<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by meek99:
. . .be prepared to take your shoes off because in seattle, no matter how much you convince them that your shoes "get through other security lines", they'll still make you take your shoes off. (for me this is a peeve - i absolutely hate it). </font>
Yes, and this causes exceptional amounts of backup once you get into the queues for the individual metal detectors/Xray machines, which isn't cured by being Elite. *feh*. A copy of the public release from Thousands Standing Around, dated 07/10/2003 appears to give individual operators exceptional latitude in this regard. And I quote...
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Screeners have been given explicit guidance on which shoes require X-ray screening. Loy said screeners are being instructed to encourage passengers to remove their shoes and submit them for X-ray examination. Passengers will not be required to take off their shoes before going through metal detectors, but should understand that their chances of being selected for a more thorough, secondary screening will be lower if they do. In most airports, TSA has found checkpoint lines move faster if people remove their shoes for screening. </font>
The way I read this, *even if the magnetometer does not alarm*, refusal to take off your shoes allows the drones to decide that you need to "assume the position". Feh. Of the west coast airports I frequent, SEA is batting 1.000 in forcing me to remove shoes when I do not have a magnetometer alarm.
Eric, Rantingly
BTW, I agree - the best route from downtown by car is to take Hwy 99 south to 509. Additionally, rather than following the signs to the airport, stay on 509 to the 188th exit (where it looks like the highway is ending), and come around the south end of the Airport, turning left onto International Drive. It's much less likely to be boggy, and gets you into the garages quicker.