Getting film through airport security

[Linda fitch]

Hi:

I travel to Europe at least once a year to photograph and it is becoming more and more difficult to get my film through security and especially now since the recent Xmas incident. I photogaph with Acros 100 and FP4 125 120 films. I am leaving for a trip in February and will have to go through several airports. If you have any information that may help I would appreciate it. I am considering using FedEx and/or finding a photography store where I can purchase the film over there. I will be in Venice and Paris.

Thanks

Linda

 

[Chazzy]

Welcome to APUG, Linda. I wish that I could help you with your problem.

 

[BetterSense]

What is the difficulty? Do they confiscate the film? Are you worried about the xrays damaging the film?

 

[bdial]

Put it through the carry-on scanner and forget about it, it will be just fine.

 

[Ian Grant]

Personally I'd take a dev tank & chemicals then process while away, this is what I did when I first came on trips to Turkey before moving.

However on a trip to Chlie & Peru 2 years ago my films were scanned at least 16 times with no ill effects. Lust check the CURRENT carry-on regulations at the airports you plan to use just in case there are tighter weight/size restrictions in place at the moment.

Ian

 

[railwayman3]

I'm hoping to get to Venice again this year, and I'm not expecting any problems unless there is some major change in regulations...I'll leave my films in manufacturer's sealed cartons and put through the carry-on X-ray scanner rather than an "in-the-hold" suitcase.

Not doubting your concerns, but why do you believe that it's becoming more difficult to get film in particular through security?

 

[Ian Grant]

One or two airports introduced heavy restrictions on carry-on items after the Xmas day scare, the total size & weight was drastically reduced and the items were supposed to be just what you needed on your flight. The advice was film in you hold baggage but to advise the check-in staff to ensure it was was traeted as if check in baggage- thery use the same scanners, only using deep xrays for suspicious items.

BTW there's a good camera shop in Venice with some great second-hand cmera's at reasonable prices, some unusual older items too.

Ian

 

[MartinP]

You could make a purchase from Macodirect or FotoImpex and they will deliver the film to your hotel. If you take a dev-tank with you they could also send you small packages of chemicals and you could bring home finished negatives. That might be a help ?

 

[PhotoJim]

Right now there are issues with foreign flights into the US (including flights from Canada to the US). No carry-on luggage is allowed with some specific exceptions. Cameras are permitted, but it is not clear if film is permitted.

Assuming film is acceptable, all carried-on luggage on foreign-to-US flights is hand searched, so you will want to go to the airport early to give yourself time for this procedure.

If you happen to live near the Canadian border, getting across the border by land and then flying out of Canada will eliminate the problem.

Frankly, with the uncertainty and the bother, I've decided (after my already-booked February trip to San Diego) to avoid air travel into the US until the rules are less burdensome. Since the rules only affect foreign travel into the US, traveling within Canada or to other countries from Canada does not subject me to the same requirements, and I get my normal two-bag carry-on allowance - which makes my life significantly easier.

 

[Harry Lime]

Personally I'd take a dev tank & chemicals then process while away, this is what I did when I first came on trips to Turkey before moving.

Ian

I agree about the tank, but I would hate to have to try to explain to a TSA officer that the chemicals aren't explosives.

 

[MartinP]

No need to carry the cehmicals with you. Just order them from a European supplier before you leave and they will be waiting at your hotel for you. Same goes for film stock.
;o)

 

[mcfactor]

Sew the film into your pants! (I couldnt resist)

 

[pthornto]

I flew from Madrid Spain back to the US on January 1. In my carry-on were about 24 rolls of 35mm b/w film in their plastic cannisters, and my OM-1. Security was the tightest I had seen it. After clearing regular security all gates to US flights were cordoned off with an additional screening area.

All passengers with flights to these gates were patted down and their carry-on bags were hand searched. The person screening my bag looked at my camera, looked at my shopping bag containing the film and handed it back to me...the people carrying electronic gear seemed to get much more of a hassle (open up your laptop, turn on this device etc..).

I also just kept my film in my carry-on bag and put it through their x-ray machine. No screener has ever said anything about it.

Paul

 

[Bruce Watson]

I am leaving for a trip in February and will have to go through several airports. If you have any information that may help I would appreciate it. I am considering using FedEx and/or finding a photography store where I can purchase the film over there.

FedEx and UPS have been my method of getting around the TSA security theater for five or six years now. After they destroyed a box of 5x4 Tri-X for me ($55 USD, and thankfully unexposed film), I decided that they just weren't worth the hassle. You can't educate them, and they won't listen to you. So don't let them touch your film.

Easiest way is to ship your film to a friend on location. Use the shipper that a European mail order photography firm (Like Robert White in England for example) uses to ship film and you should be fine.

Alternatively you could ship to your hotel. But since they don't know you personally and have a bunch of other guests to deal with you stand a chance that they'll lose your package in the two or three days it takes for you to arrive (unless you call up and talk to the manager both before and after it arrives and make sure he/she can put his/her hands physically on that package [someplace special like a refrigerator]).

Another alternative is to ship it to one of your shipper's stores to be held for pickup. Both FedEx and UPS will do that in the USA. You send your package to a specific store, then show up there and retrieve it. Easy.

And if possible do have a plan B -- a local photography store on location is always handy.

 

[jp498]

Next time I travel through airports, I will be sending the film ahead by UPS/Fedex/USPS. I have a real close call with TSA removing one of the three boxes comprising a 4x5 50 sheet cardboard film box of exposed images. They wanted to open it to "inspect" it at the swabbing station and ignored my gentle suggestion they not open it. While another one was talking with me, the other still tried to open it. A little duct tape bought me the spare seconds I needed. I boldly and authoratively told them to stop and not to open it any more. We both then agreed a pass through the Xray (and not more touching) would be the safest way to proceed.

 

[Marc .]

...I will be in Venice and Paris.

Hi Linda,

You can buy Acros and FP4+ 120 in Paris for a reasonable price, I can give you some addresses if you wish.
Mailing your film back to the US seems a good idea. It should be safe from Paris but I would not advise using the Italian postal system either receiving of sending parcels.

Marc

 

[declark]

Just returned from a trip to Hawaii that included 3 carry-on screenings with Tri-X 400 and T-Max 400. No evidence of any damage, except for about 6 frames that were very thin, that I am sure were due to operator error (me, not the TSA).

 

[timk]

I considered taking chemicals with me and developing the film on the go on a trip recently. Think twice before doing this... I was in south east asia and the issues I had were: temps of above 30 degreesC would make it difficult to control temperature. You don't know if you'll have a dust free environment to dry the negs in.

I considered this and decided against it. I took the films through airport scanners in carry-on luggage probably about 12-14 times during the trip without any noticable ill-effects. The films ranged from 100iso to 1600iso.

 

[tubems]

aloha

yah, i went to Argentina and Chile all my film was scanned by airport, and bus station xray and no issues on any of the 100 or 400. I even accidentally packed a few rolls on a 2 airport excursion and no issues.

 

[jfdupuis]

First, I would avoid flying from/to/through the USA just to avoid the overall burden. Then, I haven't heard yet of anybody whose films were fogged through the carry-on x-rays. But it seems that sheet films doesn't seem to be well know by security agent, so one need to make the box really difficult to open to have the chance to explain them first what is a light sensitive material.

 

[alxsav]

Last week I travelled round trip from Thessaloniki Greece to Vienna Austria. I carried with me and in my luggage a lot of HP5 pushed to 800 and some Kodak 160NC. I processed all of them without any problems.

 

[marcmarc]

I usually ask for a hand inspection before walking through the metal detector. I was told by one security person that film should not be carried through these. I usually have less the ten rolls and they will swab a couple and give the rest back and I'm off to my gate. However, thanks now to the Xmas terrorist there's no telling what one may expect. I'm taking a trip soon that will require me to bring 75-100 rolls of Arista Premium. I'm thinking to avoid any hassles sending them ahead to my destination. However, doesn't FedEx and UPS routinely x-ray packages? If they do, then maybe it's better to take ones chances with carry on through the airport.

 

[Larry L]

Film on trips involving airport security

I've had good success with shipping my film ahead to my B&B, hotel, etc. by contacting them ahead and asking if that was acceptable. Then if I'm arriving at a hotel being sure to tip the person who gets my film to me - a reasonable amount is all that is needed. That communicates you are pleased with their concern - sending it back home when you leave will be just as easy once they know you will express you gratitude for their time.

TSA regulations do state you can ask for a hand check of film. However, on my last trip it appeared they had never seen a roll of 120 at the Honolulu airport before - I didn't even try a box of 4 X 5. I had an experience in Rochester, NY in the early 80's of buying an 8 X 10 box of paper at the school there and trying to get it on the plane! You would think the locals of Rochester, NY would understand LIGHT SENSITIVE MATERIAL.

Now I only carry back rolls I just couldn't stand to loose and take my chances with X-Rays. No easy answers exist - and I'm afraid we will soon be limited to only medicine bottles and a small bag as carry-on. Expensive cameras in your checked luggage - kiss them goodby as soon as it becomes relatively easy to scan luggage for the jewels that will be floating around the bowels of the airport terminals.

 

[drpsilver]

15 Jan 2010

Linda:

Welcome to APUG!

The last time I traveled with 120 film (from San Francisco) there was little problem with the TSA. I had checked with them (when picking-up my sister-in-law) to see if they were familiar with foil wrapped 120 film. I was told that the could not be in the box , but I did not have to remove the foil wrapping. When it came time to fly I had little problem when requesting "hand inspection". I was shooting Plus-X on that trip.

If you cannot process the film on your trip I would request hand inspection when possible. Otherwise, let the scanner "do it thing". I try to limit the number of x-ray scans, but that number is seldom 0.

Have a good trip.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[Ross Chambers]

Here's a suggested method for increasing the security of your gear (I have not done this myself)

http://www.boingboing.net/2006/09/24/secure-your-checked-.html