One of the most loathed rituals in U.S. airport security — taking off your shoes — may soon be a thing of the past.
According to a report from Gate Access via The New York Times, the Transportation Security Administration is beginning to quietly phase out mandatory shoe removal at standard airport security checkpoints. While the policy change hasn’t been formally announced, the Times reports TSA officers at several airports across the country have reportedly started allowing travelers to keep their shoes on, even if they aren’t enrolled in PreCheck.
For now, the change seems to be in pilot mode at select airports. A TSA spokesperson told the NYT that, along with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the organization is “always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture.”
What This Means for Travel Advisors
While PreCheck still offers speedier lines and added perks, this update could make standard airport security just a little less miserable for your clients and easier for you to explain.
It also helps level the playing field a bit. For clients who don’t travel often enough to justify expedited programs, this is one less pain point to navigate at the airport. And for families, older travelers, or those with accessibility concerns, it’s a small shift that could make a big difference in the overall experience.
A Bit of Background
The shoe-removal rule dates to 2001, when British national Richard Reid tried to detonate explosives hidden in his sneakers during a transatlantic flight. For over two decades, passengers have had to take off shoes at security unless they were in PreCheck or fit certain age exemptions.
Now, as full-body scanners and improved threat detection technologies become more widespread, the TSA appears to be reevaluating which rules are still essential.
While there’s no official timeline for a national rollout, the shift seems to be happening, and it’s worth keeping clients informed. The TSA may still require shoe removal depending on the airport, security line, or screener’s discretion. But for now, we’ll take the win where we can get it.
Bottom line: The era of sock-footed shuffles through security may soon be behind us. We’ll be watching for official confirmation, but in the meantime, it’s a great time to give clients a quick airport tip and let them know they may not need to unlace on their next trip.
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