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Dear Carol, I just read an article about a woman who was on a plane or maybe getting ready to board, and she got taken away by security because there was a vibrator going off in her bag. She explained it and yet the security people held it up anyway where others could see it. This really concerns me because I travel a lot and of course I carry a toy or two with me. You can't always just watch those hotel TVs, right? But I definitely do not want an experience like this poor woman's to happen to me, and I wondered if you had any comments or any advice about this. --Nervous Traveler Dear Nervous, Yes, of all the reasons these days to be nervous, we'd hope that traveling with your toys would be the *relaxing* choice, not a nerve-wracking one. After all, a nice orgasm -- or even neck massage -- right after checking into the hotel can make the stresses of travel seem to melt away. But even before air travel became extra-scary for people, this question was on the lips of frequent flyers. While working on the floor at Good Vibrations I answered it dozens of times: How can I take my toys with me and feel comfortable about it? The woman in question may well walk away with some of the airline's money, and good for her. It sounds like this issue was handled poorly and that there may have been elements of sexual harassment involved. Since large amounts of money lost in lawsuits *does* seem to fuel corporate change, perhaps there will be few of these cases in the future. But it's better to be safe than sorry, so let's look at this woman's story for Sex Toy Travel Rule Number One: Take the batteries out before you pack it! Many vibrators have on/off switches that can easily be jostled when packed with other items, and buzzing bags are not looked on calmly at airport security. If you're carrying a buzzy toy, disarm it before you fly. Ditto for your beeping travel alarm clock. Corollary travel rule: Carry a few extra batteries along with the ones you took out. You'd hate to be in a motel far from home when the vibrator loses its juice. She did the right thing with Rule Number Two: Pack your toy in your checked luggage rather than in your carry-on, unless it's your intent to join the Mile-High Club all by yourself once the plane is in the air. (In that case, you may be enough of an exhibitionist that having your sex toy held aloft would feel like a thrill, not a humiliation.) Reason: It's probably more likely a boarding area checker will see the X-ray outline of your special gizmo and want to inspect it further than that you'll be pulled out of line because someone at Baggage Check is concerned. Number Three: Many toys have vaguely rocket-like shapes that may, in this era of heightened security consciousness, look suspicious to a checker who sees its silhouette. I'm not suggesting you get rid of your favorite Smoothie, but choosing something with a different shape may increase your toy's chances of traveling incognito. Another shape might attract attention, too: The more realistic (penis-looking, that is), the more likely a toy is to attract the attention of the checker who's looking for a cheap thrill. Of course, that's what lands people with sexual harassment lawsuits -- but if you are looking to avoid toys that may attract unwanted attention, maybe it's best to go for the alternatively-shaped sort of dildo or vibe. Candida Royalle's shapely Natural Contours series, while a bit mild in their vibration for some women's taste, was designed for discretion. And who's going to see the familiar shape of Hello Kitty in your bag and think "sex toy"? (Well, granted, if your checker is a Good Vibes customer s/he'll know the score, but hopefully this will not lead to undue scrutiny.) The rubber ducky-shaped Rub My Duckie is even more camouflaged, and later you can float it in your big hotel bathtub. Electric plug-in vibrators like the Hitachi Magic Wand or Wahl Coil, while more weighty than those petite battery models, have the advantage of dual identity -- sure, you can use them to get a supremely satisfying clitoral buzz, but they're also great for your sore muscles. If asked about one of these, it's just as correct to say "That's my massager" as "That's my personal love 'droid, and I'll thank you to take your disrespectful hands off it." While no one (except, granted, a few over-the-top exhibitionists) *wants* this sort of thing to happen, it's important to keep a couple of things in mind: First, the airline hires security personnel to check things out, and when they do so, they're just doing their bit to keep us all safe. However, the airline does *not* hire people whose job description includes sexual harassment; if airline or airport personnel are not appropriate and respectful, take names -- and complain loudly. This leads to the second point: You have a right to your toys, whether you call them massagers or anything else, and while it's inappropriate to have undue attention called to them, *there is nothing wrong with you having them*. If you're really scared something like this will happen to you, just rehearse this phrase: "That is a personal care item, it is not dangerous, and it is inappropriate of you to make it public. Please reassure yourself that it is not a threat as quickly and discreetly as possible." If that does not get a professional response, add the magic words, "or I will contact my attorney." One more
thing: Even before security consciousness got so high, people who traveled
with SM toys ran a greater risk of having their stuff taken. If your toybag
includes things like bullwhips and handcuffs and you're attempting to
carry them on the plane, you will very likely be stopped, and it's possible
your toys will be confiscated. It might be best to keep these sorts of
toys at home and travel light; at the very least, check these items through.
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