Flying without female ID, what's your experience?

Comment by Katelynn T on April 8, 2012 at 1:56pm

Just say you have a show do to in Vegas and that's why your all dressed up.  LOL only kidding, to bad you they won't let you have a id with female on it.  good luck!  dear

Comment by Marsha M. Marsha on April 8, 2012 at 2:50pm

I had no problems when I flew as Marsha bearing the ID of the old me, but I only did it once. Of course now there is no inconsistancy since I have had an ID/ gender marker change. Do it and have fun.

Comment by Randi Wallace on April 8, 2012 at 3:24pm

Your ID and Name listed on your flight tickets MUST MATCH,

Comment by Calista on April 8, 2012 at 3:51pm

I had no problems, too. I had a letter from my therapist, just in case, but didn't need it. The whole security check went as normal. The only difference was that I got frisked by a female agent.

Comment by BreeAnn Michelle on April 8, 2012 at 6:19pm

Randi, The names on the ID and my ticket will match. It's the picture of a totally bald male  that I'm concerned about. :)

Comment by Dal Maxwell on April 8, 2012 at 7:01pm

Bree - I believe that the TSA is addressing this in some regard; you may want to do a 'little' research on their website.  I can't speak for my own experiences because when I flew before the only thing that didn't match was the gender marker on my passport.  No one hassled me about that, if they even realized it. 

Honesty is always the best policy in cases like this; even a joke about normally being bald, if presented gently and humorously can still melt the hearts of those folks.  If it happens to be slow(er) when you are going thru security, you might even flag down one of the TSA Agents and 'explain' your circumstances.  The WORST that will happen is that they will make you change on the spot.  As to changing in the bathroom, remember that you have to present your ID again upon boarding.  If it doesn't match at that point, you may luck out and you may not.  If you don't, kiss your flight goodbye.

Whatever you do, don't jeopardize your weekend over a need to indulge yourself.  You will have time enough to enjoy the environment; make sure you GET THERE!

Comment by Brenda English on April 8, 2012 at 7:04pm

Well i doubt you would have any issues in Canada but my last flight into Detroit, while waiting for my passengers i heard that the airlines are now ensuring gender on ID matches person presented. I have no confirmation about this except there were a few articles in the news a few months ago if I remember.

Now I dont use the public areas but park our aircraft at a FBO.  I still go thru security as everyone else but more personal.  My Passport and health card still display "M" but my drivers lic displays "F".  They have never questioned me about not matching but sure it is because we dont go thru an airline and public security.

So if i were you i would either call your airline first or be prepared not to go.  best of luck BreeAnn

Comment by Amanda-Wayne Roberts on April 8, 2012 at 8:22pm

Bree...

I flew from Boston to Las Vegas and back last month.  The TSA has a whole page for us...

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/transgender.shtm

I am no lawyer but it basically says that your the name and gender on your gov id needs to match that on your ticket, but your representation on your id does not and they aren't really suppose to make you take off prosteticts to show your gender. 

My experience isn't a pure one because although my drivers lic shows my male name and M as the gender, I have a female picture in it.  So to comply I bought my ticket under my male name and listed myself as male. 

I experienced no difficulty at all. in my travels.  From now on I will only travel trans. 

Oh and just a little note which I am sure you know.  I ended up having layovers both in Detroit and Atlanta.  Not knowing if MI and GA had trans accommodation laws, I was very happy to find that all the airports I was in had the family bathrooms.  These were great because it gave me so isolation time because I am 6'2" and although I look good, I literally stand out.  I was able to touch up my make up and regroup in there...

Here is a picture of me in the Detroit airport...

Comment by Brenda English on April 8, 2012 at 8:34pm

Bree, here is the post from TSA which confirms your gender has to match your name and ID

The traveler will show their government-issued identification and boarding pass to an officer to ensure the identification and boarding pass are authentic and match. Transgender travelers are encouraged to book their reservations such that they match the gender and name data indicated on the government-issued ID

I think you will still get thru but will get extra attention.  I also think it will be different depending on which airport and domestic or international perhaps...

best of luck and let us know how it goes. 

Comment by Caroline Grace on April 9, 2012 at 4:39am

Until 2 years ago I flew several times with my old ID but with my outside being me. I blogged about it several hundred blogs ago.  Simply said, I presented myself and the ID.  Once I had a screener call her supervisor over. he looked at the ticket and my driver's license and and then called me over. "What's your last name?", he asked. "Temmermand", I replied.  "Have a nice flight."  No special screening, no pat downs, no luggage searches. That was it. On another flight, I simply presented the ID and was passed through.And all of these flights were to or from the greater Washington, DC area, which is high security.

I used to have a carry letter from my therapist but never once needed it.

My suggestion is leave early enough if they delay you by 15 minutes you won't miss your flight... Be prepared that you may have a different experience but I doubt you will.  You may also want to read the following link from TSA for more information.

BTW, it never crossed my mind until just reread their guidelines. Always use the gender that matches the ID documents you present. I get that a driver's license (operator's license)  may have one gender, passports another, and social security (US) yet another. Keep things aligned and it can be a total non-event. And if screened you can ask for it to be done in a private room.  Having had others friends who have flown in this situation, I can't recall one ever getting singled out for other than a brief moment like my situation above, though there are likely to be some situations that some may report, I doubt this will happen.  You are going to Vegas, aren't you?  They are used to things there...

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/transgender.shtm

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