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

Table with Padding and Centered 
 
 
 



CITY AIRPORT SCANNER TYPE HAND CHECK BELOW ISO1600 HAND CHECK ABOVE ISO1600 STAFF AWARENESS
ALBANIA
TIRANA Nënë Tereza (TIA) CT scanners Easy Easy Informed
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, last 01.2025).
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 (2025)
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.
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 No chance Maybe Not too informed (1 report 2025)
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 Depends on the staff. 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.
ESTONIA
TALLINN Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport (TLL) X-ray scanners Yes Friendly, but extra explanation is needed. Depends on staff. (2 neutral reports, 1 very positive 2025)
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 Unlikely Possibly, with explanations. Extremely mixed reports. Heavily depends on staff. And luck. Positive report 2025, but bad ones before.
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 X-ray scanners Low chance. They often separate lower-ISO films from 3200ISO, if they’re in a mix. They often call some extra security staff, but always grant hand check. Mostly, rather informed. In general, friendly and professional.
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!
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 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. 1 extra positive experience with CT scanners & hand check in 2025
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)
NUREMBERG Nuremberg (Nürnberg) Airport (NUE) Mix of X-ray and CT scanners May require explanations Yes Informed
STUTTGART Stuttgart Airport (STR) n/a Yes Yes Informed & friendly (2 reports, last 02/2025)
WEEZE Weeze/Niederrhein Airport (NRN) X-ray scanners Low chances Possible, with explanations and insisting Not informed (1 report)
GREECE
ATHENS Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) X-ray scanners Maybe Possible, with explanations 1 negative report 2024, 2 good experiences with 200/400/800ISO films in 2025.
HERAKLION Crete Heraklion International Airport (HER/LGIR) X-ray scanners Yes, with explanations Yes Rather informed & friendly, open to discussion (2 reports)
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 from 2025, where insisting on hand-checking 400ISO worked. Depends on staff.
ICELAND
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND Keflavík International Airport (KEF) n/a Very likely Yes Informed & friendly (6 reports)
IRELAND
DUBLIN Dublin Airport (DUB) X-ray scanners and CT scanners in Terminal 2 Easy with CT scanners. Below 800ISO, with X-ray scanners, might be difficult. Yes, above 800ISO - easy Informed & friendly
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 sent through X-ray instead of CT scanners Maybe, with calling supervisor Not very informed
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.
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
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
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). Waiting for more reports to upgrade to yellow or green!
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)
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) n/a Yes Yes Very informed & friendly (5 reports)
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
POLAND
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 50/50 Depends on staff 1 positive report 2024, several very negative experiences 2025.
WARSAW Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) X-ray scanners No chance Extra difficult Not informed and unwilling to cooperate (multiple reports)
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 (no “film safe” sticker). Planning to install CT scanners in 2025, not yet done so. No Low chances 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. Waiting for more to upgrade the airport to green!
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)
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
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
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.
SLOVAKIA
BRATISLAVA Bratislava M. R. Štefánik Airport (BTS) CT scanners Nope Also no 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"
SPAIN
ALICANTE Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC) Old X-ray scanners Likely, yes Yes Informed & friendly (1 report)
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 2025, forced to put lower-ISO films through X-ray.
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) X-ray scanners No chance Not likely Not informed, including supervisor (2 reports)
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.
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.
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)
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) CT scanners Quite likely. If going through CT scanners, films may be sent through an old X-ray machine instead. Yes 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).
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. 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.
LONDON Heathrow (LHR) Mix of X-ray and 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, some good reports started coming. 2025, 1 very positive report. Jan 2025 - extra negative report. Apr 2025 - 3 good reports (in Terminal 3).
LONDON London (LTN) CT scanners Yes Yes Informed & friendly - 2 reports (2025)
LONDON London Stansend (STN) X-ray scanners + 1 CT scanner line Yes, with CT. 50/50 with X-ray Yes Rather informed, depending on staff (3 reports)
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)
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)

If you had different experiences, or would like to add information to this page, please reach out to us via the CONTACT form