TSA Inconsitency
 

This is not a major issue, but I am curious about TSA practices. I have made 5 trips this year from SFO. When going through security in the UA terminal, on 3 occasions I had to remove my sneakers. On the 2 other occasions I did not. I always wear the same pair when I travel (for comfort). There were no heightened security alerts any of the times I flew. Saturday I asked the TSA rep why I did not have to take them off this time... her response "only shoes with metal need screening". Does anyone know what the true policy is?

I fly all around the US at many airports, and it's been my observation that at most stations, one doesn't need to remove sneakers that obviously don't have metal supports and are very unlikely to alarm the magnetometers.

That being said, at PHX last fall and at ELP last weekend, I was told by TSA that I had to remove my shoes before going through the magnetometer, and that a secondary search would follow if I didn't remove my shoes, regardless if the magnetometer alarmed or not. At PHX in Sep 2003 I debated the subject with a TSA staff member, who quoted some rule in a book and was courteous. I flew out of PHX in Jan 2004 and didn't have to remove sneakers at the very same station.

At ELP on 7 Mar 2004 I was told that the shoes had to come off. I chose not to argue.

I don't know what the policy is but I sure wish it was implemented uniformly throughout the country.

I always wear the same pair of shoes and don't take them off when traveling. Never got searched. Of course, I know my shoes don't have any metal.

From TSA's website http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/e...rial_1049.xml:

"Passengers will not be required to take off their shoes before going through metal detectors, but should understand that their chances of being selected for a more thorough, secondary screening will be lower if they do."

[This message has been edited by PokerHammy (edited Mar 15, 2004).]