WORLD AIRPORTS & HAND CHECKS
GREEN = consistently good experiences, always easy hand checks of every ISO, friendly & educated staff
YELLOW = consistently good experiences with high-ISO films, could improve with ISO below 1600
ORANGE = mixed experiences depending on the staff. Some bad experiences reported
RED = consistently bad experiences, difficult to get a hand check, uninformed staff
EUROPE
| CITY | AIRPORT | SCANNER TYPE | HAND CHECK BELOW ISO1600 | HAND CHECK ABOVE ISO1600 | STAFF AWARENESS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABERDEEN | Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ) | Freshly installed CT scanners | Difficult | Yes, with explanations | Staff not yet informed about the effects of CT scanners on film at all |
| ATHENS | Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) | X-ray scanners | No chance | Possible, with explanations | Not very informed |
| AMSTERDAM | Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) | CT scanners + old X-ray scanners in T1 | Usually possible, sometimes have to explain. Sometimes films gets pushed through the old X-ray scanners instead. | Yes | Awareness growing over the last years. Getting better. |
| ANCONA | Marche Airport (AOI) | X-ray scanners | 50/50 | Yes, easy | Rather informed |
| ASTURIAS | Asturias Airport (OVD) | X-ray scanners | No | Even with explanation and insisting, might be difficult | Not informed |
| BARCELONA | Barcelona El Prat International Airport (BCN) | X-ray scanners so far. Currently installing CT scanners. | Not too likely | Yes, with some explanations | Depends on the staff |
| BARI | Bari Karol Wojtyła/Palese Airport (BRI) | X-ray scanners | Possible, with some explanations | Yes | Rather informed |
| BASEL/FREIBURG/MULHOUSE | EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL/EAP/MLH) | X-ray scanners. Possibly CT scanners coming soon | No chance | Might require explanations | Not informed |
| BELGRADE | Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) | CT scanners with “film safe” stickers (yep). | Not likely | 50/50 | Not very informed |
| BERLIN | Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt (BER) Terminal 1 | X-ray scanners | Low chance. They often separate lower-ISO films from 3200ISO, if they’re in a mix. | They always call some extra security staff, but always grant hand check. | Mostly, rather informed |
| BERLIN | Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt (BER) Terminal 2 | CT scanners + X-ray | Usually, it’s granted. Sometimes they run film through an old X-ray machine instead. | Yes, easy | Very informed |
| BIRMINGHAM | Birmingham Airport (BHX) | - | 50/50 | Usually granted | Some staff informed, some not |
| BILBAO | Bilbao Airport (BIO) | ? | No chance | Difficult | Not informed |
| BUDAPEST | Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) | X-ray scanners | Not likely | Granted | Rather informed |
| BRUSSELS | Brussels-Zaventem Airport (BRU) | X-ray scanners | Not likely | Granted, even at 800ISO | Official instructions do not allow hand check of film below 800ISO. However, some staff isn't even informed about that. |
| CHISINAU | Chișinău International Airport (RMO) | CT scanner at entrance, X-ray scanners at security | For CT scanner, yes, for X-ray - no | For CT scanners, yes, for X-ray - difficult | Informed only about the CT scanners |
| CLUJ-NAPOCA | Avram Iancu Cluj (CLJ) | CT scanners mostly, possibly some X-ray left. Airport is under reconstruction | With CT scanners, no problem | Easy | Rather informed |
| COLOGNE | Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) | Mix of CT and X-ray scanners | Possible, with some explanations | Yes | Informed |
| COPENHAGEN | Københavns Lufthavn, Kastrup (CPH) | Mix of CT and X-ray scanners. Installing more CT scanners. | Low chances | Yes, easy | Rather informed, especially with CT scanners |
| DORTMUND | Dortmund International Airport (DTM) | ? | 50/50, with some explanation | Usually yes, with explanations | Mostly informed. Depends on the staff. |
| DUBLIN | Dublin Airport (DUB) | X-ray scanners and CT scanners in Terminal2 | Possible, with some explanations. Easy with CT scanners | Yes, easy | Informed & friendly |
| EINDHOVEN | Eindhoven International Airport (EIN) | CT scanners only | Yes | Yes | Very informed & friendly |
| FRANKFURT | Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) | Mix of CT and X-ray scanners, depending on the terminal and connection | Possible, with some explanations | Yes | Rather informed |
| GENEVA | Genéve Cointrin Airport (GVA) | 2 CT scanners, rest X-ray | No chance. They make you go through a regular X-ray instead of CT, but don’t hand check. | Usually possible, be ready to negotiate | About CT scanners, yes. X-ray scanners, very low awareness |
| HELSINKI | Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) | CT scanners | Yes | Yes | Informed & friendly |
| ISTANBUL | Istanbul International Airport(IST) | CT and X-ray scanners with "film safe" stickers. Luggage gets scanned twice before getting to the airplane. | Difficult | Will require explanation | Depends on the staff, but mostly not very aware |
| KATOWICE | Katowice Wojciech Korfanty Airport (KTW) | ? | No chance | Extra difficult | Not informed at all |
| KRAKÓW | John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice (KRK) | X-ray scanners only | Possible | No problem | Quite informed |
| LISBON | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | X-ray scanners so far. Planning to install CT scanners | No | Low chances | Not informed at all, famous for flat out refusing hand checks |
| LONDON | Eurostar London-Paris | ? likely CT | Possible, with some explanations | Yes | Quite informed |
| LONDON | GATWICK (LGW) | X-ray and CT scanners | With CT, yes / with X-ray, not possible | With CT, yes / with X-ray, might need explanation | Rather informed about CT scanners, not so much about X-ray. Depends on the staff. Officially, the airport allows hand checks. |
| LONDON | Heathrow (LHR) | CT scanners | Not likely | Maybe | By multiple reports, this is by far the worst airport in the world regarding hand-check attitudes. |
| LONDON | London Luton (LTN) | CT scanners | Yes | Yes | Informed |
| LONDON | London Stansend (STN) | X-ray scanners | 50/50 | Yes | Rather informed, depending on staff |
| MADEIRA | Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC) | ? | No chance | Difficult, but possible. Depending on staff | Requiring extensive paperwork days in advance for hand checks |
| MADRID | Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas (MAD) | Rapiscan X-ray scanners with “film safe below 1600ISO" stickers | No chance | Granted | Not very informed |
| MILAN | Milan Malpensa (MXP) | CT scanners (Terminal 1) + X-ray (Terminal 2) | Yes, in T1. 50/50 in T2 | Yes | Informed & friendly |
| MANCHESTER | Manchester Airport (MAN) | X-ray scanners so far. Currently installing CT scanners. | Not likely | Possible, with explanations | Not very informed |
| MUNICH | Munich International Airport (MUC) | Mix of CT and X-ray scanners | Possible, with some explanations | Yes | Quite informed, especially with CT scanners |
| MOSCOW | Sheremetyevo(SVO) | X-ray scanners. At least 3 scans between entering the airport and boarding | Not likely | Not likely | Totally uninformed |
| NICE | Cote-d-Azur (NCE) | X-ray scanners | No chance | Really difficult, takes a lot of time + filling out a police report, but possible | Low to none |
| PALERMO | Falcone Borsellino Airport (PMO) | X-ray scanners | Possible, with some explanations | Yes | Rather informed |
| PALERMO | Falcone e Borsellino (PMO) | X ray scanners | Difficult | Difficult | Not informed at all |
| PARIS | Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport/Roissy (CDG) | X-ray scanners | No chance | Possibly, with explanations | Not informed |
| PARIS | Paris Orly Airport (ORY) | CT scanners | Yes | Yes | Rather informed (depending on staff) |
| PRAGUE | Prague Vaclav Havel Airport (PRG) | X-ray scanners | No | After calling supervisor (who always says yes) | Not very informed |
| RIGA | Riga International Airport (RIX) | CT scanners with “film safe” stickers | Requires talks and explanations. Staff claims “below 400ISO it’s OK” | Higher chances of hand check, but still not 100% | Not informed at all |
| ROME | Fiumicino (FCO) Terminal 1 | All CT scanners, 1 X-ray | 50/50. Sometimes they hand check, sometimes you’re sent through a regular X-ray instead of CT. | No problem. Still sometimes have to explain it at the X-ray scanner. | CT scanners have giant “no film safe” stickers all over. But the staff believes X-ray scanners are totally safe. |
| REYKJAVIK | Keflavif Airport (KEF) | ? | Very likely | Yes | Rather informed & friendly |
| STOCKHOLM | Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) Terminal 5 | CT scanners | Easy | Easy | Very informed |
| STOCKHOLM | Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) Terminals 2, 4 and 5D | X-ray scanners | Not likely | Possible, with explanations | Not very informed |
| TIRANA | Nënë Tereza (TIA) | CT scanners | Easy | Easy | Informed |
| TRAPANI (SICILY) | Trapani-Birgi Vincenzo Florio (TPS) | ? | Difficult | Difficult | Not informed at all |
| VIENNA | Vienna Airport (VIE) | X-ray scanners | Low chances | Yes, with some explanations | Depends on the staff |
| WARSAW | Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) | X-ray scanners | No chance | Extra difficult | Not informed at all |
| WEEZE | Weeze/Niederrhein Airport (NRN) | X-ray scanners | Low chances | Possible, with explanations and insisting | Not informed |
| YEREVAN | Zvartnots International Airport (EVN) | X-ray scanners | 50/50 | 50/50 | Not informed at all, some staff does not even understand what is photographic film |
| ZAKYNTHOS | Zakynthos International Airport Dionysios Solomos (ZTH) | X-ray scanners | Possible, if insisted upon | Granted, with some explanations | Not too informed |
| ZURICH | Zurich International Airport (ZRH) | Mix of CT and X-ray scanners, depending on the terminal and connection | 50/50 | Yes | Rather informed, especially with CT scanners |
SOUTH/NORTH AMERICA
| CITY | AIRPORT | SCANNER TYPE | HAND CHECK BELOW 1600ISO | HAND CHECK ABOVE 1600ISO | STAFF AWARENESS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGUASCALIENTES (MEXICO) | Jesús Terán Peredo (AGU) | X-ray scanners only | Yes | Yes | Informed & friendly |
| CALAMA (CHILE) | Calama El Loa Airport, (CJC) | ? | Possible, with explanation | Yes | Informed & friendly |
| FRESNO, CA | Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) | X-ray and CT scanners | Yes | Yes, easy | Informed & friendly |
| HAVANA (CUBA) | José Martí international Airport (HAV) | X-ray scanners | Yes | Yes | Informed & friendly |
| HOUSTON, TX | George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) | ? | Very likely | Yes | Mostly, rather informed & friendly |
| MEXICO CITY | Benito Juárez (MEX) | X-ray scanners only | Yes | Yes | Informed & friendly |
| QUERETARO (MEXICO) | Querétaro International (QRO) | X-ray scanners only | Yes | Yes | Informed & friendly |
| RIO DE JANEIRO (BRASIL) | Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) | ? | Possible, with explanation | Possible, with explanations | Rather informed, friendly |
| SANTIAGO (CHILE) | Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) Terminals 1&2 | ? | Possible, with explanation | Yes | Informed & friendly |
| SEATTLE, WA | Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) | ? | Yes | Yes, easy | Informed & friendly |
AFRICa/ASIA/MIDDLE EAST
| CITY | AIRPORT | SCANNER TYPE | HAND CHECK BELOW ISO1600 | HAND CHECK ABOVE ISO1600 | STAFF AWARENESS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALGERIA | Houari Boumediene International Airport (ALG) | X-ray scanners only | 50/50 | 50/50 | Not really informed |
| BEIJING (CHINA) | Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) | ? | Possible, with explanation | Possible, with explanation | Rather informed |
| DOHA (QATAR) | Hamad International Airport (DOH) | ? | Possible, with explanation | Yes | Informed & friendly |
| HONG KONG | Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) | X-ray scanners | Possible, with explanation | Yes | Informed & friendly |
| INDIA (everywhere) | Airports, museums, train stations, subway - everywhere | X-rays scanners | Easy | Easy | Informed & friendly. Never had a problem |
| JEDDAH (SAUDI ARABIA) | King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) | Likely CT (?) | Possible | Yes | Informed |
| LHASA | Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA)/td> | X-ray scanners | Yes, may require some explanations | Yes, may require some explanations | Not too informed, but friendly |
| MAURITIUS | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | X-ray scanners only | Yes | Yes | Informed & friendly |
| OSAKA | Kansai International Airport (Kankū - KIX)/td> | X-ray scanners | Yes | Yes | informed & friendly |
| QINGDAO (CHINA) | Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport (TAO) | X-ray with “film safe" stickers | No chance | Maybe, but no guarantee | Not informed |
| SEOUL (SOUTH KOREA) | Incheon International Airport (ICN) | X-ray scanners | Possible, with explanation | Possible, with explanation | Rather informed |
| SHANGHAI | Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) /td> | X-ray scanners | Yes | Yes | Informed & friendly |
| SINGAPORE | Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) | X-ray scanners, planning to install CT scanners. 3 security scans from check-in to boarding. | Yes | Yes | Rather informed |
| TAIPEI (TAIWAN) | Taipei-Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) | X-ray scanners | Possible, with explanation | Possible, with explanation | Rather informed |
| TOKYO | All airports | - | Possible, with explanation | Yes | Informed & friendly |
| XI’AN (CHINA) | Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIA) | X-ray scanners only | Possible | Yes | Rather informed |
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