Hand inspection for 800 spd. film

[LeslieG]

I'm going to be carrying four underwater disposable cameras with 800 speed film. I've done this once before and had no problem being given a hand inspection. Anybody ever been refused?

 

[nikkistevej]

No, and on my last trip I had 30 rolls of 800 film- and they hand inspected all of them. They thought it was pretty funny actually

 

[disneymom06]

YES, I was shocked!!! We left Westchester NY and they hand inspected the film, (disposable cameras with 1000speed film). When we were going home, Orlando, gave me a really hard time and TOLD me that everything had to go thru the scanner. They were horrible.

 

[seashoreCM]

I'm not sure how many people have called a TSA supervisor to look over the film rules (which do provide for hand inspection). But there is anecdotal evidence that if you insist on hand inspection of your film, they may pull you aside to do hand inspection of lots of other things including your body.

Also I don't recall reading any long stories about dealing with the airline after a missed flight because hand inspection of film took too long.

Still another thing I haven't tried yet, put the film in one of those film protector bags you get at the camera store. After the luggage comes out the other end they may hand inspect items including the bag that the carry on station X-rays did not go through(?)

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[LeslieG]

I printed off something from the tsa website stating 800 speed film or higher should be hand inspected. I'll pull it out if they hassle me. I hope it doesn't just make them mad!? Hopefully I won't have a problem.

 

[WillCAD]

I have never had any problem with hand inspection of my film at either MCO or my home airport, BWI. And the TSA agents never batted an eye at it, either - they just did the inspection, no additional screening of me or my bags.

You may want to peruse my web page on the subject:
http://willcad.org/image_film_tips.html

I have links to the actual Code of Federal Regulations web page detailing the rule that you MUST be given a hand inspection, by law, if you ask for it. Print that out and keep it with your film. You can also see my packing method, which has always gotten me through security with no trouble whatsoever.

 

[disneymom06]

I had read all of the information about hand inspecting the film and I seperated the film in clear plastic bags and told the TSA screeners that it was 1000 speed film and needed to be hand inspected as per their website. In Westchester County, NY the screeners asked me what I was doing with 1000 sp film. Maybe he was trying to make conversation, but I had 4 children to get through security and one adult. I told him that they were for the children, they were disposable cameras purchased at Costco.

Coming home in Orlando was worse. I again had the cameras with the 1000 sp film seperated and they told me no. That everything had to be screened, I told them that it came from their website and it was suggested that they be hand screened, he told me NO. So did the woman TSA worker standing next to him. What do I do? Four kids and myself, do I need trouble from these people? They were not kind.

 

[WillCAD]

I had read all of the information about hand inspecting the film and I seperated the film in clear plastic bags and told the TSA screeners that it was 1000 speed film and needed to be hand inspected as per their website. In Westchester County, NY the screeners asked me what I was doing with 1000 sp film. Maybe he was trying to make conversation, but I had 4 children to get through security and one adult. I told him that they were for the children, they were disposable cameras purchased at Costco.

Coming home in Orlando was worse. I again had the cameras with the 1000 sp film seperated and they told me no. That everything had to be screened, I told them that it came from their website and it was suggested that they be hand screened, he told me NO. So did the woman TSA worker standing next to him. What do I do? Four kids and myself, do I need trouble from these people? They were not kind.

Be firm, be confident, never be confrontational, never get upset, and always say please (with a smile, preferably). I have had a few screeners tell me, "The x-ray machines won't harm your film," to which I always reply, "Yes, but I have specialty high-speed film in there, which WILL be ruined by even a single pass through the x-ray machine." Once I mention high-speed film, I've never had a screener give me any more argument.

Actually, for the last few flights I took before I went completely digital, I intentionally packed a few rolls of 1600ISO film in my film bag, even though I had no intention of using them, just to give me a legitimate excuse for asking for hand-inspection.

I think that this issue is beginning to get rare as people switch to digital cameras; the TSA people are encountering film less and less each year, and fewer of them know the actual facts about how x-rays can damage photographic film. This makes it more of a chore to fly with film, especially if you happen to get a TSA screener who thinks he knows everything and wants to bully you through the process.

Preparation is key, especialy in a situation where you have kids, carry-ons, film, and bags to take care of. If you - and your kids - are well-prepared, you will not be flustered or rushed getting through the line, and everything will go smoothly.

 

[LeslieG]

I think it's a little more cumbersome with the disposable cameras, not just rolls of film, especially if you have several. They had some kind of cloth they wiped them with. By the way, why do the disposable cameras have 800 speed in them anyway? Why not 400?