^

Part of the problem however is the American public, including some FTers, who have been so conditioned by TSA that they no longer think for themselves.

I did my own little survey these past few months in my part of the world, because I am often confused how I can have a very different experience at the same airport, for the same flight, as some FTers.

Well, I found out why. At an airport where it has been confirmed over and over to me by various people that shoes do NOT need to be removed as a matter of course, Americans were removing their shoes. Not only that, they were ordering other passengers to do so, even when security told them it wasn't required.

This happens regularly at FRA and at LHR, and in this case it was CDG. Many times we see people here insist that shoe removal is required at these airports for US bound flights on US carriers, but it simply isn't the case.

People are making up their own rules, based on what occurs in the US, and then claiming it is the rule elsewhere. I realise that isn't the case every time, but I certainly witness it happening. And last week I saw it again, and again asked and was told that I was right, and everyone else was doing something they did not need to do.