EUROPEAN 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
| CITY | AIRPORT | SCANNER TYPE | HAND CHECK BELOW ISO1600 | HAND CHECK ABOVE ISO1600 | STAFF AWARENESS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALBANIA | |||||
| TIRANA | Nënë Tereza (TIA) | Rapiscan 920CT scanners | Depends on staff | Also depends on staff | 2 completely different reports, 1 excellent, 1 of a not trained staff member who was convinced the scanners were safe for film (2024). |
| ARMENIA | |||||
| 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 |
| AUSTRIA | |||||
| VIENNA | Vienna International Airport (VIE) | X-ray scanners | No chance | Yes, but may need discussion | Informed, but under 1600 is officially not possible (5 reports 2024-2025). 1 report 05.25 from T3, that staff hand picks the lower ISO films and sends them through X-ray anyway. |
| BELGIUM | |||||
| BRUSSELS | Brussels-Zaventem Airport (BRU) | X-ray scanners | Not likely, but possible | Officially -granted, starting at 800ISO. Some of the staff thinks it’s only after 1600ISO. | Official instructions do not allow hand check of film below 800ISO. However, some staff isn't even informed about that, and there is a case of refusal even with Delta 3200. Calling supervisor helps. 1 very good report with Kodak 500T film 01.2025 1 report of an uninformed staff member. 05.25 - hand check of lower-ISO films granted, but with a lot of explanations. Worth a try! |
| CHARLEROI | Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) | n/a | Yes | Yes | Informed & friendly (1 report 05.25) |
| BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA | |||||
| BANJA LUKA | Banja Luka International Airport (BNX) | Old X-ray scanners (labeled "safe for film") | Yes | Yes | Informed & friendly, speaking Croatian/Serbian helps (1 report) |
| SARAJEVO | Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ) | Old X-ray scanners + CT line (Smiths Detection’s HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX) | No | No, even with CT | Not informed at all (1 report, 01.2025) |
| BULGARIA | |||||
| SOFIA | Sofia Airport (SOF) | X-ray scanners | 50/50 | Yes | 1 positive report 2024, 1 not so positive 04.2025. Another good experience 05.25 agreeing to check instax film (but not a camera with film inside). |
| CYPRUS, REPUBLIC OF | |||||
| PAFOS | Pafos International Airport (PFO) | X-ray scanners | Yes | Yes | Not necessarily informed, but friendly (1 report) |
| CZECH REPUBLIC | |||||
| PRAGUE | Prague Vaclav Havel Airport (PRG) | X-ray scanners | No (but worth a try explaining) | After calling supervisor (who always says yes). | Not very informed (3 reports). 1 report where the staff could be convinced. |
| OSTRAVA | Leoš Janáček Airport Ostrava / Ostrava-Mošnov International Airport (OSR) | n/a | Officially, not below 800ISO - but worth asking | Yes, sometimes with calling supervisor | Not very informed, but willing to talk (1 report) |
| CROATIA | |||||
| SPLIT | Split Airport (SPU) | X-ray scanners | Possible, with explanations | Yes | Staff has to ask supervisor, hand check likely granted (2 reports 2024) |
| ZAGREB | Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport (ZAG) | X-ray scanners | Low chance, once accepted 200ISO, once denied 400. | Maybe, with calling supervisor - but even that might not help | Not too informed (2 reports, 2024-2025). 1 report of hand check accepted for 16mm (05.25) Heavily depends on staff. |
| DENMARK | |||||
| AALBORG | Aalborg Airport (AAL) | X-ray scanners | 50/50 | 50/50, but theoretically they do offer hand checks | Not too informed, believe their machines are “film safe” |
| BILLUND | Billund Airport (BLL) | X-ray scanners | 50/50 | Yes, above 1600ISO. Call supervisor if denied | Rather informed |
| COPENHAGEN | Københavns Lufthavn, Kastrup (CPH) | Mix of CT and X-ray scanners. Installing more CT scanners. | As of 2025, more probable | Likely yes. | Depends on staff. For motion picture film, bring a dark bag so that the staff can inspect it. With CT scanners, informed. Late 2024, 3 reports of much better hand-checking attitudes, even with X-ray scanners. 2025, 4 very positive reports with different film sensitivities, even at X-ray scanners with low ISO. 05.25 2 reports of excellent experience + 1 experience 05.25 of film+camera being put through X-ray instead of CT scanners. |
| ESTONIA | |||||
| TALLINN | Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport (TLL) | X-ray scanners + CT scanners installed 2025 | | Yes |
Friendly, but extra explanation is needed. Depends on staff. (2 neutral reports, 1 very positive 2025). Since installation of CT scanners, got really good (1 report 05.25) |
|
| FINLAND | |||||
| HELSINKI | Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) | CT scanners | Yes | Yes | Informed & friendly (3 reports) |
| FRANCE | |||||
| 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 (3 reports) |
| NANTES | Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE/LFRS) | X-ray scanners | Yes, if you insist | Yes | Rather informed, but difficult below 1600ISO (2 reports) |
| MARSEILLE, FRANCE | Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) | T2 - old X-ray scanners, T1 - CT scanners at fast lane, other X ray scanners | No | Not likely | Not informed, flat out refusing hand checks (2 reports) |
| 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. Supervisors informed. |
| PARIS | Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport/Roissy (CDG) | X-ray scanners | Maybe | Possibly, with explanations. Extremely mixed reports. | Heavily depends on staff. And luck. Positive reports are rolling in starting 2025, but such bad ones happened before, that we’re still flagging it orange and waiting :) |
| PARIS | Paris Orly Airport (ORY) | CT scanners | Yes, may require explanations | Yes | Rather informed (depending on staff)(1 report 2024). 1 positive report 2025 |
| PARIS | Gare du Nord Eurostar Terminal | Looks like X-ray (but possibly CT) | 50/50 | Not always. May require explanations | Not very informed (3 reports). 2 positive reports 04.2025 |
| POITIERS | Poitiers–Biard Airport (PIS) | Old X-ray scanners | They “usually don’t do it”, but maybe you can get lucky | 50/50 | Not informed at all. Believe their scanners are fully film-safe |
| TOULOUSE | Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) | n/a | No | Above 1600, if insist & call supervisor | Not informed at all |
| GERMANY | |||||
| BADEN-BADEN | Flughafen Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden (FKB) | Standard X-ray scanners | Yes | Yes | Informed & friendly |
| BERLIN | Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt (BER) Terminal 1 | CT scanners in lines 1 and 5. X-ray scanners in 2 and 4 | Low chance. They often separate lower-ISO films from 3200ISO, if they’re in a mix. Films are being sent through an X-ray scanner instead of the CT scanner. It’s awfully unavoidable. | They often call some extra security staff, but always grant hand check. | Mostly, rather informed about CT scanners. Giving film for hand check is even advertised on the screens. However, film ends un in X-ray scanners instead… In general, staff is friendly and professional, but good luck avoiding scanning. I (who runs this website) personally fly out of BER 1-2 times a month, and I’ve tried every combination of avoiding scanning for lower-ISO films, and so far I just prefer to register for Berlin Runway (it’s free and very convenient btw!) and go to security line 2 with regular X-ray scanners. I send my films through in a lead bag and steel container, so they’re protected. Then they’re being pulled, checked for explosives, and I’m free to go. |
| BERLIN | Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt (BER) T2 | CT scanners | Sometimes put film through an older X-ray scanner, sometimes just grant hand check | Yes, easy | About CT, yes. Not informed about old X-ray scanner effects |
| COLOGNE | Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) | Mix of CT and X-ray scanners | Possible, with some explanations | Yes | Informed |
| DORTMUND | Dortmund International Airport (DTM) | n/a | 50/50, with some explanation | Usually yes, with explanations | Mostly informed. Depends on the staff. |
| FRANKFURT | Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) | Mix of CT (Smiths detection, HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX) and X-ray scanners, depending on the terminal and connection. | Possible, may require insisting. Depends on staff | Yes | Rather informed, but reports vary(2024). 3 good reports 2025. 1 report 2025 of security in T1 and T2 very reluctant to hand check, and even saying they would have to unroll a film if it’s positive for explosives! 1 excellent experience, even hand-checking film loaded into a camera, reported 05.25, another smooth experience 05.25, and one more of easy hand check in T1, but then police came and inspected the boarding card and documents |
| FRANKFURT HAHN | Frankfurt–Hahn Airport (HHN) | OId X-ray scanners | Yes, but depends on staff | Yes | Some staff more informed, some less. But generally friendly. |
| HAMBURG | Hamburg Airport (HAM) | X-ray scanners + several lines of CT scanners. Fast lane T1 = CT | 50/50, may need explanations | Yes, may need explanations | Mixed reports: both very good (2) and pretty bad (3). Depends on staff. Can take long. 2 extra positive experience with CT scanners & hand check in 2025, one in Terminal 2, one in T1. |
| MUNICH | Munich International Airport (MUC) | Mix of CT and X-ray scanners. T2 has only Smiths Detection CT scanners. | Film is sent through an X-ray scanner instead of CT, if below 3200ISO. Hard to convince otherwise. | Yes | Informed with CT scanners / not so much about X-ray (5 reports). 2 reports 2025 of an easy hand check without questions, even low ISO. |
| NUREMBERG | Nuremberg (Nürnberg) Airport (NUE) | Mix of X-ray and CT scanners | May require explanations | Yes | Informed |
| STUTTGART | Stuttgart Airport (STR) | Mix of CT and X-ray scanners, depending on checkpoint | Yes | Yes, may require a bit of convincing | Informed & friendly (3 reports, last 05/2025). 05.25 1 report - denied hand check and said "we have constantly people with film getting their rolls scanned, have never had any complaints” (so make sure to complain if anything happens!!!!!!) |
| WEEZE | Weeze/Niederrhein Airport (NRN) | X-ray scanners | Low chances | Maybe possible, with explanations and insisting | Not informed (1 report), rude refusal of hand check of any ISO (1 report 2024); another rude refusal of hand check 05.25 |
| GREECE | |||||
| ATHENS | Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) | X-ray scanners | Maybe - depends on staff. Officially, below 1000ISO is considered scanner-safe | Possible, with explanations | 2 negative reports 2024, 2 good experiences with 200/400/800ISO films 04.25; 1 agreeing to hand check 200ISO 05.25 |
| CHANIA | Chania International Airport (CHQ) | n/a | Yes, even in camera | Yes | informed & friendly (1 report 05.25) |
| CORFU | Corfu International Airport (CFU) | X-ray scanners | Likely | Likely | Friendly, granted hand check, but not seeming very informed (05.25) |
| HERAKLION | Crete Heraklion International Airport (HER/LGIR) | X-ray scanners | Yes, with explanations | Yes | Rather informed & friendly, open to discussion (2 reports) |
| SANTORINI | Santorini (Thira) International Airport (JTR) | X-ray scanners | 50/50 | 50/50 | Uninformed but cooperative after insisting (1 report 05/25) |
| ZAKYNTHOS | Zakynthos International Airport Dionysios Solomos (ZTH) | X-ray scanners, which are quite strong (visible X-ray lines on 2 rolls of 400ISO 120 film) | Possible, if insisted upon | Granted, with some explanations | Not too informed (2 reports) |
| HUNGARY | |||||
| BUDAPEST | Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) | Modern X-ray scanners | With explanations, sometimes possible | Yes, above 1600 - but may require calling supervisor | Depends on staff. 1 neutral report, 1 negative. 1 report 04.25, where insisting on hand-checking 400ISO worked. 1 report 05.25 with hand check denial. Depends on staff. |
| ICELAND | |||||
| REYKJAVIK, ICELAND | Keflavík International Airport (KEF) | X-ray scanners | Very likely | Yes | Informed & friendly (7 reports, last 05.25) |
| IRELAND | |||||
| CORK | Cork Airport (ORK) | n/a | No | Unlikely | Hand checks “no longer" allowed at all (!) reported 05.25 |
| DUBLIN | Dublin Airport (DUB) | As of 2025, Smiths Detection HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX scanners in Terminals 1 and 2. Maybe some X-ray scanners remain (?) | Easy with CT scanners. Below 800ISO, with X-ray scanners, might be difficult. | Yes, above 800ISO - easy | Informed & friendly, last reports 05.25 (however, in one case the staff noted that “scanners are safe below 1600ISO”) |
| ITALY | |||||
| ANCONA | Marche Airport (AOI) | X-ray scanners | 50/50 | Yes, easy | Rather informed |
| BARI | Bari Karol Wojtyła/Palese Airport (BRI) | X-ray scanners | Possible, with some explanations | Yes | Rather informed |
| BOLOGNA | Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) | CT and X-ray scanners | Films sometimes sent through X-ray instead of CT scanners | Maybe, with calling supervisor | Several refusals (2024). 02.2025 suddenly a good report! Easy hand check in lane with CT scanner |
| BERGAMO | Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY) | X-ray scanners with “film safe” stickers | No chance | Maybe, with calling supervisor | Not informed. 1 report of hand check with an official letter from the airport, and some convincing. 1 report 05.25 of flat out hand check refusal |
| BRINDISI | Brindisi Airport Papola Casale (BDS) | X-ray scanners (possibly SecurSCAN XRC 6040DV, not CT) | Likely | Yes | Relaxed and cooperative, easy check of 50-200ISO films (05.25) |
| CATANIA | Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) | X-ray scanners (labeled "film safe") | No | No | Absolutely uninformed (2 reports). Calling supervisor and having 3200 film helps. |
| MILAN | Milan Malpensa (MXP) | CT scanners (Terminal 1) + X-ray (Terminal 2) | Yes, in T1. 50/50 in T2 | Likely | Very mixed reports. Both excellent and quite negative. 1 case of total refusal even after involving the police (11.2024). 1 excellent report (2025) of hand-checking even Polaroid film (in Terminal 1) |
| PALERMO | Falcone Borsellino Airport (PMO) | X-ray scanners | May be difficult | May need explanations | Depends on staff. Very mixed reports |
| PISA | Galileo Galilei International Airport (PSA) | X-ray scanners | No chance | Yes - theoretically | No hand checks under 1600 ISO - very strict about this (1 report 05.25). One more report that, after several email exchanges and insisting at the security, film below 1600ISO did get hand checked (incredible!) |
| 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. | Yes, but 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 (4 reports). Some staff extremely accomodating (1 report). 1 report 2025 of film still sent through X-ray. Depends on the staff and luck. |
| TRIESTE | Trieste – Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport (TRS) | n/a | No | No | Everyone uninformed, including supervisor |
| TREVISO | Treviso Antonio Canova Airport (TSF) | X-ray scanners | Likely | Likely | Nice & cooperative; hand check granted after explanation (several experiences reported 05.25) |
| TRAPANI | Trapani-Birgi Airport (TPS) | X-ray scanners | No chance | Likely not | Everyone uninformed, including supervisor. Multiple reports |
| VENICE | Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) | Freshly installed CT scanners | No | Unlikely | Prior to 2025, bad experiences with X-ray scanners (2 reports). Now, with CT scanners - 1 very good report (04.2025). 2 more good reports 05.25, another report where hand check was done, but the staff wasn’t very informed. |
| LATVIA | |||||
| 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 |
| LITHUANIA | |||||
| KAUNAS | Kaunas International Airport (KUN) | CT scanners | Yes | Yes | Informed & friendly. Hand check possible (confirmed by the airport). 1 report 2025 |
| VILNIUS | Vilnius International Airport (VNO) | Old X-ray scanners 2023 (CT now likely) | not sure | not sure | In 2023, was not possible |
| MACEDONIA | |||||
| SKOPJE | Skopje International Airport (SKP) | X-ray scanners | No | Also no (!) | Not informed at all (despite the official policy of allowing hand-checks). (2 reports) |
| MALTA | |||||
| LUQA | Malta International Airport (MLA) | likely X-ray | Yes | Yes | very informed & friendly (1 report 05.25) |
| MOLDOVA | |||||
| 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 |
| NETHERLANDS | |||||
| 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. 3 excellent reports 2025. 1 report March 2025 of a staff member convinced that CT scanners are film-safe. |
| EINDHOVEN | Eindhoven International Airport (EIN) | CT scanners only | Yes | Yes | Very informed & friendly (4 reports, last 04.2025) |
| ROTTERDAM | Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) | n/a | Likely | Likely | Informed & friendly (1 report 2025) |
| NORWAY | |||||
| OSLO | Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL) | X-ray scanners | Maybe | Yes | Very informed & friendly (5 reports), but 1 report 05.25 of refusal of hand check for 200ISO |
| BERGEN | Bergen Airport (BGO) | n/a | Yes | Yes | Very informed & friendly |
| LONGYEARBYEN | Svalbard Airport, Longyear (LYR) | X-ray scanners | Yes | Yes | Very informed & friendly (1 report 2025) |
| STAVANGER | Stavanger Airport (SVG) | n/a | Yes | Yes | Very informed & friendly |
| KATOWICE | Katowice Wojciech Korfanty Airport (KTW) | n/a | No chance | Extra difficult | Not informed at all (2 reports). 1 case denied hand check even after an email to the airport. |
| KRAKÓW | John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice (KRK) | X-ray scanners, now changing over to CT scanners | 50/50 | Depends on staff | 1 positive report 2024, several very negative experiences 2025. 1 good report with CT scanners 05.25 |
| OŚWIĘCIM | Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Security Checkpoint | X-ray scanners | Yes | Yes | Informed & cooperative; hand check granted but photography restricted in general - only with guide (1 report 05.25) |
| POZNAŃ | Poznań–Ławica Henryk Wieniawski Airport (POZ) | Smiths Detection CT scanners (one regular X-ray line remains) | Might go through regular X-ray | Yes | informed & nice, but still film might go through the remaining X-ray line (1 report 05.25) |
| WARSAW | Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) | X-ray scanners | No chance | Not possible | Not informed and unwilling to cooperate (multiple reports). 1 report from 2025 that the staff said "their official policy is to reject all hand check controls for films, and that their scanners are considered safe for film. it’s the official statement of all inspector trainers (ie. staff responsible for training the border guards)" |
| WROCLAW | Copernicus Airport Wroclaw (WRO) | X-ray scanners | No chance | Not likely | Not informed at all |
| PORTUGAL | |||||
| LISBON | Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | X-ray scanners so far. Planning to install CT scanners in 2025, not yet done so. | Maybe | Likely | Before 2025, not informed at all, famous for flat out refusing hand checks (5 reports+a lot of info online). According to a late 2024 report, there is a new policy about hand-checking films. According to a 2025 report, the new policy is implemented, and films are hand-checked without problems (officially confirmed by airport). So far, 04.2025 1 report of 400ISO film hand-checked. 2 reports 05.25 of an excellent easy hand check, but another of having to insist a lot for 400ISO. So far, quite mixed. |
| MADEIRA | Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC) | Mostly, X-ray scanners. Maybe 1 CT scanner. | No chance | Difficult, but possible. Depending on staff | Depends on staff.Usually, requires extensive paperwork days in advance for hand checks (2 reports) Agreed to hand check without problem (2 reports, 2024/2025) |
| PORTO | Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) | X-ray scanners (and CT scanners?) | No | No | Not allowed hand check unless with official permission from airport. (3 reports 2024). 1 report 05.25 that there is a big change: 400ISO films did get an easy hand check! |
| PONTA DELGADA | João Paulo II Airport (PDL) | X-ray scanners | Yes | Yes | Nice & easy with 160-200ISO film (1 report 05.25) |
| ROMANIA | |||||
| BUCHAREST | Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP) | looks like CT scanners | Below 1000ISO - no chance | Possibly, might require explanations | Uninformed & not friendly (1 report) |
| 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 |
| CRAIOVA | Craiova International Airport (CRA) | n/a (likely X-ray) | Maybe | Probably | The staff always calls supervisor. Supervisor shoots film himself :) He is convinced there is no damage, but still nicely allows hand checks! (Report 05.25) |
| RUSSIAN FEDERATION | |||||
| MOSCOW | All airports: SVO, VKO, DME | X-ray scanners. At least 3 scans between entering the airport and boarding | Not likely, in any of the airports | Not likely | Totally uninformed, but worth trying. Sometimes hand check is granted… don’t have high hopes, bring a lead bag. |
| SERBIA | |||||
| BELGRADE | Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) | High-power X-ray scanners (Nuctech Kylin MV) with “film safe” stickers (yep) | No | Very low chances | Not informed (according to multiple reports). 1 report of successful convincing. 1 report 05.25 of very aggressive refusal. |
| SLOVAKIA | |||||
| BRATISLAVA | Bratislava M. R. Štefánik Airport (BTS) | CT scanners | Likely | Likely | 1 report of a very unfriendly experience, where films were pushed through a scanner and damaged. The airport responded to a follow-up email promising “training of the staff for film handling”. In 2025 - an excellent easy experience! Guess the airport DID train the staff :) However, 1 more report (05.25) states that the airport now pushes film through regular X-ray instead…. |
| SLOVENIA | |||||
| LJUBLJANA | Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU) | n/a | Likely | Likely | Hand check granted without issue, even for 16mm (05.25 1 report) |
| SPAIN | |||||
| generally many scanners in museums and train stations, but usually relaxed about film and cameras | |||||
| ALICANTE | Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC) | Old X-ray scanners | 50/50 | Yes, but might need explanations. | Informed & friendly (1 report 2024). 05.25 1 report of hand check refusal because “scanners are safe" |
| ARRECIFE, CANARY ISLANDS | Lanzarote Airport (ACE) | Old X-ray scanners | n/a | n/a | no request of hand check, just scanner type observation reported |
| 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, may need explanations | Depends on the staff. 1 report when 1600ISO film was forced through the X-ray. 1 report early 2025, forced to put lower-ISO films through X-ray. +1 report later in 2025, where 400ISO was forced through, no possibility to ask for manager |
| BILBAO | Bilbao Airport (BIO) | X-ray scanners | No chance | Difficult | Not informed at all (2 reports, last 01.2025) |
| MADRID | Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas (MAD) | Rapiscan X-ray scanners with “film safe below 1600ISO" stickers | No chance (really, none. Multiple reports) | Yes, but might require explanation. | Not very informed |
| MALAGA | Málaga-Costa del Sol (AGP) | Rapiscan 620 XRW | No chance | Not likely | Not informed, including supervisor (3 reports, last 05.25). Officially, everyone is going by the Rapiscan data sheet which “cannot possibly damage 1600ISO film”. The general policy is, no hand checks. Even speaking Spanish doesn’t help. |
| PALMA DE MALLORCA | Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) | X-ray scanners with a "safe below 1600 ISO" sticker | No chance | Yes, may require explanations | Mostly, not very informed (multiple reports) |
| SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA | Santiago de Compostela Airport (SCQ) | X-ray scanners | No, even after long discussion | Not too likely | Not informed (staff doesn’t speak English - maybe more luck with Spanish) (1 report) |
| VALENCIA | Valencia Airport (VLC) | X-ray scanners | 50/50. May require explanations | Likely, but not guaranteed | Depends on staff. Mixed reports, including negative ones. |
| SWEDEN | |||||
| STOCKHOLM | Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) Terminals 2, 4 and 5D | X-ray scanners | Not likely | Possible, with explanations | Depends on staff. Mixed reports. Officially, they have a routine for hand checking films. |
| STOCKHOLM | Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) TERMINAL 5 | CT scanners | Easy | Easy | Very informed |
| KIRUNA | Kiruna Airport (KRN) | X-ray scanners | Not | May be difficult | Not informed (3 reports) |
| SWITZERLAND | |||||
| 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 (4 reports) |
| ZURICH | Zurich International Airport (ZRH) | Mix of CT and X-ray scanners, depending on the terminal and connection. From 2025, more CT scanners. | 50/50 | Yes | Mostly informed, especially with CT scanners - however, by some reports, not all staff is informed equally. Late 2024 - positive reports. 05.25 one report of staff not knowing the difference between scanners and refusing a hand check, same month a report of multiple good experiences with any ISO. Depends on the staff, but getting better. |
| TURKEY | |||||
| ISTANBUL | Istanbul International Airport(IST) | CT and X-ray scanners with "film safe" stickers. Luggage gets scanned twice before getting to the airplane + scanners at international transfers. Old X-ray scanners at entrance. Nuctech at main checkpoint - marked “non film safe" | Difficult | Will require explanation | Depends on the staff. Mostly not aware, but some are nice - worth a try (3 ok reports). 2 very negative reports 2024. 2 positive reports 2025, 1 not too positive (required convincing even for 3200ISO film). 1 report about being recommended to use a lead bag for CT scanners, and still push film through. Maybe not the worst idea for this airport. 1 report 04.2025 about staff being completely clueless what film was. |
| KAYSERI | Erkilet International Airport (ASR) | 2 X-rays (at entrance and main checkpoint) | Possible, might require explanation | Possible, might require explanation | Not super informed, but rather friendly (1 report 2025) |
| UKRAINE | |||||
| KYIV & KHARKIV | Railway stations | Likely X-ray scanners | N/a | N/a | Quote: "I didn't ask for a hand check, but stuffed my pockets with all my film while my bag went through. You have to put the contents of pockets on a table to walk through a metal detector: at Kyiv, someone asked what these things were and no problem.” 05.2025 |
| UNITED KINGDOM | |||||
| ABERDEEN | Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ) | Freshly installed CT scanners | Below 800ISO, might be tricky | Officially, 800ISO is the threshold | mid-2024, staff was not informed about CT scanners at all. Late 2024, much better reports - but staff still consulting scanner manuals. |
| BELFAST | George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) | CT scanners | With explanations, possible | Yes, above 1600 | Rather informed. 1 very good report even with low-ISO film 01.2025 |
| BIRMINGHAM | Birmingham Airport (BHX) | CT scanners | Only above 400ISO, and may require explanations & supervisor | Yes | Not informed about CT scanner effects below 400ISO (1 report). But may just hand-check everything (2 reports). 1 report 2025 of an excellent easy check for a 100ISO film |
| BRISTOL | Bristol Airport (BRS) | X-ray scanners | Generally, yes, sometimes needs explanations | Yes | Informed & friendly (4 reports) |
| EDINBURGH | Edinburgh Airport (EDI) | Smiths Detection HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX | Quite likely. If going through CT scanners, films may be sent through an old X-ray machine instead. | Yes, including large format | Informed about CT / less about X-ray. Depends on staff. Sometimes hand-checks are easy (3 reports) , sometimes not so much. (2 reports). As of 2025, all scanners are CT, so hand checks are easy (3 extra positive reports). 1 report 04.2025 about checking a large volume of different format film, including large format + 2 reports 05.25 that even low-ISO films are checked without a problem |
| INVERNESS | Inverness Airport (INV) | Older X-ray scanners | Yes, even Polaroid | Yes | friendly & informed (1 report 04.2025) |
| LONDON | Eurostar London-Paris | ? likely CT | Possible, with some explanations | Yes | Quite informed, after a bit of hesitation do hand check - 2 reports. |
| LONDON | London Gatwick Airport (LGW) | X-ray and CT scanners. North Terminal - CT. South Terminal at least partially CT. | 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 (both very good and mediocre experiences reported). Officially, the airport allows hand checks of any ISO. 1 very positive report about North Terminal. 2 excellent easy experiences 05.25 with 160-400ISO film |
| LONDON | Heathrow (LHR) | Mix of X-ray and Smiths Detection CT scanners. | Below 800ISO - no chance (officially). If you go through CT scanners, film might be sent through X-ray instead. Or hand-checked, if you’re lucky. | Above 800ISO, officially, film can be hand-checked | By multiple (over 7) reports, this has been by far the worst airport in the world regarding hand-check attitudes. Late 2024, good reports started coming. 2025, 1 very positive report. Jan 2025 - extra negative report. March 2025 - excellent friendly experience in transit; Apr 2025 - 3 good reports (in Terminal 3); May 2025 - had to insist that any ISO gets damaged by the CT scanners (staff wasn’t very sure). 2 reports May 2025, Terminal 2 - excellent friendly easy hand check; 1 excellent report 05.25 in Terminal 3, 1 great experience in Terminal 5 05.25 + 3 excellent experiences 05.25. Heathrow is on the way to “green" status! |
| LONDON | London Luton LTN (LTN) | CT scanners/X ray scanners | Yes with CT/might need explanation with X-ray | Yes | Informed & friendly - 2 reports (2025); friendly check of 400ISO/200ISO after explanation (2 reports 05.25) |
| LONDON | London Stansend (STN) | Most lines CT scanners (maybe some X-ray left?) | Yes, with CT. 50/50 with X-ray | Yes | Rather informed, depending on staff (3 reports). 1 excellent smooth experience 05.25 (if any issues, call the Team Leader!:) |
| LONDON | London City Airport (LCY) | X-ray scanners | Possible | Yes | Seems that the staff is rather informed. 2 excellent reports 2025 |
| MANCHESTER | Manchester Airport (MAN) Terminal 1 | X-ray scanners. Currently installing CT scanners. | Yes, above 800ISO | Yes | Mostly, informed & friendly (multiple reports). 1 report with film force-pushed through CT scanner - probably by a non-trained staff member? 2025, excellent experience with 200-400ISO film (1 report). 05.25 1 report of refusal to hand check below 1600. |
| MANCHESTER | Manchester Airport (MAN) – Terminal 2 (Easy Jet) | CT scanners | Yes | Yes | Informed&friendly (2 reports 2025) |
| NEWCASTLE | Newcastle International Airport (NCL) | CT scanners | Yes | Yes | Informed & friendly (1 report 2024), +1 excellent experience 05.25 |
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