:D

Now that brings up a very real possibility...what happens when a pax who doesn't fly often and is a real working stiff (ranch hand, construction, tar roofing etc) traipses through the airport with, ummm, unclean footwear? I mean what happens when the ranch hand is tracking cow pie remnants or the lady who was driving the grader this morning tracks mud and dirt from the curb all the way to the checkpoint and walks through the WTMD because she would rather be able to sit to remove her workboots? I don't (and haven't been forced to) take my shoes off but I've seen plenty of people who do it automatically...and they aren't wearing socks :eek:

@:-) Maybe they should take the PHX booties idea one step further...put little Swiffer pads on the booties so the floors are contantly being cleaned!

Simply MUST break in to this thread to compliment the screeners on the little courtesies they allow their fellow citizens when they force them to partially disrobe in public. How sweet of you to be so condescending and allowing me to still fly today. And allowing me to replace my shoes before you continue your TSA Big Feel with my implied consent and God's authority.

Is it okay if we grovel on the floor before you and kiss your rings once we've proven we're not criminals?

UN-FRIGGIN-BELIEVABLE!!!

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry7520/4.0.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Browser/5.0.3.3 UP.Link/5.1.2.16)

I just cleared security in SAN. I was feeling especially spunky this morning, and decided to not remove my shoes. The screener pointed at my shoes as I went throught the WTMD, and I replied, "they're not profile.". She called for an assist, and he swabbed my shoes while I was putting my laptop away and gathering my belongings. He gave me a thumbs up before I left the x-ray. I don't know why I didn't do this earlier.

ditto.

It saddens me to see so many removing their shoes.

Me too actually. I may be a stickler with the shoe profile, but I also don't want people to remove their shoes if they don't have to. I get tired of constantly handing people their flip-flops and thin boat shoes back to them.

You have your colleagues at other airports to thank for that.

Is that even necessary? Where did that come from?

There are folks within the TSA that understand that the process isn't perfect or far from perfect. There are folks in TSA that try to offer these "little courtesies" as a way to make the screening process as convenient as possible and make it as non-degrading as possible. Those are the kinds of people you would want to stay with TSA instead of those who really don't care about you think.

Then you get posters like this that like to bash to good do-ers. We're not asking for people to grovel at our feet because we give you the option to put your shoes back on. We're not superheroes! We're not special! We want you through security as quickly as you do, but there are rules we have to follow. We just try to make it easier for people.

UN-FRIGGIN-BELIEVABLE!!!
(I hope there's no copyright infringement for using that line!!!)

Sorry, TSAsuper. While the TSA staff is involved in embarrassing me publicly, I can't help but think everyone working under the Big Dark Flag is there by choice, and that the entire thing is constitutionally insulting to an innocent Thinking American. I'm not singling out, but suffice to say if you must slap me in the face (legally) in public, don't add insult to my injury by thanking me for it later.

In other words, the whole process is like clockwork, happily and eagerly labored, and, as I've posted before, nothing (as the whalers used to say) is wasted (except the whale itself.)

I view it as nothing short of a home invasion wherein I can do nothing except ask the looter to loosen my hands a little.

Gee, thanks. A little courtesy goes a long way.

Un-FRIGGIN-believable! Absolutely.

Please tell me that you are also going to keep your shoes on during your walk to the restroom? I also wear flip flops through security, as well as in a hotel room. So why do folks walk sock footed, or barefoot to the lav onboard?? Doesn't carpet hold more germs than linoleum???

Check out the stores online that sell shoes that are Airport friendly. The shoe companies are on the this so they are specifically making Airport friendly shoes minus the steel shank. So far they have worked for us. We have yet to remove our shoes, unless of course an overzealous TSA er has asked us specifically to remove them. One such store can be found on our website.

TheTrustedTraveler

And you travel how often? Have you traveled at all in the last two or three years?

I have perfectly airport-friendly shoes and still must frequently battle with screeners over them. These are the nincompoops who wand bare feet, remember? And the same people who can't seem to discern a thickness of 1 inch. Really, the shoes themselves seem to have little to do with the TSA experience. It's more dependent on the individual screener. Normal, responsible people follow the rules, and allow people with non-profile shoes to go through unscathed. Power-trippers, who are far too numerous in the TSA screener ranks, want to exercise their power over travelers and force them to do silly things, just because they can. Does anybody doubt this?

Bruce

Can anyone post a link to the profile that is used for shoes?

I've seen TSA people yell that all shoes must come off, and they made no exceptions. Newark springs to mind.

Your sarcasm is duly noted However I don't get the question?