private inspection

Has anyone else in the group requested a private inspection as a way of getting through the airport gate security?

Too often I have been told to stand back while the security people poke through my very expensive equipment. These people are use to handling crap from K-Mart and cheapie 35mm cameras, but not Linhofs, Cirkuts, or other unusual gear. Needless to say, they really don’t care about your stuff either.

The best approach is to request a private inspection. A day before your flight, call the airline and tell them what you need. Each airport seems to have a different way of handling the problem and the airline will tell you how they deal with it. Do you think a diamond merchant with a small box of uncut diamonds is going to put his bag through x-ray? You are entitled to the same treatment even if it is only a box of Hershey bars for your kids. They airlines don’t like it, but they have to offer the same service since it is not up to them to decide the value of the contents of your bag. (weren't those vintage 1940 Hershey bars with the five cent price marked on them?)

In Seattle for example, the routine is that you go up to the security gate and tell the guards that you need a private inspection. They in turn call the airline to confirm the request. The airline has to provide the private room for the inspection. So you have to wait for a representative from the airline to show up and take you to the room. Airport security needs to provide a guard (sometimes two guards) to escort you to the room. As you can see this costs time and money and neither the airline or airport like doing this. The private inspection is just that. (No they don’t look at your private parts) At least you get a chance to talk to someone in a different environment than at a regular security gate. You don’t have to worry about a lens getting left out of the bag, and if you don’t get to handle the stuff yourself then at least you are on a one to one relationship with the inspector. Every time I’ve done it I was allowed to handle my own equipment. The big thing here is that you are conducting the search on your terms, not with a line of edgy people behind you that are late for their flights. Often time the security people are very interested in what you have, and will as camera questions like "What kind of 35mm camera should I buy?" After all, this is a break from the normal routine for them. If you have played your cards right, the last thing out of you bag is the film. It’s a good chance they will take your word for it and just give it a feel and let you go. If not, plead your case and offer to let them inspect the film with the lights out. I’ve never had a problem.

After the inspection, airport security must provide a guarded escort back to the security gate. You have to walk with a guard in front of you and a guard behind you. They don’t want anyone handing you something at this point! It's kinda cool, like you've been arrested or something. And that is all, once at the gate you’re free to go.

This has worked well for me, but it does require more prep time. You can’t show up with just a few minutes to go before boarding and demand a private inspection. Maybe if more photographers started requesting private search we could send a message that something must be done to deal with the film x-ray problem that is fair to all. I do worry that since the private inspection is expensive and time consuming, that the idiots will simply enact a "user fee" for the service. But that is another problem for another time.

It’s time to unite on this issue.

Sincerely

Ron Klein