USA Air Travel With Film...What is your recent (early 2022 ->) experience?

[Arthurwg]

I'm planing to develop in-country.

 

[Brad Deputy]

I flew with film, back and forth between SEA and LAX in January. I simply asked for a hand inspection, with the camera/film in a ziplock bag. No problem in SEA, but they were somewhat grumpy about it in LAX.

 

[AgX]

Just wondering but is it a fact that film that you mail internationally doesn't get x-rayed?

Here in Germany shipments from abroad get x-rayed: low figure sampled to some algorithm of customs authority.

 

[Sirius Glass]

In the US getting a hand inspection is not a problem.

 

[wiltw]

It would be worthwhile data point to deliberately put one roll of film thru new CT scanner at Security, and then process that roll when back at home.
I have one 120 roll of unopened Tmax already placed inside my carry-on, to conduct such a trial when my wife and I travel to Hawaii later this month, in the event we encounter one of the CT scanners at Security.

Attempted test not conclusive...no CT at SJC (San Jose CA) Security for Hawaiian Airlines, and at OGG (Maui) there was a mandatory CT agriculture scan on a checked baggage scanner unit outside prior to check in, although there was no new CT at Security. So the film never went thru any new (or old) CT.
Trying to get film CT tested later this month, when flying SFO (San Francisco) to Denver and back from DEN to SFO.

 

[Down Under]

This year I've made the decision, with great regret, to not travel overseas with film or film cameras again.

By "overseas" I mean to Southeast Asia. At the end of May or early June I will be going to Sarawak, peninsular Malaysia, a stopover in Singapore and then to Indonesia for two months. All danger areas for films transported through airports, given the high-powered scanners in use in many Asian countries.

Indonesia now has full-body scanning. In 2018 and 2019 when I went thru one of those contraptions at the airport in Surabaya, a wad of Australian dollars I had in my shirt pocket was spotted and I was asked to step out of the machine, remove the money and my TAG watch, put it in a tray to be scanned separately and walk through again.

Given the absurdly high levels of ad hoc scams, petty corruption and outright theft by government employees in Indonesia (notably in Bali but reportedly also shady business as usual in Jakarta), I was concerned as I had about AUD$1000 with me to be exchanged in Singapore, where any cash withdrawals from ATMs now incur high fees. Fortunately I was traveling with a local friend who had been through the machine ahead of me and kept a careful eye on my belongings, so nothing 'disappeared'.

As for film, I've decided it isn't worth the effort and bother of taking it. Sad, as I have a nice Rolleicord Vb kit and 40 rolls of just-out-of-date film I hoped to use to finish off the supply in my fridge - but this is the 21st century and times have changed. My days of traveling with 40 rolls of film, two Nikkormats, a Rollei TLR and even a Linhof kit as I did in a moment of insanity back in the mid-1980s, are over and done with and, I have to say it, not greatly missed.

We may not like it, but this is the way of international travel nowadays. At my age I have enough problems with having to pay the ridiculously high premiums for my travel medical insurance with Covid protection anyway, let alone having my films (and likely body parts of me) fried by the scanning machinery in place at airports.

 

[Sirius Glass]

This year I've made the decision, with great regret, to not travel overseas with film or film cameras again.

By "overseas" I mean to Southeast Asia. At the end of May or early June I will be going to Sarawak, peninsular Malaysia, a stopover in Singapore and then to Indonesia for two months. All danger areas for films transported through airports, given the high-powered scanners in use in many Asian countries.

Indonesia now has full-body scanning. In 2018 and 2019 when I went thru one of those contraptions at the airport in Surabaya, a wad of Australian dollars I had in my shirt pocket was spotted and I was asked to step out of the machine, remove the money and my TAG watch, put it in a tray to be scanned separately and walk through again.

Given the absurdly high levels of ad hoc scams, petty corruption and outright theft by government employees in Indonesia (notably in Bali but reportedly also shady business as usual in Jakarta), I was concerned as I had about AUD$1000 with me to be exchanged in Singapore, where any cash withdrawals from ATMs now incur high fees. Fortunately I was traveling with a local friend who had been through the machine ahead of me and kept a careful eye on my belongings, so nothing 'disappeared'.

As for film, I've decided it isn't worth the effort and bother of taking it. Sad, as I have a nice Rolleicord Vb kit and 40 rolls of just-out-of-date film I hoped to use to finish off the supply in my fridge - but this is the 21st century and times have changed. My days of traveling with 40 rolls of film, two Nikkormats, a Rollei TLR and even a Linhof kit as I did in a moment of insanity back in the mid-1980s, are over and done with and, I have to say it, not greatly missed.

We may not like it, but this is the way of international travel nowadays. At my age I have enough problems with having to pay the ridiculously high premiums for my travel medical insurance with Covid protection anyway, let alone having my films (and likely body parts of me) fried by the scanning machinery in place at airports.

I am sad to hear that. I would like to think that you are wrong, but I cannot see away that you could be.

 

[jamesaz]

While I realize this method will not work for everyone or in probably most situations and applies to US domestic but I get prepaid flat rate boxes from the usps website and mail unexposed film to my destination address and mail it back when I leave. A small box is under ten dollars and will hold several rolls or sheets of film and no X-ray worries. Sometimes I will just buy film at my destination is due mail it back.

 

[gijsbert]

Just returned from my California trip and all went well. I had about 40 rolls of 120 hand-checked by very friendly security people in Montreal Dorval airport, and about 20 rolls hand-checked at LAX with no problems either. Since I wasn't sure about LAX I decided to have my exposed rolls developed at Richard's Lab, hence the different numbers! I think by chance I even wound up on the one old scanner at LAX but the others were definitely CT scanners, and as said they still did the hand-check.

 

[wiltw]

Attempted test not conclusive...no CT at SJC (San Jose CA) Security for Hawaiian Airlines, and at OGG (Maui) there was a mandatory CT agriculture scan on a checked baggage scanner unit outside prior to check in, although there was no new CT at Security. So the film never went thru any new (or old) CT.
Trying to get film CT tested later this month, when flying SFO (San Francisco) to Denver and back from DEN to SFO.

Just flew SFO (San Francisco) to DEN (Denver) and back. No CT scanner spotted at Security. They closed TSA Precheck moments before we got there for our return to SFO, and also fully closed Security at that end of the terminal...had to walk the width of the terminal to get to Security at the other end, and they had no TSA Precheck line at that end. Denver International a huge pain in the arse to deal with.

 

[BrianShaw]

Denver International a huge pain in the arse to deal with.

I don't know why this is true, but it has been true for many years. Only airport that is worse... Heathrow.

 

[Tel]

While I realize this method will not work for everyone or in probably most situations and applies to US domestic but I get prepaid flat rate boxes from the usps website and mail unexposed film to my destination address and mail it back when I leave. A small box is under ten dollars and will hold several rolls or sheets of film and no X-ray worries. Sometimes I will just buy film at my destination is due mail it back.

I did the same thing on a recent Newark-to-Seattle roundtrip. I put my film in a lead-lined bag inside the priority mail box and souped it at home after returning. Worked out well; coast to coast took three days by mail.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I don't know why this is true, but it has been true for many years. Only airport that is worse... Heathrow.

Even worse is Newark airport in New Jersey both badly designed and in a state of constant construction.

 

[wiltw]

Even worse is Newark airport in New Jersey both badly designed and in a state of constant construction.

Heathrow first existed in 1946, Newark first existed in 1928. Both have experienced massive growth with the need for continued operations in spite for growth. OTOH, DIA first opened in 1995... there are no excuses except inept management there. Come to think if it, the same applies to Heathrow security!

 

[nosmok]

Just flew LAX>EWR, JFK>LAX. Normal daylight hours, no checked luggage. Asked for hand check of film at LAX and JFK, no problem at either one, though JFK was busy and it took a bit of time (maybe 10 minutes before the right TSA guy had a spare moment to do it). Film was 120, all in mfr. boxes going out (though long expired), mostly exposed rolls coming back at JFK. Hope this helps, it seems talk of 'mandatory' this or that on domestic USA flights may be overblown (or maybe just particular TSA guys, flexing?).

 

[wiltw]

Just flew LAX>EWR, JFK>LAX. Normal daylight hours, no checked luggage. Asked for hand check of film at LAX and JFK, no problem at either one, though JFK was busy and it took a bit of time (maybe 10 minutes before the right TSA guy had a spare moment to do it). Film was 120, all in mfr. boxes going out (though long expired), mostly exposed rolls coming back at JFK. Hope this helps, it seems talk of 'mandatory' this or that on domestic USA flights may be overblown (or maybe just particular TSA guys, flexing?).

No, the 'issue' is growing presence of CT scanner at gate Security, and the lack of cooperation Internationally for travellers asking for hand inspection rather than going thru CT scanner
(Per recent report, UK seems to be growing in awareness and beginning cooperation relative to CT scan bypass ...LHR never previously bypassed X-ray via hand check at Security in the past.)

A few of us are deliberately trying to circumvent domestic TSA hand inspection cooperativeness, so as to get evidence of film damage by CT scanner at gate Security.

 

[Lee Rust]

It's certainly clear that film can be fried by CT scanners, but I wonder if there isn't even some risk to digital sensors. I've heard that they can be permanently damaged by cosmic rays when flying at high altitudes, so why not CT too?

 

[wiltw]

It's certainly clear that film can be fried by CT scanners, but I wonder if there isn't even some risk to digital sensors. I've heard that they can be permanently damaged by cosmic rays when flying at high altitudes, so why not CT too?

Someone did a test and an analysis of effect of cosmic rays on film https://austerityphoto.co.uk/mile-high-fog-does-air-travel-affect-your-film/

" no obvious damage to the negatives from radiation damage despite the film travelling over 20,000 air miles....a transatlantic flight exposes you to much more cosmic radiation than you would get in the same time at ground level. But it is only around a 0.08mSv exposure. If you ingest a kilo of Brazil nuts over the year you actually get more radiation exposure !!​

So yes if you’re air crew or a frequent flyer making hundreds of transatlantic flights per year this will raise your exposure (it adds an up to an additional 5mSv exposure annually to US flight crew)​

But our our few flights don’t really raise the risk with the film that Theo received having around 0.3mSV exposure which is about the same as film gets every year just sitting in my cellar.​

So no I wasn’t surprised…."​

​

No damage to film, although it would be assumed emulsion could have levels of visible fogging...do you really think a semiconductor sensor would be harmed?

 

[Lee Rust]

I've heard that individual pixels on a digital sensor can be knocked out by cosmic ray particles passing through at high altitudes, so my question is whether or not CT scans can damage sensors in a similar manner. I haven't heard about any film damage from cosmic rays.

 

[MattKing]

I've recently become aware that a very well known US based film manufacturer whistling is involved in investigating and discussing this issue with the US TSA and others.
The advice remains that the checked baggage scanners are absolutely deadly to any practical use film.
And with respect to the new scanners, it is highly recommended that anyone travelling in the US must hand carry in zip-lock bags all of their film and have it checked because initial testing is showing damage to film as low as 50 speed with the new CT type carry-on scanners.

 

[Fujicaman1957]

IC Racer, I just UPS the film to the check-in desk at wherever I'm going to stay. At this point, I don't trust the Post Office to get anything anywhere on time. Make sure you ship it far enough in advance that it will be waiting for you when you check in.

 

[spark]

FedEx is also good. They will hold your package at an office location for pickup, if you're not comfortable with the hotel front desk.

 

[Agulliver]

I don't see why anyone should just give up now. And the body scanners....they explicitly instruct you to remove *everything* from your pockets. Of course it's going to spot a wad of cash and your watch. I get that some parts of the world are known for corruption, but it is more likely that the days of long haul travel with wads of cash are over than with film.

It may take time for some countries to implement hand inspection, as we are a tiny fraction of travellers, but I am optimistic on that front.

 

[wiltw]

I don't see why anyone should just give up now. And the body scanners....they explicitly instruct you to remove *everything* from your pockets. Of course it's going to spot a wad of cash and your watch. I get that some parts of the world are known for corruption, but it is more likely that the days of long haul travel with wads of cash are over than with film.

It may take time for some countries to implement hand inspection, as we are a tiny fraction of travellers, but I am optimistic on that front.

During my SFO-DEN-SFO voyage, the full body scanner was able to identify a paper napkin in my trouser pocket, which was there for morning runny nose due to allergies! I could have taken it out prior to body scan, but I doubt they would like my nose running onto the floor of their body scanner!

 

[Agulliver]

During my SFO-DEN-SFO voyage, the full body scanner was able to identify a paper napkin in my trouser pocket, which was there for morning runny nose due to allergies! I could have taken it out prior to body scan, but I doubt they would like my nose running onto the floor of their body scanner!

The first time I went through one of the body scanners, I was instructed clearly to remove *everything, even the smallest item* from my pockets. This would be almost 20 years ago when they were being tested rather than in regular use. It was already my habit to remove my wallet, keys, any change, phone etc.....so I forgot that I had a handkerchief in my pocket (I have exercise induced rhinitis, which scares people in these times of plague). The scanner operator instantly picked up on it and asked me to show him what was in my pocket by turning both pockets inside out.

Nobody should be surprised that you cannot take *anything* on your person other than literally your clothes though one of those body scanners. That's the whole point of them.

The airport security authorities aren't out to get us film users, but we are a small voice. Clearly the British Department for Transport has had contact from Kodak and Ilford, and have already made changes to policy. I have few doubts that the vast majority of the world will do the same. They're not out to deliberately spoil anyone's fun.