Airport security alert issued to anyone taking disposable camera on holiday

When you go on holiday, you usually want to take some photos so you can look back on your trip fondly in the future. While doing this with your phone is fine, some people have begun using disposable cameras to give their photos that retro look.

Disposable cameras are also handy if you don't want to risk losing your phone by taking it out to take a quick snap, especially if you're travelling somewhere busy where you might drop your device or get it stolen.

However, if you're planning on taking a disposable camera on your next holiday, you should heed one warning from a travel expert, who says you need to be incredibly careful when taking the cameras through security.

Taking disposable cameras on holiday has become popular on social media, but one woman learned the hard way that airport security scanners can ruin the photos stored on the film inside a disposable camera - meaning your treasured snaps could be lost forever.

In one video on TikTok, a woman said she was "crashing out" but learned her lesson after she lost 39 photos because she didn't know that taking the camera through security was a bad idea.

The woman, named Magdala, wrote: "PSA [public service announcement], Airport security X-rays destroy film even in little s**t disposable cameras and you lose everything. (39 grained moments but ones you can't get back)."

According to experts at Travel Republic, disposable cameras are often loaded with film that is sensitive to X-rays, and newer security scanners at many airports can be even harsher on this film.

These scanners emit higher doses of radiation, which can penetrate the camera casing and react with the unprocessed film. This is most likely to cause issues on multi-flight trips where your bag may be scanned more than once, and it can leave your images looking foggy before you've ever had a chance to look at them.

To prevent this, holiday experts recommend: "Rather than carrying your disposable camera in checked baggage, have it easily accessible in your hand luggage. You can also request a hand inspection at airport security instead of putting the camera through the X-ray scanners. Lead-lined film bags can also help to shield your camera against X-ray exposure if needed."

WARNING: The below TikTok video contains strong language.

The general advice is that although checked luggage scanners will likely destroy your film, carry-on scanners tend to emit less radiation, so they shouldn't damage your photos. If you're still concerned, however, you can ask for the camera to be checked by hand instead so that it doesn't go through a scanner at all.

Experts also issued advice for those not familiar with disposable cameras, noting that photos should be shot in natural daylight to avoid blurry images and other imperfections.

They stated: "To get the clearest images, stick to shooting in bright, natural daylight. If you decide to use the flash indoors or at night, get close to your subject when taking pictures to avoid blurred imagery. Avoiding strong backlighting will also help to stop the camera from confusing exposure and causing silhouettes."