Shoes vs. Bins
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 398
Shoes vs. Bins
Does anyone know the "real" policy for the placement of shoes?
I have on ocassion been bruskly reprimanded for placing my shoes in a bin, and also bruskly reprimanded for placing them on the conveyor. The last time I looked we were instructed by Homeland Security to place shoes on the conveyor and not in the bins.
Or course there is the classic which I experienced within the last two years -
1. Sign on line reads remove shoes
2. I foolishly heed sign and remove shoes
3) TSA before "puffer" asks why I removed my shoes, and tells me to put them on.
4) I ask the TSA if she has read the signs on the line to which she responds no.
5) I suggested that she do so to have some semblance of understanding as to why the literate passengers are doing what they are with their belongings.
4) TSA after "puffer", and before X-ray machine asked why I am wearing my shoes and, in my opinion, rudely tells me to remove them for the machine.
5) Now why would any passenger get annoyed at such clear instructions?
I don't really care which way it is, but for heavens sake, will someone make up their minds!
I have on ocassion been bruskly reprimanded for placing my shoes in a bin, and also bruskly reprimanded for placing them on the conveyor. The last time I looked we were instructed by Homeland Security to place shoes on the conveyor and not in the bins.
Or course there is the classic which I experienced within the last two years -
1. Sign on line reads remove shoes
2. I foolishly heed sign and remove shoes
3) TSA before "puffer" asks why I removed my shoes, and tells me to put them on.
4) I ask the TSA if she has read the signs on the line to which she responds no.
5) I suggested that she do so to have some semblance of understanding as to why the literate passengers are doing what they are with their belongings.
4) TSA after "puffer", and before X-ray machine asked why I am wearing my shoes and, in my opinion, rudely tells me to remove them for the machine.
5) Now why would any passenger get annoyed at such clear instructions?
I don't really care which way it is, but for heavens sake, will someone make up their minds!
#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salish Sea
Programs: DL,AC,HH,PC
Posts: 8,974
The real policy is whatever the screener says it is.
Depends which side of the bed they got out of and whether there's an "r" in the month.
It's called designed inconsistency in TSAspeak. In normal speech, you may use the word 'clueless'.
Depends which side of the bed they got out of and whether there's an "r" in the month.
It's called designed inconsistency in TSAspeak. In normal speech, you may use the word 'clueless'.
#3
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,867
Does anyone know the "real" policy for the placement of shoes?
I have on ocassion been bruskly reprimanded for placing my shoes in a bin, and also bruskly reprimanded for placing them on the conveyor. The last time I looked we were instructed by Homeland Security to place shoes on the conveyor and not in the bins.
Or course there is the classic which I experienced within the last two years -
1. Sign on line reads remove shoes
2. I foolishly heed sign and remove shoes
3) TSA before "puffer" asks why I removed my shoes, and tells me to put them on.
4) I ask the TSA if she has read the signs on the line to which she responds no.
5) I suggested that she do so to have some semblance of understanding as to why the literate passengers are doing what they are with their belongings.
4) TSA after "puffer", and before X-ray machine asked why I am wearing my shoes and, in my opinion, rudely tells me to remove them for the machine.
5) Now why would any passenger get annoyed at such clear instructions?
I don't really care which way it is, but for heavens sake, will someone make up their minds!
I have on ocassion been bruskly reprimanded for placing my shoes in a bin, and also bruskly reprimanded for placing them on the conveyor. The last time I looked we were instructed by Homeland Security to place shoes on the conveyor and not in the bins.
Or course there is the classic which I experienced within the last two years -
1. Sign on line reads remove shoes
2. I foolishly heed sign and remove shoes
3) TSA before "puffer" asks why I removed my shoes, and tells me to put them on.
4) I ask the TSA if she has read the signs on the line to which she responds no.
5) I suggested that she do so to have some semblance of understanding as to why the literate passengers are doing what they are with their belongings.
4) TSA after "puffer", and before X-ray machine asked why I am wearing my shoes and, in my opinion, rudely tells me to remove them for the machine.
5) Now why would any passenger get annoyed at such clear instructions?
I don't really care which way it is, but for heavens sake, will someone make up their minds!
.... consistent inconsistency-thy name is tsa
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
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Posts: 21,558
+1
When I fly out of DEN, I have no problem putting my shoes in the bin. However, MCI can be very rude if you put your shoes in the bin. However, they always seem to miss my larger bottle of hand sanitizer or my half full water bottle in the bag.
When I fly out of DEN, I have no problem putting my shoes in the bin. However, MCI can be very rude if you put your shoes in the bin. However, they always seem to miss my larger bottle of hand sanitizer or my half full water bottle in the bag.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,010
Additional evidence that TSA cannot teach its employees even the most basic of tasks.
#6
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IAD
Programs: *wood Gold
Posts: 1,781
I'd strongly recommend and encourage all passengers to simply not remove their shoes at all, out of "medical necessity". Depending upon one's perspective, it may be more convenient to keep them on and have a TSO come over and swab them for you while you sit and wait.
I know that I'd rather sit and make one of them work for their pay than remove my shoes and walk in socks or walk barefoot across the floor. As a matter of fact, I intend to do just this when I fly out of IAD this summer for a vacation.
I know that I'd rather sit and make one of them work for their pay than remove my shoes and walk in socks or walk barefoot across the floor. As a matter of fact, I intend to do just this when I fly out of IAD this summer for a vacation.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: FrostByte Falls, Mn
Programs: Holiday Inn Plat NW gold AA gold
Posts: 2,157
I've talked with several TSA supervisors at different airports about this. TSA's official policy is that the shoes on the belt vs shoes in the bin is to be taken under advisement. They don't want stuff hiding the shoes or crammed into the shoes. It isn't rocket science and shouldn't be much, if any, area of contention between TSOs and passengers (but we know how that goes). I look for the signs. No signs and the shoes go into the bin. TSA must improve the way it processes passengers.
#8
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
I've talked with several TSA supervisors at different airports about this. TSA's official policy is that the shoes on the belt vs shoes in the bin is to be taken under advisement. They don't want stuff hiding the shoes or crammed into the shoes. It isn't rocket science and shouldn't be much, if any, area of contention between TSOs and passengers (but we know how that goes). I look for the signs. No signs and the shoes go into the bin. TSA must improve the way it processes passengers.
In-bins or on-the-belt is a really stupid discussion for screeners to have when shoes inside a suitcase breeze through.
#9
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IAD
Programs: *wood Gold
Posts: 1,781
Didn't you know that a traveller's carry-on bag is a magic device? It and the shoe fairy are both capable of rendering shoe bombs completely useless...
#10
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Silicon Valley
Programs: UA GS, WN A-List, AA Exec Plat, National Emerald
Posts: 1,020
I put my shoes in a bin because I don't want them to get scratched or banged up in the machine. LAS and MCO screeners, for some reason, hate the fact that some Americans like or need to wear expensive shoes and generally take them out and throw them on the belt.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: FrostByte Falls, Mn
Programs: Holiday Inn Plat NW gold AA gold
Posts: 2,157
Hmmm, selective magic protection, eh? Works with shoes, but won't work with liquids, gels, and aerosols. Perhaps the magic cart vendors use makes those items safe to sell after the checkpoint.
#12
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IAD
Programs: *wood Gold
Posts: 1,781
I'm beginning to think that TSA lives in the world of Harry Potter and thinks us passengers are all just muggles...
#13
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: AA Platinum, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,177
TSA should NEVER handle your items prior to their entering the x-ray. In order to prevent them from doing so, I maintain control of all my items until the belt moves them into the x-ray. On occasion, a TSO tries to be helpful and re-arrange my items. I usually interpret this as a genuine attempt to help me, but I try and politely point out that some of the items are fragile, and I would rather leave things as they are.
On one occasion I had a TSO get smarmy and forcibly move my things around. I loudly stated, "do not touch my possessions, please!" She replied, "fine, but you are going to pay for this, you stupid idiot" and proceeded to make me go through secondary screening. Fortunately, in this case, the Sup was standing right there, and made her apologize to me.
In general, once I assert I want my shoes in the bin, the TSO usually relents.
On one occasion I had a TSO get smarmy and forcibly move my things around. I loudly stated, "do not touch my possessions, please!" She replied, "fine, but you are going to pay for this, you stupid idiot" and proceeded to make me go through secondary screening. Fortunately, in this case, the Sup was standing right there, and made her apologize to me.
In general, once I assert I want my shoes in the bin, the TSO usually relents.
#15
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,867
I've talked with several TSA supervisors at different airports about this. TSA's official policy is that the shoes on the belt vs shoes in the bin is to be taken under advisement. They don't want stuff hiding the shoes or crammed into the shoes. It isn't rocket science and shouldn't be much, if any, area of contention between TSOs and passengers (but we know how that goes). I look for the signs. No signs and the shoes go into the bin. TSA must improve the way it processes passengers.
shhhhhh, that makes waaaayyyyy too much sense