So you want to travel with your girl but you're worried about the TSA?

[Jenniferathome]

Well kids, I am here to inform you that the TSA just does't care about cross dressers.

I have just come home from yet another business trip where I packed for "Jennifer" and I and as always, no issues. The ONLY thing the TSA may review from an x-ray of your bag is your silicon breast forms. The silicon appears as a solid mass and depending on how it is packed, an agent may need to open your bag. When I pack my forms, I 1) put them on top so that any agent doesn't have to dig and 2) separate them and position them so they "look like" breast forms to the x-ray agent. This prevents the need to open the bag. High heels, makeup, wigs, none of that matters nor is even a blip on their radar. Women do travel too, after all.

You are not the first cross dresser going through an airport and you will not be the last. Pack your carry on with confidence and sally forth

[Brianna Robyn]

Good advice. I have traveled with my forms in my carry on bag. I keep them in my pocket bra and position them to be safe from any sharp or heavy objects in the bag. A special backpack or bag for the forms and girly stuff is also useful. If anything needs further examination, you can request it to be done in private.
If you prefer to check the bag, box the forms in the original boxes and maybe consider marking the suitcase as fragile.

[Leslie Langford]

So the 100 ml (max.) rule for liquids, gels etc. in carry-on baggage doesn't apply to breast forms, and no TSA agent would be suspicious that they might be a form of plastique explosive? Hmmm...:eek: :doh:

[Jenniferathome]

Leslie, silicon is not a gel nor a liquid, it's a solid. It appears differently on the x-ray than a gel. BUT, as solid mass, it is possible that some TSA agent wants to see that it is NOT C4, for example, but I will assume that there is a significant difference on the x-ray as well given that I have not been stopped or checked in ages.

[Teresa]

Jenn,
I apologise for my sense of humour but if they do confiscate your forms the headlines could read more forms were disposed of in a controlled explosion , could all airlines please inform the TG community they are a banned substance anything larger than a C cup will be disposed of in this way !

The moral of the story is don't be greedy small is beautiful !

I apologise again Jenn but I now have the vision of a guy in a special uniform , with a case full of forms going to a disposal area with lights flashing warning of hazardous material !

[Meghan4now]

Ok,

So this topic has come up Many times. And I always wonder:

1 - do you put your liquid makeup in a ziplock bag and pull it out to pass through? ( I break this rule all the time with my shampoo. Just a P.I.T.A. rule anyway)
2 - If you do a tape facelift, how do you transport denatured alcohol? (It's the only way I can get the tape to hold more than a half hour. Isopropyl isn't good enough)
3 - How much luggage do you take? Packing for two people, especially with upper and lower padding take a LOT of room!

Other than that, I guess the TSA issue is not too trying EXCEPT if some yahoo decides to take his sweet time and you are in a rush. Or if you are travelling with coworkers. Which I DO run into even if they are traveling elsewhere.

Forget the fear factor, what about schlepping around an extra 30 pounds of stuff? But the Denatured alcohol is a real problem.

[Jenniferathome]

Meghan, all liquids/gels fall under the 3 oz rule for TSA. 3 oz. is allowed AND it has to be in a 3oz container! I have seen TSA people throwout a large bottle with clearly less than an ounce of liquid. How hard an fast that is, is hard to know. Take out your liquids before going through the x-ray. The TSA agent doesn't see "liquid foundation" they see a black/white image of some allowable liquid volume.

Now, your comment about dragging around a large bag... yes, packing for two is heavier BUT, if you are not flying direct, baggage loss can be an issue and can screw up plans.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/liquids-rule

[Meghan4now]

Denatured alcohol is highly flamable. Also used as stove fluid. It should be totally restricted like butane or propane.

[tifftg]

Like many of you I have been doing this a while. I remember shortly after 9/11 and before they started x rating bags they used to open them. In the city where I was living at the time they didn't have read I'm behind the counters so they used to open them in the main ticket area. That's when I learned about eagle creek packing bags. Especially for my wigs and lingerie. Never knew what neighbor would be in line behind me. Had to dress though and loved those hotel rooms during business travel.

[Lorileah]

So the 100 ml (max.) rule for liquids, gels etc. in carry-on baggage doesn't apply to breast forms, and no TSA agent would be suspicious that they might be a form of plastique explosive? Hmmm...:eek: :doh:


They are considered prosthetic

[CynthiaD]

Leslie, silicon is not a gel nor a liquid, it's a solid. ...
True. Silicon is a solid. In fact, it's as hard as a rock and as brittle as glass. But unless you work with microchips, you've probably never encountered silicon. The silicone in your breastforms is a gel.

[Jenniferathome]

Spell check gets me every time BUT silicone, in forms is a solid. It's shape can not be changed. It can not be spread. To the TSA, this is a solid. Hence you can carry any amount of ounces the ought the check point.

A 3 ounce breast form would be kind of pointless

[Lauren Richards]

:o"A 3 ounce breast form would be kind of pointless"

Ummm... actually, that would be the point.. :o

[nikkiwindsor]

Rather than isopropyl alcohol, I use witch hazel with my facelift taping. But, I don't know if it's flammable or not...I hate reading labels!

[Jenniferathome]

:o"A 3 ounce breast form would be kind of pointless"

Ummm... actually, that would be the point.. :o

Ba-Da Bum!

[Pat]

Spell check gets me every time BUT silicone, in forms is a solid. It's shape can not be changed. It can not be spread. To the TSA, this is a solid. Hence you can carry any amount of ounces the ought the check point.

More than that, it's a medical prosthesis so, again, no limits. But if you're worried, you can always wear them through the checkpoint. ;)

Edit: Oops. Should have read further back, Lorileigh already said the same thing (without the snakiness.)

[Leslie Langford]

Spell check gets me every time BUT silicone, in forms is a solid. It's shape can not be changed. It can not be spread. To the TSA, this is a solid. Hence you can carry any amount of ounces the ought the check point.

A 3 ounce breast form would be kind of pointless

Not to belabor the point needlessly, but the breast forms which I purchased from The Breastform Store some years ago and wear on a regular basis are actually semi-solid, quite pliable, and encased in a flexible polyethylene outer cover. They can easily go out of shape if squeezed hard the wrong way, as I have found out to my chagrin on a number of occasions when trying to wriggle into a dress that was actually too tight for me (we can all dream, can't we? ;) ). But I also have several sets of inexpensive Walmart quality breast forms in various sizes as back-ups and for the occasional bit of goofing around when I want to "go big or go home" :heehee:, and these are solid lumps of the type you describe. Wouldn't surprise me if a TSA agent DID mistake my regular ones for C4 or the like, with the nipples potentially being seen as the detonators... :eek:

And Cynthia, as for the thought that most folks might be unfamiliar with silicon...they actually encounter it on a daily basis in the form of silica, which is the oxide version. It is a major component of plain old sand and dirt. Common as sand on a beach as the saying goes, and about half of the earth's crust is composed of it...

[GretchenJ]

So stupid question,

if if you are passing through TSA you must pack your forms through security and you can't and shouldn't wear them?

[TrishaLake]

I have done this several times and a few times they needed to look. To be honest, who cares? They find all kinds of crazy stuff, my boobs and wig aren't that big a deal. Maybe , put a dressed pic of yourself in your bag:)

[Jenniferathome]

So stupid question,

if if you are passing through TSA you must pack your forms through security and you can't and shouldn't wear them?

Gretchen, you can do either, pack or wear them. How likely are to you get searched if you wear them? I have no idea.

[windycissy]

Fascinating...when I "pack for two" my lovely silicone breastforms don't make the trip, cotton works okay for a gal on the road

[MelanieAnne]

It's all just security theater for the ignorant masses. The TSA testers always get through with their fake bombs and guns! The TSA is not keeping you any safer, despite all the hoops they make you jump through!
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/01/politics/tsa-failed-undercover-airport-screening-tests/

[Jenniferathome]

I have done this several times and a few times they needed to look. To be honest, who cares? They find all kinds of crazy stuff, my boobs and wig aren't that big a deal. ...


The winner!

[Pat]

It's all just security theater for the ignorant masses.

Doesn't matter if it is or isn't. You have to go through it.


if you are passing through TSA you must pack your forms through security and you can't and shouldn't wear them?

Maybe this will help:
http://www.amoena.com/uk-en/your-lifestyle/traveling-with-your-silicone-breast-form/
and
http://www.transequality.org/know-your-rights/airport-security

Note they specifically address the exemption from 3-1-1 rules.

[PaulaQ]

You will be searched if you wear your forms through millimeter wave screening. Trans guys are routinely stopped and checked if they wear packers through screening, too. For that matter. The screening algorithms don't like the look of my vagina, and flag me for pat down every trip through the airport. It is humiliating.

[Lori Kurtz]

... with the nipples potentially being seen as the detonators... :eek

Gotta love those detonators ... LOL

[NicoleScott]

Alcohol is cheap. Buy it when you get there.

[Stephanie47]

I "googled" 'TSA and breast forms,' and, came up with a host of postings on life experiences. Crossdressers, transwomen, women wearing breast prosthesis all report some very awkward situations. Basically, it seems a traveler is at the mercy of an individual TSA agent. Are you going to encounter an agent who is knowledgeable about prosthesis and recognizes them for what they are and passes you through professionally, or, are you going to encounter an agent who feels it is necessary to embarrass you for his or her own self pleasure? Heck, the local news recently had a brief news piece of a TSA agent arrested at SEATAC Airport (Seattle) arrested for taking upskirt videos. All I am saying whether or not you're in compliance with the law, there is always the possibility some jerk will get his or her jollies off at your expense. Be prepared for embarrassment.

[Nadine Spirit]

I have flown fully dressed as a woman. Went through the body scanners. Had areas around my bra flagged. The agent that originally checked my ID ran forward and told the scanning agent "that blond is a dude!" Didn't matter, a female agent politely asked if she could feel around the clasp of my bra in the back. Of course I said sure. She very politely and professionally patted around my bra clasp and said I was clear to go forward. Wow. Shocking. Humiliating. Scandalous. Uh.... nope. Standard business as they tended to do the same thing to my wife as well. What were they concerned about the most? The yummy Wisconsin cheese we packed in a small cooler. We thought they would care about the cheese slicer. Nope, the cheese itself. It looked like explosives. Ha. Exploding cheese.

Edit-
It's easy to Google things and read things. What many of them don't post about is what attitude they (the passengers) had while being questioned. Some people act pretty suspicious while cross dressed as they are trying very hard to "pass." That very thing may be what is getting you flagged for extra attention. Me, I'm the type of person who when I get pulled over for speeding, I keep my hands visible firmly planted on my steering wheel, I say I am sorry to the officer, I thank them and wish them a good day. You know, I am polite! Even if I have done nothing wrong. Thus with the TSA, I was the same way. Polite, smiling, owning who you are and what you do, it can go a long way. If you go in with the attitude that the TSA agents are jerks, they may very well treat you like jerks. For the most part, people tend to reflect what you give them.

The worst I got from a TSA agent is "Well, bless your heart." And some of you may know that is actually not what most mean when they say that. But wow, what a horrible thing to have to live through. How awful!! I really should have sued!

[MelanieAnne]

My daughter worked for the TSA for three weeks, and quit. She said, "Dad, I can't do to people what they want me to do"!

[Sometimes Steffi]

Here's the official word

https://www.tsa.gov/transgender-passengers

And here's advice from Trans Equality

http://www.transequality.org/know-your-rights/airport-security

That doesn't mean that your TSA agent will follow the rules, but you can always ask for a private screening or a supervisor.

That's the theory, but I've never done it. YMMV

Oh, some of my forms are a soft but solid silicone and others (Nearly Me) are a liquid or gel encased in a plastic-like liner.

[Heidi Stevens]

Since I am a transgender, my forms should be considered as prosthetics if I wear them thru security. But just like other with prosthetics, expect "special" attention. My question is to those who have flown pretty and have a Known Traveler Number to get TSA pre check: has it made a difference in you getting through if your dressed? I got my KTN last April, but have yet to travel pretty using it.