Topline
The Transportation Security Administration has reportedly begun allowing travelers at some airports in the country to complete their pre-flight security screening without removing their shoes, ending a nearly two-decade-long rule.
TSA agents verify passengers identities on a checkpoint at Miami International Airport.
Key Facts
According to several outlets, the TSA has begun implementing the change at several major airports, including New York’s La Guardia and Los Angeles International Airport.
CBS News reported that the rule change is being rolled out in a phased manner, starting with Baltimore/Washington, Fort Lauderdale, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Portland, Philadelphia and Piedmont Triad international airports.
The New York Times confirmed the rule change, citing an anonymous source and reported that the TSA started implementing the new procedure in “recent days.”
While the agency has not officially confirmed the move, it told various outlets that the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security are “always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture.”
The travel newsletter Gate Access was the first to report the internal TSA move over the weekend, which said the White House will officially announce the change in protocol.
The report noted that the TSA has updated its guidance on the matter internally, has begun informing TSA officers nationwide, and is revising its Standard Operating Procedures.
What Was The Shoes-Off Rule Implemented?
The TSA implemented the rule requiring passengers to take off their shoes before their pre-flight security scan in 2006. At the time, the TSA stated that the shoe removal rule applied to all types of footwear and said it was being implemented after the DHS raised the threat level for the U.S. aviation sector. The rule came in nearly five years after authorities uncovered the “Shoe-Bomber” plot, where a British man named Richard Reid, who was a self-proclaimed al-Qaeda operative, attempted to detonate explosives hidden inside his shoe while flying onboard an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami. The plot was foiled and the plane was able to safely land in Boston after other passengers and the cabin crew subdued Reid.
Were There Any Exemptions To The Shoes-Off Policy?
In 2011, the TSA updated its rules to allow children who are 12 and younger to go through screening without removing their shoes. The agency said: “Intelligence and history have shown that allowing (young) passengers to leave their shoes on poses little risk.” Travelers who signed up for the T.S.A.’s PreCheck trusted traveler program were also allowed to keep their shoes on during security screenings.
Tangent
The end of the shoe removal policy comes a couple of months after another significant change, which now requires travelers to carry a “REAL ID” or one of a few other compliant forms of identification to move through security checkpoints at the airport. The TSA told Forbes that travelers without a REAL ID or approved alternative documents will be subject to extra screening at airports which could cause them to miss their flights.
Further Reading
Passengers at some U.S. airports no longer have to remove footwear, sources say (CBS News)
T.S.A. to Let Travelers Keep Their Shoes On, Ending Hated Rule (New York Times)
REAL ID Deadline Is Today–Here’s What You’ll Need To Fly (Forbes)
