US airport security check: TSA lifts shoe rule
The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) has almost unnoticed dropped an annoying security rule: passengers no longer have to take off their shoes.
The TSA is known for its stricter security checks during these times. However, as of July 7, a rule that regularly caused chaos and delays at security checkpoints has been lifted for departures to and from the United States: Passengers had to remove their shoes so they could be scanned separately. This meant that everyone, from children to business travelers, searched for their footwear barefoot or in socks. Shoes were only allowed to be worn by those who had undergone TSA Pre-Check, for which they paid an $80 fee.
Play it safe (with shoes)The shoe rule hadn't been consistently enforced at every airport in recent years. However, a corresponding memo has now been sent to TSA officers across the country. On the one hand, removing shoes is no longer necessary thanks to modern body scanners. On the other hand, the TSA assesses the threat level differently these days. According to the news channel ABC , the annoying shoe rule was introduced in 2006 because five years earlier, an Islamist terrorist had attempted to blow up an American Airlines plane en route from Paris to Miami with a shoe bomb.
Only those who cannot clearly identify themselves will be subjected to a thorough security check, including removing their shoes, before being allowed to board. This applies to U.S. citizens, who are not required to register and often do not have a passport. Effective May 7, 2025, everyone will be required to present a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or government-issued ID card, a state-issued enhanced driver's license, or other acceptable form of identification to fly within the United States.
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