Re: [Leica] airport security kinda long. ;-)

[clifford wright <skidoophoto@yahoo.com>]

Thanks Ted. I will be traveling to Alaska and back
through Seattle this month, my first airline flights
since 9/11, and have been a bit worried.
 I plan to use a X-ray bag which is usually a bit
funny since they might refuse a hand check but, after
not being able to see into the bag,hand check it
anyway.
 In Asia last year I accidently ran about 5 rolls
through about 5 scanners out of the 25 to 30 I went
through and had no problems with processing either
though for peace of mind I don't want to make it a
habit.
Thanks again,
Clif Wright

- --- Ted Grant <tedgrant@shaw.ca> wrote:
>  A note in the changing airport security saga. One
> must keep relaxed and
> roll with it.
> 
> I walked through the metal detector frame.   beeeep!
> "excuse me sir would
> you come over here and lift your foot?"  the polite
> security guard in the
> Phoenix airport asked.
> 
> "Sure thing."  Sat down wand went over shoes,
> "Please take your shoes off
> sir." Did so, they went through another scanner. 
> Meanwhile my white
> stockinged feet were swept with the wand. Shoes
> returned and had to walk
> through metal detector again.
> 
> "Beeeeeep!"  "Sir would you take your belt off,
> please. And walk through
> again".  "Beeeeeeep again! Meanwhile I'm trying to
> hold my pants up and walk
> at the same time. "Sir would you step over here
> please."   Two more guys
> enter the scene, one with my bionic ear control and
> little pack of 4
> batteries that went through the scanner in a tray
> along with gear shoulder
> bag.
> 
> "would you tell us what this is for , sir?" "My
> bionic ears."  They look
> puzzled, "my hearing aids."  They look at my ears.
>  "Oh." Can you turn them on with this control
> please?"  "Aahhhh they're on
> or I wouldn't really be able to hear you." I smiled,
> they didn't!
> 
> "Oh ." says he. And takes the wand sweeping it on
> each side of my head.
> "Beeeeeep....beeeeep!"  then hands me the aid
> control and batteries."OK sir,
> would you please step over here."  Now new guy has
> all my exposed film which
> I asked could they please do a hand check and if
> that was a problem, then
> just put it through the scanner and I'll be on my
> way to plane. The original
> guy had indicated it wasn't a problem and passed the
> clear plastic bag with
> about 80 to another.
> 
> Now with my belt returned to pants I could at least
> pick-up my M7 to
> shoulder. My wife was guarding gear bag.
> 
> So young guy and I walk behind a screened area where
> there are a couple of
> scanner type machines. He takes large tweezers,
> grips piece of cloth and
> swabs it inside the plastic bag of film.  Place
> cloth in machine... all
> looks good.
> 
> Now he reaches into the bag, takes a handful of film
> and begins to examine
> each roll, carefully examining the end caps of the
> cassette to see if they'd
> been pried off.  I'm beginning to think I may get
> the plane the next day, my
> wife is looking concerned and at her watch.... we
> still have lots of time...
> that is, unless he looks at 80 rolls of film one at
> a time.
> 
> Finally halfway through the bag he does another swab
> with cloth inside the
> bag, finds nothing and says, "Thank you sir, have a
> nice flight." Smiles and
> walks away. I smile and say, "thanks."
> 
> Well OK life's like that. However, we land in
> Seattle and somehow got off
> course going through the "intransit" routing to our
> connecting flight and
> damned if I didn't have to go through the whole
> thing all over again,
> fortunately without the ear thing.
> 
> Even though I threw the film bag along with gear
> shoulder bag on the scanner
> belt expecting to pick it up and walk on. I don't
> feel bad as I wasn't
> alone! But it sure looked like a bunch of peed off
> people standing around
> waiting to take off their shoes etc.
> 
> A note for members concerned about film going
> through carry on scanners.
> During the trip the film went through a combined 7
> times through carry on
> scanners, so when processed not one indication of
> damage effects. Those of
> you faint of heart in film through the scanners,
> relax and enjoy your flight
> if the film is as carry on.
> 
> There were both 100 colour and 400 B&W in the same
> bag... the B&W rated at
> 800 and processed for same. No marking or fogging.
> Not that I expected to
> see any.
> 
> Oh well that's life in the new world. ;-)
> ted
> Ted Grant Photography Limited
> www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --
> To unsubscribe, see
http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html


=====
"The eye is for looking, not for thinking." Marc Riboud

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Sign up for SBC Yahoo! Dial - First Month Free
http://sbc.yahoo.com
- --
To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html