an interesting experience at Schipol Airport Amsterdam - re: X-RAYs

[JW Dewdney]

haven't posted in a dog's age but I thought this might be useful to someone:

So I was just coming back to the states from a europe trip. I asked for a 'hand inspection' at the security checkpoint ... they are asking me all kinds of questions about the equipment - well mostly my partly full 4x5 fuji film boxes, which i did not want x-rayed. The more I explained and tried to hold up the boxes - shaking them - to explain that they contained sheets of film - the more attention this seemed to draw (odd, to me) - and eventually I had something like eight security people - including managers, surrounding me. For some reason they thought the film was highly suspicious. In a minor pique of frustration I simply said to one of the senior officials - "well - if it's going to be THAT much of a problem - then please just throw out the film ...it's expensive but really not worth the trouble ...". IMMEDIATE STAND DOWN. As soon as they heard that - i got the all clear. I could take my film with me. So anyway- for what it's worth - if you're in europe (or maybe anywhere) in my situation - you might want to try that if you're having any problems.

thanks for your time

[xkaes]

Or get a copy of the official rules in your country. I always carry a copy of the US rules -- I've only needed to pull them out once.

[Willie]

Or get a copy of the official rules in your country. I always carry a copy of the US rules -- I've only needed to pull them out once.

Get the wrong official at the place and pull out "official rules" and be ready for body cavity searches, tearing apart anything and everything you have with you and a miserable time as you are held long enough to miss your plane. Then when you act frustrated they will start with "resisting", "acting in a suspicious manner" and any of a list of things that they can pile on.

[Bob Salomon]

Get the wrong official at the place and pull out "official rules" and be ready for body cavity searches, tearing apart anything and everything you have with you and a miserable time as you are held long enough to miss your plane. Then when you act frustrated they will start with "resisting", "acting in a suspicious manner" and any of a list of things that they can pile on.

Better would be to request, politely, they call the supervisor over for an opinion.

[parkcy31]

Or get a copy of the official rules in your country. I always carry a copy of the US rules -- I've only needed to pull them out once.

I tried this and it worked! Ty

[Peter Collins]

great idea xkaes, but what do you do if you are returning via Frankfurt, Paris, Schipol, etc. Don't their local rules apply? How does that work, exactly?

[xkaes]

great idea xkaes, but what do you do if you are returning via Frankfurt, Paris, Schipol, etc. Don't their local rules apply? How does that work, exactly?

Read what I wrote. I said "get a copy of the official rules in your country". That means the country you are in or traveling through -- OBVIOUSLY.

[Pfsor]

Read what I wrote. I said "get a copy of the official rules in your country". That means the country you are in or traveling through -- OBVIOUSLY.

VERY OBVIOUSLY, your country is not the country you pass through on the way to your country... Read what the OP wrote.

[Pete Oakley]

Crap like this is why we have opted to leave the EEC.
Pete.

[Pfsor]

Crap like this is why we have opted to leave the EEC.
Pete.

Because you think that after the Brexit rules for the airport inspection will become less stringent? Good grief!