A flight to remember!
Hello everyone!
Hope all is well.
Just wanted to share with you another one of my lastest greatest outting adventures.
Last week, I spent my vacation in the great city of Chicago and boy was that a great time.
To start out my trip, I flew up dressed in femme.
Yes. I can officialy say that I have flown in femme and what an AMAZING experience that was.
I got up early in the morning (5:00AM), put on my makeup, and changed.
I wore was a business woman type outfit consisting of a black button down business suit top, light grey pencil skirt, Hanes barely there pantyhose, and black pumps, basically, an outfit for a lady going on a business trip.
Once I was done, I made one last check to make sure I had everything and I was out the door and on the road.
It was 6:30AM, and the morning traffic was quite busy. What made it worse was the pouring rain so what should've taken me about 20 minutes actually took me close to 45 minutes.
Well, I still got to the airport early enough so that if there were any issues, I could go back to my car, change into some male clothes (which I left in the car), and still be on the plane on time.
I found a spot in long-term parking, parked, gathered all my things, and proceeded to walk towards the airport entrance. It was definitely warm outside and it didn't help that it was still raining so the humidy made it feel even worse. :mad:
I wished I had parked closer because it was such a long hike pulling an 70+ lb suitcase and a 20+lb garment bag while wearing 3 inch pumps. When I finally got into the airport, I still had a ways to go before I got to baggage check-in because it was all the way in the other side. GREAT!
Once I got to baggage check-in, I was tired and a sweating and hoping my makeup didn't melt so I felt a somewhat nervous. I stayed calm and walked up to an attendant, directing flow of passengers, and said hello. She greeted me back with a pleasant good morning and directed me where to go. I thanked her and lined up behind a few other passengers waiting for the next open terminal.
As I waited in line, I took a moment to gather myself and cool down. Again, I was afraid that all the sweating would cause my makeup to be in total dissarray, but when I quickly looked at my compact mirror, everything was ok. Whew!
I when it was my turn, the attendant got my attention and pointed to an open terminal so I gathered my things and walked up. I pulled out my credit card and e-ticket boarding pass then proceeded to enter my information.
Once I was done, another attendant came up and asked for my male ID and credit card so I presented it to her.
She looked them over, confirmed everything and handed them back to me.
Then, she proceeded to take care of my baggage. She asked how many I was checking in and I said two so I put my garment back on the scale, and she tagged it, and then my suitcase. Unfortunately, she noticed that it was overweight and said that I could pay $50 or I could take out some items, but just said no and that I'll just pay it so I gave her my credit card again. She charged it, gave me my receipt, tagged my suitcase, and said to have a nice flight. I said thank you and headed to the boarding terminal.
Everything went smoothly, so far, and my only little hitch was paying for the excess weight, but it didn't matter to me. I made it through the baggage check-in without any issues and so I was feeling pretty good.
After the check-in area, I went up the escalator and over to the shuttle to take me to the boarding terminals.
Before anyone can board the shuttle, passengers must present their ID and boarding pass to airport officials, and so I did. The lady attendant looked at my male ID, checked it with my boarding pass, and when she was done gave it back and said thank you. I thanked her and proceeded to wait for the shuttle to arrive.
When it arrived, I walked in and sat down next to a GG. As we rode the shuttle, we didn't say anything to each other and waited for it to get to the other side.
Went it stopped, we walked out, and entered the TSA ID check point.
There were two lines leading to security and so I took the one on the left following behind another woman passenger.
The line I was in was a little backed up so the security offical in the other line gestured to me, called me "Ma'am", and said I could come on his side, since he was open.
So, I walked up to him, smiled and said hello, gave him my ID, and boarding pass. He greeted me back, checked my ID and my boarding pass, and then gave them back. He smiled and said to go ahead and proceed to the check point and have a nice day. I thanked him and then lined up behind a few ladies loading their things on the conveyer belt.
When it was my turn, I took off my pumps and put them, along with everything else (i.e., purse, carry-on bag, ziplock bag, etc.), into a plastic bin and slid them on the conveyer belt.
A security official on the other side gestured for me to walk through the screener and so I did. As I went through I didn't set off the alarm or anything and when the offical asked to see my boarding pass I gave it to him and then he checked it briefly. After he was done, he gave it back and so I went over to other end of the conveyer belt and began to retrieve all my things. Once I was done, I walked over to the ladies room to check myself one more time. Everything looked good so I powdered my face, fixed my outfit, and freshened up.
After I finished touching up, I walked out to get a quick snack so I went over to the gift shop and bought some cookies and a magazine (In Style). When I went up to pay the cashier, she greet me with a pleasant good morning and so I kindly greeted her back. After I paid, she bagged everything and said to have a nice flight.
I, then, I walked over to the concession stand to get some orange juice then sat at open table.
I sat for a while eating while reading my mazagine and once I finished with my snack, I walked over to the gate and sat patiently in the waiting area.
Once they announced that boaring will begin, I got up and quietly waited until it was my turn.
As I was waiting, a middle aged GG came up next to me and asked if the boarding had started and I pleasantly said yes and said that they're currently boarding special passengers. She said ok and then went back to minding her own business.
When it was my turn, I walked up to the attendant, handed her my boarding pass, and she waved it under the scanner.
Once it confirmed it, she handed it back and said to have a nice flight.
Woo hoo!! I said to myself. I made it though baggage check-in and the TSA security check point all without a hitch.
I felt so ecstatic that body was tingling. I was smiling with joy as I was walking down the tarmac and into the plane.
When I entered the plane, the stewardesses pleasantly greeted me and so I did the same.
The plane was almost full and, as I was walking down the isle, I noticed that nobody gave me a blink of an eye or a stare.
Once I found my seat, I put my carry-on bag in the overhead bin, sat down, buckled my seatbelt, kicked off my heels, and got comfortable.
I sat in an isle seat next to an eldery couple and they didn't bother me.
Even the people around me didn't seem to look or stare at me.
I just minded my own business and tried to sleep through the whole flight.
The flight went well and was quite relaxing. The total time flying was about 2 1/2 hours.
When the stewardesses where giving passengers their complimentary drinks, I had no issues when they came up to me.
Again, they were very courteous and didn't treat me any differently.
Once we landed at Chicago O'Hare, I gathered my things and proceed to walk up the isle towards the exit.
The flight crew said goodbye and to have a pleasant visit. I said thank you and walked up the tarmac through to the airport waiting area. The terminal was very busy, but I just minded my own business and followed the signs to the baggage claim area. As I was walking, I would briefly glanced around to see if anyone spotted me, but nobody was.
I would get an occasional glance from a male, but I know that's expected so I just continued walking until I got to baggage claim. As I headed to the claim area, I quickly stopped in the ladies room to freshen up, and when I was done, picked up my baggage.
So far, my trip was been going very well. I went through check-in and security without any problems and my flight was as smooth as ever. My day couldn't have started any better and so I was on a high.
The last thing I needed to do was pickup my rental car so, after retrieving up my luggage, I walked outside and waited for the bus to take me to the Hertz rental center.
When the bus pulled up, the driver pleasantly greeted me asked for my name and so I gave him my male name.
He said ok, and then picked up my suitcase and my garment bag and placed them in the baggage storage area. I thanked him, walked in sat in an open seat, and waited for other passengers to arrive.
After a few minutes, the driver closed the door and proceed to drive us to the rental center.
Once we got to the rental center, again the driver picked up my luggage and placed them on the curbside.
I thanked him and he returned it with a pleasant "you're welcome", then I walked into the customer service center and over to the waiting line.
As I patiently waited, my feet were a little bit tired so I did the typical girly thing of slipping feet out of my heels and cracking my toes to loosen them up. Boy was that relieving. Anyway, I took a few moments to organize my things and get what I needed so I'll be ready for when I'm called up.
When next associate was done, she called the next person and so I walked up. She pleasantly greeted me and asked for my ID and credit card. Again, I gave her my male ID and she didn't blink an eye.
She confirmed that my ID match my credit card and then handed them back to me.
We conversed back and forth about the rental fees and other rule and regulations. She also asked me if I wanted to get insurance, but I said that I didn't need it because my car insurance would cover it.
Then, she mentioned other things about what I costs I would be responsible for if it were to get damaged.
I agreed, and then she proceed to continue processing my reservation.
The last thing she asked was whether I wanted to pay for gas now or fill the car up for returning, but I just said that I wanted to go ahead and pay now so I gave her my credit card and she charged it.
Once she was done, she handed back my card and gave me my final instructions and also how to find my car.
She said to have a pleasant visit and I said thank you then left.
I found my car, put my luggage in the trunk, and was on my way.
Woo hoo! Chicago here I come!
That was just the beginning of my trip and what a WONDERFUL experience it was.
To fly in femme was something I had been thinking about doing, but didn't have an opportunity to actually do it until now.
Leading up to that flight, I had debated whether I should do it, but then I was inspired by Monika (MonikaW), Jennifer (JennMW), and Aleria's experiences so then I said to myself that I should just go for it and so I did.
Everyone from the attendants in baggage claim, security, and the rental office was very kind and courteous and they treated me no differently.
I made sure to be friendly and cooperative and everyone gave me the same respect.
After going through that experience, I would have no problem with flying in femme again.
I can't wait for the next opportunity.
Stayed tuned for more details on this trip.
Hugs!
and maybe a little dazed LOL. Even though I'm pretty much not concerned with most stuff that part of your experience would have shaken me a little
(which is why I had my name and IDs (with pics) legally changed).
I never had a doubt you'd do so well. Thanx too for this lovely thread describing your experience- it really is motivational to alot of others out there. Oh, and for the record, you looked as lovely as ever 
though I might've suggested the school girl outfit! 
