Airport Film Hand Check

[Matt Stage]

Certainly this subject has been discussed to death. So why not a little more?

I just took some film from Los Angeles to Ho Chi Minh City via Beijing. This is what I found.

I was Carrying 3 boxes of 8x10 X-Ray film in sealed boxes which were marked "X-Ray Sensitive Film" I also had 2 boxes of 5x7 film. These were in my carry on bag. I also had a rolling bag containing a 8x10 camera and an Aero Ektar lens.

First, in Los Angeles at the international terminal. They were polite and professional. I asked for a hand check of my bag because I had film. No problem. the bag with the film was walked through to the secondary check station. There, in my presence, they opened the bag and examined the film boxes. One officer asked if he should open the box of film but his superior said absolutely not because it was legit with the factory seal. They let me repack the bag and I was good to go.

Next in Beijing Capital Airport. Coming off my flight (and after passing through the health check mentioned in other post) I was required to have bags pass through x-ray scan before entering transit area. I asked for a hand check. no problems. They were even more polite and more professional. The bag was also walked through the x-ray station and taken to a hand check station where they took it out to look commented that the boxes were sealed and gave it back to me to pack it back into my bag.

Finally at Ho Chi Minh City Airport they did have an x-ray station at the customs inspection station. I was waved through that so I have nothing to report there.

Hopefully this helps anyone thinking of traveling in the near future.

[BrianShaw]

Good first-hand report. But how did you get the film back home? I assume that you broke the factory seal and used some of it the film while you were there.

[Tin Can]

Think about it

[Tin Can]

Just paying you back for your constant snarky comments to me.

But i am serious, about thinking about that combination of items.


Okay. So Matt moved to Vietnam for an affordable retirement and that’s his new home, or he hasn’t returned yet so there’s no story to tell, or...

Help us out rather than post a snarky content-free comment. :)

[Tin Can]

Randy Moe

Check your posts to me

OUT


I’ll have to review my posting history because I don’t recall you or any of your postings... unless “tincan” is a second account for Sal Santamaura.

I’m a bit taken-aback that there is pent up hostility on your part... or anyone else’s to be frank. Really?

Back to Matt... howdy neighbor. :)

[Matt Stage]

No Mystery about the film. I took it to Vietnam to give to photographers there to use. A non-
tax transaction may have occurred.

[Tin Can]

Matt, I apologize to you for stepping into your thread.

I had a moment with BrianShaw, which we resolved in PM.

I have no concerns about your gear or travels.

Peace


No Mystery about the film. I took it to Vietnam to give to photographers there to use. A non-
tax transaction may have occurred.

[Matt Stage]

No worries. Just wanted to report on current airport situation, but can see how I left the story hanging. I am home in California now after a very quick trip.

Certainly Vietnam would be a nice place to consider for retirement. I was treated exceptionally well by everyone I met there. And the food is great!

[BrianShaw]

Welcome home neighbor!

[Robert Bowring]

I have been to China twice and have never had any problem having my film hand checked. The people at the airports were very polite and professional and helpful. I do not speak any Mandarin at all but did learn the word for "film". I think that helped somewhat.

[afxstudio]

I hope you don't mind if I use this thread to update you all about this:
https://petapixel.com/2019/10/21/beware-new-3d-airport-scanners-will-destroy-your-camera-film/

Does anyone have very recent experiences with this?

As some of you may know (I opened a thread about my trip months ago) I'm about to fly to LAX in a couple of days from Italy (stopover in Frankfurt).
I'm very very concerned about film now. I'll be going through the security checkpoint at LAX on my return flight and obviously I'll have my 4x5 film boxes with the original seals broken.
How am I going to go back home without having a thousand dollars worth of film fried?
Even if I ask for a hand check, should I provide them with my changing bag?
This thought is already ruining my vacation.

[Kerosene Hat]

I hope you don't mind if I use this thread to update you all about this:
https://petapixel.com/2019/10/21/beware-new-3d-airport-scanners-will-destroy-your-camera-film/

Does anyone have very recent experiences with this?

As some of you may know (I opened a thread about my trip months ago) I'm about to fly to LAX in a couple of days from Italy (stopover in Frankfurt).
I'm very very concerned about film now. I'll be going through the security checkpoint at LAX on my return flight and obviously I'll have my 4x5 film boxes with the original seals broken.
How am I going to go back home without having a thousand dollars worth of film fried?
Even if I ask for a hand check, should I provide them with my changing bag?
This thought is already ruining my vacation.

I saw that article today, and found this TSA website. I searched and found that at my home airport (Atlanta), it looks like 2 CT scanners are in place in the International Terminal. It looks like we now have to do research before traveling to see if these scanners are in place or look for the blue LED illuminated machines.

https://www.tsa.gov/computed-tomography

Of course, the question remains how to get the film home. Do we know if/when such scanners are used but uSPS, or other carriers like UPS, FedEx or DHL? It looks like the PITA factor of shooting film and getting it home has just mag fiord severalfold...quite unfortunately.

[Leszek Vogt]

Wonder if TSA "precheck" will work better for this ?

Les

[Kerosene Hat]

Wonder if TSA "precheck" will work better for this ?

Les

I have Precheck and there were no CT scanners that I can recall in Atlanta, though I'm not sure this will remain the case. I can envision TSA wanting to "automate" all bag scanning, which of course you do with x-rays, radiation or magnetism. And if those tools happen to affect a negligible bunch of travelers...they won't care. This is definitely concerning.

[Arne Croell]

Wonder if TSA "precheck" will work better for this ?

Les

Precheck as of now allows you to keep your shoes on, use the metal detector gate instead of the scanner, and you can leave your electronics and liquids in the bag, but that bag still goes through the X-ray system, so it won't help. From what I read, Atlanta has only installed the new CT scanners in the international terminal so far.

[Kerosene Hat]

Precheck as of now allows you to keep your shoes on, use the metal detector gate instead of the scanner, and you can leave your electronics and liquids in the bag, but that bag still goes through the X-ray system, so it won't help. From what I read, Atlanta has only installed the new CT scanners in the international terminal so far.

Anne, I’ve found no fogging or “sine wave ghosts” in any of the sub800 speed film I’ve sent through scanners. Not yet courages enough to try the box of Tri-X that got checked by accident. The problem of what to do with exposed film (hand check request has backfired in the past, as no factory seal is present) and inconvenience of maybe not being able to load at home is on my mind.

Do we really need 3D visibility into all possessions in a bag to “keep us safe”? Different question, I suppose.

[PatrickMarq]

I’m going to Malaga Spain in a few weeks from Belgium (Antwerp). I got still no idea Film or Digital. Last year The young people at the airport told me that film is save in a scanner up to 1600 ISO. At least they know it was film.
I have contacted a shop in Malaga who can sell me film, develop but don’t send me the negatives to Belgium. But a digital file is possible, not even an idea of this is a .jpg.
It’s getting more and more difficult.

[Tin Can]

Since I will never fly again

I don't have your problem

However is it worth any risk?

I am waiting for a new NIKON

Next month I will spend 3 days in forest

I will have both NIKON

and tiny 4X5 BW

[PatrickMarq]

However is it worth any risk?

Well, that’s the question, I would say no. All the hassle at the airport, trying to get those people to understand it.
And as I have fear of flying (alway take a pill before lift-off) this is something I rather avoid. Going to dust-off my Nikon D750.
Enjoy your 3 day’s in the forest.

[Jim Andrada]

Good luck!

I used to be terrified of flying (although my first flight when i was 5 on a 4 engine propeller plane was kind of fun...)

Then one day I was at a bus terminal waiting for a bus from NY to Boston - and had a sudden change of heart and left the terminal and flew home After that - no problem in a few thousand flights including over 300 round trips between US and Japan. I don't recommend a pill before the flight though, a good brandy is much nicer. And the only place I ever had film ruined by X-ray was New Zealand long before they modernized the airport, CT scan of my film though does sort of scare me. Maybe I'll stick a roll under my gown next time I have one and see what really happens.

[Peter Lewin]

Was looking for any thread on film at airports to mention that I just went through Newark Airport on my way to Texas and see that the new terminal A has the new 3D scanners that will fog film, so now a hand check for film is mandatory.

[tax888]

Please check out this very informative video. She looks more prettier now than before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRlReCTzDV8

[Vaughn]

Just got back from Japan -- flew out of Vancouver, WA. No problems either way for a hand check of my 120 film. In Japan, they saw my film out and took care of it before I even had to ask (a fellow came over with a different color basket to walk it through).

[Jim Andrada]

Japan was about the nicest place I ever lived. Some interesting cultural quirks that take a while to relate to, but that's true just about everywhere.

[landstrykere]

in EEA zone ie. EU + Island, Norway, Frankenstein, since september 2024, the new kind of 3D scanners (CT/C3) are now a pain for airports, that need to set back the old xray tunnels.
See for details: https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?177282-Current-X-ray-status-in-Copenhagen-Oslo-and-Bergen-airports

means no need for manual inspection, the old xray boxes don't affect low to medium sensitivity emulsions (< io-400). Actually I did travel couple months ago in Russia where xray scanners are also mandatory at bus and railway stations, plus the border on entry and exit, so your bag goes through many passes no matter what, and had 1994 Tmax-400 and fresh Retropan 320. No fogging at all after some 10 xrays all in all.
Few day ago in Genève i didn´t see the new kind of scanners that were there last year, only old xrays. i had packs of xray double-sided Agfa sheets, tested home just to be sure, all fine.
(that said I never use film over 400 iso even in 35mm.)