Air Travel

Yet another paranoid worry, I have seen people grab someone else's bag and take off, the guy in front of me chased the guy down, and came back to security, who gave him minor grief for taking off. He was a big guy and did not feel it necessary to punch the thief out, and the security people did not find it necessary to even look in that direction.

Am sure they are all nice people, but travel can be stressful. We have to count on people being as civil as possible.

I hate to say it, but I generally look for the oldest folks to check my stuff, so I guess I am biased and looking for someone with experience. Am always amazed at the number of times they do not open my roll on, as it always has at least four cameras, chargers, and stuff that would probably look suspicious if I were on the other side.

The least experienced IMO, get the job of hassling the people in the line before they get to the metal detector, and I have to admit on long trips I am more than a bit fuzzy headed when I am changing flights, so I appreciate the TSA people understanding any confusion.

I wore suspenders a few times, and one nice guy told me to take off one shoulder to help get through the detector more easily.

I also was told that more than one lady just flashed them to let them know nothing was being hid under the shirt.

Perhaps a new thread, How many people spend more time packing cameras than clothes?

Regards, John
 
JohnTF said:
Come early, bring ID and Money for the bar by the gate, Valium in a film can, am sure their bar business is up due to all of this. Try to travel for at least three weeks so you can forget and forgive.

Regards, John
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Fortunately, most airports put the bars beyond security. Can you imagine the trouble if people started showing up at the security checkpoint half in the bag?
 
Al Patterson said:
Fortunately, most airports put the bars beyond security. Can you imagine the trouble if people started showing up at the security checkpoint half in the bag?
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I think it is by design, they are driving me to drink. ;-) WC Fields would be a happy flyer today.

And I warned a friend to take it easy in Puerto Vallarta, they started hitting the all inclusive bar with Vodka straight up at 9am, and they just barely convinced the crew they were OK enough to fly at 9pm, they thanked me on the plane.

I told him when he wife told me I was good looking, she had probably had too much. ;-)


John
 
You know, if airport scanners consistently damaged film, wouldn't we be seeing posts from irate photographers on a daily basis across the net?

On lead-lined bags: If they really kept their contents hidden from scanners, they'd be banned because the bad guys would be using them.
 
On trips overseas all my photo gear goes in one carry on bag. I gave up film to save hassles and take one DSLR, two zooms, one spare battery and charger plus a bunch of cards. As backup my wife carries here digicam and gear in a separate carry on bag. No laptop as we already have enough gear to carry and worry about. So far no trouble and a lot smoother in transit.

Bob
 
Strictly carry on luggage with all the appropriate cords/charges/batteries/etc...
Film, when I used plenty of it, was carried on as well - no cans just the film in ziplocks easily examined by security.
 
Wherever I go via plane, I travel very light: whatever an fit in my Domke bag is all the gear that goes. (This time around, it was my usual two-body, three-lens Hexar kit, two flash units and Contax Tvs.) Everything else (clothes, dopp kit, a few assorted sundries) goes in modest-sized duffel. Film (took about 18 rolls with me to Florida a few months ago) gets carried, un-canned, in a clear zip-lock bag for hand inspection, which I've never had a problem getting for domestic flights.

The only problem I can see with all this, regardless of how much you drag with you, involves long lines: Referring back to my Florida flight, I got to JFK with a modest time cushion, but there was a crazy long line (several lines, in fact), which meant no time for a hand-inspection. I decided to let them X-ray the film–once–but, with several passengers ahead of me, I heard the worst sound one can hear in a long, slow line at the airport: my name on the PA...my flight was about to leave without me. No one bothered to tell me I could flag down TSA personnel and request a queue-jump, but things were so crowded that it probably wouldn't have helped. Needless to say, I missed that flight, but a few bright people at the Delta desk went to bat for me, and re-booked me on a direct flight to Orlando, which is funny, because the flight I missed required a layover in Memphis, then off to Orlando. Score one for Delta!

(Moral of story: however much time you think you need to get through the airport probably isn't enough by half. Arrive ridiculously early.)


- Barrett
 
wgerrard said:
You know, if airport scanners consistently damaged film, wouldn't we be seeing posts from irate photographers on a daily basis across the net?

On lead-lined bags: If they really kept their contents hidden from scanners, they'd be banned because the bad guys would be using them.
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If they consistently damaged film we surely would know, but you know of all the rolls that get ruined which one it will be.

BBC was reported to have lost a year's work because the airline had not posted that they were zapping checked luggage with larger than normal doses.

I do know my processor says they recognize the occasional damaged roll. One was one of mine, and it had made a couple of round trips.

Most of the time you are OK, but if you can get the film hand checked, you know the messed up shots are all yours. ;-)

I wear seat belts as well.

Am pretty sure radiologists still wear film badges, they have a slightly higher rate of cancer as well.


Regards, John
 
All my cameras, digital and film, always get on board with me.
I always have this little carry-on with wheels to go with me
so weight is not much of a problem. Though many x-ray machines
have a sign indicating something like, "film safe", I still get this little
feeling of distrust. But nothing bad has happened yet. knock knock.
 
JohnTF said:
Most of the time you are OK, but if you can get the film hand checked, you know the messed up shots are all yours. ;-)
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Very true. What we know seems mostly from anecdotal reports. We know that high-speed film seems more vulnerable. We know that hand checks won't happen at many airports. You'd think that, within a country, this would be amenable to resolution with some simple lab tests. I.e., run film of various types and speed contained in assorted carryon bags through a calibrated scanner, Rinse, repeat, process, and tally the results.

Maybe someone already has run those tests. Heathrow's site, for example, says this: Independent tests undertaken by the British Photographers' Liaison Committee (BPLC), to establish the full and exact details of any potential film damage caused by baggage screening machines at airports, have given the all-clear to current hand-luggage x-ray inspection systems installed at BAA airports, and this: The findings confirm that hand-luggage security scanning machinery is safe for all normal film types (up to and including ISO 400), and this: Specialist film (ISO 800 and above) under exceptional circumstances, when passed more than eight times through the hand-luggage security scanning machines, can be affected. However, the nature of the change occurring is barely noticeable to the naked eye and indeed does not become clearly visible until film is exposed around 32 times.

It goes on to say that special arrangements can be made for photographers carrying professional film (ISO 800 and above) by prior arrangement with their airline or airport. Hand search requests for professional film will normally be accommodated, but the final decision in all individual cases will always rest with the on-duty security supervisor.

I've seen a number of online reports of Heathrow refusing to do a hand check, but I'd guess those travelers did not call ahead to make that "prior arrangement." Of course, whether that request is only honored for pros who can document their business status is a good question.
 
All my gear gets onboard as hand-luggage with me.
Even then flying - or rather the security hassle around it - is no fun anymore.

When I flew from Frankfurt to Seattle some time ago and had to stop in Phildelphia, a big security guy, who apparently didn't know a thing about it - pawed my equipment so that I got nervous to get it back in working order.
And in Seattle I realized that my check-in luggage was lost, it arrived with three days (!) delay.

So, no way, I would check-in my gear!
 
I fly about 20 times a year and carry film in a lead pack, with me on board and in the cabin, as well as all photo equipment, never had any problem. Interestingly some security guards in foreign countries do appreciate to see an old Nikon F or a Leica.
One assembly generally attracts all eyes, be it at the airport or overseas, it is a Leica equipped with the lens support on the baseplate!
My films are scanned a great number of times and so far they come out great from the developping tank.
 
As airlines downsize their aircraft, I've been seeing a lot more carry-on being gate checked. (Meaning it gets stashed in the hold with the rest of the luggage and you pick it up later at the side of the aircraft.) Rollaboards, in particular, don't fit small overhead bins in these small aircraft. Many of the bins are narrower at the back than the front, forming a rough wedge shape. I've got a nylon non-wheelie carryon that will fit these spaces, but, because it's soft and not rigid, offers less protection.

Gatechecked bags will not be taken inside and run through the checked bag scanners. But, I've been on flights that did not offer gate checking when the carryon bags of a passenger who could not find an overhead bin were taken back inside and checked. Something to remember if you stash your film in some humongous bag and are one of the last people to board.
 
I was flying from NY to Paris. I had everything I cared about in my carryon. Included was my Minolta table top tripod in the collapsed mode. It must have looked like an automatic pistol. If you want to see a bunch of TSA folks scramble - try that in your carryon. The interesting thing is once they know what it is they make you leave it in the luggage and pass it through again.
 
Back in the day I used to just throw my Yashica slr in my dufflebag and let the airlines slep the bag. These days Im not about to hand over my Leica and Noctilux. Dont matter a whole lot because I only take the one Leica.
 
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Carry on always, film or digital. Digital is easier - no worries about x-rays or hand inspection.

The problem that remains is tripods and monopods. I have had so many inconsistent results that I ship them FedEx overnight ahead and after me when I'm done. Too many TSA <ahem> staff think they're weapons.
 
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check nothing. Its easier to get a new pair of walking shoes, trousers, wash kit than a camera you are used to. I often wear cargo pants and can fit loads in the pockets. Even if it has to be Xrayed at least it does not count towards my carry on weight allowance. I ask for hand searches where possible, allow lots of time, and find the whole experience annoying, but its better than shooting digital IMO. I will be doing more 35mm work when shooting lots of film for size/weight reasons. 120 film gets bulky fast.
 
notturtle said:
check nothing. Its easier to get a new pair of walking shoes, trousers, wash kit than a camera you are used to. I often wear cargo pants and can fit loads in the pockets. Even if it has to be Xrayed at least it does not count towards my carry on weight allowance. I ask for hand searches where possible, allow lots of time, and find the whole experience annoying, but its better than shooting digital IMO. I will be doing more 35mm work when shooting lots of film for size/weight reasons. 120 film gets bulky fast.
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You are allowed an extra carry on bag if you are a photographer, if you can find someone who knows that. I printed out the agreement to put in my camera case somewhere. Someone here should know the URL.

In Paris and Prague they sometimes weigh my carry on, and their rules for carry on weight seem to be what ever the guy at the counter feels? I think in Paris the roller empty was close to the limit.

Smaller planes may make you gate check because some of the small planes just do not have any place inside for cases of most sizes.

It is a dynamic thing, sort of like "Spy vs. Spy".

John
 
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