Question about Traveling via Air Lines

[Cassie2024]

Hello,

My name is Cassie. I am new to the board. I have a question and request for any tips or advice on traveling, packing, etc. with the airlines. I will be traveling via American Airlines this coming October 2024 to Provincetown, MA. I will be attending Transweek which was formally called Fantasia. I will be traveling in boy mode. My questions is with my luggage. Most of my clothes with be my Cassie clothes and I will have a couple of boy outfits. Along with the clothes, I will have my breast forms, hip forms, makeup, makeup towels, etc... Does anyone have knowledge of what I may have to "look out for" to get past TSA security without too much alarms. Most of my items will be packed in one big suitcase. My breast forms will be in clear plastic bags so they can be seen by the TSA agent. They are my main concern. My hope is since they will be in the suitcase, it will not much an alarm to the TSA agent. I will have a carry-on which I may have some Cassie items inside, but i think I'll have most of my boy clothes in it, along with my tablet.

Do i have to alert the airlines about anything. I am thinking not since nothing is toxic or a weapon. Any advice, tips, or experiences will be appreciated.

Thank you,

Cassie :love:

[Genifer Teal]

This is exactly why I traveled wearing them. I was then concerned about the Hollister's glue. (RIP) It turns out even though the spray glue was flammable, it was an allowable medical necessity. Because of this I put it in my carry on and no one even noticed or asked about it. Your results may vary. You could try bringing your forms on the plane in your carry on. check the t. S.A. Website and see if they say it's allowed. I had a screen shot of the description where it specifically says on their own website. This is allowed for the hollisters glue. if they said anything, I was right there to react to it. I really don't know about the forms. I was allowed to wear them. So I guess they're okay to be brought on. You might consider this.

[Andrea Renea]

I took my girl stuff on a recent cruise.

Went through TSA with my clothes, bras and breast
forms in my carry on bag. Breast forms are considered a medical device and ok by the TSA

The TSA machine in Ft Lauderdale kicked out my bag for inspection. The agent just asked what I had in my bag. I told him breast forms. He opened my bag looked in zipped it back up and told me to have safe flight. No big deal. We were to the side no one really close to us.

[Sometimes Steffi]

I guess the important thing is that under the X-Ray, breast forms look like C-4 plastic explosives. So, whether you put breast forms in your checked baggage or in your carryon, expect them to be inspected. Otherwise, TSA wouldn't be going their job.

Although the TSA rules change from time to time, TSA is required to keep you information private.

These are the specific TSA rules (https://www.tsa.gov/travel/tsa-cares/gender-diversity) In particular,

"For carry-on baggage - inform the TSA officer if you have medically necessary liquids, medications and/or medical equipment, and separate them from other belongings before screening begins. If a bag must be opened by an officer to resolve an alarm, you may ask that the bag be opened and inspected in private."

Your breast forms qualify as "medically necessary ... medical equipment". So, you are not doing anything wrong. But you may need to "inform" your particular TSA agent about the rules and about your rights, including your right to privacy.

I took my breast forms on a business trip several years ago. I packed them in my carryon because I wanted to be with them if there was any problem.

I had gone through security and I was waiting for my bag to go through the X-Ray machine. I saw it going back and forth on the conveyor belt. I walked up to one one the TSA guys standing near the conveyor belt. I pointed out my bag and said, "That's my bag, and I think I know what the problem is. I have breast forms in my bag." He said, "We'll have to look at them." I was going to ask for (demand) a private screening, as was my right. But, before I even got to open my mouth, he said, "Would you like a private screening?" I replied, "yes."

So me, my bags and two TSA agents went to a private room. They asked to see the breast forms, and I took them out and showed the them to TSA. I can't remember if they swabbed them for explosive residue or not. I was also carrying a lot of "fashion" (i.e., cheap) jewelry. I kept it with me because I didn't want X-Ray people to think that it was valuable and steal it after they opened my bag. TSA asked me about how much jewelry I packed. I think I replied that I just like jewelry. After they were done, I asked for a few minutes to repack my bag in the private room so I wouldn't have to repack it in public. My request was granted.

Who knows what was said after we left the private screening room, but I didn't care.

In short, it was a non-event. Allow additional time for the private screening if requested. You can ask for a male or female screener. Know the rules, and be prepared to request that those rules be followed. If you TSA agent is not following the rules, for example, demanding a public screening, politely ask for a supervisor. Stand your ground.

I also travelled with much more suspicious contents in my checked baggage. I'm an engineer and for 6 months, my job was field testing at remote sites. I packed a lot of electrical equipment, including a VOM meter and a lot of specialized cables and wires. On an X-Ray machine, it could have easily looked like a bomb. I packed it all in my checked baggage, om top where it was easily accessible. I locked it with a zip tie so that TSA could cut it open if they decided that they needed to. I used colored zip ties instead of the standard translucent ones, so I could tell if my bag had been open for inspection. I included a note explaining what I was doing and a copy of my FAA (contractor's) badge. Sometimes my bag was opened along with a TSA inspection note.

[Claire M]

Don't get over-stressed or over-think this whole thing. If it's in your checked luggage, TSA inspects thousands of suitcases full of women's clothing and ac.cessories every day. The first time I flew pretty I put my forms in my carryon as I wasn't sure how the screening would go. The screener was more interested in my big bag of trail mix than my forms.

[racquelr]

When I used to travel a lot for business, I used to put my forms, clothes, and other various "toys" in my checked bag.
The forms were in the white box they came in that had written "breast forms" on.
My checked bag almost alwasys ended up with a TSA inspection note in it, but no problems other than that.

[Suzie Petersen]

I have brought my girl clothes, forms, heels with me in my checked luggage many many times and never had any issues, including international travel to many different parts of the world. I have also often traveled with all sorts of weird looking equipment, including lose wire bundles with strange connectors, circuit boards, and so on.
The weird equipment has sometimes resulted in the "Inspected by TSA" note in my suitcase, but my breast forms have never caused that.
Breast forms show up as an unusual mass on the scanner, but it really doesn't look anything like plastic explosives. A bar of soap in your toilet bag would be much closer to the right density.

Don't overthink it and don't worry about it, you are not doing anything wrong by having female clothing and forms in your luggage. If asked, don't make up weird stories about it, just say that it is your luggage and you packed it.

If you have anything in your carry on and it does attract attention, there will be a TSA agent asking you about it. If you are easily embarrassed or traveling with friends, family, colleagues, then that might be uncomfortable for you. If you instead have it all in your checked in luggage and it attracts attention, they will open your suitcase, see what it is, put a note in there to indicate your bag was examined, and close it again, end of story. You will never have to talk to anybody about it.

Have a great trip!

[Cassie2024]

Thank you, Suzie. Yes, I think you hit the nail on its head, I am over-thinking everything. This being my first trip with my femme items and alone, and....lol But yes, I-o do plan to pack all my femme items in the checked luggage. I am thinking i may have some shoes in my carry-on. Maybe some face products that could be use by men or women. i don't think it will cause too much, but i am willing to say they are mine. Thank so much.

- - - Updated - - -

Thank you, Racquel, So you keep your forms in the white box? I see. I was going to put mine in a clear baggie, but i will keep them in the white box, i prefer it. just write "breast forms" on the box... ok What they check in the checked luggage is fine with me. I just don't want them waving my breast forms and dresses all over the place at the security check point. Thank you. again. :love:

- - - Updated - - -

Thank you Claire. I think your right, i am over-thinking everything. I tend to do that often....lol. I will pack my femme items in my big suitcase. I also will have a garment bag. I hope I don't have any problems. I probably won't. I am just nervous since this is my first time traveling with my femme items.

[docrobbysherry]

As long as u pack your silicone forms in your checked bag you'll have no problems. U can carry or even wear foam forms and no one at TSA will bat an eye!:thumbsup:

Been there! I had to remove silicone items from my checked bag because it was over weight. The folks in line got quite an eye full with my forms and prosthesis scattered about. Traveling alone and in drab, 1000's of miles from home, the airline agent was a lot more embarrassed than I was!:devil:

No will care or notice any other fem items in your carry on.:battingeyelashes:

[Suzie Petersen]

Cassie: Maybe some face products that could be use by men or women. i don't think it will cause too much, but i am willing to say they are mine.
Nobody at the TSA has time to speculate if anything you have is for you or a female friend, or your dog for that matter. They honestly do not care, why would they. Again, it is just your luggage and you packed it, end of story.

However, for anything liquid, make sure you are below the limit for how large a volume you are allowed to have with you. That they Do care about and they will take it from you if there is more than allowed.

It is called the 3.1.1 rule: "3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) per container, and one quart-sized bag per passenger" (and it all has to fit in that one bag)

This goes for toothpaste too, and again .... nobody cares who uses the toothpaste!

Another piece of advise: TSA agents are not actually real humans! They are bread in a government lab in test tubes, and the Humor gene has been deleted in their DNA. Do not try to be funny, make small talk, talk about the weather, they do not know how to handle that. Just do as you are told, answer what they ask truthfully, and show them whatever they want to see.
It really REALLY is not a problem! Look forward to your trip and don't spend a minute worrying about the TSA, you will be fine.

PS: Apologies to any TSA agents who happens to be reading this. I mean no disrespect, it is actually just a joke ...... wait a minute, you wouldn't get the joke anyway, would you now .... well, never mind! ;)

[Cassie2024]

Thank you, Genifer. I will be traveling in boy mode. I am flying out of Texas where one never knows how such things will go so it's best be safe than sorry. One of my dreams is to go throughout the day in Cassie mode. I will find out at Transweek. I'll be dressed for most of the day and evening. From my conversations, I do not have to dress 100% of the time, just what is comfortable for me. So, I am hoping for a good experience. The event is in Provincetown, so I;ll be in a very friendly place. I got to say, receiving the replies from everyone really made me feel great. I don't feel so lost. Thank you :love:

[CynthiaD]

Don?t worry about TSA. I?ve been patted down many times. I always travel in male mode, but underdressed. I?ve been patted down wearing a bra, with the agent paying close attention to the back strap. I had one agent ask me if I were wearing some sort of band around my waist, and I said I was wearing pantyhose and that was the end of it. Another said that my underwear was really tight and I said "yep!" And that was the end of it. I?m over 75, so I don?t have to take my shoes off anymore, but when I did it was obvious that I was wearing sheer pantyhose with painted toenails. I got a smile from a female agent once, but never anything else. (I always wear pantyhose on flights to help with circulation while sitting for long periods.) TSA doesn?t care how you are dressed as long as you aren?t carrying anything dangerous. Have a great flight.

Oh yeah, I always fly out of Texas.

[racquelr]

Hi Cassie - yes, I kept my breast forms in the box they came in as I felt they'd be better protected that way than just putting them in a bag.
And as Suzie said, it probably wasn't the breast forms that triggered the TSA inspections of my checked bag - it was probably the adult "toys" :heehee: that triggered an inspection as I would assume they probably have a density more similar to plastic explosives (or the TSA agents were just curious/nosy :) )

[Robyn n TN]

If you are taking your breast forms in your carryon bag expect it to be checked by the TSA agent. In the scanner they look like possible explosives. If you are wearing them , there probably isn't going to be an issue. It could depend on if they see you as male or female and which they select on the body scanner. As far as the clothes they won't even care.

Good luck and have fun

[Cassie2024]

Thank you, Robyn. I think I'll have them in the packed and checked luggage. So, the agents behind the scenes probably will open the box, which is fine with me. Hopefully, they won't damage them, but I won't be there with gawking eyes on me.

[Sometimes Steffi]

Hi Cassie - yes, I kept my breast forms in the box they came in as I felt they'd be better protected that way than just putting them in a bag.

I've found that carrying them in the box that they came in doesn't work for me. The box that they came in is way too big and takes up too much room in my suitcase. The box that they came in also crushes and deforms easily.

So, I've come up a different way. I store them and travel with them in "Tupperware" containers. Technically, they're made by Rubbermaid. I get the curvy kind of container made for storing soup or other liquids. I just have to pick an appropriate size, which I do visually. Mine look like 343180 (https://www.rubbermaid.com/food-storage/everyday-use-containers/easyfindlids/easyfindlids-medium-food-storage-container-square/SAP_2067180.html).

These Rubbermaid containers can be bought just about anywhere. I typically get them at the grocery store or at a dollar store.

I took my breast forms in my carryon so I'd have some control about how they were handled. When I went through security, when the TSA guy noticed the and looked at me, I just shrugged my shoulders and didn't offer any explanation. But, I'm sure that I wasn't the first guy travelling with silicone breast forms that they' ever seen.

[Cassie2024]

I never thought about that Steffi... thanks :)

[abby054]

The TSA catches my breastforms in my carryon about one time in three. When they do, they give them a cursory glance and tell me to have a nice flight.

Never, never, never let the TSA get you onto a private room. I found from experience that it is unwise and dangerous.

[racquelr]

The Rubbermaid/Tupperware containers are a good idea Steffi.
They would take up less room than the original boxes, however, the boxes I had had plastic inserts to help the forms retain their shape - they were really soft silicone asymmetric forms I got from Glamour Boutique waaaaay back when the main store was still in Massachusetts. They were my first (and pretty expensive at the time) so I was doing all I could to make sure they didn't get damaged in any way.

[Sometimes Steffi]

Some of the Rubbermaid containers are more round than square. The forms fit very nicely in them. I thought of lining the bottoms of the containers with cotton balls to maintain the form shape, but it wasn't necessary. The forms had sufficient form to withstand being in the containers with the tit first.

YMMV

[Genifer Teal]

Since I leave glue on mine. Don't clean it off every time. I have to be a little careful where I place them for storage. I found the best way to carry them is face-to-face with a slim cd case between them. It's just the right size and because it's stiff, it's easy to separate them. They end up becoming this somewhat round blob.