Just a quick note on traveling the airways (US)

[SteveH]

All,
Im in the middle of my vacation, but I have a second to just to report my findings on traveling with film/LF gear on the 'friendly skies'. I had no issues what-so-ever with my camera and tripod (I was able to carry on both !). The TSA was also very friendly when I asked for a hand-inspection on my film (I had it out already). I did have to ask the woman not to open the box (she tried to break the seal on the box of film...); but beyond that it was smooth sailing..er..flying.
FYI - It is a Sinar F2 kit with an assortment of 4x5 sheet films.

Hope this calms any anxious thoughts.

 

[Curt]

Just curious, when you ask for a hand check of film what do they do when they can't open up the box? Every time I asked for a hand check they look puzzled and want to open the box and look at the film. Now they can't be that stupid about exposing film in daylight can they? I stopped asking for a hand check and just sent the film through the X-ray machine with the rest of my carry on bags. Any thoughts?

Curt

 

[roteague]

Just curious, when you ask for a hand check of film what do they do when they can't open up the box? Every time I asked for a hand check they look puzzled and want to open the box and look at the film. Now they can't be that stupid about exposing film in daylight can they? I stopped asking for a hand check and just sent the film through the X-ray machine with the rest of my carry on bags. Any thoughts?

Curt

I don't waste time asking for hand inspection any longer. There really isn't any reason for it, and a lot of the inspectors have no idea what sheet film is, so to play it safe, I just send it through the x-ray machine.

 

[copake_ham]

Steve,

I have also found that being understanding and cooperative with the TSA folks goes a long way to making the situation more pleasant.

All too often folks come at the TSA people like they are some kind of "enemy". OTOH, I have found that if you are polite and understanding of their stress (i.e. literally, the "last line of defense") - you can find the real person behind the uniform. I think you saw that by explaining why it would be "injurious" to you for the inspector to open the film box.

My 'tude is to be respectful to "them" - and more often than not - it "earns" respect for me in response.

 

[JBrunner]

Last time I traveled, they just ran me and the film through a metal detector and a sniffer, person sized one for me that puffed air up my skirt (insert MM image here), and the small swab type one for the film, no xrays involved...

 

[BradS]

Just curious, when you ask for a hand check of film what do they do when they can't open up the box? Every time I asked for a hand check they look puzzled and want to open the box and look at the film. Now they can't be that stupid about exposing film in daylight can they? I stopped asking for a hand check and just sent the film through the X-ray machine with the rest of my carry on bags. Any thoughts?

Curt

Usually, they take the boxes over to a side station where the wipe each box with a little, round sheet of white paper (? or is it some kind of cloth?). Then, they put the paper thingy in a machine and send you on your way.

Sometimes, they just insist on opening the boxes. I bring a changing bag just incase. The last time I had to pull out the changing bag for the TSA inspector, he was very, very appreciative and totally professional. While he had his arms in the bag and was checking my films, he explained to me that part of their training involved just this activity - identifying an item only by touch. It really was no issue. As copake mentioned, a little common courtesy and mutal respect goes a long way.

 

[Curt]

I think I'll just send it through the X-ray machine and spare them from having to swab or get the changing bag out. They can see it as it goes through the machine and that's good enough for me. Why make them go through the process of having to "feel" it. I have taken rolls and sheets through several exposures and have not had fogging. I was just wondering what a hand inspection was all about. I will take a changing bag with me in my carry on though just in case they insist on "feeling" my sheet film.

Thanks
Curt

 

[gr82bart]

I travel somewhere every week and mostly take my Hassey. It's really no big deal to travel with your film camera by plane. This 'discovery' thread is not news to me.

When I carry film, versus buy film at the destination, I always unpack my 120 rolls out of their boxes and wrappings and place them in a clear zip-lock bag for hand inspection. 99% of the time the look at it and give it back to me. The rest of the time the throw into the scanner. No big deal either way.

Regards, Art.

 

[SteveH]

Curt,
Well, in all honesty it wouldn't be an issue had she actually opened the box; as she would have found the box in a box, then still wold have had to unwrap the film...But Im not sure if she would have gotten that far or not.
Either way, news to you all or not - I just figured I would relate my experience - as last week there were two other threads on this topic.
On a different note - I've been out here for four days and it has rained EVERY day
. Thankfully I've managed to whip the camera out in between showers and get some pretty good shots. I just wish I had more contrast to work with.

Regards,

 

[Curt]

Thanks Steve, any current information is beneficial and appreciated. Too bad about the weather, one thing we don't have any control over. I hope you can pull some of the low contrast shots off, these things keep up on our toes don't they? Where is it raining out there?

Curt

 

[BrianShaw]

Last time I traveled, they ... puffed air up my skirt...

A couple of years ago I saw a gentleman at LAX wearing a blue denim man-skirt. It looked quite comfortable. Not quite a stylish as a kilt, but certainly more American looking. Are man-skirts attempting to enter men's fashion once again?

 

[copake_ham]

A couple of years ago I saw a gentleman at LAX wearing a blue denim man-skirt. It looked quite comfortable. Not quite a stylish as a kilt, but certainly more American looking. Are man-skirts attempting to enter men's fashion once again?

Don't know about man-skirts but a year or so on the security line at LaGuardia I saw a fellow dressed in very flimsy shorts, a "strap type" undershirt and flip flops on his feet. He was about as close as he could get to "buck naked" w/o getting arrested. Oh, and he was NOT a pretty sight!

But he did breeze right through security - I think I saw of the TSA ladies chuckle!

 

[JBrunner]

Yes. Man-skirts are back, at least out west in the desert areas.

 

[bjorke]

CHANGING BAG!

Brilliant, surprised I've never heard of that simple solution for the common "we want to look at the sheet film" problem.

 

[mark]

Thanks steve, I am flying to the Chicago area Sept 13 and was wanting to take a camera.

 

[eddym]

When I carry film, versus buy film at the destination, I always unpack my 120 rolls out of their boxes and wrappings and place them in a clear zip-lock bag for hand inspection. 99% of the time the look at it and give it back to me. The rest of the time the throw into the scanner. No big deal either way.

Regards, Art.

I tried that when we flew to North Carolina for vacation last April. Worked fine here in PR, but on our return trip, when the TSA agent in Charlotte saw the rolls of 120 that I had not used, and were thus still in the foil wrappers, he said, "You know I'm going to have to unwrap every one of those." I didn't say (but did think), "No, I didn't know that, and I guess your cohort in Puerto Rico didn't know that, either." Instead, I just said, "Fine," and stood there and watched him do it. No problem for me, long as I get on the airplane with undamaged film. Now if he had tried to unroll it, we would have had a problem!

 

[llarson100]

I will be traveling from Chicago to San Jose, CA, then from Phoenix back to Chicago in October. What I'm shooting the 2 weeks I'll be out west is Kodak's HIE infrared. I plan on buying most of the film in San Jose. While the infrared film box can be opened, the black canister cannot. I'm a little worried about this. The changing bag idea is a good one. I sure don't want to see fifteen dollar rolls of unexposed film fogged by an over-zealous TSA agent but I'd be really honked if they fogged up exposed film (but I'd be respectfully honked..!) Would express mailing of the film back home be a good alternative? Also, what about the film's sensitivity to x-rays? Thanks!

 

[colrehogan]

In the past (Jul/Aug 2002), I took Kodak HIE film from the US to the UK with no problem. It went through the carry on x-rays a total of six times (round-trip) before it was developed. However, you can just as easily send it back to yourself.

I will be traveling from Chicago to San Jose, CA, then from Phoenix back to Chicago in October. What I'm shooting the 2 weeks I'll be out west is Kodak's HIE infrared. I plan on buying most of the film in San Jose. While the infrared film box can be opened, the black canister cannot. I'm a little worried about this. The changing bag idea is a good one. I sure don't want to see fifteen dollar rolls of unexposed film fogged by an over-zealous TSA agent but I'd be really honked if they fogged up exposed film (but I'd be respectfully honked..!) Would express mailing of the film back home be a good alternative? Also, what about the film's sensitivity to x-rays? Thanks!

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I took 5x7 sheet film with me to Argentina on this trip, and so far no hassles. I do have a changing bag in the main camera bag just in case, but I´m ready to get fussy if they want to open the exposed film. No problems with carrying the entire camera/lens kit on the plane. I got one of those Pelican bags that can fit inside their 1550 series hard cases, and was able to get my 5x7, five lenses, filter wallet, and some other accessories in the bag. My second carryon was my over-the-shoulder messenger bag with all my film. Empty film holders and the tripod went in my suitcase.