I have to fly in like 2 weeks. I'm not going into the US or out of the US, so I don't have to deal with TSA stuff, but I heard some places here in Canada they have those full body scanners, and if I am packing, I assume it would show up on the scanner right?
So if I opted straight for a pat down instead of the scanner, would they be able to detect that its a packer during said pat down? Any comments with first hand experience would be helpful, but really I am looking for everyone's opinion here haha.
I hear they very rarely use the scanners for people in domestic flights, but I have heard some people say that they did have to go through them even for domestic flights, and in the off chance that it happens, I would like to know if I am better off packing or not. I just think it would be weird to go for a pat down and have them not finding what they're expecting to find. :P
DILEMMA
I've gone through the full body scanners on multiple occasions in the past year. I wear my packer each and every time without issue.
Seriously?! I thought they detected packers as foreign objects! What kind of packer do you have??
A little different but I travel for work through the us and I've gotten by breasts fondled a few times by tsa deviants. When I was stealth they didn't know whether to have a man or woman do it. Anyway after the first few times of nervousness I just went through and smiled and pushed my chest out held my head high. I propose doing the same, you've nothing to be ashamed off.
Just a standard packer. I think it's the 4.5" mr. Limpy or sailor. I've had it for a couple years.
The scanner may detect it is not clothes or your body, but may not think it is something to worry about either. I'd find it hard to believe it's read as flesh or clothes. OTOH, one thing that makes sense is that more than half the scanners don't really work anymore. This is all pretty much theater anyway. There is no funding, which would be millions of dollars to fix the broken scanners.(I can't imagine Canada has money for these things either.) So they have you go thru the broken scanner, and they pretend it is working. They don't read it because they don't read anything else either.
BTW, if you fly a lot, you might have run into something called "pre-check" or "pre-clear". It's very nice. No scanner, you keep your shoes and a light jacket or shirt, as well as everything in your bag. They do a metal detector and sometimes a hand swab. Super nice. I think if you have a frequent flier no. you would qualify but it's not at all airports.
Yikes Stevie, that person should be reported!
--Jay
I think you should be fine if you're packing + binding and presenting as male in general but I remember watching a video on youtube of a transman's vlog about his experience while packing through security in an airport and they detected it through the scanner or whatever.. funny story he had to tell about that. Though really it seems very uncommon that you would have trouble if you were simply presenting as male, just don't let them give you a hard time but be prepared to answer questions if they do suspect.
Edit: Found the video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwRCN9xVgwQ
I think Dominic is hilarious. But I think he set himself up for problems. Stick the da** STP on the conveyor belt, nobody knows what it is. Also the packer, I think he was trying to have a good time with them, but you don't need to get to that. I would tell them it was against TSA regulations to move it or handle it. If they try to do it you ask for their supervisor. (Though last time, I just put it in the carry on.)
Not that everybody knows about these or (sadly cares).
http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/transgender-travelers
--Jay
I've been frisked as a male whilst not binding or packing, and he never bayed an eyelid. Even after he'd done my chest he said things like "lift your feet like you'd do to check your studs at football practise". They see all types of people all day, you really aren't going to be the most interesting thing they come across.
Interesting thoughts everyone... And yeah, I had seen that video already haha. (among others!!) I will probably just pack and hope for the best lol. Chances are I will only have to pass through metal detectors anyways. 10 days left!
EDIT: In a year from now I will be able to find my 100th post! Right here!
Leave the packer at home or in your luggage and you shouldn't have any problem.
Quote from: mac1 on August 04, 2014, 02:42:34 PM
Leave the packer at home or in your luggage and you shouldn't have any problem.
If it was that easy to just choose not to pack in public or when traveling, he wouldn't be asking for advice. Not packing is NOT an option for me personally. A packer can be considered a prosthetic imo. They have to respect your identity and presentation. Seriously tho, I packed through a body scanner last September and this May. No issues.
Quote from: KamTheMan on August 04, 2014, 02:51:50 PM
If it was that easy to just choose not to pack in public or when traveling, he wouldn't be asking for advice. Not packing is NOT an option for me personally. A packer can be considered a prosthetic imo. They have to respect your identity and presentation. Seriously tho, I packed through a body scanner last September and this May. No issues.
I believe you lol, mine has silicone in it though, and I don't know if the different materials would make a difference. The mr limpy and sailor are like cyberskin right?
Given what I know about the scanners, they don't even show full body anymore...it shows up on the screen as a stick person with an "X" in any places a suspicious object may be. As for the pat-down issue, honestly, I've been patted down several times and they've actually had to pat down my boobs because they thought my chest looked "suspicious" for a guy lol. They quickly tap tap tap the back of their hands over the chest, say "thank you sir" and send you on your way. It's no big. No one ever questioned my maleness and I was treated like any other guy, and they're not going to be feeling enough in the crotch area to know if you're packing or not.
I err on the safe side and don't pack on flights. It's not worth the potential hassle, however small the risk of that may be. I want to just get through security and get the hell out, you know?
Quote from: birkin on August 04, 2014, 06:45:33 PM
Given what I know about the scanners, they don't even show full body anymore...it shows up on the screen as a stick person with an "X" in any places a suspicious object may be. As for the pat-down issue, honestly, I've been patted down several times and they've actually had to pat down my boobs because they thought my chest looked "suspicious" for a guy lol. They quickly tap tap tap the back of their hands over the chest, say "thank you sir" and send you on your way. It's no big. No one ever questioned my maleness and I was treated like any other guy, and they're not going to be feeling enough in the crotch area to know if you're packing or not.
I err on the safe side and don't pack on flights. It's not worth the potential hassle, however small the risk of that may be. I want to just get through security and get the hell out, you know?
Yes, this is the "version" that most TSA employees see. (There is another version though.) The problem is more if they would see that the packer as foreign.
BTW, I don't know that silicone vs. cyberskin matters, but I suppose it could.
One thing you probably should NOT wear are scar strips. I've heard there is a substance in them that reads close to C4. Though that could be a myth.
--Jay