UK carry on luggage restrictions -- plan B for film

Another episode in 21st century travel, as the UK has essentially banned all carry on luggage:

Current policy

Basically, you can't bring anything on the plane, including books, iPods, and, of course, film. Just wallets, passports, keys, and a few things essential during the flight are allowed.

At this point, the US is only banning liquids in carry-ons. But, I haven't been able to find anything more detailed from the TSA than the press release, so more restrictions may be in the works.

I'm heading to England and Scotland in a month. Hopefully, these restrictions will be lifted soon (I mean, how long can they ban iPods and books on flights?). But, I figure it's necessary to have a contingency plan in case either film never gets back on the approved "carry-on" list or this sort of thing happens again while I'm over there or just before departure.

So, has anyone ever had problems mailing sending film by FedEx internationally? I assume it wouldn't be a problem (I get film by FedEx or UPS all the time via mail order domestically without any problems) but, well, we know what happens when we assume. I figure the "contingency plan" will have to be to simply mail myself my film at the end of the trip, if necessary. And, if bringing the film on the outbound leg becomes a problem, I'll just leave it home and buy what I need in London or Edinburgh.

I think that even without the restrictions, I would wait until I arrived until I bought the film. We have plenty of it here - Ilford even make it here!

If you are staying long enough, I would even considered having it processed here and mailing back your negatives/transparencies if this is appropriate.

Steve.

Perhaps APUG sponsors, like White's or Ilford can help you locate a supply
which would suit your travel plans.

Of course APUG members ought to be able to offer some guidance to their cities.

Steve Smith said:

I think that even without the restrictions, I would wait until I arrived until I bought the film. We have plenty of it here - Ilford even make it here!

If you are staying long enough, I would even considered having it processed here and mailing back your negatives/transparencies if this is appropriate.

Steve.

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Steve,

When I travel within the US I generally follow your approach of buying the film at my destination. However, I've generally heard that European film prices are much higher than in the US - which is why many of us carryover film.

Would you know if UK film prices are competitve those in the US (limiting the analysis to the big three: K, F and I)? If that's the case your solution is a great one.

Unfortunately in this country we are usually ripped off pricewise on most items. Generally the UK price in pounds is about the same figure as the US price in dollars despite an exchange rate of about 1:1.8 (or whatever it is now).

So an item priced at $50 would cost us about £50 despite the actual value based on the exchange rate being about £28. I expect film to be the same but I have not actually checked.

The worst example of this I have come across recently was when I wanted to buy a Bigsby tremolo for my guitar. To buy it in the UK would have cost me about £103. I managed to purchase it from a US company for about £47 including postage. I escaped having to pay any import tax on it but even if I did, it would have been cheaper than the UK option.

If you want to do some research on prices, I would suggest having a look at Jessops website. They have shops in most towns in the UK.

Steve.

Would you know if UK film prices are competitve those in the US (limiting the analysis to the big three: K, F and I)? If that's the case your solution is a great one.

Click to expand...

You can check prices at Calumet UK as well - one I use regularly is Ilford HP5 4x5 = £17.99 (Jessops is a bit cheaper) - but even so, that still works out to about 1/3 more than I pay across here (then you need to add a huge chunk of sales tax - what is it in the UK now for VAT 17.5%? I've lost track)

I generally find UK prices for film to be about 1/3 to 1/2 more than in N America, even for Ilford (and that's generally without VAT)

tim atherton said:

You can check prices at Calumet UK as well - one I use regularly is Ilford HP5 4x5 = £17.99 (Jessops is a bit cheaper) - but even so, that still works out to about 1/3 more than I pay across here (then you need to add a huge chunk of sales tax - what is it in the UK now for VAT 17.5%? I've lost track)

I generally find UK prices for film to be about 1/3 to 1/2 more than in N America, even for Ilford (and that's generally without VAT)

Click to expand...

Hmm, well, in 35mm I already have all the film I could need for the trip bought in bulk and I'd rather not buy more. This may be an option for the medium format that I need. I prefer not to spend my first afternoon looking for a film source, but it looks like Jessops film prices are competitive at least (£12.49 for a 5-roll pro pack of T-Max incl. VAT, for example). Although it doesn't look like they sell any Velvia 50.

I'd still describe this as "plan B" then. Usually, there's no reason not to bring film in a carry-on (especially since I'll be on only one flight each way) -- as long as they'll let me!

What about simply packing the film in checked luggage, perhaps in one of those x-ray-shielding bags? If you don't process the film in the UK, you'll have to be concerned with the return trip, and the issues are identical for exposed and unexposed film, AFAIK. Of course, once it's processed you don't need to worry about it getting zapped with x-rays.

srs5694 said:

What about simply packing the film in checked luggage, perhaps in one of those x-ray-shielding bags?

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They don't work for checked luggage.

This brings up one additional thought. Shipping you film to your final destination works fine, if you are traveling domestically. But, I suspect there would be customs issues with shipping outside the country. For most countries buying the film shouldn't be a problem. I know that I can get Velvia 4x5 in Australia (my next trip), except in QuickLoads, and processing is quite expensive.

FedEx are awesome for sending film, or even for sending gear. If this gets any crazier, I might have to do all my work arrangements through FedEx. Going international, I found DHL did a good job, though I was less pleased with their US services timing.

It is simply not possible to expect the film you need at a given location. I have found that when I go to Houston, the fourth largest US city, there are some films really tough to get locally.

I guess what sucks is I recently got a new LowePro backpack just for my 4x5 gear. That one fits within the airline dimensions regulations, my idea being that even if they lost my clothes or tripod, I would at least land on the ground with enough gear to do the work (except maybe needing to buy another tripod). However, if carry-on gets banned, it could make working in other cities really tough for me.

Another note about Houston: both major airports there have experienced large scale theft rings of baggage handlers in the last three years. Sending my expensive gear through as checked baggage could mean I never see it again. It is times like these I wish Amtrak was better.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
A G Studio

HerrBremerhaven said:

It is times like these I wish Amtrak was better.

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If I lived on the US mainland, I don't think I would fly anymore - it is getting to the point where the time/cost to drive is beginning to outweigh the hassle of airline travel.

I do not think that there is a risk of carry-on ever being totally banned. The outcry from the laptop-toting business community alone would kill that idea.

I do think that we can expect much greater scrutiny a check-in time and some items may not be permitted. Lately here in the US the TSA had been "easing up" on restricted items - that's going to be reversed.

And if they do ban carrying on liquids then the airlines can find a nice little money-earner by selling us bottled water on the plane! *

* I remember right after 9/11 if you wanted to carry a cup of coffee or bottle of water through security they made you take a drink of it.

When I travel to the UK, I usually bring a little film with me in my carryon (now obviously not possible for the moment), and pick up more in London. No problem finding 120 around town in various places. I haven't taken large format to the UK yet, though, so if that's your plan, I'd check with Silverprint and other likely sources ahead to be sure that what you need is there, or that you can work with what's available.

Come over by ship. Book a place on a freighter. Cheaper than cruise liners (but no way cheaper than air) and a much more interesting way to cross the Atlantic than being stuffed into an aluminium sausage with a few hundred others.

See the following:

http://members.aol.com/CruiseAZ/transat.htm

I use FedEx, clearly mark the boxes with FedEx yellow labels that say "Keep away from Radioactive materials" and my own "do not Xray" labels. I also put a label on the box and a note inside that says the film is for personal use and will be re-exported. Never had a problem or customs fee. If you arrive during working hours, it is often easiest to have the package held at your arrival airport's FedEx office for pickup. Don't know if that is a good idea now in the UK, perhaps send to your hotel.

Umm? Why don't people just buy their film here? Or there?

Regards, Art (It's probably just me again....)

gr82bart said:

Umm? Why don't people just buy their film here? Or there?

Regards, Art (It's probably just me again....)

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QuickLoads are not available in every country or city.

Gordon, I bought a Lowepro pack and took a 5x7 to Houston Hobby airport betwee Katrina and Rita. At least I got to it there and on a trip to Paris.

Andy, thanks for the freighter info, I was going to do it some years back and totally forgot about it. It's worth giving a thought if a person has the time.

I just bought a travel trailer and think that it will get a lot more use now.

gr82bart said:

Umm? Why don't people just buy their film here? Or there?

Regards, Art (It's probably just me again....)

Click to expand...

Mostly, it's not wanting to spend my first few hours in London looking for a camera shop. I'd rather go to the British Museum. But, it's looking like there won't be any choice, at least not if the current rules remain in effect. British Airways is not allowing any carrry-on luggage for any flights originating in the US or the UK.

Dead Link Removed is their current policy.

Hopefully, since I'm flying a month from now, they'll relax the rules before I go. As mentioned above, business travelers won't want to go without their laptops.

And thanks for the tips on FedEx. I think I'll go with that with the film I've already bought (and rolled).

Ugh, $100 for 5 pounds of stuff via FedEx. USPS quotes 4-6 weeks to ship by ground at $25, up to 10 days by airmail parcel post for $33. Unless the film I need is unavailable, I'll plan to buy over there!

Hi Gabe,

If you know where you're going to be then it might be worth phoning a local branch of Jessops (http://www.jessops.co.uk) and asking them to get the necessary film in (they may already have it, but it's as well to be sure) and put it under the counter for you. Ditto any chems if you're thinking of bringing a tank, reel and changing bag over and souping them yourself.

Silverprint (http://www.silverprint.co.uk) are a very good mail order supplier with a walk-in store in London SE1. If you have access to a residential address (staying with family or friends) then you could have the materials delivered there. I'm not sure that they'd deliver to a hotel or guesthouse.

If you're bringing equipment over in checked baggage it's probably worth having a look at this link - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2308046,00.html

[Begin quote]
"Because of the new restrictions on hand baggage, with almost everything having to go in the hold, the Association of British Travel Agents urged passengers to leave valuables at home, as they might otherwise risk loss or damage.

“We are not convinced an insurance company will pay out for any claim from hold baggage as most insurance policies expect holders to take ‘reasonable care’ of their belongings,” it said.

The association added that some companies may offer cover at an extra premium."
[End quote]

There are providers who do policies specifically for photographers - http://www.photoguard.co.uk/home.asp is one, although I have no idea how good or competitive they are.

I may be faced with a similar problem as I'm in the planning stages of a trip to France in not too long a time. I'll be staying with family, so my plan B is to get them to order me in some film and chems (I'd do it myself, but my French is God-awful!), process it over there and bring it back in neg bags.

Hope you have a great trip (and thanks for this thread!),

Frank

Its unlikely that you'll need to hunt around for retail sources of film in the UK and indeed by far the best prices- and I suspect the best range- are available from online/telephone sources, with same/next day shipping.

Try www.discountfilmsdirect.co.uk or www.mailshots.co.uk or www.speedgraphic.co.uk. Whilst I'm not saying these places are as cheap as B&H, they may well be close to the US retail price from other sources and a lot less hassle than walking the streets of London looking for film and cursing Jessops for failing to carry what you need in any quantity.

I've excluded 7dayshop.com from this list because they are slow by comparison.

gr82bart said:

Umm? Why don't people just buy their film here? Or there?

Regards, Art (It's probably just me again....)

Click to expand...

Its not just a case of film availability, but processing. If I fly to the US (as I will be in 2 weeks) instead of taking film, exposing it and bringing it back and processing it myself, I will not have to go and buy the film AND process it before I return. This is one thing if you know your way about but a hell of a pain if you are not near processing etc. If you do processes such as AZO or Platinum you have to produce dense negs...you going to get this achieve t your nearest wallmart processing?

I think this is a major major problem but hope that given a while it will calm down. Still, I am likely to be screwed on my trip, esp for the mono side. I dont want to pay for processing nor have to wait for it.

What do you do with the films shot on your last day...process them on the 30 minute monochrome service at Quickiemart?

Personally I think the reaction has been a little silly. I understand the threat to extremely serious but doubt there is much sense behind some of the decisions made (just like the decision to stop and question me under the prevention of terrorism act 2000 whilst taking photos in London). I bet 10 X more explosvies could be fitted inside the average bombers @rse than in an ipod (which when Xrayed would show that it is an ipod). Explosives (and possibly initiation devcices) secreted inside the body will not show up on a walk thru detector. What they going to do, conduct internal cavity searches on everyone who sets off the detector even when they have cleared their pockets...I dont think so.

Tom, you are correct, it is easy to see hrough x-rays machine if iPod is really iPod. But it is much easier to bureaucrats and "securty" personel to ban everything and not spending time and effort to check what is what through x-rays.

Simply: If you go US to UK or UK to US do one of next things: Do not carry cameras, films and give up from photography during that time, or,

Do not travel

Cynically yours.