Please bear with me on this...

[Dismom63]

because I know this has been asked before...Where is the best place to pack cameras, film, digital camcorders, etc.? Carry on or checked luggage? Seems in the past we have always kept electronics with us as carry on and "extra" film we have packed in checked luggage. Just wondering if this is the best way to go.

And as long as I am asking...what is the official word on packing snack foods? Is that still ok?

Thanks for the help!!

Dismom63

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, I always pack ALL ELECTRONICS and EXTRA FILM in my carry on. All checked luggage is not to be locked,since it may need to be opened. And any checked baggage is also X-rayed. I have always done it this way(even before 9/11). Also on the way home I put all used film in my carry on .Snacks can be packed in checked or carry on. Joan

 

[monarchsfan16]

ALL film, used or unused needs to be in a carry on. The detection devises they use to screen checked baggage WILL damage film. All electronics should really be in your carry on, because they are valuable, and valuable stuff should not be in checked luggage. The TSA does not want any checked bags locked, if they have to search the bags they will cut the locks. That's even more reason to put the valuables in the carry on. Snacks are fine. We always carry on a bunch, because the tiny bag of pretzals isn't substansial enough to get us through a 3-4 hour flight. I expect they are also fine in checked luggage too.

 

[NotUrsula]

No question; if it is valuable or necessary and difficult to replace (such as Rx meds), carry it where you can see the bag at all times. Absolutely do NOT put film, or electronics of any kind in checked baggage. If you must bring it and it is not possible to carry it on, ship it overnight to the hotel, insured for replacement value.

As to food, on domestic flights food is OK, but if it is in checked baggage, it must be nonperishable and factory sealed, or the airline may refuse to accept it. TSA would prefer that you didn't put large amounts of chocolate or hard sausage in your checked baggage, because those are very dense, and on an x-ray, can look similar to plastic explosives. That similarity may prompt them to open the package and manually inspect the contents, and understandably, they would rather it didn't come to that.