OK to pack Xtol package on carry on luggage?

[stevierose]

I'm going to be in Chicago in a few weeks for a conference. I always pay a visit to Central Camera when I'm there...great place. I have no local source for Xtol, and I think they carry the packages. I'm thinking about picking up a couple of packages and packing it in original Kodak packaging in checked in bag. Is this OK with TSA? Any experience with this? I can order it from Freestyle or B and H, but the shipping increases the price 50-100%. Thanks!

 

[Keith]

I must have watched too many movies but I can't shake of the mental image of a drug squad detective cutting open a packet of xtol with his pocket knife, wetting his finger and tasting it! lol 😛

 

[SolaresLarrave]

You're leaving from O'Hare to retun to Michigan? They scan the luggage and I don't think they'd make a fuss about a big bag of developer with the Kodak name visibly printed on it. BTW, I have friends who have left for Spain with jars of peanut butter in their suitcases and they make it OK. It's not within their radar, I believe...

 

[stevierose]

You're leaving from O'Hare to retun to Michigan? They scan the luggage and I don't think they'd make a fuss about a big bag of developer with the Kodak name visibly printed on it. BTW, I have friends who have left for Spain with jars of peanut butter in their suitcases and they make it OK. It's not within their radar, I believe...

Nope, from Midway. The only reason I'm flying is my job set it up that way. It only saves me about an hour over driving or train.

 

[Robert Lai]

If you do, keep the receipt handy in you wallet. That way, if they hand inspect it, and want to know what it is, you can show you bought this from a camera store.

If they balk about "carrying chemicals", then you can explain that the main active ingredient it vitamin C. Thus, this is a very safe item to be carrying.

 

[G Dogg]

Please follow up with us here and let us know how it goes for you.

 

[Jockos]

And make sure they lube up before the cavity search!

 

[sepiareverb]

On our last trip the 120 FP4+ garnered less scrutiny than the food my wife had packed. I would not be surprised if XTOL makes your walk through security a bit longer.

 

[stevierose]

I realize that I was tired when I wrote the original post and the subject line of the post doesn’t match the question I asked. My question is in regard to bringing Xtol package in a checked bag, not a carry on bag. I agree that bringing it in a carry on bag is inviting trouble. Sorry for the confusion, I didn’t adequately proofread the post.

 

[Out to Lunch]

I don't think this is a problem. Having a receipt with you is a good idea.

 

[Steve M.]

My experiences with TSA, like those of many others, have been.....sub optimal. I would just mail it to myself and avoid any possible problems. But then, I gave up flying years ago due to their games and the basic aggravation and discomfort of flying in general. If I can't get somewhere by train, bus, or ship, I don't need to go there.

 

[Rob-F]

Why don't you just order it from B&H or Adorama and have it delivered?

 

[sepiareverb]

If you want to support the Chicago shop, stop at the post office afterwards and drop the XTOL in a flat rate box.

 

[RandyB]

Just order from B&H or Freestyle. Avoid any possible problem with the TSA. You can thank me later.

 

[stevierose]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I will order from B and H and/or pick some up the next time I drive to Chicago.

 

[michaelwj]

I once flew from Australia into O'Hare for work down the road at Argonne National Lab. We were imaging red blood cells infected with malaria, it was dried and pretty safe, but still needed to be double boxed in biohazard labelled boxes etc. On the way there it is important that nothing happens to the samples and so I packed them in my carry on. Had no questions - but I had all the paperwork just in case.
On the return flight I just put it all in it's double biohazard box in my checked baggage (but I carried the documents with me in the cabin). When I got back to Australia I found a TSA note in my bag saying that it had been searched. The biohazard labelled box was in plain sight in the top of my bag and had not been touched in any way. I don't know if they just didn't want to deal with it or what, but I would have expected that they would have confiscated it. My confidence in the system went down a little. XTol will be no problem.