Incident at Denver Airport

[KenR]

The TSA goons really like to have a reason to harass you. Once when traveling from LaGuardia to OHare on business (with only 1 MF camera and some film) I forgot to remove my tiny pocket knife (blade length 1 1/4 inches) from my car key ring. This was spotted in the junk bin on X-ray and was pulled out with the gleeful cry of "Contraband!" I explained that I was in a hurry and that I had forgotten to removed them from my keys. The TSA guy was in my face and yelled that he would have to confiscate the knife. I tried to keep my tone neutral and said only "Yes, I guess you have to do your duty." He was again in my face and again yelled that he was going to confiscate the knife. I again was as low key as I could be and again said that "you should do what you think is necessary." It was clear that he wanted a confrontation and that he would then arrest me, or at least seriously delay me. It's not worth the bother, try once to have the film hand checked, and then if hassled, nod, smile and just place your stuff on the scanner line. Why make their day?

 

[menos]

I asked to have my 14 rolls of 400 ISO film hand inspected at deGaulle. Even though I was checking in a full two hours before flight time to JFK, the French woman security official refused to hand inspect my film and was quite rude, insisting that my films had to pass through the regular X-ray scanning machine. The developed rolls were OK, anyway, but I always thought that a polite verbal request wouldn't be denied. I was mistaken.

It's a PITA.
This and Istanbul are the only two airports, I did have trouble.
Every other single airport just works - ask friendly, explain, why and insist firmly - never any issues.

In Istanbul, you have to make some trouble, blocking the line, making a clown … and in the end it works.
In Paris, these people were just lazy and tricky - a combination, that drives me up the wall. I will now change my logistics, when shooting film in France, having to rely on express companies, to send the film to Germany and fly back to Asia via Germany. :bang:

 

[menos]

Last year on a US domestic flight I realized I still had my little folding knife in my pocket while waiting in the TSA inspection line. So I went back to the airline employee who had checked my clothes bag, asking her if she could retrieve it so I could place my pocket knife into the checked bag.

This major US airline employee replied "those TSA people are dumber than sh*t" (her exact words) and told me to place my pocket knife into my camera bag right next to a camera body. She told me that they would not recognize it on the x-ray. She was correct. Oh yes, they did not x-ray my film.

I looove this story Bob

 

[menos]

The TSA goons really like to have a reason to harass you. Once when traveling from LaGuardia to OHare on business (with only 1 MF camera and some film) I forgot to remove my tiny pocket knife (blade length 1 1/4 inches) from my car key ring. This was spotted in the junk bin on X-ray and was pulled out with the gleeful cry of "Contraband!" I explained that I was in a hurry and that I had forgotten to removed them from my keys. The TSA guy was in my face and yelled that he would have to confiscate the knife. I tried to keep my tone neutral and said only "Yes, I guess you have to do your duty." He was again in my face and again yelled that he was going to confiscate the knife. I again was as low key as I could be and again said that "you should do what you think is necessary." It was clear that he wanted a confrontation and that he would then arrest me, or at least seriously delay me. It's not worth the bother, try once to have the film hand checked, and then if hassled, nod, smile and just place your stuff on the scanner line. Why make their day?

Ken, I am a very polite person, trying always, to figure out, how it would be in the other guy's shoes, but once, there has been a security officer, very, very similar to the one, you described in Guangzhou Airport.

I am always making some fun with the girls, being polite and always helpful, when in the middle of having a nice fun security check this senior male officer jumps out of his boot , get's really upclose to my chest (which I am not a big fan of), pointing at me shoes, rudely informing me, that I must take my shoes of, as he insists, he wants to xray them.

I am a 2 m guy with really big shoes, while it was a very hot summer day with 40ºC approaching. It were these kind of hiking boots, where it takes you 30min, to open and 45min, to put them back on. I was pissed.

I asked friendly, ignoring his tone and attitude for once, if it really was necessary … he was furious …

I then proceeded, to take these shoes of, holding them openly in his face for close inspection, where in effect my complete back including unloading cameras, opening laptop, unpacking bag took place.

I fully enjoyed the whole procedure, as I recognized, that the poor b*****d indeed couldn't find the slightest satisfaction of finding at least something not according to security policies … well except the smell of those shoes on that hot summer day.

I really don't get the attitude of some of these guys.
They really could have a great job, being friendly and cheering people up - I mean, you get back from your customer, what you give them, right?

When I was jobbing in supermarkets and car cleaning jobs as a student, I learned exactly that - be nice and good things will happen to you.

 

[tenter10]

scanning film

scanning film

hello all I do not know about the U.S. however I have been to vietnam 6 times 3 via thailand 3 via singapore, I had 100ASA film Kodak colour, put my camera bag through the scanners six times each trip and never had a problem. Is there problems with the faster speed more pro film being damaged? If so I will stick to kodak 100 colour. thanks

 

[rxmd]

hello all I do not know about the U.S. however I have been to vietnam 6 times 3 via thailand 3 via singapore, I had 100ASA film Kodak colour, put my camera bag through the scanners six times each trip and never had a problem. Is there problems with the faster speed more pro film being damaged? If so I will stick to kodak 100 colour. thanks

No, there won't be a problem. Don't worry.

 

[StillKicking]

send it through the carry on scanner and dont worry, Not worth the stress, I've had 3200 iso film through the scanner 5 times without any noticeable fogging,
Nik

I agree.. I regularly travel through 5 or 6 airports on a single trip and have my camera bag and film scanned every time.. sometimes more than once. I can't think of a time when I have seen noticeable damage.