Travel tips with Olympus gear

Travel is obviously a broad topic since there are so many reasons, we travel with camera gear but I think many of these tips apply to any type of trip that has an emphasis on photography. The bags might change but the need for getting from one place to another and having the right gear is essentially the same.
In any event here are my tips:
1. Find the right bag that can be put under the seat in front of you + use a smaller bag as an intermediary if you need different tools on location + rolling bags are awesome for getting from A to B
2. When buying tickets consider the hidden fees (I love Southwest but another great tip is that some credit cards like the one for American Airlines also offer perks including free bags). If you’re in business you can also ask for a media rate on extra, oversized and heavy bags, the rules for who qualifies aren’t super clear but at times I’ve had good luck using a business card and asking nicely.
3. Make sure when you’re packing that you include everything mission-critical when you on the plane (this includes battery chargers).
4. If you’re going on a once in a lifetime trip or traveling professionally please do yourself a favor and have backups ( 2 cameras + 2 lenses minimum + 2-4 batteries +2-4 cards + laptop, HDD, card reader).
5. On the way home separate your images between bags and hopefully among different people - I’ll always have the images in at least two locations and never in the same bag. Often I have my wife hold onto one copy and many times my card slot 2 will have a third copy of the images which don’t leave the camera bodies. SSDs are also on the list of my favorite things since they’re smaller and not susceptible to damage as easily.
6. A battery bank is mission-critical these days - especially if you like to use wifi and post on the go but also because, maps, Uber, email, emergencies, movies on the plane etc.
7. I try to pack bodies unmounted and gear in one layer to minimize time at security
8. TSA Precheck is worth the $85 if you fly even just a few times per year
9. Pack a power strip to make your charging life so much easier
10. Make sure the software you like to use (PM, LR and PS) are up to date before you leave since hotel wifi is notoriously slow and those are big downloads
Bonus: If you like to post from the road, sneak peeks for clients etc. I like to bring my Wacom tablet with me too. It slows me down too much to not have it and at least for client purposes, it’s always the right move to be able to put your best work out there.
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