I know there have been posts on this before, but, any tips for surviving a flight and the TSA being a MTF trans person?  Things I should think of that I never encountered before before as a guy?

Name and gender marker do not match on my ID do not match my presentation.

I used to fly a lot but it's been like three years now.  I've also considered rocking the androgynous look to try and get through this.  Good idea?

Thanks in advance!

I can't really help you, I've never flown before, but I am curious about this too. I want to visit a friend in a far country someday, and chances are I'll have to fly (and so does he if he'd want to come to my place), and we were both a bit worried about this.
I wouldn't know though, as I haven't even been on a plane as a 'cis' person. Lol

I'd love to hear about this as well as I'd like to return to Japan someday and I don't know how well that will go if my passport has that M on it.

I can say though you probably won't have to worry about a pat down, most airports have the x-ray scanners now. Don't know if the ID mismatch will be a problem though.

*bip* *bip* *bip* *bip* *bip*

:: - Please miss take off your bell and shoes.
:: - Hey john, this one is id'd as a guy... lets her take off every single piece of clothes and check !!
:: - Oups I just forget my keys in my pocket ...

I think if I had to do so, I'll try the androgynous style.
(( OR ultra confident wearing a flowered dress and a post-it inside the passport "I'm a trans' that why I'm still "M"'d on the ID... I'm working on that point. Thanks." ))

At that time I'm still traveling as a cis-guy.
Good luck.

If they ask just say hey I'm transsexual and they will let you pass. Worked for me in Italy and London

Not flying but I've been through the French and English customs on the ferry and the channel tunnel many times. They don't even pause for thought and just bid me on my way. Part of me wants them to at least say something, but I guess I don't pass at all.....

And just to be clear I'm fully dressed at the time

It's not like if you tell somebody in the TSA, that's the end of your chances at being stealth.

As long as your name matches on your ID and your plane ticket you'll be fine.

More info:

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/transgender-travelers

I can only speak for the US, but a lot of airports have those full body image scanners, and they may pull you aside no matter how well you are tucked. They are supposed to tell you that they have to search a certain area, and they offer to do that behind a privacy screen as well. Further, they should have a TSA agent matching your apparent gender perform the search, and they are supposed to be transgender aware (meaning they should be respectful of discrepancies between appearance and gender marker).

That is a bunch of "shoulds" as in, that's what their guidelines say. You may run into the occasionally power-happy jerk.

You could always get a letter from a doctor/therapist stating that you are transgender and your appearance differs from the gender marker (or whatever applies).

I still have my old ID from years ago (and gender male on it).... and they have stopped me when checking my ticket with ID a few times (one time they had me wait while he called over another person to help lol).

I found the entire thing hilarious I just sat there grinning going "is there a problem? is it because my hair is longer? ;3"

I'm looking forward to my next flight this month :3 Bwa ha ha ha ha

In Germany we have an unofficial transgender ID as addition to the official ID card. It shows an picture of the "real" not of the born gender. The transgender ID also explains in a few words that the is transgender and should be treated in compliance to their appearence. I think these ID cards are available in all European countries and they help a lot.

I am not sure if something similar is available in other countries.

Lara

The only place where this has been a major issue in my experience has been the United States, where I was refused entry at Atlanta International Airport back in 2007 despite having a female British passport.

I've travelled throughout Europe in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and the UK and it hasn't been an issue.

Really? There's lots of trans people in Atlanta. I'm surprised they'd have much of an issue with it.

Quote from: NekoKoNeko on June 05, 2013, 09:19:40 AM
I can only speak for the US, but a lot of airports have those full body image scanners, and they may pull you aside no matter how well you are tucked. They are supposed to tell you that they have to search a certain area, and they offer to do that behind a privacy screen as well. Further, they should have a TSA agent matching your apparent gender perform the search, and they are supposed to be transgender aware (meaning they should be respectful of discrepancies between appearance and gender marker).

That is a bunch of "shoulds" as in, that's what their guidelines say. You may run into the occasionally power-happy jerk.

You could always get a letter from a doctor/therapist stating that you are transgender and your appearance differs from the gender marker (or whatever applies).

Actually the TSA just made an announcement they are changing out the FULL body scanners for the fuzzy scanners again so they will no longer be able to see everything. they can only see weapons and stuff in you  when they scan your body now. when you walk through it.

Hi All,

I want to follow this post. I live in Australia and have a daughter in London who I visit every couple of years so it is important to me. I will find it very difficult to pass as female due to my size and general physical appearance, but with any luck I will have GRS in the next 12 months or so. So this is very relevant to me.

One big plus for Australia is that it fairly easy to obtain a passport showing your gender as either male, female or other. This change took place the the last few years.  I have hear no stories about problems or difficulties.

I like the idea of the German transgender ID card, thank you Lara for mentioning it.

Jen

That's right! Oh! I forgot the scanners were going away.

before I changed to female in my US passport, I visited Europe, Japan, SE Asia, never had a problem with immigration or security in any countries. Even on a trip back to US, the immigration officer at the airport (not sure if it was SF or Chicago) asked to see both my ID and noticed my DL says 'F' but passport says 'M' so I told him I was born male but am in process of changing every document to female. He disappear for a minute or two and when he came back he said 'welcome back home, miss' or something sweet like that.

I wouldn't worry too much if I were you 

I actually just experienced this two weekends ago on a trip with some friends to New Orleans where I flew from Austin to NOLA and back. I was completely presenting as a woman the entire time and no one batted an eye. Check in at the airlines went smooth and security had no issue. They just looked at my ID which has me clearly looking like a male and M in gender. They asked what my name was and I told them my legal name as of today and was sent right through. My suggestion is to bring an extra form of ID just in case (passport) and make sure when it comes to forms and tickets you list your current legal gender. It was a great experience for me and one that was rather affirming.

Quote from: Alainaluvsu on June 05, 2013, 07:18:55 PM
Really? There's lots of trans people in Atlanta. I'm surprised they'd have much of an issue with it.

Yes really.. I was surprised that they had an issue with it, given the fact that nobody else did, but then again I'm referring to people in the Atlanta City Jail where I spent part of my only night in the States.

Well either the issue was with my being trans or my nationality. But there was an issue.

Eh, I would probably write a note and put it into my passport, if I really had to get on a plane. But honestly, I really don't want anyone to see me naked, as possible, for as long as I have this horror down there, scanner or not. So I'd probably postpone any trip until SRS (and consequently matching gender markers).