pre op guys that also pack

[notyouraverageguy]

What's the whole situation of flying and airport security with packers and binders? Any have any experience with this?
Idk if I could go without my packer, but I definitely can't go without my binder.

[timbuck2]

Can't speak for packing but I've had zero troubles binding on airlines. I've been in 1 underworks binder, 2 underworks binders with a back brace between them and early on in my transition I took a flight while using duct tape (I don't advise anyone to do this ever for obvious reasons) to bind. I was super scared I would set off a metal detector or they would ask about 'suspicious bulges' or something but everything went smoothly.

[aleon515]

Well I had a prosthetic in my carry on luggage and have been thru security about 8 times with no issue, including one time when they hand searched my carry on. I was more worried about it getting lost. I have also been using a binder including when I went thru the "naked picture" scanner thing TSA is using. If you think about it a binder isn't that different in material than a lot of people use. It's lycra and nylon maybe. That's common material. Nothing like that is even likely to get "read" by the machine. If you get hand searched well they are supposed to use the back of the hand anyway. I don't think they'd notice.

The TSA has this info: Prosthetics: "Travelers should neither be asked to nor agree to lift, remove, or raise any article of clothing to reveal a prosthetic and should not be asked to remove it." You might want to print this one out. I'd say the vast majority of people have no trouble but every once in a while there are horror stories.

Here's the info here: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/transgender-travelers

BTW, some of the horror stories were just people that were a little foolish. The guy who does the hilarious video would have had no hilarious video if he had just stuck the medicine spoon in a pocket in his carry on. He got set up for extra scrutiny. It's a good idea not to "act strange".

--Jay

[CursedFireDean]

Every time I've gone to the airport and had to use the body scanner, I've come up with weird chest results and they've had to give me a little pat down. I suspect it's from binding, but it was never an issue. I wore a sports bra last time I went so I can find out if it was due to binding, but they just used the metal detectors instead, so I didn't get an answer.
My packer I just decided to not risk it, so I put it in my checked bag or don't bring it, depending on how bad my dysphoria has been recently.

[Sebryn]

Packing has been a non-issue for me, even with the scanners. I think the pat down after the scan depends a lot on how well you are read as male since they have a male and female setting they use with the scanner. (Assuming this is to let the machine to decide which bulges belong and which don't.) Binding has also been a non-issue and as Jay pointed out the TSA does have guidelines in place for our situations.

[notyouraverageguy]

Thank you guys for all the info. So its okay for me to bind and pack without having many issues?
I've never flown and its scary in itself but having to deal with all this makes me super nervous, I think I might act strange because of that :/

[Polo]

I personally only bind and put my packer in my luggage, but I'm pre-T. I've never had an issue. If you are concerned about the body scanner just wear what you want to wear and opt for a pat down, just tell the TSA agent when you get to the scanner and they'll assign a guy to check your pockets instead.

And try your best to relax, flying ranges somewhere in between boring and fun for a lot of people.

[Adam (birkin)]

It shouldn't be an issue. I actually looked into this because every time I travelled, guys kept patting down my chest lol. Turns out they only see a generic stick figure now, and if there's anything that sets off the machine, an "X" appears in the general area. So if the binder sets it off, they will just pat down your upper torso and let you go. Don't know about packers. They also will pat down any area that looks "suspicious" to the naked eye (in my case, my chest seemed too big and covered in a baggy hoodie so the guy patted me down to make sure there were no drugs or weapons in my chest lol. Packers obviously won't look questionable to the naked eye so that's not a problem there either.

[wheat thins are delicious]

If you decide to wear your packer just keep in mind that you do not have to remove your packer.  Here's what the TSA site says :Prosthetics: Travelers should neither be asked to nor agree to lift, remove, or raise any article of clothing to reveal a prosthetic and should not be asked to remove :it.

[notyouraverageguy]

What about taking your t vials and supplies with you? Within the country, because I know there's customs outside of us.

[Sebryn]

Follow the guidelines for taking medication with you on an airplane and you're fine. The T vial isn't the issue usually, in some cases they limited the number of syringes. I can't remember if that has been recently or a couple of years ago. Check the TSA website for travel restrictions. Prescribed T is a non-issue so long as your name is on the vial/box the vial came in so you can prove it was prescribed to you by a doctor. I've flown with two vials before when I was heading up north to stay with my grandma when she was ill. They didn't even go through my carry on bag. I typically use a zip case for pencils to carry my T, needles and other needed medications when I travel. Using that kind of case I can safely take it out of my carry on bag (as required) and put it through the scanner if requested or hand it to the  TSA agent to examine if asked and no one can see what medications I have besides me and the agent. Plus it keeps everything nice and neat.