Kevin Stiller Posted June 21, 2013 Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 Hi all. Im quite new to steadicam and just purchased a Flyer LE from someone I met at one of the workshops. As I'm still in school, I do a lot of traveling back and forth between Houston, Texas and Pittsburgh, PA. I work in both areas at different times during the year. The case that came with the Flyer is HUGE and definitely won't be allowed on a plane. Shipping the steadicam would cost about 100 dollars (insured) one way as well. The only thing I can think of is investing in a few pelican or seahorse cases for the traveling, but I was curious to know what other members here have done to ease the stress of travel with very expensive gear. If pelican cases are the way to go, could someone recommend me the proper size that does the best job? Also, if anyone has experience using a seahorse case, could you give me a review of how it's treated you? Thanks! Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Matthew Fleischmann Posted June 21, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 Kevin, Check your gear on the flight. Most airlines have a media rate for film and media equipment. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mike Germond SOC Posted June 21, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 21, 2013 I'm sitting at the Dallas airport now and our crew checked a total of 17 large and mostly overweight cases under the plane. Media rate is $50 per case with no weight limit on most airlines. The max number of cases on American (which I'm on now) is 50 for normal flights and 25 for the small planes. I also fly Delta often, similar policies and prices. When I had a Flyer LE, I stuffed everything I could in that case and got it up to 90lbs. Still $50. You need a pretty believable story or a media credential. I've been hassled by Delta for one I made at Kinkos a while back, but a complaint to customer service got my money back. Now I'm lucky enough to carry a NBC Universal/NBC Sports credential so I don't get much hassle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mark Schlicher Posted June 22, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 22, 2013 Check this out for ID cards....http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=16488&hl= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Osvaldo Silvera SOC Posted June 22, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 22, 2013 100 dollars each way insured is cheap. I would think the most popular case used in our industry is the Pelican 1650 case. I fly with 3 of those, one tripod tube case for the Steadicam stand and the AKS tray and wheels, and my Klassen vest bag. I hand carry my personal carry on and a foldable kart that everything fits onto to roll around the airport and save on SkyCap fees. I have insurance on my gear, so I never have to pay for additional insurance when flying or shipping, that's all covered by my policy. If you have a policy, or when you get a policy, check it out, it might be covered. On the Secret Millionare and Buried Treasure shows I worked on, production would fly us on whatever airline was cheapest for the most part, most of which did away with the media rate, for instance US Airways was $1250 each way for my 5 pieces, try that on for shock value when my flights themselves were about $300 each way. I even offered production a way to save a lot of cash, where I would pay for a first class upgrade which cost about 200 each way and that would entitle me to 3 bags with a higher weight limit and save production 500 bucks even after they paid for the 1st class upgrade...they declined...so I sat happily in couch while they paid 1250 each way for...about a dozen flights!!, Their excuse, The Execs would never go for paying for my 1st class upgrade, no matter what it cost them in ancillary fees like luggage, etc.. Sometimes they just can't see the bottom line figures until it's too late. Kind of reminds me of a job where the catered lunch was absolutely un healthy and horrible, and they said they couldn't afford a better caterer, yet the 3 execs flew in first class each week and had a car service pick them up and stayed in a separate high end hotel...Doesn't it all come out of the same Bottom line budget number?..... Oh Boy I've swerved away from topic again...sorry 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Stiller Posted June 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2013 Thanks for all the tips. I'll definitely look into a media pass. I had no idea such a thing existed. Osvaldo, I can't imagine 1250 for flying luggage... That is insane. Almost 3 grand for a round trip... Wow. Makes sense though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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