Flying

[TonyaW]

So turns out I need to fly somewhere soon.  Had not anticipated doing this until after name change so legally I'm still him and tickets and ID will all say male and male name. 

While not pleased, I'm not totally freaked out about it but traveling in male mode ain't happening. I hope I look different enough from my ID photo to make them look twice, but pretty sure not different enough to cause them to believe it's not the same person.

So I have some questions that maybe someone whose done this can answer.

First is can I expect any problems?  My legal name is on ticket and matches my ID and I won't be trying to use a different name for anything legal.  Anything I should do or avoid doing? 

Second is what exactly is considered liquid foundation, other than the obvious?  I currently use a Covergirl that's more of a cream (see link) it's not powder but is mostly solid, you can't pour it in any way and would not fall out if tipped upside down. 
https://www.covergirl.com/en_us/beauty-products/face-makeup/foundation-makeup/simply-ageless-wrinkle-defying-foundation

It's a short trip so I'm just using carry on and hopefully won't need to use up one of my liquid items with that.  Unbelievable that my mascara takes up one spot already.

Thanks
Tonya


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[Colleen_definitely]

I was flying and male failing terribly with my old ID before going full time, getting remarks of "this looks nothing like you" when giving my ID to the bag check person was pretty common.  If the TSA person gives you a weird look when you go through security just say "yeah there have been a few changes since I got that" or something to break the tension. 

The TSA drones aren't going to mess with your bag of liquids and count up every bit unless you're a jerk and give them reason.  I'd just toss the thing into the baggie if there's room and not worry about it.  Honestly if you threw it into your bag and not into your liquids baggie, they probably wouldn't even notice it.

[Anne Blake]

Flying and TSA shouldn't give you any problems at all. If you have questions about the make up just put it in the clear plastic one liter bag. I have never had a liquid item count issue, even with a stuffed full baggy. On the other hand, if you leave it in your cosmetic bag and they question it, they will just look at it and let it go....no problem. Be prepared for a possible pat down if the scanning machine sees things that it thinks shouldn't be there. If that happens, the TSA agent (a woman if that is the way you are presenting) will offer to check you out there or in a private room. Then she will gently and discretely pat you down and probably do a swab on your hands and let you go by. When that happens for me, never a harsh or rude word was said and not much time at all was taken.

And it was (and still is) so much fun flying en fem! Enjoy your travel.

Tia Anne

[TonyaW]

Thanks for easing my fears a a bit.  I just get a little nervous when I have to show an ID and confirm for some one what they're probably already guessing. I hate having to say that I am that male person on the ID. 

I don't intend to be rude or get snippy if anyone does say something and I think most people really don't care, but you never know when you'll run into some dip stick with a bug up their ass.  And at the airport it has the potential to turn into a major issue, rather than just a bad encounter with a jerk. 

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[sarah1972]

I have been flying a few times, the majority have been international flights. Still have my old male documents. Even in a skirt, heels and full makeup I did not have problems. Got into some discussions about nail polish and someone commented about my hair. I had one case where I just flew in jeans and without makeup and have been misgendered at the security checkpoint but I chose to ignore it.

Customs officer looked at my passport, then at me and asked how long I have been out of the country. Then he wished a good day.

It may sound odd but... No one really cared.

Not sure what they did with the full body scanners but even when not tucking and wearing a bra I passed every time. I just assume they all had some level of sensitivity training....

[Colleen_definitely]

Thanks for easing my fears a a bit.  I just get a little nervous when I have to show an ID and confirm for some one what they're probably already guessing. I hate having to say that I am that male person on the ID. 

I don't intend to be rude or get snippy if anyone does say something and I think most people really don't care, but you never know when you'll run into some dip stick with a bug up their ass.  And at the airport it has the potential to turn into a major issue, rather than just a bad encounter with a jerk. 

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I fly a LOT for work and it has been my experience that the monotony of the job basically turns these people into drones.  Nothing against them, they just sort of zone out and go into robot mode to pass the time.  Half the time they don't even notice gender markers because all they have to do is make sure the face kind of matches and that the name on the card matches the name on the boarding pass. 

They don't particularly want to pat people down either.  I hate to say it this way but feeling up "odd" people like us is even lower on the list of things they want to do.  The TSA for all their bureaucratic stupidity in how they handle crowds and horrible inefficiency really hasn't been a problem when it comes to getting hassled over being trans for me.

[Devlyn]

I fly a LOT for work and it has been my experience that the monotony of the job basically turns these people into drones.  Nothing against them, they just sort of zone out and go into robot mode to pass the time.  Half the time they don't even notice gender markers because all they have to do is make sure the face kind of matches and that the name on the card matches the name on the boarding pass. 

They don't particularly want to pat people down either.  I hate to say it this way but feeling up "odd" people like us is even lower on the list of things they want to do.  The TSA for all their bureaucratic stupidity in how they handle crowds and horrible inefficiency really hasn't been a problem when it comes to getting hassled over being trans for me.

 

"Step right up, folks, and  touch the unicorn's peepee!"

[KarynMcD]

Just remember, do not deny that you are transgender.
The scanners will pick up on anomalies. If you are MTF and traveling as male, it might flag your breast area. If you are traveling as female, it might flag your crotch area.
They usually tell you. Tell that them you are transgender and you shouldn't have any additional problems.

[TonyaW]

  [emoji23]

"Step right up, folks, and  touch the unicorn's peepee!"

Geez, now you got me worried about something else!!!

Seriously though,  never was (and still not) worried about a possible pat down, even if it should happen.   Mostly my fear is that someone might be a jerk about the mismatch between ID and presentation and call attention to me.

Just remember, do not deny that you are transgender.
The scanners will pick up on anomalies. If you are MTF and traveling as male, it might flag your breast area. If you are traveling as female, it might flag your crotch area.
They usually tell you. Tell that them you are transgender and you shouldn't have any additional problems.

The ID is still male and I present female full time.  At 6'3" and not quite a year on HRT there won't be any denying that I am transgender (I would not try anyway, even if   I had a female ID). I'll answer whatever questions they might ask but won't volunteer anything not necessary.

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[KarynMcD]

The people doing the scanning don't see your id. They set the machine based on how you look.

[Colleen_definitely]

And that brings up a question from me.  When I was being sent through the scanners before my precheck name change finished, I noticed that I would commonly get a red zone over the crotch.  It wasn't the yellow filled "feel this person up" square like when a button or pocket got tagged by the machine as a threat to freedom.

I've also glanced over at the scanner when cis women were going through and many of them were getting the same thing.  Any idea what that is?  It seems to happen when my tuck isn't great, so possibly some sort of "anomaly but maybe a maxi pad" sort of thing?

[and5678]

Look into doing the TSA pre-check appointments when you can. It costs $85 dollars and it's good for 5 years. You don't have to worry about anything.

[Laurie]

  I have had to deal with TSA people at several airports. TSA people don't zone out. They are that way all the time. They take their jobs seriously and very very few have a sense of humor. My dealings with them was on a professional level as I had to repair their equipment. I was allowed in their work rooms and the are the same in there as the are out on their stations. They have to do their jobs but I know they don't want to find things because it costs them a number of hours documenting it and following their protocols. They found someone trying to board a plane with ammunition in a camera and that took about 4 hours to take care of.

Hugs,
   Laurie

[Colleen_definitely]

Were you working on those little RAMAN spectrometers that they do the hand wipes with?

[TonyaW]

Look into doing the TSA pre-check appointments when you can. It costs $85 dollars and it's good for 5 years. You don't have to worry about anything.

Don't fly enough for that to be worth it.

All went well, everyone was very professional.  I'm sure they've seen it before.

I was mostly concerned about someone making an issue because my presentation would not match my ID and also a little dysphoria at have to show my male ID and essentially say "yes that's me".

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