Most airlines allow one carry-on bag that meets certain size restrictions and one personal item such as a purse or laptop. Many airlines are now limiting checked baggage as well as enforcing weight restrictions. So make sure that what you bring is within the limits of the airline's policy.
People who are traveling tend to take many pictures to remember their trip. "The screening equipment that inspects your checked luggage may damage undeveloped film in your camera equipment. Your best bet is to put undeveloped film and cameras containing undeveloped film in your carryon baggage. When you approach the security checkpoint, you can ask the screener to hand-inspect the film rather than risking damage by running it through the X-ray machine," says Paula Berg of Southwest Airlines. To make the security process move quicker, place the film in a see-through plastic bag instead of the carrying canister.
High speed and other specialty types of films need this hand-inspection more than regular film. They are at a higher risk of damage because of their quality. As newer and stronger bomb detection equipment being installed in airports, almost all film is at risk of damage. You can buy special lead carrying bags for your film, but these will still need to be hand-checked in domestic flights. Using a lead carrying bag would be a better bet for international travel as many foreign airports do not do hand-inspections.
The walkthrough security scanner and the manual search wands should not cause any problems for undeveloped film. There is one easy way to be sure though that you have fresh, undamaged film on hand. Wait and purchase it once you have landed. That makes for one less hassle in getting through airport security.
The screening machine at the checkpoint for boarding will not affect undeveloped film under ASA/ISO 800 according to the TSA. However, repeated screenings may cause damage to the film eventually. If you are carrying specialty film such as medical, scientific or motion picture film, it should be removed and hand inspected. Other types of professional grade film that is slated for 'push process' or deliberate underexposure should be hand-checked as well.
If you are moving through international airports though, some of them do not perform hand-inspections of film. You should contact their security office ahead of time to schedule a manual inspection of the film. To avoid these types of hassles, you may want to go ahead and pay to have your film developed in the country before leaving. Once media is processed, the screenings will not affect it.
