Airports and Film: the good and the bad

[Nitesail]

Hello, after traveling recently I thought it would be nice to have a running log as to which airports anyone has had problems with regarding traveling with film, or which airports had no problems. Not sure if this list exists elsewhere but thought I’d put it here.

For me recently:

Orlando International (MCO) - no problems whatsoever, they knew exactly what to do when asking for a hand check instead of going through the x-ray.

Bradley International (BDL) - no problems whatsoever, same as above, plus the TSA agent really liked the “Do Not X-Ray” stickers I downloaded from Kodak’s website.

[Vaughn]

No problem getting hand inspections of 'naked' 120 rolls in a clear plastic bag at:

Dublin Airport (Ireland)...international flight
SFO - San Fransisco...domestic flight

Also requested hand inspection getting on ferry from Holyhead, Wales, to Dublin...and it was literally just quickly handing the bag around the security area to me.

[PatrickMarq]

Friends of mine brought film from Orlando to Belgium with no problems, they had some stickers from Alex Burke (https://www.alexburkephoto.com/blog/2020/2/12/flying-with-4x5-film-hand-check-labels) on the 4x5 boxes.
On the other hand Belgium -> Tenerife and back my film went through the scanners ….

[Willie]

If you are traveling with X-Ray film does it make a difference at the airports where they are more insistent on scanning it?

[Vaughn]

X-Ray film is the same, in practical terms, as any other film. With the new scanners, any scanning (checked baggage or carry-on) will fog any film.

Since I was traveling to the UK, I bought my FP-4 there, and was given a couple rolls each of Delta 100 and Acros while I was in Scotland. But with the ease of traveling with the film, I could have brought the ten rolls I had here in the USA. However, my flight leaving town to San Francisco was seriously late, so it was one less thing to worry about when going security again for my international flight at SFO.

[Corran]

I would say your experiences will always vary.

I've flown out of Atlanta many times, with TSA agents always helpful and willing to do a hand inspection, which only took a few minutes. A recent trip though was much less amiable. This time, I was pulled aside and given the third degree about my camera bag, which included a Diana, Hasselblad, and Widelux cameras. They were very upset I had not taken 'all electronics' out of the bag. Worse, the agent insisted on swabbing every last roll of film I had in a clear plastic bag, which is what I always bring. Usually they have swabbed one or two but this time, every one. I had like 25 loose rolls. So that took about 20 minutes total, but I was plenty early so no problem. Nevertheless this makes me reconsider my procedures and expectations.

[acrobatic_citron]

It might be handy to host this info in a google sheet or something to save users scrolling if it gets to big!

[Exploring Large Format]

Many times thru SeaTac with no problem ever. They will always swab each roll/box, but no problem ever.

Bangalore, India has invariably been a problem, both entering and departing. Everything scanned, no exceptions. I'm not certain whether the scanners are the "new ones", but likely so.

Transiting thru Narita, Japan was not a problem last time. They honored request to hand check.

Recent transits thru Heathrow and Frankfurt have been challenging. I believe my film was sent thru the scanners in each airport.

Good idea to track this, but it is always a risk no matter prior experiences.


Sent from my SM-G981V using Tapatalk

[Hugo Zhang]

We flew from LAX to Amsterdam last month and flew back from Paris airport. I packed some 45 film in boxes with a clear zipper bag.

No problem with hand check at LAX.
Everything had to go through the x-ray machine at Paris airport. No hand check unless they could open my film boxes to see what was inside.

[jp]

The "new" scanners are round drums that look something like medium sized cement mixers. It has moving sensor/xray source that cat scans the conveyor contents. This makes a lot more xray that ruins our film since it needs to build a 3d image.

The "old" scanners are the normal rectangular pizza oven style where the conveyor contents go into a box for a xray snapshot .

[Nitesail]

It might be handy to host this info in a google sheet or something to save users scrolling if it gets to big!

Good idea :)

[nitroplait]

Mostly I don't find it worth the hassel to request hand inspection where the classic X-ray machines are deployed. I have routinely traveled with 400 ISO and below with multiple passes both out and home without ill effect.

One can always put the film in a Domke lead bag to reduce exposure. It will likely be extracted for hand inspection post X-ray because the machine cannot see through it.

It is fortunately easy to spot a CT scanner and I have so far never experienced refusal to hand inspect where CT scanners were deployed in EU and Asia.

Recently in Helsinki, I was requested to separate my mechanical cameras as electronics. When the young inspector heard me mention it was film cameras she politely suggested hand inspection of cameras and film. First time I have experienced security proactively suggesting hand inspection.
In Japan I just wave the transparent zipp-lock bag with film and security knows what to do without me even having to ask.

[NER]

From the Ilford website (https://www.ilfordphoto.com/faqs/):

ADVICE FOR AIRPORT X-RAY SCANNERS: FILM & PAPERS
We are working with the DFT and Heathrow airport in the UK and will shortly be updating our information relating to the new CT type x-ray scanners being installed at major airports worldwide.
Based on our initial testing it is almost certain the new CT type x-ray scanners for cabin baggage will be deemed unsafe for any of our ILFORD and KENTMERE film products irrespective of ISO speed rating.
You must therefore ask for hand inspection of your films if the airport is using one of the new type scanners. We will be issuing more specific advice as we complete our testing and evaluation.
HOW TO IDENTIFY THE CT TYPE X-RAY SCANNERS
The following machines are currently on the market;
Smiths – CTIX
L3 – Clearscan
Rapiscan - 920CT / Connect CT
IDSS - Detect 1000
Nuctech - Kylin
Analogic Cobra

N. Riley
https://normanrileyphotography.com