Traveling with Film

I recently took a trip to Cuba. This was it, my first trip flying with film and for some reason I was really nervous. Anyone who shoots film understands the devastating heartbreak you experience when you develop your film only to find the pictures didn’t turn out. What if I shot these amazing pictures just to have them all ruined if TSA refused to hand check? So here I am anxiously making my way to TSA, clutching my plastic ziplock bag full of 35mm film like it was a bag of gold. My journey started in Seattle with an airline switch in Houston before continuing to Havana so I had a few scanners to get through. TSA was awesome!! They readily hand checked my film. On my return journey my film did go through the x-ray in Havana with no negative effects.

Traveling with film is not difficult. If TSA will not hand check that does not necessarily mean your film is ruined but be aware there are new CT scanners that airports are switching to that will damage your film. I used a clear plastic ziplock bag and removed all film from the canisters. Next time I will write “Do not X-ray” on the bag. You can also purchase travel film bags – The Darkroom has a really nice, inexpensive set for purchase on their site.

A few do’s & don’ts when traveling with film:

• Put all film in clear plastic bag – remove film from canisters.
• Write your name and phone # on bag. You may want to also write “Do not X-ray”. If traveling to another country that English is not widely spoken having that written in that language can be really helpful.
• Keep film in a place you can easily and quickly access.
• Use a faster speed film. I took HP5 400 & Kodak 400 Tri-X and they went through one scanner with no damage. I have read that 800 and faster will not be damaged but I’m not sure if that holds true with the newer CT scanners.
• Do not place film in baggage you are checking in. The scans your checked baggage go through are much stronger. Another great option to consider is shipping your film to a photo lab. Personally I love working with The Darkroom. You can get shipping bags prior to traveling, mail your film and have one less thing to worry about.