[ln1977]

Hello all.
Just wondering if anyone can recommend a good reasonably priced insurance company for all my camera gear, this will include my D70 and at least 2 lenses, a laptop, sb-600 flash unit, manfrotto tripod, cards, batts, filters, etc. I need cover for europe for now and may want worldwide next year. Ideally would like new for old.

Also has anyone flown lately with regards to hand luggage I wish to take most of this stuff with me in my Crunpler formal lounge rucksack. Tripod leads batts will go in the hold and I can keep weight under 5kg it just size limits i'm wondering about.
Thanks to all in advance regards Lee

[Sonsey]

I was on a UK flight with Easyjet last week, I was only allowed one hand luggage bag on board and it was restricted to the size of a laptop bag, allthough others were getting away with larger bags.

One point to make was that I was on a UK flight (Belfast to London), there might be different allowences for Europen travel aswell as different travel opperators, I'd advise getting in touch with whoever your traveling with and asking what their specific allowences are.

[ln1977]

Yeah I am going to ring tour operaters tommorow evening the main thing im interested in is Insurance, if anyone has any recomendations would be greatly recieved we're flying in a couple of weeks so need it before then regards Lee

[Dabhand16]

You might find that the best value insurance for travelling is your household insurance. You will probably have to pay a bit extra, but the cover may be better than the dedicated travel insurance. In the small print, you often find that travel cover will actually claim on your houshold insurance anyway to reclaim all or part of their outlay if you make a claim, or they will only indemnify a part of the claim with the rest coming from your other insurance.

Best advice is to shop around, and read the small print.

Hope you have a good holiday.

[ln1977]

Thanks, i'm thinking more of dedicated photography equipment insurance for all my gear for all instances (Theft, Loss, Accidental etc)as the value keeps adding up and I take most of it everywhere with me if its not with me its in the car. I've been meaning to get insurance for ages the holiday is just an excuse to pull my finger out a bit thats all. Thanks again to any replyers.

[stepheno]

Hi Lee - the two main protagonists for insurance are Photoguard and eandl. With regards to travel I've just been with Ryanair from Liverpool to Venice and return. I had the same quandry in that my camera bag would have been more than a lap-top size and I wasn't prepared to put it in the hold. In the event I tool my back-up S602z. As Sonsey said - people were taking larger bags and getting away with it but I wasn't prepared to risk it. Coming back last Friday, strangely enough, the Italian airport seemed to be more stringent than the UK.

One thing cheapo airlines are definitely tightening up on is the weight of hand and hold luggage. Ryanair were slapping on overweight fees all round. HTH.

[ln1977]

Hi again to all have just taken out a policy with photoguard seems very good insured all of my kit camera 2 lenses laptop cards tripod rucksack etc totaling just over £2000 covered abroad and when left in my car new for old replacement on everything no excess with loan if something happens to my stuff (Handy if anything should happen on holiday) and all for £94 per annum I opted for the £8 per month which is very reasonable I think if just for peace of mind. once again thanks to everyone, regards Lee

[Rob Barron]

I have to agree with graham, first check with your home contents insurance company. As long as you have got the cover for items taken out of your home and you list any single item that is over a set limit, usually £1000, you will find you'll get cover just as good as these dedicated companies and for a whole lot less.

I checked out E&L and although they are expensive, I nearly went with them but thought I'd ring my home insurance company first. I am with Prudential and it was as simple as pie. They asked a few questions, I asked a few back to make sure I would get good cover and the answer is yes to everything, including new for old!!!

The best bit: It pushed up my premiums by less than £3 a month!!!

Check out your options before one of the specialists as they are a lot more expensive and have high excess levels.

Cheers,
Rob