ALERT: Unprocessed film can be damaged by checked baggage x-ray machines! However, this currently is only a problem with checked baggage. This was not always the case. So, don’t assume that because it’s never happened to you before, it can’t happen now. The scanning equipment is more powerful than ever before and it can cause film to be irreversibly fogged.
Protect Your Film
Put your film in your carry-on luggage. The x-ray machines at passenger security checkpoints are still perfectly safe for unprocessed film unless you pass through them more than five times. So, keep your film separate and ask to have it hand checked if you are transferring more than five times.
Get your film processed while you’re on your vacation. The negatives and prints can not be damaged by x-ray machines.
Buy a lead bag from a photo shop to protect your unprocessed film. This will leave you open to inspection, but will keep your film safe (depending on the thickness of the lead and the quality of the bag).
Ship your unprocessed film home or straight to your favorite processing center.
Use a digital camera. They’re safe under any x-ray equipment.