Dromomaniac

The TSA Website's new index page indicates:
The linked page is just awful, though, and terribly confusing. Clicking on another link takes me to a page that says:

Shoe Screening Policy
You are required to remove your shoes before you enter the walk-through metal detector. All types of footwear must be placed on the X-ray machine to be screened. If you do not comply with Security Officers, you will not be allowed to board your flight.

So, what's a shoe? I assume socks are OK. Is it time to start breaking out the plastic baggies at the checkpoints, and meticulously placing them over feet to avoid any foot-floor contamination? Make sure you double-layer each foot, and then secure with a TSA-approved rubber band.

LLM

Baby booties? Toddler sneakers?

L-1011

So the investement in the "puffers" is now just a waste of money. Oh, these clowns

IceTrojan

Honestly, I don't know... can somebody PLEASE explain to me what shoes have anything to do with liquid ka-boom?!?!

PatrickHenry1775

Shoes have nothing to do with liquid explosives, but at least TSA/DHS appears to be doing something about terrorist threats.

red456

The TSA website still is saying:

Security Oficers should not ask you to remove your orthopedic shoes, appliances, or medical device (insulin pump, feeding tube, ostomy or urine bag, or exterior component of cochlear implant) at any time during the screening process.
(emphasis mine)

I still say that we all claim we are wearing orthopedic shoes.

When they decide that orthopedic shoes must also come off, what are they going to do about ostomy or urine collection bags? Have someone there to test the contents?


Stupid, stupid, stupid people at DHS/TSA.

LLM

Let them prove they are not orthopedic. And we can photoshop prescriptions for our eyedrops and lipgloss. And make Guy Fawkes masks standard travel attire.

MapleLeaf

I have orthotics in my shoes, does that mean I can blatantly walk through and not remove them?

So all I need is a note from my doc that says they are required. Cool New loophole.

LLM

I haven't tried that but I do have an insert in my left shoe - surely that counts for something .

SNA_Flyer

Medical devices are still exempt from removal. A doctor's note is unnecessary. Everyone should claim orthodics, just to gum up the works.

LLM

And I can use the security pouch that goes under my clothes to hide lipgloss and other contraband.

iluv2fly

I am typing this from LAS Terminal D.

I have a flight this afternoon at 5:45 back to ORD. I arrived here three hours before the flight since they warned us on the flight coming in to arrive three to four hours before the flight, and it being a Sunday I figure I better to be safe than sorry and arrive early. I had to endure security at LAS the months after September 11 and during the infamous Sunday of CES a few years ago, so I am familiar with three-hour waits on a Sunday. Were they ever wrong!

Arrive at AA check-in - only person there. Didn't clear the upgrade (first on the list, so that's promising) but was told as a Platinum I could use Lane 8 which is the elite lane. That was good, I figure, for saving a lot of time standing around.

Before I get to the ID check point, I saw a three striper and stopped her. I asked her about the shoe policy. She stated that all shoes must come off now. I asked her what if someone had a medical issue with taking shoes off at the metal detector? She said in all instances a supervisor would be called over and he/she would assess the situation with the passenger.

Okay. I get to the ID check. I was the third person there. Elapsed time about 30 seconds. Then I am told to go to Lane 8. NOBODY in front of me. I am the only person in line. So the Keeper of the Bins told me to put my laptop in, blah blah blah. Then she told me to put my shoes in. I told her I was not going to and would discuss that with the Gatekeeper. I was about to go through and he said, "SHOES." I told him that I would rather not and if you had to screen them another way, go right ahead. Instead of telling me to go left (the Grope Lane), he pointed to the right and said to pick up my bags. HUH? (But a good HUH.) No supervisor, no secondary, just get your bags and basically get the heck out of here.

Maybe some employees are realizing that if the shoes not beep, you got to release (my apologies to Johnnie Cochran).

And the whole process of security today took three minutes? I suppose this nonsense is keeping people away.

goalie

you beat me to it....inconsistency at its best

(minor rant) i also have orthotics (custom fitted by my dr. after ankle surgery) and i WILL NOT remove my shoes so i'm gonna be a test on 9/1 sfo-las and again on 9/4 las-sfo. it's gonna be interesting as i have both printouts from the tsa webiste and will present them if told "do you want to fly today". if they insist, then it will be me insisting that they provide me a wheelchair with a sterile shoehorn to put my shoes back on. if none are provided i will not move from the line unless "escorted" and you know as to what i'm referrring to. sorry to be so hard on his subject but it's getting out of hand-the floors are filthy and not sanitary and i have great difficulty walking without my "orthos" (and for those who are wondering, i also have a pair fitted for my skates as well ). (end of rant)

n.b-from what i've been reading, they are looking and confiscating orthos will gell in them so if you have them "get a dr.'s note for the teacher" but it could all be avoided if i used the puffer at sfo but........

exerda

Although I agree with the outcome you received--not having to remove shoes--the fact that you did not in the face of the new rules shoved down our throats by the TSA is one more sign of how ridiculously consistently inconsistent the system is.

IceTrojan

I'm going to have to go through security at both LAX and SFO tomorrow. I have flat feet, and as such I have orthotic inserts. I haven't used them in like 4 years, but I'm digging them out for tomorrow for my little experiment. I'll report back with the results.