gear for work now too.
A total false sense security to boot, they swab my laptop, and checked nothing else in the bag, Palm Pilots with expansion bays, pocket wizards etc etc. But they x-rayed my shoes while I stood on a disgustingly dirty floor at O'Hare. It was a joke.
Montreal is no better, the Hell's Angels had a Canada Customs agent at Dorval on the payroll to make sure certain bags went through without an inspection.





I once had a shoot in South Dakota and the final leg was on one of those little commuter jets, which arrived late. Looking out the window just prior to a rushed take off, I watched in horror as two burley luggage handlers (one on each end) pitched my VC hardcase and my hard strobe cases up and into the cargo hold. All the cases had stickers on them which said "Medical Equipment-Handle with Care". Guess which airline? Only one strobe was damaged beyond usage, and I got by on the shoot (though everything showed signs of being knocked around).

Len Middleton
11-Jul-2009, 18:17
A total false sense security to boot, they swab my laptop, and checked nothing else in the bag, Palm Pilots with expansion bays, pocket wizards etc etc. But they x-rayed my shoes while I stood on a disgustingly dirty floor at O'Hare. It was a joke.
Montreal is no better, the Hell's Angels had a Canada Customs agent at Dorval on the payroll to make sure certain bags went through without an inspection.

Allen,

The focus is upon appearance of security rather than actual security.

Yes, you have your laptop swabbed, your pants belt opened up, your shoes removed and checked, your carry on and checked baggage x-rayed, but by whom?

They are likely paid minimum wage and there is the potential to them being bribed and the potential for gangs loading and unloading the planes. I would rather be secure than have the appearance of security myself.

My thoughts,

Len

Frank Petronio
11-Jul-2009, 18:27
Actually they make $50K with benefits for life and are unfireable. Great bogus jobs -- one guy sits in a Suburban at the end of a railroad bridge to Canada 24-7 -- that means four employees that probably cost $320K per year for one freaking bridge.

sanking
11-Jul-2009, 20:30
Actually they make $50K with benefits for life and are unfireable. Great bogus jobs -- one guy sits in a Suburban at the end of a railroad bridge to Canada 24-7 -- that means four employees that probably cost $320K per year for one freaking bridge.

Yesterday I returned with my wife to the US from Mexico, port of entry Houston, Texas. Arrived in Houston at 8:50 am from Veracruz, with connecting flight to Greenville, SC at 10:50 am.

On entering the immigration area we were obliged to stand in multiple lines for more than 1.5 hours, and lost the connecting flight. I think it was four open stations for about 1500 people, with the "cara de verga" custom agents taking about 4-6 minutes per person to clear. It is hard to imagine how much more one can be violated by the US government on return to the US. I have never experienced such a disgrace in clearing customs in any foreign country.

As we were making our way through the line one of the US customs officers remarked to all that conditions were the same in other US cities. Bull Shit, this problem is local to Houston, and has been going on for many months. My wife had the same experience in January on returning from Mexico, and wound up with a delay of eight hours in getting home, in spite of the fact that Continental had here to Houston with about two hours to clear customs.

Houston, "you have a problem". I won't connect through that hell hole again until the problem is resolved.



Sandy King

Frank Petronio
11-Jul-2009, 21:20
1 or 2 hours in a US Customs line has been normal for me at Chicago, NY, and Philly since 9-11.

sanking
12-Jul-2009, 07:40
1 or 2 hours in a US Customs line has been normal for me at Chicago, NY, and Philly since 9-11.

Interesting that our experiences have been so different. I have averaged 8-10 trips per year outside of the US over the last 6-8 years and don't recall ever needing more than an hour to clear customs on returning. That includes clearing customs in Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Dallas, Detroit and Seattle. I avoid scheduling anything through Chicago or New York and have not been through either since the 1980s.

Sandy King

RandyB
12-Jul-2009, 07:44
Sorry to hear of your trouble with Customs. I got back from Germany on June 7th via Cincinatti, spent about 45 min in line, I was suprised that they had 4 lines open being it was a Sunday. While I did not check any photo gear (it was a vacation) I did check 6 bottles of French and German wine, all made it ok. In years past on US flights I have checked my tripod which made it ok. I guess I have been lucky.

RandyB
12-Jul-2009, 07:55
p.s. I flew Delta

Steaphany
12-Jul-2009, 09:35
Years ago, I took a domestic business trip and brought along borrowed computer equipment packed into a wood crate. Despite being labeled "Hand Carry Only" they tossed it on a baggage carousel. The packing was done in anticipation of such with the help of a friend experienced with air shipping into and out of Hong Kong.

Later, when my career had me traveling domestically every week for about 7 years, only electronics, optics, or photographic equipment which I could hand carry made the trip.

Want a tip to mess with airport security ?

A coworker would carry the grossest porno magazine he could find in a pocket of a carry on bag. He had no interest in the magazine and he kept it there for airport security people. He told me how a female baggage inspector once unzipped the pocket, pulled out the magazine, face went pale at the sight of the cover, reinserted the magazine into the pocket, and quickly handed the bag back while saying "You may go..."

My tactic was targeted at their scanners which go bleep just to slow the line down. I'd travel wearing minimal clothing making sure no metal would have their scanner go bleep. In variably, it would go bleep, and the security people would ask me to remove my sandals (typically all plastic beach sandals) and try again. Bleep, and again I'd be asked to remove something I was wearing. By the third Bleep, and before they said a word, I start to undress. With eyes gone wide, they frantically, all trying to avoid a public strip search spectacle, stop me from disrobing any further and usually admit that the scanner must be "over sensitive". I sincerely assure them that I'm only trying to comply with their requests and that I can go through the scanner nude. "No, No, No..." is the usual reply and only occasionally do they follow up with a wand scanner.

Len Middleton
12-Jul-2009, 16:40
If you travel a great deal and want to get through US and Canadian Customs and Immigration, it is hard to beat a NEXUS card in getting through relatively quickly.

Provided you don't mind getting a background check by the FBI and the Queen's Cowboys (aka RCMP).

You just answer a few questions on a kiosk and do an iris scan, and away you go. Just as quick as the flight staff.