I recently flew en femme, and it was an adventure as usual; perhaps more than necessary.
Because of my point of origin and who was driving me to the airport it was impossible for me to embark from the start en femme. I began my travel day at a small regional airport traveling in Guy Mode.
I had a long layover at the major airport hub, and my plan was to do my changeover from Guy Mode into Ilene there. I knew there was a MAC counter and a fancy nail salon in the airpot where I could be made up.
I underdressed as much as I could, and pack my carry on case with my female clothes accessible on top. Upon landing from my first flight leg I raced to the MAC store in the airport. I explained to the clerk/ tech that I needed a make up job. She figured out on her own WHY I would want a makeover. She was almost funny in how non-plussed she was about the possibility of doing my face. I inquired next if they had a small back room in the store where I might discreetly change into my skirt. The store unfortunately lacked such a space but my tech explained that there was a restroom on the second deck that was located near a small administrative office that was seldom used.
Up a flight of stairs I found the women's restroom (empty) and secured myself in the larger disabled stall. In a matter of a few minutes, that seemed like forever, I donned my skirt, top, wig and put in my forms. No other woman entered the restroom while I was there and I was in and out slickly. Perhaps too slickly.
I scampered back a few doors down to the MAC store before too many people noticed me without makeup. During my quick walk it occurred to me that I might have violated some federal law. First, I was moving about in a highly monitored public space; nearly every inch under surveillance of some kind. I had made it past the security barrier; the regional airport where I entered the travel stream as Guy Me. I came out on the other side of that security barrier in an entirely new identity as Ilene. I changed identities once I got past TSA.
I went on to have a fantastic make over by artist Hallah. Nothing came of my Change Of Identity that I know of. At leas no TSA agents came to check out the large woman in the brown skirt and top. I'll keep the story of my make over and flight for late (just to keep it short). I had a great time flying en femme and made it home safely after a long, long travel.
But I'm curious on the Forum advice. Certainly, and looking back, I might not wish to take such a level of risk again. Changing in what was essentially a public restroom was admittedly "seedy" and not optimal. But I wonder about accidentally having a serious security violation. Your experience and legal interpretation?
In the MAC Store (taken by Halla)-FC.jpg
In the MAC store after the make over. Fit for travel.