Let's start filling our liquids baggies with all kinds of foot creams and maybe the front line people will start thinking about how disgusting this all is :rolleyes:

About the insulin pump...do you usually hide it, or do you often get the naive "You need to take off your pager!" bark? My experience with friends is that the insulin pump does not set off metal detectors (but my cell phone doesn't either) so often they won't even know. My friends all hide theirs though.

Do you even will ever forgettable what happened Richard Reid as shoes bomb years ago. I think TSA need bring back to normal let's passengers leave the shoes on before go through metal detector. It wasn't anything problems my shoes while I am fly out from PHX. I told TSA that I am only allowable leave my shoes on. Last week, when we flew to LAS for wedding. I told my mom that I am only work at PHX and she said okay to me. I don't really need get secondary screening. That I am only here in PHX that I am requested leave my shoes on.

Also, I have a problems with TSA last week at LAS. Here the orginal thread about TSA is slower & doesn't speed up the x-ray machines. Here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=732301

If you guys want to read my original thread at LAS last week. Thanks! :)

Thinking about this a little more. I went through some airport recently where I literally forgot to take off my shoes. I passed through the metal detector, then realized and was never asked anything. Not sure if that was LAS or not.

Yes, yes and yes!

IME (so far), the second I've uttered, "Secondary" and "I have metal" while pointing to my ankle, they've immediately shut up, waved me through the WTMD and directed me to take a chair in the penalty box and await a female wand wizard.

Consistency would be a lovely thing
 

I have done 4 Europe trips this summer and never had to take my shoes off overthere. Do they have better equipment or are we just really really cautious.

In Denver, when you're randomly herded into the puffer machine line, you leave your shoes on while in the puffer machine, then you are required to take them off for x-ray examination. I think somebody could make millions if they sold some sort of sticker that could be placed inside your shoes, and that would reveal a middle finger (or a message like "find what you're looking for?) when x-rayed.

That would constitute a bruise to the ego of a TSAer. They won't hesitate in finding a need to thoroughly search your bag and give you the full business.

Then a likely "referral" to a cop for additional attention.

Zazu, please let me say one more time that all you need to do is say "I can't take my shoes off for a medical condition" If the TSA front line person objects in any way, or asks any questions, calmly and politely ask for a supervisor.

They do not have the right to ask you about your medical condition or question your decision in any way.

At this point you are going to get a full body wanding and pat down, but for the sake of your health, as it is very dangerous for diabetics to walk around with out shoes on, I would suggest you do so.

Correct, as I would think that would be a violation of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) which serves to protect patient privacy, hence, no sharing of personal health information.

I would suggest you stop lining up for the TSA Big Feelers in order to get on a plane, but I suppose that's too simple. Works for me.

both parties working together...they can bring you in with your shoes and you can remove them (for diabetics who must be careful where they walk) while you are sitting, run them through the x-ray (which can indeed pick up the presence of explosives in a shoe) and bring them back to you. no need to explain anything more than that you have a medical condition that makes it difficult to walk w/o your shoes.

and the variance in density would be enough to refer the item for additional screening....

I read this thread when it first started, and have both family and work colleagues who are diabetic. I was curious about the way things would "really work" in action - so on a recent SFO-ICN itin, I'd landed airside in the UA Int'l terminal, met Sweet Willie at the RCC, left my bags with him and walked outside armed solely with: a DL, a BP, one pack of cigarettes, a Bic Lighter, my cellphone, and one pair of shoes. (Clothing, too, but that's for another thread) :D

On my way back thru Security, the TSA barker made it evident that if I didn't want to remove my shoes, I'd simply not be flying that day. Well, based in large part on the advice given herein, I simply stated that I had a Medical condition and would be: 1) flying that day, and 2) NOT removing my shoes.
Any TSA arguments to the contrary would be met with a simple but firm request for a Supervisor.

Supervisor was called, since first line screener was screeching at the top of her voice that if shoes stayed on, I stayed in the US rather than head to Korea. Sup shows up, and asks "why" I can't take my shoes off. Answer: Medical. Anything beyond that is beyond his paygrade. EOS.

Full secondary, including a return trip thru the Xray for my Cellphone, lighter and belt. Oh, well.
Bottom line is that the Supervisor was calm, fair and accurately told the TSA male assist what he wanted done to clear me without shoe removal. The female TSA barker was still blathering on about my inability to fly without said shoe removal, but my guess is that the Sup probably had a "little talk" with her later.
All in all, a good 20 minute learning experience while my bags were safely napping next to Sweet Willie in the RCC. ;)

Best, Dave

9/28-sfo ua domestic elite line*:
me: i am wearing orthopedic shoes and orthotics
tsa: (after passing thru the wtmd) "male assist-no alarm"
tsa swabbed my palms and shoes and that was it-2 minutes total

9/30-bos (ua*):
me: i am wearing orthopedic shoes and orthotics
tsa: (after passing thru the wtmd) "male assist-no alarm"
tsa swabbed my palms and shoes and that was it-2 minutes total

*both "barkers" were great. not yelling at all-simply talking only in a voice loud enough so folks could hear them. reminded folks about the baggies, laptops, lighters are now allowed etc. but they both also correctly explained the "new personal electronics rules". i took the time to tell both screening supes not only did i appreciate no "barking" (especially at 6am ;)) but also gave them an "atta-boy" for being on top of the personal electronics rule.