# Airport security question: Carry your film? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 24, 2006, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711 "2006-03-24T13:36:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/1 "2006-03-24T13:36:52Z")
The Nashville airport has been putting out this message for a little while: Have your boarding pass and ID ready and “carry your film with you.” What is the most appropriate way to carry film through the airport? Will security check to see that film is sealed, and if so should I have it somewhere convenient to reach? Or does this mean it just needs to be in my carry-on luggage? I like to be organized when I go to the airport, so if anyone knows the best way to comply, I will appreciate your input. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/2 "2006-03-24T14:46:34Z")
Depends how much film you’ve got, I guess… (Nice to know I’m not the only one pedantically clining to 35mm!). I carry it in my camera bag, and no-one has ever commented on it being a problem- but then I typically fly between States in Australia, or else Trans-Tasman, so I don’t think they’re _quite_ as paranoid about security as they are in the US… True story, last time I flew to NZ I was wearing my steel-capped workboots. I dumped all my crap into the tray to X-ray it, but forgot to take my boots off. Metal Detector goes off, and the Security Guy waves the Magic Wand over me, before realising I’m simply wearing steelcaps, and waves me through. Of course, coming into Australia, they make me take them off and X-ray them, yet they don’t ask me to take off my polarfleece Jacket Of Many Pockets And Zips. Weird… ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/3 "2006-03-24T15:01:12Z")
Security is a joke really. Did you know they make pilots go through the screening and confiscate any nail files or clippers or whatever, then the pilot gets in to the cockpit where there is a very capable looking axe strapped to the wall? Meanwhile the baggage handlers are allowed to wander back and forth to and from airside with access to everyone’s bags, and the aircraft. There is very little about the whole process that makes much sense. I’m sorry I can’t help you with your film query. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/4 "2006-03-24T15:20:35Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > Security is a joke really. Aint it so! With regard to photographic file “they” claim the low level x-rays will not harm film. In fact some claim that it makes the film more sensitive to low level light conditions. QUESTION: Does anything the bureaucrac does make any sense? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/5 "2006-03-24T15:33:23Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > [A] very capable looking axe strapped to the wall? An axe? What for? ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/6 "2006-03-24T15:43:39Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > An axe? What for? Terrorism. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/7 "2006-03-24T15:59:28Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > An axe? What for? It’s a last resort tool for getting out after an accident (say if the cockpit overhead exit and the cockpit door were jammed.) ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/8 "2006-03-24T16:19:30Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > An axe? What for? You always need an axe… even better than a pocketknife, but a bit harder to carry. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/9 "2006-03-24T16:24:05Z")
I usually have quite a bit of film with me when I travel. For a while I was using lead pouches that are made specifically for this purpose, but got tired of shlepping around all that extra weight. Now I just carry the film with me, in a plastic bag, in my carry-on backpack, and hand the bag to the security person while the backpack goes through xray. Only once has a security person opened up every single film canister to make sure there was film inside. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/10 "2006-03-24T16:37:05Z")
At many airports the baggage scanners have been beefed up in recent years. That is, they emit more radiation now which is harmful to photographic film. It used to be that they recommended putting your film in your carry-on because that machine had a lower-level radiation dosing than the machine used for checked-baggage scans. That is no longer the case; the carry-on scans are at least as equally powerful as the checked bag scans. So, in order to insure maximum protection, you should have your film hand-checked; don’t put it thru any scan. Two other things to make note of: First, higher speed film is more susceptive to radiation fogging than lower speed film. Second, the doses are accumulativee. That is each pass thru a scanner adds to the radiation absorbed by the film; it’s the total absorbtion that you need to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/11 "2006-03-24T16:41:29Z")
And actually Northwest Airlines contradicts me a little bit. It’s been a while since I looked at their recommendations and requirements. NWA now says this: > [@](#): > > Can I pack film? > Undeveloped film should not be placed in checked luggage because high-intensity scanners will fog and expose the film, ruining it. However, film placed in carry-on luggage can harmlessly go through airport security X-ray machines, unless the film is high speed (400 or higher) or is going through security more than five times. > > FAA regulations do stipulate that, if requested by passengers, photographic equipment and film packages shall be inspected without exposure to an X-ray system. The regulation does not apply, however, to international airports, as many now require all carry-on luggage to go through an X-ray security screening. > > Solutions include buying the film and processing it on site, shipping the film via FedEx, UPS or another cargo carrier that will certify the film will not be X-rayed (do not use the U.S. Postal Service because anthrax-sanitizing machinery will also damage film), and using a lead-lined bag, which will weaken but not eliminate the effect of X-rays. > > According to the FAA, it is safe to have 8mm/VHS/digital tapes in your checked and/or carry-on luggage. However, we recommend that you do not put irreplaceable items in your checked luggage. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/12 "2006-03-24T16:43:34Z")
So this is just a recommendation by the airport to avoid ruining my film. Cool. I thought security specifically wanted to hand-check my film for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/13 "2006-03-24T16:47:04Z")
> [@Hung Mung](#): > > So this is just a recommendation by the airport to avoid ruining my film. Cool. I thought security specifically wanted to hand-check my film for some reason. Oh. No, they don’t want to look at your film. It’s to protect it. I should also note that the radiation affects only _unprocessed_ film. Developed negatives (or positives in the case of slides) are not affected. ---
**Author:** ![ZeroZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f04885/32.png) [@ZeroZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZeroZero)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/14 "2006-03-24T18:52:07Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > Security is a joke really. Did you know they make pilots go through the screening and confiscate any nail files or clippers or whatever, then the pilot gets in to the cockpit where there is a very capable looking axe strapped to the wall? Meanwhile the baggage handlers are allowed to wander back and forth to and from airside with access to everyone’s bags, and the aircraft. There is very little about the whole process that makes much sense. > > I’m sorry I can’t help you with your film query. I found I can BUY nailclippers and NAIL files at the airport in shops PAST security. So that makes little sense. Do they still do that? ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/15 "2006-03-24T19:23:42Z")
Buy a digital camera. * * * I have a steel-toed boots story too. I forgot I was wearing them, and walked through the detector. Of course, it went off. I just asked the guy if I could take off my boots and walk through again but he refused, he insisted on making me stand there with his wand, waving me down and feeling me up. :wally ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airport-security-question-carry-your-film/349711/16 "2006-03-24T20:07:42Z")
> [@ZeroZero](#): > > I found I can BUY nailclippers and NAIL files at the airport in shops PAST security. So that makes little sense. Do they still do that? No, they don’t. A quick check at [www.tsa.gov](http://www.tsa.gov) provides a listing of items permitted and prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage. Nail clippers and nail files are on the permitted list for both kinds of luggage. [.pdf available here](http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted_Prohibited_NEW.pdf)