Recent Experience With Airport Security

[Graybeard]

I've just returned from a trip to the Southwestern US with a fair amount of photographic gear and thought I'd comment on the completely favorable experience which I had with the TSA baggage screening people whom I dealt with on the trip.

I had, as carry-on luggage, a pair of M Leicas and some lenses in a Domke F-803 bag and a Linhof Super Technika with some long focus lenses in a Zero Halliburton attache-style case ; I went through airport security in Albany (NY), Omaha, and Denver. At each location, the luggage went through x-ray inspection without incident or comment; I wasn't even asked to open the luggage for hand inspection.

In Denver, to my great surprise, the TSA inspector asked if there were any film cameras in the bags, and, when we stated that there were, inquired as to the speed of the film in the cameras before allowing the bags to enter the x-ray machines.

The TSA people at these airports, at least, seem to know what they are doing with respect to photographic gear.

 

[jano]

The many good stories usually get lost inside the few horror stories. Nice to hear 🙂

 

[jan normandale]

It's been a very very very long time coming. Finally some light at the end of the tunnel!

 

[egpj]

I recently traveled through Denver as well and had no problems. They even hand checked all of my film with highspeed mixed in with the low. Other airports that are good; Miami, Orlando, Manchester, Boston Logan, John Wayne in LA and Sacramento , CA.

I travel a little.

 

[sf]

When I told them I had Delta 3200 in the bag, they told me that "it won't get too fogged"

 

[egpj]

When I told them I had Delta 3200 in the bag, they told me that "it won't get too fogged"

WHAAAT!? That just ain't right man.

My problem is that I travel with allot of HP5 and so I can go as high as 1600 with it. Very rare to find a screener that knows about that type of thing. Or pushing Provia 400 to 1600 or 3200.:bang: :bang: :bang:

Most have been very accomodating thus far though.😎

 

[kully]

Travelled from Heathrow and Amsterdam two weeks ago with three cameras and forty rolls of film - no problems at all.

Much better, I was shocked when they didn't search me.

 

[Avotius]

I once went though LAX with a mamiya 6, canon 20D and a 30V in my photobackpack thing and about 40 rolls of film on my way to china. The lady opened up all my 120 film plastic bag things (painfull as there were so many) but never gave me any grief, she even talked to me about my travels around china and such.

 

[scottgee1]

Your experience is indeed encouraging and I thank you for sharing it.

That said, my concern is consistency. I rarely travel by plane now but on a single trip I've had good and horrible experiences.

As photographers, we have reasonable concerns that our film could be damaged by the x-ray machines. The security people are under pressure to process as many travelers as quickly as possible without making a mistake. Precious few of them have any understanding of the damage x-rays can cause. I even wonder about the long term health effects they might suffer from being around the new high intensity scanners day after day. But I digress.

I'd really like to see comprehensive training for the TSA employees that includes a section on how to handle film safely -- for everyone.

my two lux worth/ScottGee1

 

[Ben Z]

I recently went through a half dozen airport screenings, my small bag with 2 M6s and 4 lenses went unchallenged until the last stop, in Newark NJ. There a TSA person, more like the old minimum-wage types than the current crop of TSA agent, made me take my camera bag out of my carryon and stand back a foot from the inspection table while she went through it. Evidently Billingham press-studs and lens caps gave her great difficulty because she was unable to successfully operate either. Then she decided the entire bag needed another pass through x-ray and (with the flap studs halfway attached) whipped the bag over her shoulder and took it back to the conveyor (about 50 feet) and did the same getting it off the conveyor and brought it to me. That the contents didn't fly out and smash on the ground was pure luck. All in all a horrible experience and I'm having second doubts about sinking another $5 grand into Leicas. Maybe time for me to give in and buy a point and shoot digital like 99.9% of everyone and save myself a coronary.

 

[bob cole]

Recent Experience With Airport Security

Greybeard, I thought your experience with airport security was so positive that I suggested it to Joe Sharkey, The New York Times travel writer, as a story idea... I also mentioned that the only negative experience [so far ] seemed to be Newark...

 

[Al Patterson]

My favorite TSA story was the time in Albuquerque that I had put about $3.50 worth of Denver mint mark state quarters in a hidden pocket in my Tenba bag. Since the X-ray tech coudln't figure it out what he was looking at while the bag was in the machine, it was off to secondary screening. I tried to point to the zipper which opened the pocket, but was told to sit down and shut up by the screener.

Twenty minutes later, they figured out where the zipper was, counted the quarters and off I went. Now, I leave the change in my pocket until they give me one of those white round thingies. Gotta love the former Walmart rent-a-cops the TSA has hired...

 

[anselwannab]

Yea, they get antsy when you try to help them out. I can understand b/c after watching some of those magicians with their sleight of hand, who knows what somebody could pull.

I travel with my CL and FSU 90 all the time, never had a problem.

With film, I think you can say that it si "Pro" film and that should allow a handcheck.

Mark

 

[uhligfd]

A question on pushing film and x-rays: (For egpj, specifically)

What is the increased risk of fogging film in TSA xrays (carry-on) when pushing?
I thought it was the film's sensitivity rating (ISO) that makes high (3200) ISO film susceptible for xrays damage. And if I were to push a 400 film to 3200, then a previous or future xray would not damage a thing.

I am confused: does the ISO rating or the development rating/pushing make the difference.

Someone know? Thanks!

And if I intentionally pull a 3200 film down to ISO 400, will it still come out alright through previous and/or future carry-on xray, that is the other side of the coin here. Any answer ?

 

[scottgee1]

Ben's experience offers a good example of what I meant by consistency, or lack thereof.

The majority of TSA folks are reasonable when approached reasonably. Some are on a power trip. Say the wrong thing to them as they unecessarily abuse your gear or make light of your concerns and you could find yourself detained long enough to miss a flight and/or strip searched if they are in a bad mood.

And yes, I've experienced the former 😡 but not the latter 😱 .

ScottGee1