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.
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