Originally Posted by Bart
From a screener point of view, our job is to make sure certain shoes are either screened by x-ray or scanned by ETD sampling. It's the passenger's choice. We cannot tell you to take off your shoes; however, we CAN recommend you remove them or undergo secondary screening. Again, it's your choice.
Given that the usual choice at IAD is shoes off or secondary, i.e., no swab option, let me get this straight - I cannot be
ordered to take my shoes off even in secondary?
I have specifically asked for the swab and been denied that option. I have been told that it was
not my choice, i.e.,
not my decision to make. I have been told that if I go to secondary I will be ordered to take my shoes off, "if I want to fly today".