TSA Quietly No Longer Requiring Passengers To Remove Their Shoes At Security Screenings
One of the more hated security checks at the airport, removing your shoes, is quietly being phased out by the TSA.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has quietly reversed a decades-old security check that required air travelers to remove their shoes during screenings.
TSA began encouraging airline passengers at airport security checkpoints in February 2002 after a failed shoe bombing attempt by Richard Reid two months earlier.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the agency will start unveiling new procedures that allow passengers to keep their shoes on during standard airport screenings, but hasn't officially announced the change.
'TSA and DHS are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture. Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels,' TSA told the Wall Street Journal in a statement.
Shoe removal became mandatory in August 2006, along with a liquid restriction, following the disruption of a liquid explosives plot in the United Kingdom.
The 20-year-old practice has seemingly come to an end, with many passengers taking to social media to boast about not having to take off their shoes.
But it's not being widely implemented just yet. The TSA is slowly rolling out the new security procedures, and the first airports with expiring no-shoes requirements are Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Fort Lauderdale International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Portland International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, and Piedmont Triad International Airport in North Carolina.
According to CBS News correspondents traveling from Los Angeles International Airport and New York City's LaGuardia Airport, they and other passengers did not have to take off their shoes. Is TSA PreCheck Still Worth It?
While this sounds like good news, some people are now wondering if TSA PreCheck, which already allows passengers to go through airport screenings without having to remove their shoes, is still worth it.
TSA PreCheck also allows travelers to go through screenings without having to take out their laptops, iPads, or gaming devices from their carry-on bags.
Another user on X, formerly Twitter, pointed out how this could lead to travelers having to deal with increased security measures using AI surveillance.
Interesting. You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
TSA Quietly No Longer Requiring Passengers To Remove Their Shoes At Security Screenings was originally published on hiphopwired.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
Why Cruise Ships Go Into Dry Dock And Why It Matters To You
Ships in dry dock undergo essential maintenance. getty Cruise lines often talk about dry docks as if they're nothing more than routine maintenance. A ship heads off for a few weeks, then returns refreshed and ready to sail. But for passengers, a dry dock can mean far more than a fresh coat of paint. It can dramatically change the onboard experience, from new restaurants and entertainment to redesigned cabins and entire decks. Understanding what dry dock actually involves and checking when a ship was last refurbished can make a big difference when choosing your next cruise. Put simply, a dry dock is when a cruise ship is taken out of the water for maintenance, upgrades, and regulatory inspections. This typically happens every five years, but ships may also go into dry dock more frequently for commercial reasons, such as rebranding or modernization. During this time, the ship is positioned in a special dock that drains out water, exposing the hull. This allows for work that can't be done while the ship is afloat. But in recent years, dry dock has increasingly become an opportunity for cruise lines to enhance the passenger experience and keep older ships competitive in a rapidly evolving market. Typical Dry Dock Works At the most basic level, dry dock allows for essential safety and compliance tasks. This includes inspecting lifeboats, overhauling fire systems, servicing engines, and checking the hull for wear and tear. These routine but vital checks help ensure the ship remains seaworthy and certified under maritime regulations. Dry dock provides a chance to work on the parts of the ship that are normally underwater. getty In recent years, many dry docks have also been used to improve a ship's environmental performance. Cruise lines are increasingly retrofitting older vessels with emissions scrubbers, shore power capability, and even LNG conversion systems, helping them meet stricter environmental standards in some ports. Interior Updates During Dry Dock Then there are the interior updates. Depending on the ship, this might involve replacing worn carpets and soft furnishings, updating color schemes, or modernizing staterooms and suites. In some cases, public spaces are entirely reconfigured. A dated lounge might become a trendy bar or specialty restaurant, or a buffet might be expanded and redesigned due to changing demand or the desire to align an older ship with newer vessels in the fleet. A good example is P&O Cruises' Aurora , the smallest and oldest ship in the fleet, which entered dry dock in April 2025. Launched in 2000, Aurora still wins fans with her wraparound promenade, tiered aft decks, and adults-only ambiance. It's a classic ship in a world of floating resorts. While its 2025 dry dock didn't change that core identity, it did give the ship a significant refresh: updated décor in restaurants and bars, new furniture on deck and spruced-up staterooms with new soft furnishings and mattresses. When Dry Dock Doesn't Go As Planned Although dry dock usually improves a ship, there can be teething issues. Occasionally, return-to-service voyages experience delays, incomplete installations, or crews adjusting to new routines. Because of the risk of cancellation, cruise lines often schedule a short sailing immediately following dry dock, to lessen the financial impact of a delay. It's worth keeping this in mind if you're booking the very first sailing after a maintenance period. That said, the benefits often outweigh the risks. A post-dry-dock sailing might include upgraded technology, better bedding, new menus, and a noticeably fresher atmosphere. What Travelers Should Look For When booking a cruise, especially on a ship over ten years old, take a moment to check its dry dock history using websites such as Cruise Critic. It can reveal a lot about what to expect on board. You may also want to compare sister ships in the same class. Some may have been modernized more recently than others. If you're torn between two itineraries, a ship that's just come out of dry dock might offer the better overall experience. A cruise ship's age doesn't tell the full story, but its dry dock history helps to provide some insight. In an industry where the onboard experience is everything, knowing which ships have been updated and when could help you choose the cruise that's right for you. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes How To Plan A Memorable Transatlantic Cruise By David Nikel Forbes Avoid These 10 Rookie Mistakes On Your First Cruise By David Nikel Forbes How To Plan A Norwegian Fjords Cruise In 2025 By David Nikel
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Keep your shoes on. TSA ends 'shoes off' policy at Detroit Metro, other Michigan airports
If you're flying out of an airport in Michigan this summer, getting through security may be less of a hassle — you no longer need to remove your shoes. The Transportation Security Administration announced the Department of Homeland Security was rolling out the change in a July 8 news release. "Ending the 'Shoes-Off' policy is the latest effort DHS is implementing to modernize and enhance traveler experience across our nation's airports," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in the release. "We expect this change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience. As always, security remains our top priority." "Thanks to our cutting-edge technological advancements and multi-layered security approach, we are confident we can implement this change while maintaining the highest security standards," Noem added. "This initiative is just one of many the Trump administration is pursuing to usher in the President's vision for a new Golden Age of American travel." Here's what to know: TSA now allows passengers to keep shoes on while going through airport security checkpoints. The change ending the no-shoe policy took effect immediately, the July 8 TSA release said. The Transportation Security Agency is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security responsible for managing national security at U.S. airports and other transportation areas. Now that passengers can keep their shoes on, the screening process should flow more smoothly, with shorter wait times expected, the news release said. Previously, travelers would have to step aside to collect their carry-on bags and put their shoes back on after the screening. The Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport coined the name for the area after security checkpoints where people typically stop, collect their belongings, and put on their shoes and other items removed for screening. A former Milwaukee airport director named the spot knowing that "recombobulation" isn't an actual word, but he wanted to bring some fun to a stressful situation. The area has since become a revered fixture and often is used informally at other airports in the U.S. DHS decided TSA doesn't need travelers to take off their shoes to maintain airport safety, Noem said. 'We've gone back and looked at our security processes, looked at the efficacy of everything we do," Noem said, and suggested that, overall, the shoe removal policy was no longer an especially effective tool for screening passengers. She also said that the agency is confident that its technology is ready to handle the change at all airports nationwide. 'We've evaluated the equipment that every airport has and are fully confident with the no shoes policy that we still have the security needs in place at every checkpoint," Noem said. The policy was implemented in response to a December 2001 attempt by an airline passenger to conceal a bomb in his shoe. On Dec. 22, 2001, just months after the 9/11 attacks, Richard Reid boarded American Airlines Flight 63 from Paris to Miami with homemade bombs hidden in his shoes. Reid tried to detonate his shoes, but he struggled to light the fuse. Crew members and passengers noticed and restrained him. The plane diverted to Logan International Airport in Boston, and Massachusetts State Police officers took Reid into custody. Reid told FBI agents that he made the shoes himself. On Oct. 4, 2002, Reid pleaded guilty to eight terrorism-related charges. A judge sentenced him to life in federal prison. No, that was the "underwear bomber." Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the attempted Christmas Day 2009 bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253. As Flight 253 was on descent into Detroit Metropolitan Airport, he detonated the bomb, which resulted in a fire, but otherwise did not explode. Passengers and flight attendants tackled the defendant and extinguished the fire. Abdulmutallab, 25, of Kaduna, Nigeria, pleaded guilty on Oct. 12, 2011, to conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries; attempted murder within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States; willfully placing a destructive device on an aircraft, which was likely to have endangered the safety of the aircraft; attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction; willfully attempting to destroy and wreck a civil aircraft, and three counts of possession of a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence. TSA began the no-shoes policy for airport passengers in 2006. Most travelers had to take off their shoes for standard security screening. There were a few exceptions: You're 75 or older Children appearing to be 12 years old or younger Enrolled in trusted traveler programs such as TSA PreCheck TSA announced its "Serve with Honor, Travel with Ease" program on July 2, giving uniformed service members and their families certain benefits, per a news release. Benefits include TSA PreCheck enrollment fee waived for Gold Star family members, a $25 discount on TSA PreCheck enrollment for spouses of military and uniformed service members, and expedited access in TSA PreCheck lanes for military members at select airports located near larger military installations, the release said. Florida Today, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and USA TODAY contributed. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: TSA ends shoes off policy at security checkpoints. What to know in Michigan
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
TSA implements changes at U.S. airports. What to know when flying
If you're heading to the airport this summer, be sure you're up to date on the latest changes at security checkpoints. Federal officials with the Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration brought changes to airport security screenings in 2025, starting new rules and ending others. When you fly domestically, you'll need to show your Real ID or other document to TSA agents, but you can keep your shoes on through the security screening. Be sure to check your portable electronics, any lithium-iron battery items must go in your carry-on bags. Here's what to know. The Transportation Security Agency is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security responsible for managing national security at U.S. airports and other transportation areas. Travelers now need a Real ID-compliant driver's license or state ID to fly within the U.S. after a May 7 deadline. If you don't have a Real ID-compliant driver's license or state ID, you can carry other documents, including a U.S. passport or passport card to pass through TSA security checkpoints. A full list of TSA-acceptable documents is available online. TSA no longer requires travelers to remove shoes at airport security checkpoints, as of a July 8 news release. "Thanks to our cutting-edge technological advancements and multi-layered security approach, we are confident we can implement this change while maintaining the highest security standards," said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. "This initiative is just one of many the Trump administration is pursuing to usher in the President's vision for a new Golden Age of American travel." Lithium-iron batteries are now banned in checked luggage, but are allowed in carry-ons. The batteries can pose a fire hazard, causing overheating and sparks, especially when damaged. These items contain lithium-iron batteries and are limited to carry-on: Power banks Cell phone battery charging cases Rechargeable and non-rechargeable lithium batteries Cell phone batteries Laptop batteries External batteries Portable rechargers TSA has an online search option for passengers to check which personal items are allowed on flights. The Detroit Free Press contributed. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How airport security has changed in 2025
