Anyone flown BA recently?

Next month we are flying BA to Phoenix. I have heard that they are very strict on hand baggage on BA flights.
I'm wondering what to do about a camera bag. At the moment I have a Tamrac Adventure 5 back pack, which in theory meets their size requirements, but when full may not fit into the frame they use. KLM never had a problem with it as they allow an extra bag for photographic gear anyway, but As I said I am hearing that BA are really strict. Does anyone have experience of BA recently and can you tell me how they were with hand baggage?
Do I risk using my Tamrac backpack or should I search for a bag which I am sure will fit?
I have considered getting a rolling case (especially as thanks to the T5 fiasco we now have to change terminals at Heathrow) but I'm not sure how useful that will be once we get to Arizona - can't see me towing one at the Grand Canyon for instance.
Any suggestions - it has to be able to fit a Bigma as well as (hopefully ) a K20D and a few other lenses - are welcome.

I flew to Dallas earlier this week on BA. They have relaxed the one piece of hand baggage rule at Heathrow, so you can take a small suitcase (22x17.5x9.85in) and a laptop bag on board. I did not see any size checking at checkin and there were certainly some bags that were larger than the size allowed)

The link below provides more information
(http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagcabin/public/en_gb) and a laptop.

Coincidentially, I will also flying out to Phoenix in May

Steve

Thanks Steve. Maybe Ill risk the back pack after all. Always good not to have to spend even more money.
What date are you flying? We are going on May 11th for three weeks

My dates are not confirmed yet, but I will probably the around 25th. The trip will be for business, so not much chance to look around.

Steve

Many years ago my Other Half would to go there regularly on business. The company he then worked for had a branch there. I never got to go with him though.
We're only spending the first night there before heading north. OH says there is little reason to hang around Phoenix.

The 25th we hope to be in Silver City NM enjoying the Memorial Day weekend blues fest, before re-entering Arizona and exploring Tombstone, and the Tucson area if it isn't too hot. If it's too hot we'll head for the hills. We fly home on June 1st.

I am down in San Antonio at the moment, it is a very pleasant 25'C and not too much humidity. I have the K10 with me but no way of uploading pictures until I get back home.

Gwyn,

I would only expect a query at the BA desk if the clerk had doubts about a bag getting through Security. If it is challenged at Security and won't go in the frame there it won't go in the cabin with you.

I always play safe, the last thing I want to do is to have to go back and check a pack with camera and laptop in it.

Michael

I've never had a problem with my Lowepro Computrekker AW on

KLM
BMI
BA - domestic and long haul..
SleazyJet

A mate of mine has the Tamrac 5 and he's not had a problem, although his Canon EF 100-400 L lens goes in the hold

I think BA are over their luggage problem but you have to check whether your flight goes from T4 or T5 when you fly out... in two weeks I try T5....

Going BMI into London these days is less attractive...

We fly into T5 and out of T4 unfortunately. Originally it was all to be T5 which was one of the reasons for booking BA. Maybe on the return flight it will all be T5 but I doubt it. Still it has to be better than a connection in the US. Doesn't it???
Good job I allowed loads of connection time.
I may end up with the Bigma in my handbag if I get the K20D so that I have room for both bodies in the rucksack. The gear is all well insured even if I have to check it, but obviously I'd rather not. I don't care if they lose my case as long as I have my camera

I went on a trip last October to Japan, Oz, Hong Kong and back to UK. Flew BA to Japan and on the return from Hong Kong, Quantas for the other two legs.

Being of a pessimistic nature I phone BA before hand and they told me that as long as it was within the size limits and I could lift it into the over head locker they did not care how much it weighed.

So I would be inclined to get something that meets the size requirements.

I agonised over this a lot, as I did not want to check my kit, but I wanted to be sure that if something happened that meant I had to, that it would be safe.

In the end I went with a Peli 1510 hard case which weighs 6KG empty but is a perfect fit for the size requirements. BA had no problems with it, only problem was that for the Quantas leg of our BA supplied ticket the weight limits were more draconian so I had to check the hard case.

I had my Slingshot 200 in my luggage as well for use when I arrived so I transferred as much as I could to that, but my Sigma 100-300 went in the hold.

It was all a bit of a nightmare as the luggage allowance for our child was less on the Quantas leg as well so we trucked up to Narita about 25kg over our allowance.

Anyway, bottom line is that BA seem to be one of the better ones, but I would check the dimensions of your bag.

Neil

Gywn, flew back from Dallas yesterday on BA and once again there were some rather large bags and cases allowed on board. One guy was actually allowed to take a guitar in a hard case as carry on luggage.

Steve

I flew BA to Japan 3 weeks ago and my Tamrac Adventure 7 caused no problems at any time.

I didn't flaunt it at check in but neither did I hide it and security had no problems and it was well stuffed with books and apples in the top compartment.

Mike

Thankyou Steve and Mike.
I have decided to send my money on cameras not on things to carry them in, for now (the Tamrac cost enough as it is ). According to the Tamrac site the Expedition 5 meets BA's carry on requirements so I shall take it. I may still put the Bigma in my handbag or in OH's carry on though, just to free up some room. Luckily it comes with a very nice case.