Taking off shoes at PHL security check point
 

It looks like this is a must now at PHL B/C check point even though it is NOT required by new TSA shoe policy.

For three weeks in a row, even I chose to wear sneakers, I was asked to go through secondary screening (did not trigger metal alarm at all) when I walked through check point with my shoes on. Today, there is a TSA guy standing outside B Terminal check point shouting to everyone 'if you don't take off your shoes, you are GUARANTEED to have a secondary screening.'

Is this contradictory to TSA's shoe policy? What is everybody else's experience when going through PHL check point with shoes on?

I am thinking about writing a complaint to TSA, I don't know if that helps or not.

Guiming

I went through Term. B security on July 24th, and I was required to take my sneakers off as well and put them through the x-ray machine...its somewhat of an annoyance but I can cope with it...not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things...

N674UW

[This message has been edited by N674UW (edited 07-27-2003).]

Yeah, they were being really annoying about this at B last Thursday. They said that ANYONE who didn't take off their shoes or sandals or sneakers or whatever would go through secondary screening.

I showed the guy this print out
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=1&content=583

and he said that the Philadelphia TSA policy is in full compliance with national TSA policy. After all, no one "has to" take off their shoes. But ANY footware is seen as "suspicious" (bullet point 3) at the Philadelphia International Airport.

Same deal at SFO, AA gates. Talk off your footwear, you don't have to, but then you'll get secondary screening guaranteed. Or in my case, the lady will still _make_ you take it off (so I complained to the TSA -- and like expected they said and did NOTHING).

I think that the airport is living to the letter (And not intent) of the TSA ruling so there is nothing that can really be done.. if they think everyone's shoes who doesn't take it off is suspicious then they're allowed to do that...

stupid is as stupid does

The TSA works that way, "You are not required to remove your shoes, but if you don't remove them, we will perform a cavity search." http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsdown.gif

God ****it, this pisses me off. Why don't they freakin' just get machines that can detect a weapon and be done with this other foolishness?

I have recently achieved CP for next year, and you know what? There is NO WAY I will earn it again. I just can't take it anymore with the security hassles. This is of course not US or any other carrier's fault, but the totally incompetent federal government.

I continually hear stories that people STILL can get things through to the terminals.

Not having to show your ID again once I board the plane is at least becoming more common along with many fewer gate searches.

The whole ID thing is still stupid. I suppose if they want to figure out who blew up the plane afterwards, they can figure out what name was supposedly in the seat. Big help, assuming that's even the person's name.

Flying has just become another hassle for me, whereas it used to be enjoyable.

<Rant off>

I just make it a point to wear shoes with a steel shank so I know that I have to remove them. The TSA is happy and I know that I'm not wasting my time by taking my shoes off. Is that too Zen for you?

that about covers it all.
It seems that they are doing this at almost every airport now. It makes no difference to them whether or not there is metal in your shoes. In their defense, plastic explosives embedded in the shoes would not set off the metal detectors, but they would be able to see the hollow area in the shoe while looking at the XRAY.

This requires the premise that shoes are the only place that people hide explosives.

This premise is laughably stupid, as are the scumbags at the TSA who write these asinine directives.



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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

Let me play Devil's advocate for the time being. You send everything you carry through the X-Ray. You take off your jacket, hat, etc. The only thing left that has any "space" or area on it would be your shoes. After that its just the clothes on your body and you.

Buttons on a shirt can't be made of plastic explosives? A belt?

I say we just get naked.

Same attitude in LEX last week. You don't have to take the shoes off, but your guaranteed secondary screening. Oh wait, that wasn't the rule! The person at the front of the x-ray wanted to know how old I was. "Shoes off!" he announces. I felt like making a scene, knowing the policy, but I wasn't ready to get thrown into a Kentucky jail. Our flight to Pittsburgh was enough. Maybe if we all challenged their shoe policy, and every single one of us passing through the checkpoint complained, something would be done about it. Until the number of complaints equals or exceeds the amount of passengers, their not doing anything. Guaranteed.

They pulled the same "it's optional but we'll strip search you..." sh!t on me at PHX yesterday. And at IND last week.

These martinets are really starting to get under my skin. I completely agree with nawlins -- this isn't worth it. I'm going to open a donut shop.

But in the meantime I think I'll just start taking my sweet time de-shoeing. If I can move as slowly as the TSA slugs do when it's time to open a 2nd checkpoint I might make an impression on them. Maybe I'll start deliberately wearing large metal objects through the metal detector while I'm at it... Oh! And I'll leave my laptop in my bag and send everything through standing up rather than lying down! That should be fun -- especially if I arrive early and go through the line a few extra times to fetch refreshments! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

But Tom, that is playing right into their hands. You are giving them exactly what they want. The whole fiasco in Seattle a month or so ago was caused by the TSA people intentionally slowing the lines down by going through every procedure they could think of so they could prove they needed more people to run the lines. They were protesting the fact that members of their union were being layed off.

Unless you're going through the checkpoint in Spandex, there's loads of room under your clothes. Additionally, there's probably loads of room inside any given person.

The Shoe Carnival that Scumbag Admiral Loy has socked the American public with does nothing for security. I'm sure the nazi punk never even travels on common carriers so he's not subjected to his own nonsense.



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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry