Shoes off at London Gatwick?
Jul 26, 2023, 2:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
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Location: Washington D.C.
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Shoes off at London Gatwick?
I just flew out of LGW for the first time in probably 20 years today, and was unpleasantly surprised at being asked to remove my shoes at security. I flew out of LHR just a few months ago and there was none of that rigmarole there (or at least not the shoe kind). I haven’t had to remove my shoes in the US (have pre-check) or at European airports (because they’re saner) for years. Is this normal for LGW or was I just unlucky today? 🤔
Jul 26, 2023, 2:53 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Glasgow, UK
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I just flew out of LGW for the first time in probably 20 years today, and was unpleasantly surprised at being asked to remove my shoes at security. I flew out of LHR just a few months ago and there was none of that rigmarole there (or at least not the shoe kind). I haven’t had to remove my shoes in the US (have pre-check) or at European airports (because they’re saner) for years. Is this normal for LGW or was I just unlucky today? 🤔
Jul 27, 2023, 7:27 am
#4
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I would guess typically before all the flights to the US have left for the day. That did seem to be the case at MAN (good few years back though).
Jul 28, 2023, 7:42 am
#5
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I have never had to take shoes off at a UK airport since the rule went away 15-20 years ago. Including LGW last week and LHR yesterday. Whereas I have never been to a US airport where you are allowed to keep them on. At least we do some things better!
Jul 29, 2023, 11:19 am
#6
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Funnily enough we experienced this at LGW (to AGP/Malaga) north terminal, 17/7. I'd piad for the Premium Security experience too and it was odd as we had loaded our trays on the belt, turned to go through the scanner when all of a sudden one of the guards said "everyone has to take their shoes off now". I wasn't interested enough to ask why.
Jul 30, 2023, 6:07 am
#8
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Security staff will ask for shoes that they think will set off the metal detector to be taken off, and as a "random unpredictable measure" (
) from time to time everybody in certain lanes will be asked to take them off.
) from time to time everybody in certain lanes will be asked to take them off.