It's 2022, what's the lowdown on film going thru the airport?

[kivis]

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400 ISO tri-X film. can i just go thru the Xray or should have it inspected by hand? At this point just in the USA, but later this summer planning a trip to various Asian countries.

[MarkP]

I always ask for hand inspection.

A courteous and apologetic request to the security officer (understanding that I’m slowing them down and inconveniencing them when they’re busy) and having the film easy to inspect helps.

I always carry 2 rolls of very high speed film as they often try the ‘it’s fine with film speed up to ISO 400’ - works every time. Also explain that it’s also the multiple scanning when travelling I’m concerned about.

Only refused once till a more senior security officer intervened on my behalf when I was insistent but polite.

 

Having said that, a single scanning of ISO 400 film is probably ok.

 

[grahamc]

Hi @kivis.  These were my experiences and may be useful:
 

(I didn't yet develop my test roll that went though all of the X-Ra machines though, sorry)

[105012]

On my most recent long haul trip (September, with Tri-X) mostly successful in getting hand inspection, but a few times all rolls went through the scanners, no adverse effects visible. 

[Al Brown]

My buddy had his Namibia Portra 160 fogged, be very very careful.

[williamj]

If it's a CT scanner then 1 pass is too much. For older X-Ray machines I've had some unexposed Tri-X go through the scanners 4 times on one trip in Australia with no fogging after it was developed. I didn't expose the film later, I was just checking whether unexposed film would be fogged.

[nitroplait]

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During the summer of this year I placed exposed rolls of HP5+ in my wife's hand luggage and checked suitcase. The hand luggage was scanned in Copenhagen (DK), Paris de Gaulle (FR), Haneda (JP), Komatsu (JP), Narita (JP) and Paris de Gaulle (FR) -6 times total.
It is impossible to know how many times the checked luggage was scanned during that trip.

Upon return I developed the films along with a reference roll and found no signs of damage.

I assume that there were no CT scanners on the route, but do not know for sure.

[Jon Warwick]

I would habitually put my ISO 100 film through the traditional X-ray machines and, despite many passes (at least 6 on several trips), I never incurred any issues.

I’m not sure that I’d trust the newer CT scanners at all though, however, based on what I’ve read can be the impact on film.

[Doug A]

When I recently got out my rolling suitcase for a drive to Virginia I found an exposed roll of Tri-X in an inside zippered pocket. When I developed the film I found the pictures were of soccer game we attended in Florida before the lockdowns. Consulting our travel records, I determine that the film made three United round trip flights in checked baggage from New Jersey to Florida. Developed in my usual Rodinal (1+50) the images showed no ill effects. YMMV

Edited November 21, 2022 by Doug A

[Anbaric]

If your film goes through one of the new CT scanners then all bets are off. They can certainly damage your film in a single pass, and Kodak, Fuji and Ilford have all issued warnings about this:

https://kosmofoto.com/2020/01/kodak-alaris-film-damaged-after-just-one-pass-in-ct-hand-luggage-scanners/

https://kosmofoto.com/2020/02/fujifilm-echoes-warnings-over-hand-luggage-ct-scanners/

https://kosmofoto.com/2020/02/ilford-photo-working-with-heathrow-airport-on-ct-scanner-issue/

If you're lucky, you may get away with hardly noticeable low level fogging from which images can be salvaged, but it's worse if you've already shot but not yet developed the film before it gets scanned. If you're unlucky, you may get significant damage.

https://emulsive.org/articles/experiments/testing-ct-scanners-heres-how-badly-they-can-damage-your-film

https://petapixel.com/2021/07/06/what-happens-if-your-film-goes-through-the-tsas-ct-scanners/

I didn't use to worry about the old carry-on scanners that were built when film was mainstream (CT scanners have been used for a while for checked baggage, but I never left film in that). But now that most people shoot digital, potential film damage probably isn't a major concern for the designers of the new generation of carry-on CT scanners.

[Chuck Albertson]

If you're in the US, you have the right to a hand inspection of your film, so ask for it if you're in any doubt. Just leave some extra time to deal with it, and turn away the grumping of the people in line behind you with a hiss and a chop of the hand. As Anbaric noted above, the new CT scanners (they look like big turbines, as opposed to the boxy old Rapiscan machines) can be death for film. But I've found the TSA people to be pretty hip to the dangers to film posed by the CT scanners.

Film issues aside, I like the new CT scanners as they obviate the need to pull out a laptop, tablet, bag of liquids, etc., before sending your bag through. There was one operating at a security checkpoint at London City last week, and the line was moving really quickly.

[Einst_Stein]

It might depend on which country. The highest dose,  thus highest security sensitivity, are perhaps US airports. 

[AZD]

It varies by airport, that’s about as precise as you can get. I accidentally left a roll in my bag thru 4 airports in the US an EU, no problems. A blank roll I intentionally sent through the scanner in Huntsville, Alabama fogged with patterns in one pass. Been meaning to post it but haven’t settled down to do it. 

[Steve Ricoh]

Stansaid Airport is highly recommend. After going through X-ray they pull the film from the cassette to make sure there’s no damage. That’s customer service in action, quite remarkable. 5*

[grahamc]

One pass through a CT was enough to ruin one of my films. I passed it through as a test and then shot on it later and developed.  (Tri-X 400) 

[grahamc]

But FWIW generally I am happy to pass film through the old scanners in a Domke bag. 

I ask for hand check especially starting a trip but by the end of a trip I’ve usually given up on the hassle.

Articles I read stated you’d need to pass 400 film through 10 times before seeing any noticeable degradation but to minimise it when you can .  (Old style scanners).  

Typical itinerary for me might be 6 or so security checks so as long as I’ve had a few successful hand checks along the way I will generally relax and start sending through the Domke on the way home 👍   Getting a handcheck can mean having to debate and stand your ground, so it becomes annoying. 

 

Edited January 5, 2023 by grahamc

[nitroplait]

I have yet to encounter a CT scanner on my travels, but understand a sure tell sign is that you don't have to remove your labtop/tablet from your carry-on - that is one of the "benefits" we travellers are sold to embrace the new technology.

If you don't have to remove the labtop, you better prepare your most diplomatic abilities to convince security personel to have your film hand inspected.

I do wonder if film would survive a CT scan in a Domke Lead bag.

[Richardgb]

Just to confuse... film is more sensitive after it has been exposed since the silver-halide grains are more likely to be near or past their threshold point. In other words, you're more likely to see 'damage' if scanned post-exposure to light.

And, incidentally, the orientation of the film with respect to the X-ray source may have an effect (not that you're likely to be able to control this).

Although it's a number of years since I've gone through airports regularly with film, a scan or two with 400ISO film has never shown any problem.

Finally, does anyone apart from me remember photo dealers selling lead-lined pouches which supposedly kept your film safe from X-ray scanners?

 

[hirohhhh]

I spent a month in Europe for holidays and broguht only my digital M10R just because I didn't want to deal with the film and security on multiple airports, but I regret because shooting digital is not as nearly inspiriting to me anymore. I ended up using my phone most of the time....

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Hallo,

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