Travel Question

[AndreaCD1963]

Hi Ladies,

I have a question for those of you who travel / fly within the US.

I'm planning a quick trip to Orlando later in the month for a few days. Most of the trip is business related, but I'm hoping to have at least one Andrea day while I'm there. On my last trip to Orlando, back in the spring, my luggage was searched on the return flight home (I found a note from the TSA explaining that they had opened and searched my suitcase). I believe they did this because when the xrayed the bag, they saw a heating & massage pad system I had purchased in Florida - a large gel pad and the contols etc. My concern is, if I take Andrea's forms in my suitcase, is this also going to set off a red flag for them and have them search the suitcase? I have no issue with the safety precautions - I'd rather they check and the plane NOT get blown out of the sky :o Unfortunatley, I can't just wear them when I fly, because I will have some family and co-workers with me plus I'm not sure I want to set of the metal detector if my bra happens to have a wire in it :)

Any feedback will be much appreciated. Oh, and if anyone has any ideas where to go for an afternoon / evening in Orlando, that would be nice to know too :D

Thanks,

[Karren H]

I've been flying with my forms in my baggage for years and never had an issue... Except one.. Over weight bags!! Like a frigging tax on crossdressing. Lol.

[Melissa Rose]

I don't mean to sound flippant, but "so what" if TSA searches your bags and finds the forms. TSA does not care what is in your bags as long as nothing poses a threat to the safety of the plane and passengers. I know they have seen stranger things in checked luggage, and I doubt they keep a record of males with breast forms in their luggage. About 2 years ago, I had a carry on bag searched that contained breast forms, a wig and shoes. The TSA agent (a male) did not say a thing about the contents and was pleasant and professional at it.

Three weeks ago I took four separate flights over a one week span while flying pretty on three of them. Of my two checked bags, one was searched on the flight from Indianapolis to St. Louis, the other was searched on the St. Louis to Chicago flight, and both were searched on the Chicago to Sacramento flight. I do not know what triggered the searches since I packed each piece of luggage the same way for each flight. At the airports and on the flights, I was never treated in a way different than any other woman passenger from check-in to leaving the airports.

The metal detectors at airports are set not to respond to underwire bras. I walked through numerous ones wearing earrings and rings along with underwire bras and I never set off the alarms. If an airport uses full body scanners and you are wearing a wig, the security agent may want to pat down your wig. That happened to me in Indianapolis. The agent was quick and gentle, and it was not a problem as far as I was concerned.

[VickysBFF]

Andrea: Checked bag searches are often random. It may be searched no matter what you put in it. Forms are not a problem nor are other items that are prohibited in carry-on bags but are allowed in checked bags.
As for things to do in Orlando, I don't know if you are asking for things to do "en femme" of just in general but I would recommend visiting Universal Orlando's Citywalk. I think that you have to pay for parking but you can go to a lot of stores, restaurants, etc. Downtown Disney is the same. You can see both of these without paying for the park admission.
There is also a good sized LGBT area there if you are looking for things to do dressed.
Have a great trip!

[karanne]

I'm roughly a hundred miles east, on the Space Coast. Pity we don't have a shuttle anymore (although we did get Atlantis for display!) but the Space Center tour is still interesting - especially the Saturn V exhibit!

Regarding our friends in the TSA, the closest I've been to them hassling me is in Seattle. A TSA guy asked, "Ma'am, is your suitcase locked?" I replied, "Yes, it's a TSA lock." (You can get the small padlocks at Wal*Mart.) He replied with a smile, "Oh, okay, thanks. Have a pleasant flight!" and tossed my bag on the conveyer. No wands, no pat-downs, no cavity searches. I had to take my laptop out of the case and put it in a separate bucket for the xray machine, and take off my shoes, but that wasn't much of a hassle.

If you're worried about your relatives/co-workers hearing you addressed as a female, this is all done within the sterile (secure) areas. Your rellies would not be there, so unless you go blatantly fem, they won't know.

[KarenS]

Last December, I flew several times and was searched, had my carry on's examined, and my luggage xrayed with a note from homeland security. I had two suit cases, one included Karen's clothing and FORMS. No problems.

[Starr]

I always smile when I get somewhere and open my suitcase to the little note from the TSA. They saw all my undies, forms, heels and makeup..... so.. maybe it made their day. They will not say anything about it and I am sure they see all kinds of things in the bags they open.. so I am sure nothing will shock them as to what we crossdressers pack in our bags.

Starr

[faltenrock]

Hi Andrea, I've been en femme on two flights. my last flight was in September, from Seattle to Oakland. That was not a bit of a problem. After getting my rental car in Oakland I switched back into male clothes to drive to the San Jose airport to get my flight to Chicago.
I needed to change, because someone wanted to pick me up in Chicago. Anyway, I pit my forms into my little carry on case. That seems to be a problem for the x-ray machines. A lady came up and asked to open my bag and they rechecked it. She found my forms, my wig and shoes, clothes and everything else. She acted very professional and told me that carrying forms is a suitcase/bag is not a good idea, because they can't see what it is at the x-ray. it looks like liquids or in the worst case like explosives.
Wearing forms on your body seems not to be a problem at all.
Make sure, when you fly, put your forms into the checked bag. If you don't check any bag, you rsik to be caught under the eyes or your co travelers and family.

Good luck

see my threat here:
http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?160601-USA-and-flying-en-femme-again&highlight=

[sterling12]

Well, they did have A Shoe Bomber. But, so far they haven't encountered A Breastform Bomber, and I can't imagine it would be on their "Get Alarmed List." If we logically think about it, about the last thing The TSA wants is for The Traveling Public to believe their inspectors are paying close attention to clothing choices. Think of all The GG's who would be terribly angry, if they thought some guy was "pawing" through their unmentionables and fantasizing about individual items. It's supposed to be impersonal, and professional!

The average Luggage Checker has seen EVERYTHING, and probably hundreds of times. Why would they want to single you out? Put your stuff in The Suitcase, and have a good trip.

Andrea might want to stop by The Parliament House over on Orange Blossom Trail. It's an LGBT Resort, with one of the best Drag Shows in The U.S., and you might just run into a few sisters while your there. If your staying out on The Kisseemee Spur, you might want to take in Old Towne, a collection of funky shops, bars, and Kitch, where some of us periodically go shopping. Really brave Gurls often take a ride on that mechanical bull. Get someone to take Andrea's Picture!

Peace and Love, Joanie

[AndreaCD1963]

Good morning again Ladies,

Thank you all for the wonderful, positive, and supportive responses. Deep down I knew, even as I was asking the question, that I probably had absolutely nothing to worry about. But, the reassurance from those of you that have experienced first hand is comforting. So thank you all!

Ashlyee - I will be staying in N Orlando / Maitland, arriving in the later evening of Saturday Nov 19 and leaving early on Tuesday Nov 22. I will have one afternoon / evening as Andrea time, either on the Sunday or the Monday. I think what I'm really looking for is just an opportunity to go en femme - do a little browsing / shopping, eat out, and basically enjoy the sun and fresh air. And of course, get some photographic memories :-)

Joanie - I'm not sure that a mechanical bull is very lady like! LOL. I've heard of The Parliament House but thought it was more of a night club, but you refer to it as a resort? I'm not really a "clubber". (combine late 40's with on my own)

Vicky - thanks for the suggestions. I think I'm going to avoid Universal & Disney this trip. But you are right about the city walk being interesting :-)

I think that only Karen could find a way to be taxed for CD'ing. LOL

[TxKimberly]

I travel a LOT and every single time I have breast forms in my checked baggage, I get the little slip saying that the bag was inspected - EVERY time. The thing is, like Melissa said "so what?" They are going to be inspected a long way away from you, so there wont be any embarrassment there. The guy that does the inspection doesn't know you, you don't know him, and he really couldn't give a snot about it.

[sterling12]

Somebody give a second opinion on this. I refer to The Parliament as being an LGBT Resort because it's in A Motel Complex, with Rooms, shops, clubs, theater (for the drag show), and Restaurants. They were going to build on land behind The Complex, and create Condo's for LGBT Folk, but I heard that fell through during our recession. One could probably stay their entire stay in Orlando and not leave the grounds at The Parliament. On Friday and Saturday Nights, there's usually all kinds of activities out in The Courtyard, in addition to the dance floor, and the other stuff. It's a very funky, eclectic, crowd of people, from straight couples, to lots and lots of gay men. There's almost always a few Sista's about, and most of the time we can be friendly.

But, whatever! Do have fun in Orlando, and unfortunately your going to miss The "Six in The City Event," which will occur on The Fifth I think. Maybe next time.

Peace and Love, Joanie

[AndreaCD1963]

Somebody give a second opinion on this. I refer to The Parliament as being an LGBT Resort because it's in A Motel Complex, with Rooms, shops, clubs, theater (for the drag show), and Restaurants. They were going to build on land behind The Complex, and create Condo's for LGBT Folk, but I heard that fell through during our recession. One could probably stay their entire stay in Orlando and not leave the grounds at The Parliament. On Friday and Saturday Nights, there's usually all kinds of activities out in The Courtyard, in addition to the dance floor, and the other stuff. It's a very funky, eclectic, crowd of people, from straight couples, to lots and lots of gay men. There's almost always a few Sista's about, and most of the time we can be friendly.

But, whatever! Do have fun in Orlando, and unfortunately your going to miss The "Six in The City Event," which will occur on The Fifth I think. Maybe next time.

Peace and Love, Joanie


Thanks Joanie. With shops and restaurants too it sounds like perhaps it is a good place to check out then

[sanderlay]

So What???

Half the population is female. What's the worse that could happen!?!?!?

My imagination of a possible News Event...

*******************

On all flights in the US today women were forced to remove their bras to be searched because of a possible bomb threat. We have more on this from San Francisco...

This is Debbie... at one of the TSA inspection points at San Francisco international airport. Many women here are outraged as literally thousands are forced to remove their bras. Apparently an anonymous tip from an unidentified source said an explosive devise might be hidden in a brassiere. Most are cooperating with this most unusually intrusion into one's personal space. But a few very vocal and outraged women were arrested today as they refused to comply. But not unlike the "underwear bomber" from our recent past the threat is being taken seriously. But I have to wonder... what's next... and how far will we go to feel safe as we fly?

From San Francisco... this is Debbie... with more possible news from my imagination.

[Cristi]

I've been flying with my forms in my baggage for years and never had an issue... Except one.. Over weight bags!!

Wow, just how big ARE your forms?? That must be like 25lbs EACH! :)

[VS Fan]

The average Luggage Checker has seen EVERYTHING, and probably hundreds of times. Why would they want to single you out? Put your stuff in The Suitcase, and have a good trip.


Completely agree - I bring my forms in my CARRY ON every time I travel (at least 40 flights since I started using them??) and I'd say about 50% of the time the xray machine tips them off and I just nonchalantly wait for them to open my bag, do the little explosive test, realize they are just breast forms, and send me on my way. But just as often they just pass it right through and don't say a thing. I have checked my bags also (in the early days before I had the guts to finally just ask someone if I could take them through security) and never got the little note from the TSA. Only time I check them now is when I'm traveling with someone and don't want a spectacle made in front of them if my bag does get singled out. (LOL actually more often than not, they're interested in all the WIRES and CHARGERS for my laptop/ipad/phone etc etc that I bring with me all thrown in a jumble in my backpack.)

VS Fan

[docrobbysherry]

Oddly enuff, on my flites to and from Atlanta from the OC airport in SoCal, they opened my checked bag only on the way there! And, it was LOADED with silicone forms and suits!

[cassandra54]

who cares really. the forms should not set off the baggage screening and if they do and your luggage is searched, so what? if you are travelling for business, they would have to know that, what company you work for and then report it to the company before you had any repercussions. somehow i don't think they would go through the trouble.