Removal of Shoes at Security
Apr 27, 2021, 2:21 am
#1
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Removal of Shoes at Security
I flew the Manchester to London shuttle for the first time since the start of the pandemic last week. For some reason I was asked to remove my shoes at the First Wing in T5, apparently they ask all customers to do this now (since pandemic). Any ideas why, was not used to remove shoes at Manchester?
Apr 27, 2021, 2:34 am
#2
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T5 has decided to request shoes to be removed for the last year to reduce contact - I assume to reduced the likelihood of positives through the scanner.
MAN has decided differently and you can keep your shoes on there.
MAN has decided differently and you can keep your shoes on there.
Apr 27, 2021, 2:35 am
#3
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When I asked last year the reason they stated was because they wanted to minimise the chance you needed a secondary inspection - to reduce contact
Apr 27, 2021, 2:35 am
#4
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I flew the Manchester to London shuttle for the first time since the start of the pandemic last week. For some reason I was asked to remove my shoes at the First Wing in T5, apparently they ask all customers to do this now (since pandemic). Any ideas why, was not used to remove shoes at Manchester?
Hi,
This has been asked before iirc. I believe the aim is to reduce contact between the security personnel and the pax if the pax need a manual search and removing the shoes is the approach adopted by lhr. Not sure why man does it different.
Regards
Tbs
Apr 27, 2021, 3:16 am
#5
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MAN does it differently because it’s Heathrow that have decided to reduce contact, not mandated by the CAA.
Apr 27, 2021, 3:32 am
#6
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Do you know I really think that history will decree that a lot of nonsense was preached and practiced in the name of contact reduction. Since when did we remove shoes to go into a hospital ? I really wonder why anyone would be bothered to travel unless they had to with all the combined complications of paperwork, tests, and not even allowed a G&T at in the Lounge, and that’s just for beginners. Do they ask for shoes to be removed in any of the other Terminals?
Apr 27, 2021, 4:00 am
#7
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Do you know I really think that history will decree that a lot of nonsense was preached and practiced in the name of contact reduction. Since when did we remove shoes to go into a hospital ? I really wonder why anyone would be bothered to travel unless they had to with all the combined complications of paperwork, tests, and not even allowed a G&T at in the Lounge, and that’s just for beginners. Do they ask for shoes to be removed in any of the other Terminals?
(and yes I know it is slightly off the topic of shoes, but it is on the topic of exaggerated measures)
Apr 27, 2021, 4:14 am
#8
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Do you know I really think that history will decree that a lot of nonsense was preached and practiced in the name of contact reduction. Since when did we remove shoes to go into a hospital ? I really wonder why anyone would be bothered to travel unless they had to with all the combined complications of paperwork, tests, and not even allowed a G&T at in the Lounge, and that’s just for beginners. Do they ask for shoes to be removed in any of the other Terminals?
The logic here is that if you go through the metal detector with shoes on you are more likely to set it off than if you go through without shoes on - and if you set it off, you will need an up close and personal pay down, which is not ideal when trying to maintain distance.
Apr 27, 2021, 4:25 am
#9
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I don’t understand what point you are making in relation to hospitals.
The logic here is that if you go through the metal detector with shoes on you are more likely to set it off than if you go through without shoes on - and if you set it off, you will need an up close and personal pay down, which is not ideal when trying to maintain distance.
The logic here is that if you go through the metal detector with shoes on you are more likely to set it off than if you go through without shoes on - and if you set it off, you will need an up close and personal pay down, which is not ideal when trying to maintain distance.
Apr 27, 2021, 4:29 am
#10
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I am completely with you - I have zero intention to travel until things become remotely normal. But I can top the level of silliness you cite - here they just introduced a mask mandate for people inside private vehicles, or you will be fined 20,000 THB.. So, I can live together with my fiancee, but the second we get into our own cars together just the two of us, then we have to wear masks for..... what exactly...?
(and yes I know it is slightly off the topic of shoes, but it is on the topic of exaggerated measures)
(and yes I know it is slightly off the topic of shoes, but it is on the topic of exaggerated measures)
Apr 27, 2021, 4:33 am
#11
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I think this is common across all of LHR.
Annoying as it is, I am afraid it isn't illogical. As Scots_Al notes it reduced the possible chance of having a pat down (but of course it doesn't eliminate the possibility) and so reduces risks of transmission between passenger and security staff.
Also I am not sure the relevance of other areas of risk - we seem to be wandering in to whataboutery territory tbh - the security staff are looking at how to make their bit of the process as covid secure as they reasonably can.
Annoying as it is, I am afraid it isn't illogical. As Scots_Al notes it reduced the possible chance of having a pat down (but of course it doesn't eliminate the possibility) and so reduces risks of transmission between passenger and security staff.
Also I am not sure the relevance of other areas of risk - we seem to be wandering in to whataboutery territory tbh - the security staff are looking at how to make their bit of the process as covid secure as they reasonably can.
Apr 27, 2021, 4:39 am
#12
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My Dear in France the Hairdressers are open but the Beauty Parlours are not. I am prepared to believe any looney Covid rules and regulations. Do not get me wrong, this has to be taken really seriously - but some of this stuff only brings the sensible measures into disripute - sadly
Coming back to the scanners: Many shoes have metal rods in them for stability. That metal guarantees a beep and secondary inspection. Eliminating those shoe-driven beeps reduces the overall number of passengers getting the up close and personal treatment.
Or maybe it is a post-Brexit conspiracy and the UK is implementing TSA rules ahead of becoming the 51st state.
Apr 27, 2021, 6:07 am
#13
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As a frequent flyer, I have learnt which of my shoes set off the detector and which do not. As a frequent observer of other passengers, I have learnt that very few seem to share this advanced knowledge of footwear. So I can completely understand why HAL insist on everyone taking them off, as it does very clearly cut down on the number of accidental detection triggers - which by necessity then require a security agent to come closer to you for a manual search, which increases the personal risk to them.
So the pertinent question really is why MAN has decided not to... and for that, we can only refer to the adage that MAN security is really a law unto itself.
So the pertinent question really is why MAN has decided not to... and for that, we can only refer to the adage that MAN security is really a law unto itself.
Apr 27, 2021, 6:15 am
#14
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Coming back to the scanners: Many shoes have metal rods in them for stability. That metal guarantees a beep and secondary inspection. Eliminating those shoe-driven beeps reduces the overall number of passengers getting the up close and personal treatment.
Or maybe it is a post-Brexit conspiracy and the UK is implementing TSA rules ahead of becoming the 51st state.
Or maybe it is a post-Brexit conspiracy and the UK is implementing TSA rules ahead of becoming the 51st state.
Apr 27, 2021, 6:33 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2010
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I flew the Manchester to London shuttle for the first time since the start of the pandemic last week. For some reason I was asked to remove my shoes at the First Wing in T5, apparently they ask all customers to do this now (since pandemic). Any ideas why, was not used to remove shoes at Manchester?
More expensive shoes can have metal supports- not an issue in your flip flop.