TSA: What to expect?

[Brooke]

I have am upcoming trip, it will be my first time flying since going full time.

What should I expect, be prepared to accept, and what would be considered crossing the line.

Does tucking help to not get flagged or is a pat down just unavoidable?

Thanks!
Brooke

[BeverlyAnn]

More than likely you will get the pat-down if you set off the screening equipment.  Here is the actual info from the TSA website (bold text mine):

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening
Pat-Down Screening
If you cannot or choose not to be screened by advanced imaging technology or a walk-through metal detector, you will undergo a pat-down procedure instead. You may also undergo a pat-down procedure if you alarm the screening equipment and/or at random. The pat-down will be conducted by a TSA officer of the same gender and you may ask that the TSA officer change their gloves before performing a pat-down. The TSA officer will ask whether you have an injury or tender area to treat such areas accordingly during a pat-down.

You may request to have a pat-down in private and be accompanied by a companion of your choice. You may bring your carry-on baggage to the private screening area and may request a chair to sit if needed. You will not be asked to remove or lift any article of clothing to reveal sensitive body areas. Please note a second TSA officer will always be present during a private pat-down screening.

The reason I highlighted that one sentence bold is I have known people who were asked by the TSA to lift their skirt or to remove garments in violation of the rules.  It's rare that it happens, though.  You might want to copy the TSA's page and have it with you just in case.

If you are going travel a lot, you might consider applying for the TSA Precheck.  It doesn't guarantee you won't get a pat-down but it helps.  As a retired airline employee, I'm going to apply for it after name change and ID are all straightened out.

[Brooke]

Thanks, good idea on bringing printout. Will definitely do that.
To confirm when it say"conducted by a TSA officer of the same gender- that is the gender you are presenting as correct?


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[BeverlyAnn]

To confirm when it say"conducted by a TSA officer of the same gender- that is the gender you are presenting as correct?

I would hope it would be but you never know with the TSA.  I just asked a friend who travels a lot and if he gets back to me, I'll update this. 

According to my friend who travels all the time as an HRC board member, the person conducting the pat-down should be of the same gender you are presenting.  Also here is another good resource from the National Center for Transgender Equality.
http://www.transequality.org/know-your-rights/airport-security

[Mohini]

It was my experience going through to India that I just got scanned and kept going on the non-Indian side.  India doesn't have these machines, so we would go through the metal detectors, and then I would be sent to the women's booth where the female security person would scan me again with a wand, and I would be on my way again.

[Randi]

The first TSA officer you will meet is the TDC, or Travel Document Checker.  Your photo ID, usually a driver's license or a passport, should resemble you and your name and other info should match your boarding pass.  You must be who you say you are, or you won't get much farther.

If your name is Ralph Smith and boarding pass and ID agree, it won't matter whether you are dressed as a man or a woman.  The TSA officer's don't care about your clothing.

If you, Ralph Smith, are presenting as a female, you will be treated as such.  If the millimeter wave scanner detects an anomaly, the general location will be flagged by a yellow patch over the iconic figure on the display.  If a patdown is required it will be by a TSO of the same gender as you present. It is the scanner that determines whether additional screening will be required. After you step through the scanner look at the display. If yellow patches are on the display that is an anomaly that has to be resolved.

The TSO will tell you exactly what she is going to do before the patdown begins.  You have the right to have the patdown in a private setting and to bring a friend along to witness the procedure.

The TSO's have seen about everything you could imagine, and they are not worried about anything other than whether you have dangerous contraband on your person. You will not be the first transsexual they have seen.

[sarah1972]

As already mentioned TSA Pre is a good option or if you travel international, try to get Global Entry which also comes with TSA Pre.
There are a few catches: your airline of choice needs to participate in TSA Pre and there is still a chance you will not get it on every flight. If you get it, you are having a much better time at airport security: no unpacking backpacks, keep your shoes on and Metal Detector Gate is all you have to go through. Cost is $85 for TSA Pre and $100 for Global Entry. If you are not a US resident / citizen you can still get Global Entry depending on your citizenship.

[karenpayneoregon]

Having a driver licence marked as female, at least for me meant going through TSA no different than any cisgender female. Pre-surgery and post-surgery I wear leggings (had an excellent tuck technique) as they were/are comfortable for flight. My breast were developed (B-Cup) to the extent no breast forms were needed.

Things that I believe might cause a pat down (thinking for our community), a wig that just doesn't look right, not passing well facially, if asked to speak, incorrect voice tone.

Then you have "anyone can be flagged" as a random check or mannerism.

[Brooke]

I just got home from my trip. My crotchety area got flagged with the full body scanner in the Phoenix airport. Ended up getting a pat down. TSA agent was very respectful, no outing, weird looks etc.

Interestingly the Boston airport did not have a full body scanner, and I was able to go right through- no issues. Was kinda surprised actually. I even had an assistive walking device (for drop foot)- metal and electrical that did not set off any alarms.

I would have thought the metal detector would have caught that. Weird.

I suspect that my tucking job was not up to par. Does anybody know how the body scanner detects an anomaly. Is it just surface shape or does it also look deeper and detect body cavities?

In any case, went smoother than expected but I know now to expect a pat down and thus give myself extra time to get through security


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[Mariah]

I'm glad thing went well Brooke. As for me this will be my first flying and I applied for the TSA pre check to avoid issues. Anyways I'm glad all went well for you. Hugs
Mariah

[Lady_Oracle]

It has nothing to do with how well you pass. The issue lies with the scanners themselves. If you're preop you're going to get flagged regardless. The scanners have two options female or male so it picks up an "anomaly" in either the breast or genital region. If you present as male you will still be flagged due to breast tissue. Your best bet as stated above is the TSA precheck to avoid the full body scanners.

[Dena]

The body scanners are extremely sensitive. My mother was flagged because she had 14 dollars in her pocket. I was flagged because my tummy and shoulders didn't fit the "norm". Terrible when a machine tells you that you need to be on a diet.

It appears the machine knows what normal body dimensions are and if anything doesn't match the norm, it will flag it. I was even told to take the kleenex tissues out of my pocket and hold them over my head while in the machine as it will detect those as well.

[Sydney_NYC]

I've gone through the body scanner about a dozen times tucked with just tight panties and haven't been flagged in the crotch area. I've had a female TSA check the back on my hair (the scanner doesn't penetrate thick hair) and one time I was wearing leggings and a flowing tunic top and she had to pat down my lower back area, but that's it. From what I understand the software looks at the surface.