Im taking a plane to my granddmas for the summer. and im going by myself so my mom wont be making sure everyone knows im not male.
so i dont look like a female but on my ticket it will have my birth name. so has anyone had any hassles?
No. I just went on vacation last week and had no problem with airport security. My Passport picture looks nothing like me and i generally pass as male and i had no problems. A slight double take, but no one ever said anything. Good luck
ya my passport looks like me and has my birth name so hopefully it goes well
At my local trans-youth group thing they recommend a "safety folder." A folder with pictures of you pre, during and post transition so that there are no mistakes of them thinking you're trying to pass yourself off as someone else.
youll be fine then. My passport picture was taken when i still had long hair. now its pretty short. youll do fine.
Quote from: SilverFang on June 23, 2010, 11:04:34 PM
At my local trans-youth group thing they recommend a "safety folder." A folder with pictures of you pre, during and post transition so that there are no mistakes of them thinking you're trying to pass yourself off as someone else.
thats a good idea thanks
Quote from: Kvall on June 24, 2010, 02:51:37 PM
Avoid packing (a prosthetic, not your luggage!) if you will be going through an airport with one of those new body scanners. A number of trans guys have been stopped by security after going through the scanners while packing.
i dont pack so that wont be an issue
i find that funny though
Yes, and most especially don't wear (or bring in your carry-on) a condom-hairgel packer. Not only is it a suspicious object that will show up on the body scanner, but it's one that contains a suspicious liquid, which is the new obsession of airport security people.
As long as your ID matches your ticket, that's all they care about.
I traveled early in transtion with F ID and pic on my license (read: long hair) and had no issues, except one lady who insisted on loudly calling me Ma'am multiple times, even though I was passing if I didn't have to flash my ID.
I pack and haven't had an issue.
I'm traveling next week and plan to wear my packer as usual. Like the quick ins and outs of using the urinals in airports.
Jay
I actually had a little trouble when I left boston in may. I think the woman was just a bitch, though. I showed her my passport photo and she said, "thats not you." and I said, "yes I'm transsexual. I just started testosterone therapy a few weeks ago." and then I showed her my prescription. Then she laughed and kind of shook her head. That's all that happened.
Once, last year before I even started T but was still passing consistently and got 20 question about what my business in Pennsylvania was(I live there), and a few weird look but that was it.
Yeah, I have...they look at me funny and thought my ID was fake till they checked with an ultra violet light.
My ID says "female" and has my face on it. I always get weird looks. Though, sometimes I get lucky and pass as a male and get searched by the male guards for anything. :3
But nothing major.
I have to travel to the US in september and was wondering with the new body scanner if you can actually ask to be body searched by a security officer instead of having my privacy violated with that scanner?
Quote from: JoshB on June 25, 2010, 02:17:40 AM
I have to travel to the US in september and was wondering with the new body scanner if you can actually ask to be body searched by a security officer instead of having my privacy violated with that scanner?
My understanding was that the body scanner was a pre- to a body search. If you passed ,fine if not, searched, and I'm not sure if this is politically correct :embarrassed: :embarrassed: as a MtF I would demand a female, I think many FtM may wish to as well, sorry I really don't mean to offend in anyway, but any FtM have experiences that may be useful should be posted. The last time I was OS (Hawaii) I was in drab and there was definite searching of the scrotal areas, very well done, non-invasive but the person would have known if I had not had the expected organs ( :() . No doubt I would have gone to the door on the left for an explanation.
I think most of the people are trying to be very sensitive and are quite well trained. They are also very willing to bump up to a higher level so that they have not made an incorrect and possibly very embarrassing report.
I suggest if anything happens just ask for the senior staff and explain that you are TG. I think the big saying in airports and in security issues is : DON'T GET ANGRY.
Cindy
I was tried to be searched by male officer in Canadian airport even my passport and flying ticket said Female (I was returning from my SRS, had to ask female officer that eventually searched me but had on obviously ironic attitude .) Despite of that one event when my passport has said F I have been always searched by female officers. (I have poor luck with metal detectors usually.)
Quote from: CindyJames on June 25, 2010, 04:45:46 AM
My understanding was that the body scanner was a pre- to a body search. If you passed ,fine if not, searched, and I'm not sure if this is politically correct :embarrassed: :embarrassed: as a MtF I would demand a female, I think many FtM may wish to as well, sorry I really don't mean to offend in anyway, but any FtM have experiences that may be useful should be posted.
i absolutely agree that I would prefer a female officer to search me as I would feel more comfortable.
I just think these body scanners are in such big violation of privacy as they practically see you naked and you have no idea whose sitting behind in the room watching. I just shudder each time i think about it.
I know it would definitly make it worse if you get angry. So can you just ask for a senior staff member at anytime?
I have no idea where this applies as a courtesy, a guideline, a rule or a law.
In some situations and locations you can request a male inspector, a female inspector
or one of each with the demarcation line being the belt line.
I would certainly try requesting it politely at least.
Legally a male should be searched by a male and a female by a female at least here in the Europe in case any touching happens. That is your only right. You can however allow person of other sex do the search in case they want it for do it to make checks faster (for example because lack of female officers.)
You have NO legal right to request person as other sex as you to inspect you. (Here in my homecountry only that matters is the sex marker in your legal papers so called personal identity number, diffent countries have different practices.)
Quote from: darklady on June 25, 2010, 07:16:13 AM
You have NO legal right to request person as other sex as you to inspect you.
That's silly, of course you can request it.
Whether your request will be granted is another question.
OK. Sorry my English. You have NO legal right that such kind of request is granted.
Quote from: JoshB on June 25, 2010, 02:17:40 AM
I have to travel to the US in september and was wondering with the new body scanner if you can actually ask to be body searched by a security officer instead of having my privacy violated with that scanner?
Not all airports have the new body scanner, but if they do you CAN refuse and instead they will do a body patdown. Don't ask for the body search, which is different! All they can do is pat you down unless they have found "something". They won't pat your crotch as that would be sexual molestation. Don't know how thorough they get in the patdown as my airport doesn't have the body scanners yet, thankfully.
I highly recommend everyone do this (refuse the scanner) in America. The more people who refuse the invasive body scanner, the better. From my understanding you can't refuse in the UK or you're not allowed on board.
I've seen a few body-scanner pics of people, but I'm trying to figure out how a packer will show up, especially since there are different kinds. I have a regular gel-style packer and a GV packer with the firm core. Anyone know how these look on the scan?
Is it established in the U.S. that we have an absolute right to opt for a pat-down instead of a scan?
Quote from: Arch on June 25, 2010, 12:16:55 PM
I've seen a few body-scanner pics of people, but I'm trying to figure out how a packer will show up, especially since there are different kinds. I have a regular gel-style packer and a GV packer with the firm core. Anyone know how these look on the scan?
Is it established in the U.S. that we have an absolute right to opt for a pat-down instead of a scan?
From everything I've read, yes...
and the packer will come off as looking like a "detached" part of the body, which will raise alarm and they will pull you over.