I agree with you on the "shoe tester". It lets the non profiled shoe wearers a heads up.
I suggest your mother-in-law wear what is called airport safe (low and no shank). If she wears shoes over one (1) inch high and doesn't want to divest them she will be directed to secondary screening. If the shoes alarm when being wanded, they must be x-rayed - this x-ray will also satisfy the profiled shoe scrutiny. If they do not alarm, a screener must conduct the required ETD search, or submit the shoes for x-ray inspection if no ETD is available.
Hope this helps.
Originally Posted by ND Sol
Bart and TSAMGR, thanks for the quick responses. Perhaps I am dense about certain aspects or maybe it is because certain procedures have been entrenched in my mind from traveling.
I certainly understand that TSA is looking for more than metal shanks, but at least the shoe box gives a warning of one of the two things that will cause additional screening. And if it is "criteria" footwear, would not you be told before you walk through that it meets the "criteria"?
Am I correct in understanding that if my shoes do alarm that explosive detection technology can be used and my shoes will not have to be taken off to go through x-ray? If so, then how does this prevent a knife (not that it should be prevented, but that is for another thread on another day) from being found in my shoes then?
I will be traveling with my mother-in-law on Wednesday and she is pretty unhappy when has to take off her shoes (she is so easy-going that when something does get to her, you tend to sit up and take notice). So if what I am understanding is true, then if she alarms she can ask for the explosive detection technology review and will not have to have to remove her shoes. She would probably be happy to hear that.