The Scanner That Spares Your Laptop Can Ruin Your Film

The Transportation Security Administration keeps rolling out computed tomography scanners at US checkpoints, and for most travelers the upgrade is a relief. The machines build three-dimensional images of carry-on bags that officers can rotate on three axes. At CT lanes, laptops and 3-1-1 liquids are generally allowed to stay inside the bag. The scanners are already in service at hubs including Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare and New York JFK.

The catch is for photographers. The same stronger imaging can fog or permanently damage unprocessed film, including loose rolls, film loaded in a camera, disposable cameras and instant materials. Digital cameras, lenses, batteries and memory cards are not affected in the same way. TSA’s guidance is to keep undeveloped film in carry-on bags and ask for a hand inspection at the checkpoint.

A hand check typically takes three to 10 minutes, so it helps to arrive 15 to 20 minutes earlier, keep the rolls in a clear quart-size bag on top of the carry-on, and tell the officer upfront. Checked luggage is screened with similarly powerful equipment, and travelers cannot ask for a manual inspection once a bag disappears, so film should never go in the hold. Rules abroad may differ.

There is a second effect: CT machines have fixed tunnel openings, so an overstuffed or oversized carry-on that once slipped past a gate agent can now be stopped at security. Most major US airlines cap domestic carry-ons at around 22 x 14 x 9 inches. Airports often run old and new lanes side by side, so it is wise to pack for both.

Sources: Simple Flying