Can you legally film in an airport?
All filming within the gate areas, concessions or other leased spaces is not allowed without the permission of the leaseholders. TSA Public Affairs must approve any filming of the TSA checkpoints in advance. U.S. Customs and Border Protection must approve any filming within customs areas in advance.
Airports are public places and, as long as you don't disturb anyone, you're free to record everything you want that is in full view of everybody. Just remember you're not supposed to film situations in which people are expecting privacy or feel uncomfortable.
United's photography policy, which is typical for a U.S. airline, notes that taking pictures or video on its aircraft is permitted “only for capturing personal events.” It goes on to note that “photography or recording of other customers or airline personnel without their express prior consent is strictly prohibited.”
Checked Bags: Yes
We recommend that you put undeveloped film and cameras containing undeveloped film in your carry-on bags or take undeveloped film with you to the checkpoint and ask for a hand inspection.
Airports are divided into landside and airside zones. The landside is subject to fewer special laws and is part of the public realm, while access to the airside zone is tightly controlled. Landside facilities may include publicly accessible airport check-in desks, shops and ground transportation facilities.
What causes you to get flagged at the airport? Other times, you could engage in some type of suspicious travel activity that triggers an additional screening which could include things like: Visits to high-risk countries. Unusual travel patterns (last minute one-way flight) Paying cash for tickets.
"Except where security regulations, rules, orders, or directives apply or a Federal court order or rule prohibits it, persons entering in or on Federal property may take photographs of…” Photography and videotaping the interior of federal facilities is allowed under the conditions set forth in (a) – (c) of the ...
Airport privacy involves the right of personal privacy for passengers when it comes to screening procedures, surveillance, and personal data being stored at airports.
In the past, older models of X-ray scanners were even more damaging to film, particularly high ISO films. However, most current machines used for carry-on luggage scanning use a very mild dose of X-rays that is unlikely to cause any damage to your film if it's under 800 ISO.
Once your film has been shot, it's still sensitive to light and can still be damaged by scanners, so be sure to have all of your film, shot or not, inspected by hand. We must reiterate: Do not put undeveloped film in checked bags.
How do I protect my film in TSA?
Take your film out of all its packaging and wrappers and store it in a transparent, ziplock bag (the same way you would for all your liquids in your hand luggage). This way you can easily show it to airport security for hand inspection!
Any type of camera is allowed to be packed in both carry-on baggage and in checked baggage. Your disposable camera should be carefully packed and covered to avoid any damage. Please note that the undeveloped film inside some disposable cameras could be damaged when going through airport security x-ray checks.
All but one U.S. commercial airport are owned and operated by public entities, including local, regional or state authorities with the power to issue bonds to finance some of their capital needs. Airports are landlords.
Although nearly all U.S. airports are owned by state or local governments, airports are required by the federal government to be as self-sustaining as possible, and thus receive little or no direct taxpayer support.
TSA was created in the aftermath of 9/11 to oversee security in all modes of transportation and completed federalization of security operations by the end of 2002. TSA became part of the Department of Homeland Security in March 2003, making up a quarter of the DHS workforce.
If you ever find yourself in a situation at the security checkpoint where you're pulled aside by a TSA Agent for extra screening, don't panic. This could simply mean that you have been flagged in advance for what the TSA calls “Secondary Security Screening Selection,” also known as SSSS on your boarding ticket.
You have the right to have a witness present and to have a law enforcement officer supervise the pat-down. You do not have to take off any of your clothing except for outerwear, and the TSA cannot strip-search you. Finally, you have the right to refuse the entire TSA screening process.
You're Deemed Suspicious Prior to Check-In
The TSA, as well as airports around the world, identify certain behaviors as suspicious. There is an extensive list of about 92 of these behaviors in the U.S., but the most common ones are: Paying for any of your tickets in cash. Booking only a one-way ticket out of the ...
Out of respect for our associates and customers, unauthorized filming is prohibited and we reserve the right to enforce that policy.
Taking photographs and video of things that are plainly visible in public spaces is a constitutional right—and that includes transportation facilities, the outside of federal buildings, and police and other government officials carrying out their duties.
Is filming in public a First Amendment right?
Legal status
The legality of recording in public was first clearly established in the United States following the case of Glik v. Cunniffe, which confirmed that restricting a person's right to film in public would violate their First and Fourth amendment rights.
Refusal to answer other questions will likely cause delay, but officials may not deny you entry into the United States for failure to answer other questions. If you are a non-citizen visa holder or visitor, you may be denied entry into the United States if you refuse to answer officers' questions.
Under Federal Law, all passengers must submit to a search of their belongings and their person. But what about the individuals who are pulled aside for a more thorough search? Additional and/or more thorough searches of a passenger's person or belongings must be random or be conducted for a specific security reason.
Therefore, if airport searches are to be allowed, either the procedures must be modified to fit the established exceptions, or a new exception to the warrant require- ment of the fourth amendment must be created. 3, In the federal courts, approximately 12 airport search cases were tried from 1969 through 1972.
That means your film will need to go in your carry-on bag. “But that goes through an x-ray machine, too!” you say. For the most part, these machines use a less intense x-ray that is unlikely to damage film. The TSA states that film less than 800 ISO can go through the x-ray machine for carry-ons without a problem.
The high-dose X-ray scan on checked baggage can damage film immediately and corrections can't be made at the processing lab. See below for examples of how X-rays affect film in checked baggage. We always recommend getting your film hand-checked if possible, especially if you're travel will include multiple x-ray scans.
Airport body scanners alert the TSO to threats—mainly weapons such as knives, guns and explosives. They are designed to detect “metallic and nonmetallic threat items,” according to the TSA. Those are things like explosives or knives made out of materials other than metal, like ceramics, says Malvini Redden.
For security, you'll need to be able to put it in a bag. They won't want it loose. You certainly can't where it around your neck when you go through security, It might be a different issue for the airlines.
Media Guidelines for On-Site Reporting
Media are welcome to film or take photos at JFK, but we ask that you follow these guidelines to ensure safe and smooth operations while you're on-site. Filming is only permitted in the Blue Lot across from Terminal 4.
Photographing or recording other customers or airline personnel without their express consent is prohibited." If the language sounds intentionally vague ("personal events"), that's probably because it is. Anyone who's ever flown has likely taken at least one photo on a plane at some point in their life.
Can I film at Newark Airport?
Media are welcome to film or take photos at Newark Airport, but we ask that you follow these guidelines to ensure safe and smooth operations while you're on-site. Filming is only permitted in the public areas, pre-security, in Terminal B. Filming is not permitted at or near TSA checkpoints or airline check-in counters.
Grab a snack and relax or refresh with a shower at the KAL Lounge at JFK. This lounge is located across Gate 3 on the left hand side, past security. Sanctifly members can use Sanctifly points to access the KAL Lounge at JFK. Relieve some pre-flight stress with a massage or other salon service at XpresSpa.
References
- https://www.acludc.org/en/know-your-rights/if-stopped-photographing-public
- https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/factsheets/tsa-glance
- https://www.immihelp.com/seems-they-always-stop-you-at-airport-security-possible-causes/
- https://www.panynj.gov/content/dam/port-authority/press-room/media-access/JFK_Media%20Guidelines_April%202021.pdf
- https://lovethemaldives.com/travel-pedia/what-does-it-mean-to-be-flagged-at-the-airport
- https://www.flylax.com/-/media/flylax/media-center/pdfs/film-policy-february-2021.ashx
- https://www.eliasandgonzalez.com/blog/2022/12/what-does-an-illegal-search-at-the-airport-look-like/
- https://www.panynj.gov/content/dam/port-authority/press-room/media-access/EWR_Media%20Guidelines_April%202021.pdf
- https://travelnoire.com/what-you-should-know-if-flagged-tsa
- https://richardphotolab.com/blogs/post/film-that-travels-the-effects-of-x-rays
- https://www.popphoto.com/how-to/fly-with-film/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_audits
- https://lovethemaldives.com/travel-pedia/can-i-carry-my-camera-around-my-neck-on-a-plane
- https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-08-09/can-you-get-in-trouble-for-taking-photos-or-videos-on-a-plane
- https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Operational%20Readiness%20Order%20HQ-ORO-002-2018%20Photography%20and%20Videotaping%20....pdf
- https://repository.law.umich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4344&context=mlr
- http://airportsforthefuture.org/did-you-know/
- https://analoguewonderland.co.uk/blogs/film-photography-blog/how-to-travel-with-film
- https://carmencitafilmlab.com/blog/airport-x-ray-will-they-ruin-your-film/
- https://corporate.walmart.com/askwalmart/can-i-film-inside-a-walmart-store
- https://gilleslaw.com/airport-searches/
- https://airportscouncil.org/advocacy/airport-infrastructure-funding/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_privacy
- https://www.sanctifly.club/locations/new-york-jfk
- https://thedarkroom.com/bringing-film-airport-security-x-rays-film/
- https://lovethemaldives.com/travel-pedia/are-you-allowed-to-take-pictures-inside-an-airport
- https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/film
- https://www.alternativeairlines.com/flying-with-camera-equipment
- https://www.rd.com/article/what-do-airport-body-scanners-see/
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/are-you-allowed-to-take-pictures-on-planes-yes-and-no/2018/03/14/d4d355a0-2304-11e8-94da-ebf9d112159c_story.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport
- https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/what-do-when-encountering-law-enforcement-airports-and-other-ports-entry-us