Huh. What kind of camera bag does Dread have? Hub has one that actually looks like a small rollerboard - all gear (2 camera bodies, 4 or 5 lenses, a couple of flash units and bags of "stuff" plus his laptop fit in there. It rolls. Its a great bag (tell Dread Think Tank is the shizzle) BUT because it LOOKS like a small piece of luggage it could be DEEMED as one.
I would encourage Dread to scale back the camera equipment (I know, he'll kill me but hey - you know from whence I speak, we are the women that travel with photo geeks, lol - they don't need clothes. They MUST have THAT lens with them at all times just in case.) and try to fit it in a smaller case. Hub has something from Loweprowe that he uses to bring a "big boy" down here that actually can be carried like a large "fanny" pack. He brings down one body and 2-3 lenses plus a little bit of stuff. This way, he can bring also a "regular" sized small roller board and no one troubles him.
I carry a small purse so what I do is also carry a small knapsack and tuck that purse in the knapsack when I board. That and my laptop case is my carry on.
Lotions and potions - 3 ozs int he baggy is great but if you go over, spill into HIS baggy. It's per person