After nearly two decades of wrestling with footwear at airport security, the Transportation Security Administration is finally stepping back from its dreaded shoes-off policy. According to travel newsletter Gate Access and confirmed by several major news outlets, the TSA has officially started allowing travelers to keep their shoes on during screenings at select U.S. airports.
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An internal memo reportedly went out to TSA agents last week, signaling a nationwide rollout of the new policy beginning this Sunday. While the agency hadn't officially confirmed the change at the time, a spokesperson said: "TSA and DHS are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture. Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels."
That official channel dropped the new during a July 8 news conference: Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, announced that the long-standing shoes-on policy is no longer in effect. “TSA will no longer require travelers to remove their shoes when they go through our security checkpoint," Noem said.
While TSA PreCheck members have strolled through security with shoes securely on for a while now, this update extends the privilege to the rest of us. Just be aware that you’ll be asked to remove your shoes for further screening if you set off the scanner. Airports where passengers have reported this new freedom so far include Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore/Washington, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Portland, Philadelphia and North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad. LaGuardia is also said to be allowing passengers to keep their shoes on.
The original shoe-removal rule was introduced in 2006, five years after Richard Reid attempted to ignite explosives hidden in his shoes on a flight from Paris to Miami. That single incident shaped a generation of airport security policy, despite growing criticism over the years about its effectiveness and the hassle it adds to the screening process. Here's hoping the liquids rule goes by the wayside, too!