Flying with film out of Heathrow

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nickB

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Hi all,

expat here. I'm flying over from the US to visit with family back in the old country and also do some creative work. I'm going to be shooting film, 120, and will be able to get it hand-checked in the US airports on my way over. Good thing as with the US dollar being in the crapper I couldn't afford to buy my film in the UK! For the same reason I'd prefer to fly back with my exposed film. I'm going to be flying into and out of Heathrow, not Terminal 5 though (whew!). Last time I flew out of Heathrow I could not get my film hand checked, but after checking on the Heathrow website it states:
Hand search requests for professional film will normally be accommodated, but the final decision in all individual cases will always rest with the on-duty security supervisor.
I am a pro photographer, I carry my ASMP (media photographer pro organization) card with me, and do my best to act and look professional at the security gate. I will of course print out and carry that website page.
Can anyone give me any feedback on whether I will in fact be able to get my exposed film hand checked when I fly out of Heathrow?

Thanks

nick
nick@nickburchell.com
 
I would have to say it will depend how busy they are at the time, if they have a huge queue they may not have the time to do a hand check for you. If its not as busy they should be able to. Is as it says down to the guys working on the day, so luck of the draw unfortunately! Hopefully they will be reasonable though :)
 
In 1995 I shot about 20 rolls of 35mm film in Egypt, I was worried sick about the Xray machine at Luxor airport as I thought it was going to be something modified from WWII, turns out I wasn't far wrong but not one of the films was damaged.

In 2008 with much more sophisticated machines I'd think the risk would be negligible even if they do Xray it.
 
Don't know if this helps, but I did some experiments when I was working at the Olympic Press Center in Barcelona, many years ago.

We had a lot of Photographers coming and going as you would expect. Each time a photographer entered the centre he had his bag ( and therefor film) X-Rayed.

With the co-opertaion of the security staff we arranged to pass various films ranging from 100-1600 ASA pass through the X-Ray machine up to 6 times. Comparing the results from film straight off the shelf we couldn't detect any difference in the processed result. Also we had no comments from the 100+ photographers and Agencies of any problems.

That was 16 years ago and I'm sure the machines use a lot less radiation now then they did then.


Just make sure you carry your film with you and avoid Terminal 5 :lol:(see news reports)
 
Have you considered 'film protection' bags ?

http://www.mysimon.com/9000-11638_8-0.html?sdcq=keyword-lead+film+bag
I've no experience of these.

But might be worth putting at least some of your exposed films in hold luggage (in these bags) ? :shrug:.

It's a tricky one, as mentioned before its probably down to the guys on the day, get a grumpy one and you've had it.

Hope you have a good trip.
 
In my (small) experience, don't expect anything under ISO 800 to get hand checked nowadays....

The only film I EVER got handchecked was some ISO 1600 b&w and even then they were reasonably grumpy about it. :nono:

But I have had ISO 400 stuff get zapped about 5 times by hand luggage machines to no visible ill effect so I wouldn't sweat it. :)

Those film bags I wouldn't use in a U.K. airport but I have found them handy in Africa where film can get zapped on the internal flights. Paranoia tells me the machines there might not be so well maintained. ;)
 
Just stick them in your bag, they will come to no harm.

p.s. there was a thread started just a few days ago on this very subject
 
Steep,

Damn! I did a quick search for other threads and didn't see anything. Any chance you could point me that thread?

Thanks!

nick
 
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