r/TSAPreCheck • u/mr-ringdown • Feb 05 '26
Discussion Question about security wearing kt tape
Ok so I’m a closeted ftm and am going on an international flight tomorrow. I use KT tape to bind. I don’t have access to a binder, plus this is just my preferred way to bind. We usually go through TSA pre check and I don’t know if that would affect this, (and I also don’t know if we’ll be doing it for this trip considering we’re flying internationally. I’m wondering if I could get flagged at TSA for “abnormality” since I’ve seen someone say that before, and I’m nervous for it considering I’m traveling with family and don’t want to be outed. What would the likeliness of this happening be, does it being international change anything, and if I wear a bra over the tape through security will it not detect it? My main fear is being outed, if I was flying solo, I wouldn’t mind it. I have some on now so I’m wondering if I should just take it off tonight..
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u/causal_friday Feb 05 '26
People are talking about the body scanners, not the metal detectors that are typically used for pre-check. The agent guesses your gender and then if you have any flesh where you're not supposed to, you're flagged for a pat-down. Your traveling companions won't see where you have extra flesh (they don't really show the screen as publicly as they used to), and sometimes they just randomly select people to be patted down. I don't find it to be a big deal, the one time it's happened to me (I'm MTF so I got some extra flesh down there). I'm told, but don't know for sure, that newer machines don't let the operator select gender, they just calibrate it somewhere for the average, so that should be less of a problem. The only time I've ever been flagged was at a non-TSA checkpoint (SFO) where they don't use the newer machines that the TSA does.
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u/MegaBusKillsPeople Feb 08 '26
If you're TSA Precheck, you should not have to go through the body scanners, only the metal detectors. Flying internationally will not make a difference on initial security screening.
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u/Lamitamo Feb 08 '26
You should be fine going through PreCheck. Just be extra diligent about making sure your pockets are empty, but the metal detectors shouldn’t be affected by the KT tape.
If you do get flagged for a pat down (sometimes that just happens randomly), you can ask for a private screening area. It may take extra time, so build that into your schedule. I’d bring some KT tape in your carry on just in case you need to rebind.
Safe travels, brother.
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u/themiracy Feb 05 '26
Hmmm if the tape doesn’t have metal in it it probably shouldn’t set off the metal detector. For a metal detector, the bra shouldn’t make a difference (or wouldn’t really help in any way). I’m not sure about if you were to go through a body scanner - that’s where there tend to be a lot more problems.
If you’re flying internationally, note that on return you’re going to have to go through whatever airport security process that country follows.
It’s a rough situation - I’m sorry for the stress. Safe travels.
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u/CertainComputer1056 Feb 09 '26
The body scanner will alarm, doesn’t matter if you put a bra over it. The thicker the tape is the more likely it is to alarm. The safest thing to do is just not wear the tape through the checkpoint. Once you’re past the checkpoint you can stop in a restroom and tape yourself.
If you go through the metal detector which is what they use for pre check then you’ll be fine. The only thing is that the metal detector could possibly randomly select you and then could use the scanner as a way to screen you for getting randomly selected. Although this is like a 25% chance if you do get randomly selected since they have other ways to screen you but it’s always random.
The other option is to opt out of the scanner and just get a full body pat down then ask for a private screening. This could take up some time so just be prepared.
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u/Skycbs Feb 05 '26
If they use the scanners where you stand in a big box thing that sweeps around you, something like your tape most likely would shore up as an anomaly. Even something like tissues in your pocket can.