I'm going to Germany next summer and my mom just got back from Germany and she's worried about security (so am I). I know it's too early to really be thinking about it, but I'm kind of stressed. I'm going with a group from my high school and some other schools so most people won't know that I'm trans.
By the time I go I'll be 2 years on T and 1 year post-op, I also have all of my documents male and with my chose name, except the birth certificate still has my birth name (because MN has a weird law where I need to wait 7 years or go to court) and my health insurance is female because I'm going to get a hysterectomy and I wantinsurance to cover it.
The big problem is that I wear a prosthetic (3-in-1 peecock) and am planning to buy a new one by the time I go (reelmagik 4.5") and my mom thinks that I should check my prothetic and not deal with it(I haven't asked her about getting the new one).
When my mom went to Germany she went through the new full body scanners and had a pat down, which she said was embarassing and humilitation because the throughly check her, chest, between the legs, everything (she flew from Minneapolis to Amsterdam to Cologne and the same way back, I probably won't fly the same way because I'm going to a different part of Germany).
I'm worried because I'm EXTREAMLY dysphroic without my prosthetic and I've heard people can be hassled for wearing it and hassled for not AND being outed and humiliated in front of a group of high school students who may or may not be okay with it would be the worst thing that I can imagine.
The way I would feel most comfotable would be to wear the peecock, becuase it does not attach to the body and the reelmagik has adhesive that could be "questionable", opt for body scanners and try not to get a pat down and if anyone gets suspicious speak in private and give them a letter explaning it. Also my german teacher who has known me since 7th grade and is very supportive will be there and could help if there was an issue.
The whole process is just so stressful and frightening. There also will be more stressful things like staying in youth hostels, staying with a family and using public bathrooms all the time. It's almost enough to make me not want to go, which sucks. I want to go, but my trans friend isn't and all this security stuff is really freaking me out...

i'd agree with your mom and check it. i just flew (not out of country, within the US) and the scanners would pick the packer up i believe. it might be one really uncomfortable day, but it may tromp being outed. though, whatever happens, according to TSA policy, they CANNOT ask/make you take out the packer to show them. so it would just equal an awkward description I guess. also, bring letter confirming your identity and document changes (court orders etc) just in case something doesnt match for some wierd reason.
but remember, you have a year, so you have some time to sort things out

Thanks RagingShadow, I just suddenly got stressed about it. I'll see what happens by then.

Hi Eli, I just flew back from the states to england, having gone through the whole body scan and pat down.

I was flying with a female passport, wearing binder packer all that jazz, absolutely no problem.
Of course you'll pass as male, so a man just pats you down, literally just feel for weapons etc, it wasn't uncomfortable at all.
I would say however, don't wear a reelmagik if it has a flex rod, as this will show up on the scanner and be confusing, whereas one without just won't show. As I walked past I checked out my body scan out of interest, and it's completely androgynous anyway, it's not like some of the scary pictures I'd seen where the person literally looks like they're stood their naked. It's just a human outline with any metal highlighted. They get you through so quick anyway, they're not paying attention to things that to us would flag as trans, they're looking for stuff that to them flags a danger.

Basically, I wouldn't stress it at all, I was quite worried about it, but the experience was completely fine. You'll pass great by then and they'll just treat you as any other member of the public. I don't even remember him patting down my crotch to be honest, so packer or not, providing it has no metal, I'm sure it'll be no problem. Have a good trip!

i suggest wear it and decline to go through the full body scanner. flying back from san francisco there was a full body scanner they made my entire family go through it and i said no and i just went through a metal detector not even a pat down. and getting  a pat down wouldnt be bad with prosthetic on they would just feel your dick and a reelmgik seams really realistic in  feeling.

I would personally say if you decline you might end up causing more trouble.. although andy just went through the metal one, if they choose you for full body I'd say just go with it. And when they 'pat you down' they really don't like, feel your penis, they brush their hand lightly over your crotch. I've had it done before numerous times before I used to pack and still been 'Sir'd' so I really don't think they're paying too much attention.

I flew to Ireland from Minneapolis --- I live in MN -- I was binding and wearing a packer -- no problem

I am also a MN attorney & there is no law about changing your birth certificate.  I change birth certificates all the time - not sure where you got your information.  I change it on minors too.  If you call Phil Duran at Outfront Minnesota he can help you through the process and if there is a glitch he will likely refer you to me.

Personally I would put it in my hand luggage and then on the way out on the other end of the flight go to the toilet and put it on. A few hours of dysphoria versus the potential outing in the airport and an awkward time with everyone who overhears seems better to me.

I've never gotten the body scanner, just the pat down, and was asked "what are you wearing underneath?" when they felt my chest. I just said, it's a compression shirt, I have a doctors letter explaining why. They just said ok and sent me on my way. They weren't discrete about it, everyone around me would have heard. So if I was being asked why their was something in my underwear it would have been much more embarrassing explaining it.

I have understood that the binder is easier than a packer. There are medical reasons to wear one and you can have a doctor write a generic letter. OTOH, the packer is a bit more problematic. Technically the TSA (don't know about international-- but they tend to be a LOT less hands on and more into watching behavior) can NOT touch a prosthetic, ask you to remove it, or ask you to move it in any way. That said there are so many cases of that happening that it seems probable that you could get into an embarrassing situation. You could pack in your carry on, but they can search the carry on. Or you can put it in your check on luggage. I wouldn't be really happy about checking a $500 thing, regardless of what it is. I doubt it would get stolen but it could get lost.
Pick your poison.

--Jay Jay