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why do other countries not require shoe removal??

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why do other countries not require shoe removal??

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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 3:46 pm
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why do other countries not require shoe removal??

I was in Europe and Mexico this past month and in numerous security checkpoints for both domestic and intl. flights, I was not required to remove my shoes. I understand why the US requires it since the scanners don't do feet. But neither do the ones I walked through in other countries, so what's the point of one country doing it but not others??!

What's to stop a shoe bomber from boarding a US bound plane in another country?
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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 3:51 pm
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I think it was another country is allows to required leave shoes on. I don't see anything problems from Israeli security agent where we were fly out from TLV from 2 years ago. When my mom is asking security agents about laptop but, she said yes to us. My mom is spoken with her Hebrew. I have to take the laptop out of the carryon bags.
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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 4:09 pm
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Originally Posted by PHL
What's to stop a shoe bomber from boarding a US bound plane in another country?
it wouldnt be Europe, with the exchange rate as it is they couldnt afford the bus to the airport

I do remember taking shoes off about a year ago at LHR T4 but neither laptops out or shoes off since then, unlike PHL where they not only made me take my boots off but they vanished between the tray and the exit from the scanner
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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 4:56 pm
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Originally Posted by pinkcat
unlike PHL where they not only made me take my boots off but they vanished between the tray and the exit from the scanner
The TSA should start doing a magic show in Vegas for extra revenue...
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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 5:00 pm
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There's a thread (probably several threads) about which countries have a shoe fetish.

From memory I have had to take shoes off in USA, UK and Russia. Maybe a few other places. Most countries, in my experience, do not require shoes to be removed.
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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 5:16 pm
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Maybe because other countries realize that it's more effective to scan for the person who might carry a shoe bomb onboard, rather than blindly searching footwear with a device that doesn't detect plastic explosives.

Last edited by WanderingGent; Jul 7, 2008 at 7:57 pm
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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 6:43 pm
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God bless those countries that allow us to keep our shoes on (sez I with stinky feet) and curse those that make you take your belt off (sez I whose pants fall down without it).
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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 6:47 pm
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Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
There's a thread (probably several threads) about which countries have a shoe fetish.

From memory I have had to take shoes off in USA, UK and Russia. Maybe a few other places. Most countries, in my experience, do not require shoes to be removed.
I flew out of Bristol, UK today and was not required to remove shoes.
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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 9:16 pm
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As it appears that our Travel Safety/Security forum will be the best site for this discussion, please follow it there. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
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Old Jul 6, 2008 | 9:26 pm
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Originally Posted by Concorde69
The TSA should start doing a magic show in Vegas for extra revenue...
why would i want to go thru a wtmd and the tsa dog and shoe show at a theatre when i can see the tsa theatre in real life every time i fly?
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Old Jul 7, 2008 | 8:02 am
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Originally Posted by MileageAddict
I flew out of Bristol, UK today and was not required to remove shoes.
BRS is a nice little airport very close to where I live, if CO had joined OW then I would be flying from there all the time and never have to go near LHR
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Old Jul 7, 2008 | 8:06 am
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I flew out of LHR yesterday (T1) and everyone had to take their shoes off. Other london airports also require you to take your shoes off. At DUB on Sat I didn't have to, but have had to at other times.
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Old Jul 7, 2008 | 11:25 am
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The countries that don't engage in the shoe carnival have realized that an x-ray machine cannot detect explosives. The TSA has not come to this magical conclusion yet.
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Old Jul 7, 2008 | 12:00 pm
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Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
From memory I have had to take shoes off in USA, UK and Russia. Maybe a few other places. Most countries, in my experience, do not require shoes to be removed.
Shoe removal is not necessary in DME, where they have those new backscatter x-ray machines (AKA "nude scanner").
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Old Jul 7, 2008 | 12:07 pm
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The initial regulation inn the US was not "all shoes," but rather those with thick soles, iirc. So much for that...

Departing PRG in Czech Republic last week, nobody had to doff shoes iirc, though a few Americans on autpilot did remove their shoes without being asked to. It seems we made it to Heathrow anyway, where everyone had to doff their shoes, even the woman with the very slimline sandals with ultra-thin soles.

Quote appropriate for this post: "Good doggie!" - Ivan Petrovich Pavlov...
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