Travelers will no longer be required to walk barefoot through airport security, according to a significant policy change made by the Transportation Security Administration.
The notorious rule, which required flyers to remove their shoes before undergoing TSA security procedures, was implemented in the US after 9/11 and has been in effect for more than two decades. A TikTok creator named Travelwiththeharmony, a former TSA officer and proprietor of Gate Access, announced the major shift in protocol to their followers over the weekend.
The sweeping policy will pertain to all US airports and passengers who possess Real-ID-compliant documents, despite whether or not they are enrolled in TSA PreCheck. The updated identification requirements officially went into effect in late May.
The rule change may quell passengers' frustrations that have persisted for years, including inconsistent airport experiences, lengthy wait times in security lines and certain screening procedures. The decision was driven in part by technological advancements and a thorough reassessment of threat-level risks.
Today's technology is now capable of detecting possible hazards present on a passenger's person without making flyers take their shoes off, which was previously a luxury for TSA PreCheck lanes. The move will possibly decrease hostility toward the agency, which has been under fire in recent months for what some view as annoying airport security measures.
Some, like Sen. Mike Lee, have called for extreme measures and suggested TSA be dismantled all together. He added that airlines should assume responsibility for passenger screenings. Surprisingly, the idea wasn't immediately disregarded, signaling a real dissatisfaction with the agency's current policies.
The shoe protocol was arguably the most visible and debated portion of the screening procedure, so it's abolishment may put TSA in a better light and expedite security screenings.
The shoe removal rule was brought forth in 2001 after Richard Reid, notoriously nicknamed the "shoe bomber" tried to sneak explosives aboard a transatlantic flight by concealing them in his footwear. The protocol remained a staple of the TSA security procedure for more than 20 years, remaining the same as others evolved.
Officials assert that given no such attempt has been detected since then and the advancement of scanning systems in most major airports, the policy is dated.
This will no doubt cut TSA security check wait times drastically. No more sliding acorss the airport floor in your socks or holding up the line to loosen that double knot. It may benefit flyers traveling with kids the most as rushing to the gate while simultaneously keeping track of little ones can be tough.
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