Kodak's Advice

Not only is it a good idea to never check bags anyway -- airlines do sometimes lose them, and the TSA will ravage them -- Kodak, which knows something about film, has another reason to at least keep your film close at hand.

With the summer travel period in full swing, Eastman Kodak Company reminded people traveling by airplane to carry photographic film and one-time-use cameras on board to avoid inadvertent damage from exposure to high intensity security scanners.
 
"A growing number of airports are installing high intensity X-ray scanners to inspect checked baggage for security reasons," said Matthias Freund, president of Kodak's Consumer Imaging products and services operations. "These newer systems will damage unprocessed film, which will not be seen until the pictures are developed. The same holds true for one-time-use cameras."

To avoid potential for damage, Freund advises travelers to pack film and one-time-use cameras in their carry-on luggage. Scanners used to inspect carry on items are safe for most consumer films, but caution is advised if multiple passes through these scanners is necessary. Generally, lower speed films should not go through scanners more than five times. When traveling with higher speed films -- 800 and above -- travelers should ask for hand inspection.

The photographic industry and its trade organizations have been working with the Transportation Security Administration in the U.S. and other government agencies around the world to ensure that travelers can transport photographic materials conveniently and with confidence. To that end, signs have been posted to advise consumers to pack film and one-time-use cameras in carry-on luggage and there have been efforts to share this information through the news media.

In addition to following these travel tips, consumers should consider processing exposed film locally before returning home.

It's the unprocessed film -- the film you haven't yet shot, and the film you've shot but not had developed -- that's at danger. Although the Kodak guidelines are generally correct, it's always best to simply avoid exposing (literally) your film to x-rays. While the danger of the TSA's lifting your film from your checked bags is effectively nil, the scanners are looking right through your stuff, and even a single pass can ruin your film. 

FMI: www.kodak.com