The Situation:
I had an opportunity to fly to another city to attend a trade conference. I seriously doubted that I would meet anybody I know, so I figured that this would be a perfect opportunity to take an entire trip en-femme! Unfortunately, I don't dress 100% en-femme, so all my government issued identity cards still have my male name on them.
After some research on the web, talking with friends and a TSA official, I was convinced that this is doable, so I made my reservations (in my male name) for the airline tickets.
Travel Day:
I'll have to admit that I was apprehensive. I wore a cute top, fashionable jeans, and flats. You still have to take your shoes off, and I have seen too many women struggle with getting tall boots on and off in the security line, and thought that this was too much to hassle with on this trip.
I first walked up to the airline counter to check my luggage, and the nice lady did look me up and down twice, finally smiled with a slight lean to her head, and wished me good travels. I passed the first hurdle!
I then stood in line and eventually reached the first security checkpoint, where they verify your identity. I gave them my passport (more on this in the homework section below) and my boarding pass, and waited. No bells went off. No doors flew open with storm troopers coming out. The TSA man did look at my face closely several times, then made the appropriate notations on the boarding pass, and said "Thank you" with a nod of his head towards the next line. That was it! I made it!
The X-ray line was cakewalk, as I had already taken all my jewelry off and was not wearing an underwire bra, so I collected my handbag and shoes, and off to the gate where I put my earrings, necklace, watch and bangles back on.
The rest of the trip was uneventful, and I was even asked if I needed help in collecting my luggage off the conveyor.
The Return Trip:
This was also the same treatment, looking between my face and the passport several times, but then saying "Thank you" and that was it!
So here is your homework:
- Plan on traveling en-femme when it's appropriate!
- Stay calm and collected when you travel. If you appear very anxious or uneasy, they will pick up on that and you will raise a red flag with security.
- I would strongly suggest that you carry your driver's license and your passport with you when you travel, and use your passport for the identity confirmation. My logic in this is that when you take your ID out and hold it in your hand for a while, you have a larger probability of loosing it or misplacing it. Something you really don't want to do when traveling dressed! When you carry two separate IDs, even if you do happen to misplace your passport, you still have your driver’s license safely tucked away in your purse, so you can still get back home, rent a vehicle, a hotel room, and so on.
- Enjoy your self and stay in the moment. As a women, you definitely have to pay more attention to your personal safety, and staying alert to your surroundings is the first step.
Bon Voyage my friend!
