If that was the case at least I would have the plane to myself.

I travel quite a lot and learned a couple of things - partly the 'painful way.'

-Mark all the gear you give away as 'fragile'.

-Especially tripods are very likely to be damaged. Transport workers seem to hate them. You should really stuff and pack them well.

-Be prepared, that something could get lost underway. Keep a basic gear 'ready to shoot' in your handluggage (camera, battery, 1-2 tapes, one mic). So you can at least start filming, even if parts of your luggage arrive somewhat later on location than you.

-Take anything out of your handluggage, that could cause the slightest doubt in the brain of a security guy - especially tools and liquids. In Rome, they recently seized a small roll of gaffertape out of my camera box. Not even the Italian cop who did it could tell me why.

-Sometimes they even try to take away your handluggage when your are going to board a smaller plane. Whatever happens, never ever (!!!) give them your camera!