Film/Xray?

[jlawall]

How are recent cruisers handling their film and the airport X-ray machines? Last summer I lost all my film on the cruise due to the checked luggage Xray machines. All my pictures were dark.

Can we carry on the film in our overnight bags? Do we have to hold it in our hands to protect it? Are we allowed to do this? Any help will be appreciated. Thx

 

[SchultzFamily]

Last year when we went to Hawaii I put all of my film and disposable cameras in a ziplock bag in my carry on. When I got to the xray machine I just pulled out the ziplocks and handed them to the person and asked them to check them by hand. They did with no problem and I had no problem with my pictures.
Vickie

 

[jlawall]

Thx alot Vicki!

 

[EmmasGrammy]

I agree with Vickie, that is the "safest way". My good friend said she put her film in her carry-on bag and sent it through the x-ray machine and had no problem with the film or with the developing. I'm one to play it safe, and I still take it out of the carry-on bag and hand it to the security checker.

 

[Kitster]

My boyfriend went digital......I place all film in my carry-on luggage, out of their cannisters in a zip-loc bag. I have had no luck in getting it hand checked This trip I'm not bringing any film with me. I'll just buy it at the Wal-Mart north of MCO and get it developed before I go home. The same goes for any waterproof cameras we may buy for the cruise....buy it when you arrive in Orlando.....develope before returning home.

Never, never never put film in checked luggage !!!

 

[mickeyboat]

At the airport the other day, there was a sign saying to take your undeveloped film out of your suitcase and have it hand-checked.

My understanding is that undeveloped film will be ruined by x-rays of checked luggage. Carry-on luggage xrays will be safe for film of 400 speed or lower.

But I wouldn't take any chances, have it hand-checked. Although I have heard of inspectors refusing to do so.

Good luck!

Denae

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

I bought some of those underwater disposible cameras. WHen I was going through security the agent told me to have them hand checked as they had 800 speed film in them and they would be ruined. Now I am more careful.

 

[jlawall]

Thx everyone for your suggestions!

 

[jrabbit]

The "new" CTX machines that ALL checked luggage has to go through will destroy your film regardless of if you have taken pictures or not. The TSA folks will ask you if you have film in your checked bags - be sure to listen to them.

We keep our film with us in our carry on bags. We use the film bags. These always come up as a "bad" spot as the carryon goes through the x-ray machine. We then get a visual search of the bag and they will test a couple of the film containers for explosives (side note: don't handle fireworks with in a few days of flying - and don't wear the same shoes flying as you used when handeling the fireworks- the fireworks residue shows up as "bomb" material).

The security people are gettting better about checking film than in the past. Now they spot check a couple of rolls. In the past they checked each and every roll.

 

[TaraBelle1069]

Originally posted by jrabbit


The security people are gettting better about checking film than in the past. Now they spot check a couple of rolls. In the past they checked each and every roll.

That depends on your definition of "better"....better as in more convenient but it isn't better as in more thorough.

 

[UMTerp]

The worst problem I had was on the SHIP! First cruise, the personnel checking you back on the ship put my film and camera through x-ray even though I asked them to hand-check. I had my film in a clear zip-lock. They will want to put your film and camera through x-ray when returning on the ship every time (i.e., at each port). This can add up to alot of x-rays if you take all of your film/disposible cameras each time.

Go digital for the cruise and save yourself some headaches!

UMTerp