Anyone Flown to the US since 12/25?

[Benjamin Marks]

Saw this interesting write up on Luminous Landscape:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/flying-jan-10.shtml

Any personal stories of what to expect when flying (US-CAN), (US-EUR)?

Ben Marks

 

[DRabbit]

Hi Ben,

I haven't, but my daughter's best friend has. She is recently into photography and I've been helping her learn film (we're actually going to develop her first roll this weekend!)...

Anyway, on the way from NY to Arizona she had no problems. They didn't force her rolls of film through x-ray. Unfortunately, on the way back they didn't want to hear it, and forced her to put the film through. She only took her cameras and film on through carry-on.

 

[Disaster_Area]

I've had terrible luck with airlines and avoid them like the plague. The last time I flew... and this was WITHIN the country (Canada) last year... I had big problems with bringing film through security. I planned ahead and even printed out the section of the airlines regulations that stated I could ask to have my film hand inspected and not put through the Xray. When I got to the checkpoint the security guy would have none of it and insisted that my film be X-rayed. It took me pulling out the printout AND asking for a supervisor before they consented to hand check my film. So while I was powering up my camera's and laptop they handed my film over to some other officer to hand check. He finished the hand check... AND THEN PUT IT THROUGH THE XRAY MACHINE!! I was too busy with powering up my equipment to notice untill I saw it disappearing into the conveyer belt. I figured shouting and running at the machine would be a bad move. When I asked them why they put it through the machine they gave me the same verbatim "all items must be scanned" bullsh*t they just said 5 minutes ago like they where goldfish and completely forgot the whole business we just discussed.

Security seems to be filled with bored sheep that can't do much more than blindly follow the regulations they've been told to uphold without a lick of common sense... the industry has NEVER had a lick of common sense and that's the core problem with the whole system. A few more examples of issues that have come up with me and my freinds/family:

- I have a keychain knife that was let through but they confiscated my eyeglass repair kit screwdriver
- I was allowed a 1 lighter but my matches got taken away
- I can have 5 100ml bottles but not one 500ml bottle
- I bought a bottle of water at the duty free right before the security checkpoint and it was sealed.. I had the receipt and but it was taken away and I was told I'd have to buy another one at the duty free AFTER the checkout

 

[Jamie123]

I've had terrible luck with airlines and avoid them like the plague. The last time I flew... and this was WITHIN the country (Canada) last year... I had big problems with bringing film through security. I planned ahead and even printed out the section of the airlines regulations that stated I could ask to have my film hand inspected and not put through the Xray. When I got to the checkpoint the security guy would have none of it and insisted that my film be X-rayed. It took me pulling out the printout AND asking for a supervisor before they consented to hand check my film. So while I was powering up my camera's and laptop they handed my film over to some other officer to hand check. He finished the hand check... AND THEN PUT IT THROUGH THE XRAY MACHINE!! I was too busy with powering up my equipment to notice untill I saw it disappearing into the conveyer belt. I figured shouting and running at the machine would be a bad move. When I asked them why they put it through the machine they gave me the same verbatim "all items must be scanned" bullsh*t they just said 5 minutes ago like they where goldfish and completely forgot the whole business we just discussed.

Security seems to be filled with bored sheep that can't do much more than blindly follow the regulations they've been told to uphold without a lick of common sense... the industry has NEVER had a lick of common sense and that's the core problem with the whole system. A few more examples of issues that have come up with me and my freinds/family:

- I have a keychain knife that was let through but they confiscated my eyeglass repair kit screwdriver
- I was allowed a 1 lighter but my matches got taken away
- I can have 5 100ml bottles but not one 500ml bottle
- I bought a bottle of water at the duty free right before the security checkpoint and it was sealed.. I had the receipt and but it was taken away and I was told I'd have to buy another one at the duty free AFTER the checkout

Yeah, but what can you expect from untrained and underpaid people?

Anyways, I usually don't even bother and let them put my film go through the X-ray machine for hand baggage. So far everything's been fine. However, if I can I usually try to have my film processed at the location I'm at.
I live in a small European country so all my flights are abroad but if I lived in the US and were travelling inside the country I would simply mail the film to myself. Or even better, I'd mail it some place like Dwayne's photo for processing and have them ship it to my home address.

 

[ali_baba]

...***-rimiter...

...***-rimiter...

ask for a handcheck.
i'm sure that's old news, i do it every time i have film and pull out my 1600 and they're generally pretty cool.

i was leaving miami after doing some new years work down there (phish @ aaa) and one security dude made me open my bag. he noticed my rollei and started freaking, i said check this, and popped out the bp m7 and he knew it was a leica, then i showed him the m9, he was stoked.

said he dad was a photographer...

the other dude was so puzzled, "how you know about this" also as a side anecdote the dude swabbing the film farted all nasty, i asked if the ***-rimiter was a tsa tactic and they all busted up laughing.

it was no laughing matter, i put my shirt over my nose for the isnpection.

 

[mbisc]

I flew from Frankfurt to Denver about a week ago, and other than the security folks in FRA going back to their "pat down"-version of security (which they stoppped a few years ago after finally getting newer metal detectors), I didn't really notice anything new. They asked me what I had in my carry-on (wooden field camera, a couple of lenses and 5 film holders, among other things) since, I guess. it looked funny on their x-ray screens, and seemed satisfied with my verbal explanantion.

 

[rogerchristian]

It may be that the personnel feel they are less likely to get into trouble by simply following every rule to the letter and beyond, regardless of apparent exceptions.

In the end, I suppose lots of scary stuff gets through and lots of inconsequential stuff is tossed in the rubbish bin at the checkpoints.

Don't look for rhyme or reason, it doesn't exist.

 

[morback]

I few back on the 31st of December from FRA to NWR.

I asked for hand-check and got it. I got into a little argument because I didn't understand the security lady only wanted to scan the paper boxes I had packed my film in. They swabbed all the rolls.

This year was the only year I didn't have my films x-rayed. When I went to Turkey this past summer and came back I had a few rolls with x-ray "artifacts". So that prompted me to ask for hand-check.

Never had a problem with my films and the machines during the preceding 4-5 years.

But I think I'm going to let it be next time around. Anyways, I'm planing on moving back to europe so that I don't have to take the plane to go anywhere anymore. It's just a needless pain.

 

[mike kim]

I have, to and out of, and it's no different than before, except they manually check everyone's bags and shoes before boarding the plane (no additional x-rays). If you have any drinks, they make you taste it to make sure it's a real drink. Just use common sense. Don't take any sharp objects and if you want to buy liquids, buy them after security check. I usually don't bother getting my film checked manually. I had 400 ASA film x-rayed for as much as ten times without any visible effects. I know someone will pop out with a website with facts that say that x-rays do affect film (and they do) but not to a level where I'd worry too much about it. Not worth the hassle in my case, but I'm not a professional...

 

[Disaster_Area]

Yeah, but what can you expect from untrained and underpaid people?

EXACTLY... this is the problem with the entire system... we don't need more rules and restrictions... we don't need better scanning devices (if they can tell my laptop is a bomb by wiping a tissue on it, tell if I'm sick by a body temp scan and can count the change in my wallet with an xray we got the tech covered) We need properly trained, properly informed, motivated security people with common sense. The security people should be the second highest paid people in the airport, just under the pilots (I don't really care how good security was if the pilot gets lost or crashes into a mountain) Every time I go through security the officers look both bored and annoyed... like they'd like to be anywhere other than scanning my bag... bored and annoyed lead to sloppiness in any job... not something you want in the guy making sure your plain doesn't blow up. Instead of hiring police academy drop outs... hire ACTUAL cops... the ones that got good marks. What do you think is a better use of an intelligent cop... responding to domestic disputes and pulling over speeders... or making sure airplanes don't blow up?

 

[degruyl]

I usually don't bother with getting my film checked manually since. I had 400 ASA film x-rayed for as much as ten times without any visible effects.

Same.

Unless you are pushing the film. Just be aware that pushed film is just as bad as ultra high speed film (EI 800+ is said to be a bad idea).

One time, on a trip to Mexico, I passed through the X-Rays at least six or eight times with a bag full of 120. No issues on either the 160 or 400. I did not carry B&W in Mexico. (it is a place that deserves color, unlike NYC).

I have a lead bag, but don't bother with it much. It just makes you get hand searched in addition to the scan.

I do take the film out of the carry bag. This is so that when they are trying to figure out whether my lens are bombs or not, my film is not sitting in the scanner. (also: 120 film gets some interesting looks from security, if they see it in a clear bag, they may pass it through).

 

[sevres_babylone]

It has been interesting to read the reports of people flying to the United States from countries other than Canada. It seems that only Canada took the step of banning carrying on luggage altogether, with a few Catch 22-like exceptions. This was satirized by Rick Mercer on Canadian television:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZfbTlYpKYo

Thanks to Reichmann for the link. Luminous Landscape today shared information that the ban has now been lifted. A relief to me since I am flying through the U.S. in the next two weeks.

 

[Frank Petronio]

Next trip is no laptop and no 4x5, just a dslr and cell phone in a smaller than everyone else's massive carry-on. Crocs on the feet. No belt. Minimalistic all the way....

They win. But it is also liberating to stop worrying about this too.