I have a pacemaker, will it be affected if I go through the magnetometer?

Doctors assure us that the magnetometer will not affect pacemakers. They will not guarantee this 100% however, so we ask that you have a doctor's note indicating that you have a pacemaker. Please produce this at the time of screening when travelling overseas. We will ask that you go around the side of the magnetometer and we will put a hand detector (known as a wand) over you.

Can I take food into Australia?

You may take food onto the aircraft; however you must either consume it while on board or place it in the food disposal bins as you arrive at your destination. If you wish to take food into Australia, you should get in touch with The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (04 473 8996) and ask their advice regarding procedures for bringing food into a country.

Why do we have to empty our pockets prior to walking through the metal detector (magnetometer)? We don't have to do this in Australia.

We ask that you do this for three reasons

1. Our machines are extremely sensitive to metal and if we can eliminate items that passengers are carrying in their pockets, most passengers should walk through without having to be checked with a hand wand.
2. If you do set off the alarms, there will be less for you to have to show the officer who wands you.
3. This will help process you more quickly and you will be able to begin your holiday hassle free.

Where do I pick my duty free goods up from?

Once you have completed check-in with the airline, been processed through Customs Emigration, put your hand luggage through the X-ray machine and have yourself been cleared through the magnetometer, you may proceed to the Duty Free Store in the departure lounge. You may purchase further duty free goods here and also pick up your purchases. Should you have any queries regarding duty free goods, please phone 0800 Tax Free (0800 829 3733).

Why does my video / camera / laptop computer have to go through the X-ray? It doesn't happen overseas.

Aviation Security prides itself on ensuring you get to start your holiday peacefully.
When we ask you to put your equipment through the x-ray, it is because we cannot physically see behind a computer screen or film without becoming technicians and carrying screwdrivers to dismantle your expensive piece of equipment.

The easiest and safest way for us to examine these items, is to put them on the conveyer belt for screening by x-ray. We have been trained to recognise any thing unusual. We have had specialists test the safety of the x-ray on most brands of equipment and we can assure the safety of your valuable items.

Cameras- Generally the x-ray process will have no effect on photographic film. However, we have learnt putting over 1600 asa film through the x-ray machine might cause slight imperfections in the film. Since most holidaymakers will use 100, 200 or 400 asa film, this is generally not an issue and this film can be sent through the x-ray with no fear of damage. However, we will allow professional photographers to have their film and cameras hand searched, providing they are willing to remove the film for us. We need them to do this so that we can check the camera and lens and satisfy ourselves there is nothing untoward contained within the camera itself.

Computers- X-rays will not affect personal computers, therefore your laptop is completely safe while travelling through the screening process. If you are concerned, you are welcome to start it up in front of us once it has been processed in order to satisfy yourself that it has not been affected. Just as a warning, please do not think you are saving your data by putting it on a floppy disc or CD and carrying it through the metal detector. There is a greater risk of the information being wiped from a disk by passing through the magnetometer, as this is a magnetic field. The same information applies to the computer games.

Video Cameras- These present no problem as the x-ray does not interfere with either the camera's electronics or the video tapes in any way. However, as with the computer information on disk, please be aware that the metal detector is a magnet and could wipe any information on a videotape passing through with you.

Should you experience a problem with your equipment once it has passed through the screening procedures, in the first instance please contact the Regional Manager of the airport you were screened through.

I have x-ray film and do not want to put it through your x-ray machine as it might damage the film.

Since the film has already been exposed and processed once you have it, our X-ray machine can not alter it. It can safely pass through the screening process.

I have been told not to put my homeopathic drugs through the x-ray screen.

We will ask you to hand these to us while you walk through the magnetometer. Once you are through, we will visibly check them and pass them back to you. We do this in order to make sure that your medicine is not exposed to the magnetic field.

I have a back brace / corset on, am I going to set the metal detector off?

Yes you will. Just explain to the officer that that you are wearing a back brace or a corset and they will ask you to step inside our search room (this ensures privacy for you) so that they can visibly sight the brace. Once the officer has sighted the brace / corset, you will be hand wanded. We ensure that all females are attended by female officers and males by male officers in order to minimise any embarrassment. Having a signed doctor's note will assist you.

I have a pin and/or plate in my body, will this affect the metal detector?

Normally plates and pins do not set off the metal detector, but if it does, we will ask you to step inside our search room (this ensures privacy for you) in order that an officer can visibly sight the scarring and hand wand you. Having a signed doctor's note will assist you.

I am confined to a wheelchair, how do I get screened?

We will ask you to go around the side of the metal detector, because your chair will set the off the detector. We will ask your permission to physically touch your back. This is because if we hand wanded you around the back area, the wand would pick up the metal chair. We will also ask if we need to physically touch your legs etc. We visually check your chair and try to cause as little disruption to you as possible.

What if a family member is in an airline provided chair?

We will ascertain from the attending person if the wheelchair occupant is able to walk through the magnetometer unassisted. If they can then, we will ask that they do this while we push the wheelchair around the side of the magnetometer and visually check it.

I am bringing my baby / toddler through in a carrycot / carseat / pushchair, what happens?

We will ask you to remove your child from the mode of transport and we will send a carrycot or carseat through the x-ray. In the case of a pram / pushchair, we will push it around the side of the magnetometer and visibly search it. The child will either walk or be carried by you through the metal detector.