Air Travel

[Sally Ann Smith]

Hi girls, :eek:

I have to go to the Netherlands soon.

It could be two days full time as Sally. With No drab what so ever.
The question is?????

Should I do it? Can i do it? Or should I quit the idea now.

It will be quite an adventure involving something like 4 train trips
4 flights (changing at London,) and a taxi ride over there, oh not forgetting the hotel

If I can pull this one off, then I can spend the rest of my life as Just Sally
Its just my way of telling the world I am who I am. Proud to be SALLY



Your thoughts would be verry welcome.

Go for it !!!!

Don't be stupid!!!!

Sally.:)

[noeleena]

hi....Sally... just one word ......go..... youll wish you had . if you dont . i know its easy for me to say ....now..... we all start some where so this will be ....o... so neat youll love it. dont think about it . like me you think as a women you are not a male ...okay ... so be your self as a female i would love to go with you . ya ya i know i am to far away. so have a neat time .....noeleena,,,,,

[reggie]

You Go girl

[Ina Serene Cowan]

Hi Sally Ann, at last Sparkle event I met a Norwegian gal who does Norway-UK flights dressed. She said she has not been busted by agents or airport security. At most ... she was asked to sign her name to verify her documentation.
Hugz
Ina

[debs_n_soots]

Hi Sally,

Before I went full time I flew to both Berlin and San Francisco - the only problem being the slight look of surprise when I handed over my passport.....actually it was nice that they were surprised! :)

No hassle, no worries - when I went thro security I even got the female 'searcher' when my belt buckle sounded the alarm.

If you're comfortable doing it then I'd say go for it - because its just another 'self-confidence' building block.

Good luck, Debs x

[Lynda Collins]

Just look at our Melissa Lilac... travels everywhere.... I believe she has a picture of Melissa inserted in the page opposite to the him picture with something like transgendered printed underneath...
Apart from that Sally enjoy the trip, I don't think for a moment you will have any problems

[Sarah Hughes]

Hi Sally,
Very brave, but do you have to make it so hard? I recall you are in the north of the UK, EasyJet fly direct to Amsterdam via Liverpool, its a nice small airport. Or maybe making it hard is the whole point? Amsterdam is a big airport, from there you can use the train into the centre, about 9 euro as I recall, and about 30 minutes.
Book your hotel online before you go, saves a fortune. I think the Victoria? think thats the name, or maybe it was the Central? right across from the central station, about 80 euros I think as opposed to almost 300 booked at the hotel, but check online and you will find the bargains.
Sure you know all about Amsterdam so i wont bore you with details.
As has been said, the security people are aware of TG issues, you shouldnt have a problem.
Good luck, and enjoy, keep us posted wont you.
Sarah

[Sally Ann Smith]

Well what can I say can't let the girls down can I !
Or should I say let myself down.
Thanks for the Support
I WILL GO

The Flights have been booked and paid for.
Just have to wait 3 weeks
so it looks as if i'm going

Passport
I have had it feminised or sort of anyway
It was due to expire soon anyway
The photo you see is now on my passport
But can't lose the horible MR

This is a true likeness of me 24/7
at home, work or where ever.
I have nothing to hide. To look at my photo you will
see--- Miss Sally Ann Smith or MR Smith ? ---as both look the same

Sally

[rachelb]

Hopefuly a nice report when you get back on how it all went, just to give the rest of us encouragement!

[Chrissy64_uk]

You only get one shot of life so go for it girl...

hugs

chrissy

[Kaity]

Do it... the best way is not to look like a victim, just look like you belong, and be yourself.

This is how I approach using the ladies public toilet and all my travel. I dont look rattled or nervous, I avoid unwanted eye contact, I look as if its the most natural place in the world for me to be!

I travelled for the first time aboard as Kaitlynn last October, also to Holland (via the Chunnel), and on my sparkly new female passport. As usual we got stopped both ways (four blokes and a girl in a mini-bus, tends to draw customs and immigration attraction). Even though they had us and all the gear out of the mini-bus, and scrutinized our passports, not a word or second glance was paid towards me.

Flying to Sweden in December also created no issues, even though I had a connection in Copenhagen (where they do passport checks even on transfers!) and one of the immigration guys there was being an ass to everyone in the queue, except me, who he glanced at, handed back my passport and waved me on.

Going to Bangkok in March was similar (also via Copenhagen!), even though coming back on April 1st (and no this isnt a joke) I looked completely different after my facial surgery to my passport photo and was wrapped up in bandages. I expected to be taken off to a small room at Bangkok on the way back, cos they take photos of you when you enter the country and another when you leave and then compare them, but the guy just waved me on after doing all of this. I had more hassle at the SAS check in desk, who were concerned about my 'air worthyness' which lead to a slight delay in them accepting me checking in.

The UK Immigration guy at Manchester wasnt happy though, but I just showed him my letter from Dr Chettawut explaining why I looked so different, and also my GP's 'covering letter' explaining my 'condition' (which I always take with me, but this was the first time it was needed). He smiled and waved me through.

If your unsure, and your going through the NHS processes, why not try to get a 'covering letter' from your GP, for 'just in case' type situations?

[Sally Ann Smith]

Well girls the day has arived
Going to Lynda and Petra's on Sunday
Due to leave Blackpool station at about 9am for Manchester airport
and fly out at 12-30
Must admit just a little aprehensive.

Sally

[jackiejones]

Good luck Sally you wont look back,wish i could join you:)

[Bernadet]

Yes the best of luck Sally. Lotsa hugs Bernadet

[Sally Ann Smith]

Hi girls

Well I did it

No problems What so ever
I will write up the story soon

posted some photos

Sally :D

PS Got off the train at Blackpool Tuesday evening walked straight down the street
Head held high, hair blowing in the wind looked every passer by in the eyes.
My name is Sally I am who I am
Thank You Girls You understand

The story and my reason for doing this trip!!!

I have read so many other girls stories over the years and said to my self WHY CAN'T I DO THAT Well yes, my poor little brain would say no reason why not, --BUT-- Its not easy, we all know that word --confidence--

Setting myself up! The very first post was just that If the girls reply in a positive way, and you all did , I would lose face if I did'nt go. Hope you all understand.

I must admit on waking up Tuesday morning in my hotel at Amsterdam and thinking im a long way from home and no were to hide! You are Sally now dont forget, just get on with it GIRL.

I planed this trip to be complicated in order to be forced to interact with as many people as possible and use only public transport

Step One

Get the Train from Blackpool to Manchester airport

Fly to London Gatwick

Fly to Shipol Amsterdam

Get local comuter train to central station

Tram to hotel

Repeat on return home


---------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday

Left Lynda and Petra's 8 am (Safe House) started my walk to the station but had to get tickets. The ladie in the kiosk smiled as I walked towards her window. I now have tickets no problem so far. The automatic bariers at the enterance had failed the porter helped me though with my bags. simple so far .

What I forgot was the train I wanted was also to comuter train to Preston it was packed standing room only. It was only the last few miles to the airport it thined out a bit.

On arival at the airport station it was up in the lift (tight fit) and along the coverd walkway to T3 to find the check in desk. Sally got lost had to ask for directions many times befor I found it.

Check in presented no problems the young man there was very helpful and called me madam even with a male passport Bording cards in hand off I went to the bit I had been dreding (Security) There they all wer serching all the passengers. Oh F-It i said to myself and I joined the que.

Eventualy it became my turn. The ladie sercurity guard just asked what have I got in my handbag. "Just a few cosmetics" I said. "Any lip gloss or perfume" she asked. I replied "no". "Just put your coat and bag in the tray and go through" she said . lucky old Sally, I did'nt go Bleep. Just collected my stuff of I went. Thats it all done, just like that, why did i worry my self sick about it.


The flight its self was realy nice only about 40 min long, the crew were fantastic tret me like a ladie well to be honest they did on all the flights it was brilliant experiance thats all I can say.

Passport control the same again no comments, they all just looked me in the eye and then the passport. Ok fine off you go. Oh I did set off the the metal detector at Gatwick. And had the privalage of the fe-male security person body serch me "Yes" wow that was nice.

Got lost when I went to get my train at shipol airport like an idiot I got on the wrong one dont know where I went but it was not Amsterdam had to make my way back to the airport and try again what a Silly girl I am.
Think about it Sally lost somwhere in Holland, ha ha can't get rid of me can you.

I met no hostility at any time

I would be quite happy to do it all again.

Any one want to join me????


Hope you are not bored


Sally

[debs_n_soots]

Glad to hear everything went so well :)

Debbie x

[Bernadet]

Sally well done.This will give you all the confidence you will ever need I am sure. hugs Bernadet

[jackiejones]

Well done sally,tell us more please;) i mean to have a chat with you Tuesday but you must have gone out on the town?
Again well done hun!
I have been on a few trains as Jackie but i have not had the guts to go overseas.

[Kaity]

It's a great feeling isn't it, I am so happy for you. :D

I sometimes wonder about the passport checks, as I said in my post coming back recently wrapped in bandages I had no problems till I got back to immigration at Manchester.

I remember reading in the news a few years ago about a woman who was rushing to get to a flight for a business meeting aboard, and picked up her husbands passport by mistake. She didn't notice till she got back home, yet she hadn't been challenged about it in either direction, nor did the hotel she stayed at query it.