why do other countries not require shoe removal??
#1
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL
Programs: AA PLT, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH LTD
Posts: 10,741
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?
What's to stop a shoe bomber from boarding a US bound plane in another country?
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Rapids Reward
Posts: 40,121
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.
#3




Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wild Wiltshire
Programs: Demoted to gold, Cats protection
Posts: 3,465
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
#4
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: London
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 102
#5
Moderator, Hilton Honors



Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,445
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.
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.
#6

Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 423
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
#8
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz




Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,291
I flew out of Bristol, UK today and was not required to remove shoes.
#9
Senior Moderator




Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
Posts: 12,458
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.
#10
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 29,078
#11




Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wild Wiltshire
Programs: Demoted to gold, Cats protection
Posts: 3,465
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Living the dream in Antigua and the nightmare in Florida
Programs: AA PLAT 2MM, *A Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 56,582
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.
#14
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: MOW
Programs: SU Bonus, SK EBG, BD Silver, HH Diamond
Posts: 407
Shoe removal is not necessary in DME, where they have those new backscatter x-ray machines (AKA "nude scanner").
#15
Moderator: American AAdvantage




Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT EXP; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
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...
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...

