The familiar shuffle of travelers removing shoes at airport security checkpoints may soon be a thing of the past. As of July 7th, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has quietly rolled out a nationwide policy change allowing most passengers to keep their shoes on during screening.
We spoke with Caleb Harmon-Marshall, former TSA officer and founder of WTH Enterprises, to understand what’s behind the move, how it works, and what it means for travelers.
Why is TSA canceling the shoe removal rule?
“With new advanced technology at security checkpoints, TSA has the necessary systems to actively screen all travelers while their shoes are on,” Harmon-Marshall explains. “They’ve actually had access to this tech for a while now, so the timing of allowing standard passengers to keep their shoes on signals to me that some changes may be coming to how TSA PreCheck is run.”
Does this apply to all passengers?
As of now, the change applies to most travelers—with one notable exception. “If travelers arrive at security checkpoints without a REAL ID, they’ll be instructed to remove their shoes and undergo additional screening,” Harmon-Marshall says.
How TSA screens shoes without removal
While Harmon-Marshall couldn’t share specifics, he assures travelers that, “TSA is still screening footwear. Travelers are not boarding flights unchecked.” New scanners are capable of detecting potential threats without requiring passengers to take off their shoes.
Will this cut down wait times?
“This change will have a significant impact on wait times, possibly decreasing them by more than half,” Harmon-Marshall predicts. “Removing your shoes at TSA is time-consuming, especially if you have a large group or are traveling with children over 12. This new change will help in multiple areas, including leaving items behind. Now that you don’t have to focus on putting your shoes back on, you can allocate that focus to collecting all of your items.”
Where is this rolling out—and is it already nationwide?
“Some airports, like Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, had soft rollouts over the weekend,” Harmon-Marshall notes. “As of today, July 7th, standard travelers should expect to keep their shoes on nationwide.”
Are TSA officers concerned about safety?
“With this level of activation, there is always a sense of concern, which is probably why the agency hasn’t made an official announcement as of yet,” Harmon-Marshall says. “But as a former TSO, I can confirm that the tech is there, and if a threat were present, officers have the necessary resources to detect it.”
Could other TSA rules change soon?
“I believe nothing is off the table and we’ll be seeing more changes,” Harmon-Marshall says, noting that he’ll be covering any updates in his newsletter. “TSA has already announced that the 3-1-1 rule will be ending in the coming years. It may just be closer than we think.”
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