I heard the same request when I was flying out of the airport in Phoenix from one of the TSA screeners. However, he was not at the x-ray and the person there didn't make the same request. Most of us put our shoes in the bins instead, as usual.

Posted By stephanie on May 28, 2009, 12:42 PM

Putting your shoes directly on the belt can help avoid spreading dirt from them to whatever else you may have in the bin.

Posted By Morris on May 28, 2009, 1:04 PM

Recently flew from Atl to Jacksonville, Fl and back, both trips we were asked to remove shoes from tray and put on conveyer belt.

Posted By Nate on May 28, 2009, 1:24 PM

I'm way over the whole taking the shoes off thing completely. now they're going to get fussy about how the shoes are put through a machine?!! They need to focus on screening for real weapons and leave our damn shoes alone.

Posted By Samantha on May 28, 2009, 2:03 PM

We flew to Atlanta from Cedar Rapids, Ia on May 22 and was told to put our shoes on the belt. They said it was a new rule that just started. Yet when we come home from Atlanta to Cedar Rapids on May 26th, nothing was said and we even had our shoes in the bin.

Posted By Cindy on May 28, 2009, 2:22 PM

As an aviation security consultant, we see a lot of confusion. I've asked TSA the same question, with no answer yet -- but screeners rarely have a decent grasp of "new rules" -- which, by definition, require a rather substantive bureaucratic process to put in place -- vs. something called a "Security Directive" - which technically is supposed to be implemented only where there is a relatively immediate threat, but TSA has since 2001 used this process almost exclusively to put stuff in place that at best should be temporary/transient, but nobody wants to be the one that took it away and "lessened" security. Worse, as suggested constantly, is that the Federal Security Directors at each airport often tend to do their own thing, lending alot of inconsistency to the process.

Posted By Art K on May 28, 2009, 5:07 PM

I flew last week through 3 cities and was asked to put my shoes and/or flip flops straight on the belt. I had flown last 3 weeks prior and the shoes were in the bin. I did not see any signs indicating this new policy, but of course got the TSA attitude that I should have known when I put the shoes in the bin at first.

Posted By Aimee on May 28, 2009, 5:11 PM

I got the same at Phoenix airport. I had to take my shoes out of the bin and put them on the belt...rules keep changing

Posted By Hy on May 28, 2009, 8:14 PM

Why are all you so submissive? Every time these goons come up with a new "precaution" I laugh and call them the goon squad.

DONT put up with these postal clerks turned nazis.

We cannot allow this mentality to take over this country. any of us who lived in the 50's knows the difference.

A few nazi salutes and derisive laughter usually gets under their skin....

remember - these are postal clerks with guns and badges... the worst kind of police...

they are to be spurned and humiliated... not obeyed.

Posted By Kelly G on May 29, 2009, 4:57 PM

T.S.A. a.k.a. Thousands Standing Around. When I flow out of Shipol (Amsterdam) last fall, I didn't even have to take my shoes off. Likewise in Zagreb. But TSA has to have it their way, especially when you fly out of Las Vegas. In Reno, they have quart ziploc bags for free but in Las Vegas you have to go purchase them and come back through security. Go figure.

Posted By Tom Buqo on May 29, 2009, 5:54 PM

has anyone actually 'back-talked' to an overpaid under-informed tsa worker? They get really nasty, and threaten.

I had two baggies with 3-oz. or less bottles, and was severely chastized by the tsa worker. She said it was people like me who caused delays, and took time away from their looking for REAL terrorists. I merely commented that I felt sorry for her as this was about 6:30 a.m., and her day had barely begun. She told me to "watch it."

and what's worse, since I had more than the "quota," she said I had a choice of checking my luggage through (it would fit in the overhead bin), or I could forfeit the baggies. I was soooo angry, that I told her she could take my items if she'd stuff 'em (YOU KNOW WHERE)

Posted By cee on May 30, 2009, 10:48 AM

This is still so absurd, the TSA guys were working @ McDonald's on Sept 11, 2001 now they are the top security people in the world? The real threat is in the cargo hold almost ten years later and still no inspection of air cargo? Ask your Congressman that next time u c the jerk!

Posted By Nomad one on May 30, 2009, 2:55 PM

Wow Kelly.....why take out all the frustration in your life on TSA screeners? Why do you need to get under their skin at all? Are you one of those guys people who has a problems being "told what to do"?

I travel through airport security six or eight times a month, and- hand to God- the only thing usually slowing me down are the idiots who bitch and moan, giving the TSA screeners a bad time, talking loudly about how their 'rights' are being violated, and so on.

Here's a travel tip: you KNOW what security measures are involved in getting on a plane. Like them or not, you KNOW what you're in for when you buy a ticket at this point.

If the security procedure is too much for you, take a bus. At least then you can stop embarrassing yourself and annoying others at the airport.

Uhhh....happy travels?

Posted By rik on May 30, 2009, 6:29 PM

For some reason, despite 9/11, we Americans do not want to make the changes necessary to protect ourselves. I see it every day as a flight attendant, there is an ever-present defiance to adhere to regulations even though these regulations are in place to protect travelers. Our unwillingness to be inconvenienced, will be what puts us in harms way again.

Posted By SKEJ on May 30, 2009, 11:21 PM

Resently we were flighing out of Buffalo, NY. We had gone through the security checkin and were at the gate and 2 TSA were making random checks of carry on luggage. So I had my underwear and bra laying on the floor at the gate! When I questioned him about why this was happening at the gate they told us that this is not a new practice . I fly ate least 20 times a year and have never seen this before.

Posted By June on June 1, 2009, 7:33 AM

My recent trip last week, Detroit asked to put my shoes on the belt vs in the bin and San Francisco had them in the bin.

Posted By Bernadette on June 1, 2009, 10:12 AM

I had to put my shoes directly on the belt at the Oakland airport recently. The bizarre thing is that many airports in Europe don't require you to even remove your shoes any longer!

Posted By smjza on June 1, 2009, 10:14 AM

We flew through ATL and after customs we had to re-go though security. They removed shoes from the bins and put them on the rollers/conveyor. In the past, it seems it was more about the agents wanting to move as many bins from one end to the other. In fact, one airport awhile back told me to leave my shoes out of a bin, a windbreaker and sweater out of a bin because they "wanted to conserve bins". Coming out of Cancun - shoes were left on, so were windbreakers. LEX - nice zip lock bags free while waiting in the security line nicely printed with Lexington Bluegrass Airport...free souvenir of the Bluegrass!

Posted By lw on June 1, 2009, 10:20 AM

You would think by now there would be an invention to go on the floor to 'look at' shoes so no one had to take off theirs delaying the whole process even more. I'm all for tight security, but lets get real and LOOK for the real bad guys and gals.

Posted By Malcolm on June 1, 2009, 10:34 AM

We just had flights out of STL, PHX and OGG. The only one pulled aside and had his shoes scanned separately was my husband who has metal in both knees after replacement surgery. They rescan him and his belongings top to toe every time we fly.

Posted By Joy on June 1, 2009, 10:34 AM

I have made three flights in the last six weeks and never asked to put my shoes on the roller belt. But I did have problems with my Texas driver's license--In Texas a married woman uses her maiden name as a middle name and because my ticket was issued with my middle name no my maiden name I was questioned for about 10 minutes and then when I used my retired government ID, with an official seal and everything they did not want me to use it in one place because it did not have an address on it where I lived and in another place it did not have an expiration date. I tried to explain that the expiration date on the retired government ID would be when I died, they did not understand. What is the problem with TSA?

Posted By E. King on June 1, 2009, 10:44 AM

This TSA nonsense requiring taking off shoes needs to stop. The hazardous ramifications of exposing the public to contagious infectious bacterial strains places finding deleterious material inside a shoe in shadows.

Posted By PETER BALJET on June 1, 2009, 10:52 AM

It is a good thing that Richard Reese (the shoe bomber) didn't have a device it his shorts instead of his shoes OR we all would be standing in line in our underwear. Will someone please tell the TSA that taking off our shoes is just dumb! Reminds me of the silly questions like "did you pack this bag yourself"? All of us knew it was dumb but no one had the guts to stop asking. Just like the shoes, someone will wake up and understand that this is just DUMB.
Like the two 70 + year old nuns who were pulled out of line for a full body scan. Just DUMB.

Posted By James Goodwin on June 1, 2009, 11:08 AM

The TSA is just trying to stay ahead of any potential threat. Does it REALLY make a difference if you put your shoes in a bin or on the belt? If you have nothing to hide get through the security check and get on with your life. It's not that deep.

Posted By brian from nodebtworldtravel.com on June 1, 2009, 11:11 AM

I put mine on the belt to avoid soiling my jacket. However, it's time to stop the shoe inspection nonsense. I'm old and it's hard for me to take them off and put them on without a chair. And really, how much of a threat are shoes to national security anyway. Shouldn't we focus our efforts on finding Bin Laden and stopping crazy terrorists before they get to my local airport in Austin Texas?

Posted By Buddy Mear on June 1, 2009, 11:13 AM

My family travels to Houston from Atlanta about every 6 weeks for my husband's medical care.

Last week, leaving Atlanta on Memorial day nothing was said to my family of four about our shoes so they were in the bins as usual.

However, leaving Houston Hobby airport the security ladies waited until my husband and kids were already through the scanner and our bins had started to go under to start barking at me to take the shoes out of the bins.

I had to scramble and grab the bins from going in the machine...make everyone behind me move back as I tried to grab four pairs of shoes. The entire time the security women were yelling at me that I should KNOW that the shoes get left out and rolling their eyes at me and my children.

One woman came around and grabbed the shoes from my arms and started throwing them onto the belt with such force that they all bounced off and hit they floor and I had to keep scrambling to pick them up for her.

Yeah, it was special. Good times.

Posted By amy on June 1, 2009, 11:18 AM

Similar experiences here - LAX told to put shoes on conveyor belt and DFW asked to put on conveyor belt, never provided the option in basket or conveyor belt. Also, former hand search was a gliding over one's body with respect for the groin and buttocks. New hand search is grabbing the arms, legs and pressure against groin and buttocks, not respectful and seemingly an unnecessary grabbing of the body.

Posted By G - man on June 1, 2009, 11:26 AM

And then there are airports (Tinian, CNMI) that doesn't even do security of any type - as of May 2009. Just go out and get on the 6-pax 10-minute puddle jumper to Saipan, CNMI. Lover-ly!
Ciao

Posted By Wanda on June 1, 2009, 11:34 AM

Haven't had any special instructions about shoes so far this year. I have gotten mixed messages about my camera and lens, at least 1 airport (minneapolis) made me take the lens off my SLR and run them thru x-ray separately out of the camera bag. I have switched to Velcro strap sneakers, makes it a lot easier to get them on and off at security (I can't wear slip-ons because of fascitis). One good thing about the Hoof and Mouth outbreak was that we had our shoes cleaned for us by Dept Ag because we had been in the UK countryside during the outbreak.

Posted By atp2007 on June 1, 2009, 11:36 AM

I don't give a rip whether my shoes go on the belt or in a bin. I do give a rip about having to take my clothes off when I travel. I think it is intrusive and can't help but suspect it's more about the government making things difficult so we will be reminded that they are keeping us safe ... as opposed to actually doing something that has any utility. However, resist TSA's "suggestions" at your own risk. Years ago when this shoe stuff started, I was at an airport and asked whether this was a "shoes off or shoes on airport?" They told me they recommended we take shoes off. I left mine on, because I had worn them through security many times and they didn't set off metal detectors (I didn't realize at that point they were trying to detect those shoe bombs that all the fashionable terrorists wear). So I got through the metal detector and was whisked to a curtained area and was very thoroughly searched. I asked why, explaining that I simply would like to prevent such delays in the future, and was told it was because I had "refused to take my shoes off." I became angry, said that they told me it was only suggested. They got extremely surly with me, I felt threatened ... and learned to just shut up and let TSA do what they want.

Posted By Bobierto on June 1, 2009, 11:45 AM

And yet another way to just irritate us...ok, the shoes out of the bin is a non-issue to me. I don't really care what I have to do with my shoes, but for heaven's sake, please make it consistent. Last month, I went through security with my standard quart size bag filled with the allotted liquid, only to have the TSA screener ask me whether or not my contact lens solution and my facial cleanser (all in 4oz containers)were "medically" necessary? Since when did we have to explain our basic toiletry?

Posted By Anabel N on June 1, 2009, 11:47 AM

Flying through London, Heathrow TSA asked people randomly to remove shoes in the first security check point. However in the next two check points, everyone had to remove shoes and put directly on the belt.

Posted By Wendy on June 1, 2009, 12:04 PM

I flew to San Diego from Oakland a week ago and it was shoes in the bin, as usual. Coming back, they didn't ask, but just moved my shoes from the bin to the belt. I wondered what was going on.

Posted By Pamela Sawyer on June 1, 2009, 12:12 PM

At LAX and LGB last week they weren't suggesting or recommending. They were either telling you to put the shoes on the belt or taking them out of the bin themselves. I like the fact that the bins will be cleaner (do they clean them?!)
What I don't like is that I have to walk in my socks or bare feet from the point where I take off my shoes to the point where I have to pick them up. That can't be very sanitary.

Posted By John B. Cary on June 1, 2009, 12:13 PM

flew out of dfw and logan on 5/26 and 5/30, respectively, and was 'asked' to place shoes on belt. however, i have always done this to expedite replacing shoes (shoes first, computer bag second, computer and liquids third). works well ever since the london shoe fiasco. good day

Posted By jeff bradley on June 1, 2009, 12:18 PM

Recently flew Chicago ORD to Paris CDG ... upon going thru security at ORD the screeners ran my "bin" through twice and gruffly said, "Your shoes have to go through separate!" ... never been told this before, but the rules are always changing!

Posted By Christopher Peterson on June 1, 2009, 12:27 PM

Whatever explosive or chemical device that they are looking for in your shoes can just as easily be taken through security in a body cavity, in your underwear, etc..., and then replanted into your shoes before boarding! What an absurd and unsanitary over reaction TSA (thousands standing around) has put us through to justify their existence!

Posted By Jerry Hirsch on June 1, 2009, 12:34 PM

Last week flying out of Newark everyone put shoes in binasket w/o any comment. Returning from Detroit five days later, we were all TOLD to place our shoes directly on carrier, and those who had already placed shoescin basket were told to remove them and place them on carrier. It was NOT a suggestion for the traveller. Maybe, it is for the inspectors. Actually, I prefer shoes placed directly on the carrier in order not to have my pocket items placed in a basket where they can be contaminated by the bottoms of everyone's shoes. And can anyone demonstrate that the removal of shoes accomplishes any useful purpose?

Posted By kern on June 1, 2009, 12:53 PM

I just flew this weekend. The Milwaukee airport TSA very politely removed shoes from the bin and put them directly on the belt, informing the passenger of what they were doing. But if shoes were in a bin with a jacket or something, they didn't always notice so they weren't all removed. Minneapolis airport did nothing with shoes.

Posted By Shelly on June 1, 2009, 1:09 PM

More than a dozen years ago, I had my left hip replaced, so every time I go through airport security I'm practically strip searched because my metal hip sets off the detector. Reading experiences shared by others in this column about so-called "airport security," there is clearly considerable frustration and even humiliation for many travelers when they go through the screening process. I have those feelings myself. Despite those feelings, it's obvious that the TSA people have the upper hand. Give them a lot of attitude and they'll either delay you, so you miss your flight or they will not let you though at all. Therefore, like sheep, we usually submit to such experiences with the anticipation that that such procedures help us to arrive at our destination safely even as we may question or object to the procedures. During the entire history of commercial aviation, no senior citizen in my age group has EVER tried to hijack or blow up an aircraft, yet I'm usually screened with greater intensity than others who might represent that potential. That seems like nonsense to me.

Posted By Lewis Edge on June 1, 2009, 1:10 PM

Flew from Charlotte NC to Denver and returned last week. Charlotte didn't say a word about my shoes in the bin, but Denver asked for them to be on the belt by themselves. As you can expect, things move at a slower pace in Charlotte than in Denver!

Posted By Steve on June 1, 2009, 1:11 PM

I always put my shoes in a bin with my purse. TSA has not complained.

Posted By Rose on June 1, 2009, 1:15 PM

I fly at least a couple of times a week and usually more. For a fair while now most of the TSA stations have been asking that shoes be put directly on the belt and not in a bin but the reason noted (if a reason was even provided) was to reduce the use of the bins and thus the number of times they had to collect them and run them back out front. Which makes sense - your shoes should survive going through the screening without their own bin.

I find the "Nazi" comments about TSA mildly sad and amusing. Yes, the screening efforts used are questionable in their impact and at times TSA's "rules" are not consistent from airport to airport. And yes, not every TSA employee is Mr. or Ms. Personality. But by and large they do their job well. People who rant and rave because they have to take off their shoes or put their liquids in a 3 ounce container just need the attention. Frankly, if you hold up the line for this kind of petty complaint you should be made to go back to the end and do it all over again.

Posted By David Marlowe on June 1, 2009, 1:20 PM

I totally get the rules and don't mind doing my best to follow them ( 3 oz containers people and one zip bag, not two )in order to makes those dang lines move faster but it is very irritating when the TSA bullies give people a rough time about so called rules that have not been publicised, I think the traveling public has been very patient but really if you are changing procedures they should not assume we are mind readers!

Posted By Sharon on June 1, 2009, 1:28 PM

I just got back from Europe and went through security at Leonardo de Vinci in Rome and at the airport in Gerona, Spain. At neither place did anyone have to remove their shoes. I personally think we are being too cautious in the U. S.
The 2 airports I went through in NY had us put our shoes in the bin.

Posted By icy bear on June 1, 2009, 1:45 PM

AVP and San did not request shoes on the belt.

Posted By George Lauscher on June 1, 2009, 1:48 PM

Next, they'll ask us to put our liquids in the shoes, even though they have known for almost a year that the whole 3 oz. liquid thing is a complete technical impossibility. As far as I know, the US is the only country (except perhaps for the surveillance-crazed UK) where you have to take off your shoes. We should place them face-up, keeping in mind that many people consider it an insult to show them the bottom of your shoes.

Posted By Bluevoter on June 1, 2009, 1:54 PM

Wow, what a lot of unnecessary hostility! Some of it from the TSA screeners and A LOT OF IT from the traveling public. Everybody breathe deeply. Visualize a bunny hopping through a meadow. Now consider:
The screeners are not responsible for making policy. They are not even responsible for making our screening experience pleasant. Their job is to help ensure that we fly safely. They do that by enforcing the rules (many of which are pointless and even counter-productive, for sure!) set by higher-ups. If you think these screeners are stupid, why do you want them to be able to make exceptions to the rules?
And P.S. I don't think postal workers are particularly stupid, either.

Posted By Virginia on June 1, 2009, 2:15 PM

The whole shoe thing is absurd. I firmly believe the only reason shoes need to come off is to humiliate the passenger and create a subservient atmosphere. No where else in the WORLD is this a requirement. If someone wants to get a device past security there are better ways to do it. I agree that if Reese had something in his undershorts we would all be parading around in the buff.
Further, in all my years of flying I have never had anything taken from my checked luggage except since the TSA became involved.

Posted By Bob S on June 1, 2009, 2:18 PM

Flying out of DEN on 5/18, we were told by the TSA person checking our ID that a new rule just went into effect, and that we should put our shoes on the conveyor belt.However, everyone was putting their shoes in the bins, as usual, and we did the same. No one asked us to do anything different.

Posted By Morah on June 1, 2009, 2:21 PM

first of all TSA is a joke. after twenty years in the military when your numbers up its up their is no escape. there are two many unrecognizable ways to hide and explosive device. Second the long lines for security at peak
traffic hours at air are a much more likely place for a terror attack than the plane itself.
third a terrorist worth his salt already knows how to hide a device so it is not detectable.

Posted By tom on June 1, 2009, 2:36 PM

I was almost reprimanded in the sacramento airport for pushing my bag to hard, I was trying to keep the line moving. I was unaware giving your bag a good push on the table would label me a potential terrorist.

I am still not sure why those quart bags even need to come out of the luggage 100% of my flights out of O'hare the last 2 years I have left it in there without any issues.

Apparently it is very hard for the TSA to develop 1 set of rules and apply them to all the US airports. I never know what I am going to get. I really enjoyed seeing about 30 TSA employees running 2 X-ray machines recently in Allentown. I think about 10 would have been more than sufficient.

Posted By Taper on June 1, 2009, 2:40 PM

on my last flight i had a small amount of liquids in the wrong size ziplock bag, as i don't fly very often i wasn't aware that ziplocks needed to be a certain size. the TSA lady told me that I had to leave and go downstairs, buy the correct size bag and start the process over again! This would make me late for flight and possibly not make the flight a all. I told her that I most probably would miss my flight because of her request and would hold her responsible. she let me go through.

Posted By Jean Leonard on June 1, 2009, 2:55 PM

What is the sense of the TSA when not more than 50% of air freight loaded in the cargo bay is inspected. Almost none of the pallets are inspected. Why would a terrorist blow himself up when all he has to do is put the explosive in a pallet of goods being shipped? Without 100% of air freight being screened their is no logical reason for the TSA.

Posted By Patrick on June 1, 2009, 3:10 PM

We flew from Denver to St Croix on 5/15/2009 and were told to put the shoes in a bin. We returned on 5/24 and were crossly told that the shoes were not to be in a bin but rather naked on the conveyor. You just don't know what to do to not irritate the TSA.

Posted By Richard on June 1, 2009, 3:14 PM

TSA's website currently states you must remove your shoes and features a picture of a pair of shoes in a bin. They also have a link to "Why we screen shoes?". The link does not work. TSA also ransacks (inspects) your luggage. The international airports I have been through the last 2 years all put your luggage through X-ray and never touch the contents. I don't mind them inspecting the contents of my suitcase, but if they must do so, they could leave it the way they found it.

Posted By James on June 1, 2009, 3:23 PM

I have mostly experienced still putting shoes in the bins. However I really must say I hate taking shoes off and walking in stocking or worse bare feet! I wish there was a better way to screen them.

Posted By Lynn on June 1, 2009, 3:31 PM

Problems arise because TSA was nothing but a "boondoogle" in the first place. There is no (repeat, NO) evidence that they have done anything to make travel safer. Many newspapers have run features about how easy it is to evade their restrictions. Those of us who try to cooperate just get hassled by poorly educated and barely trained TSA personnel who are drunk on their power as a pseudo-law enforcement officer. The only positive thing you can say is that it may be an employment program for many people who would otherwise be on welfare.

Posted By Sid Hill on June 1, 2009, 4:03 PM

Who really cares.
Just do what they want and through security.

Posted By lawthomas on June 1, 2009, 4:43 PM

The shoes travel through the x ray machine at 1
MPH. That is too fast for the TSA to comprehend.
Was it a bird, was it a plane DUH!!!!

Posted By Bob Greiner on June 1, 2009, 5:29 PM

Israel already has a new step-on shoe scanner (that is supposedly coming to the U.S., too) where you don't have to remove your shoes at all!

Posted By Jeff on June 1, 2009, 5:57 PM

Wasn't no "recommendation" at DCA just 2 days ago. Mr. TSA was running back and forth with his hair on fire, telling everyone "Take your shoes OUT of the basket and put them directly ON the X-Ray belt." Guess he's never been to Europe, where they don't care about your shoes (or a 1 quart bag of grooming goodies, either) and the only "belt" they care about is the one around your waist (off it comes....)

Posted By TwoTonix on June 1, 2009, 6:16 PM

Checking shoes is comical at best. Why does the US do a 'fake' search when countries like Israel and the Netherlands and even the UK commit to doing it right? Over here (the US) its a joke.

Posted By pheorama on June 1, 2009, 6:27 PM

What will they think of next to irritate us???

Last summer we flew to Italy and my husband started to remove his shoes. The security guard stopped him with this comment and a smile on his face, "you don't have to remove your shoes, sir. You aren't in the United States here."

This is true. Why does TSA delight in irritating as many travelers as possible?

Posted By Elizabeth on June 1, 2009, 6:30 PM

I just flew to and from Orlando and was asked every time to put my shoes directly on the belt. If someone put them in a bin the security personnel pulled them out and put them on the belt.

Posted By Mary on June 1, 2009, 6:34 PM

We just flew from SAN to PHL this weekend, returning today, and were not asked to put our shoes on the belt in either airport.

Posted By catmujer on June 1, 2009, 7:09 PM

Flying from Detroit to Jacksonville Fl last week was told both ways to put shoes directly on belt.

Posted By Gail Paulus on June 1, 2009, 7:36 PM

I REALLY DON'T CARE IF THEY WANT ME TO HOP ON ONE FOOT AND PLAY A NOSE FLUTE DOING IT.....BUT IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE "SECURITY" COULD MANAGE NOT TO STEAL STUFF FROM MY CHECKED LUGGAGE! REALLY PISSES ME OFF. NOT THAT I AM CARRYING $$$ JEWELS, OR PHOT EQUIP. BUT THEY DO LOVE TO GRAB MY TRAVEL ALARM CLOCK AND THINGS ONLY IMPORTANT TO ME. BY THE TIME YOU STUFF YOUR LUNCH, MEDS, PHOTO EQUIP AND BOOK IN YOUR BACKPACK THERE IS NO ROOM FOR SOUVENIRS ON THE RETURN HOME. DON'T PUT THEM IN THE CHECKED LUGGAGE ITS GONE...TRUST ME! SO MY FAITH IN THOSE ASSIGNED TO "PROTECT" ME IS THIN TO SAY THE LEAST. AND LIKE AN EARLIER COMMENT SAID...WHEN THE HELL ARE THEY GOING TO REALLY GET SERIOUS ABOUT X RAYING THE CHECKED LUGGAGE WHERE THE REAL BOMBS WOULD BE? NOT IN MY BLEEDING BOTTLE OF WATER THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Posted By PAT SHERWOOD on June 1, 2009, 7:49 PM

Shoe scanning is just Another useless "security check" that the idiot TSA uses to justify their existence......does anyone with even a single brain cell think a terrorist is going to put a bomb in a shoe now ? or in a carry on ? No, they'll put it in checked luggage, or get an airport employee co-conspirator who they've bribed/blackmailed to plant a bomb on a plane. DUH. The TSA is just another example of the ineptitude and incompetency of the Bush administration's response to 9-11, that we're still paying for, 8 years later. have they EVER stopped a bomb / terrorist ?? NO. They just like to irritate travellers, waste our time, waste taxpayer dollars, and in general, make travelling a royal pain in the A$$.....

Posted By Mike F. DE on June 1, 2009, 8:22 PM

any rules against entering a commercial flight barefoot? i think i'll just try keeping my shoes in my bag to save them the trouble.

Posted By philk on June 1, 2009, 10:26 PM

The whole shoe thing is a joke. I have flown to New Zealand and Ecuador and have never been asked to remove my shoes in either country. Ecuador did take my manicure scissors though.

And why is a bag ok to carry on all the way to Ecuador but when you get to Miami coming back, it is suddenly too big to carry on even though you didn't pack anymore into it?

Posted By Carol Eisenhauer on June 1, 2009, 10:58 PM

I'm with Samantha - get over the shoes. I try to be a minimalist with shoes and have had my Birkenstocks, Haviana's, etc searched. Does anyone know of "big finds" in shoes?

Posted By Kathy on June 1, 2009, 10:59 PM

Flying out of SEA there are signs taped to the conveyor belts that look like they are fresh off the computer printer and say "you may not place shoes on the belt." At the same time, the TSA agents were telling the crowd that shoes must go directly on the belt..

Posted By Bobby on June 2, 2009, 1:20 AM

In the last two weeks I flew out of Kansas City - TSA told me to put shoes directly on the belt. Flew out of Jacksonville FL - told me I could put my shoes on the belt "if I wanted to". Flew out of Kansas City again - told me to put shoes on the belt. Flew out of Portland Oregon - asked me to put my shoes on the belt.

Interestingly my daughter had a 6-oz bottle of hair gel in her carryon that had 1 oz of gel in the bottom of it. TSA in Kansas City forced her to surrender it because *the bottle label* stated six ounces even though there was obviously much less gel than the limit allows visible in the bottle. It makes no sense to me whatsoever why the bottle label ounces matter more than the amount of actual product in the bottle. She could have placed the same amount of gel in a small 2 oz bottle and been fine. Boggles the mind.

Posted By Linda P on June 2, 2009, 1:25 AM

tsa's have badge numbers. report bad eggheads to tsa or your congressman. WE STILL HAVE SOME RIGHTS LEFT

Posted By mark neid on June 2, 2009, 5:32 AM

I've read the comments re: concern about the unsanitary conditions at the airports. Check out the "paper slippers" avaialable from Magellan's. I slip them on EVERY time I take my shoes off - and I'm totally disguisted by the dirt/filth on them when I slip them off after passing through security.

One over-zealous TSA jack-ass wanted me to take them off so he could X-ray them. As if! His female co-worker advised there was no need to X-ray paper and that I should just continue on my way.

Posted By Inez on June 2, 2009, 7:37 AM

I have 2 metal hips that really sets off the metal detectors. I expect to be searched, poked and hands all over my body. Most of the time the screeners have been professionsal and polite. One guy poked me a litle too much and I told him that if he did that again we would have to get married. I told another that for a quarter I would show him the scars from the surgery. Both times I could not get a smile from either screener. I will continue to try and get one to laugh.

Posted By Mr. T on June 2, 2009, 9:39 AM

I fly out of Logan pretty regularly where they make you put your liquids in a separate bin - I have not been asked to do this anywhere else and in fact have been asked to combine them with my shoes and coat. The same is true for my laptop there is no consistency from airport to airport.

Posted By Heather on June 2, 2009, 11:16 AM

I fly fairly often for business and never seem to have an issue with the TSA's. However, each and every time I have flown on vacation these last 6 or 7 years, I have been harassed. Once going on vacation from PHL, a TSA told me they wanted to search my person and I told them: "No problem, get you supervisor here first". The TSA got angry but I stayed calm and refused to budge. When the supervisor came, I explained that I felt threatened by the attitude and actions of her employee and I politely asked for the telephone number of their Internal Affair office-or its equivalent-she told me in no uncertain terms that she was not going to allow me to bully her or her staff...and sent me down to the gate. Go figure. LOL

Posted By Greg on June 2, 2009, 12:20 PM

I fly about once a month. Just flew Dulles to Houston International and back - Dulles shoes in bin, Houston on belt. Either way a pain for a senior citizen - I try to wear slip on shoes that are a little big so they come off and on easily. My experience with TSA is that they are generally a lot more professional the last year or so than before. There are always those who want to play hot shot but most are ok. My attitude toward air travel is that I leave my rights as a gray haired native born citizen on the street when I enter the airport. I just wish other security measures such as screening of packages etc. were as intensive as those aimed at the traveling public.

Posted By Joyce on June 2, 2009, 12:20 PM

Try flying with a CPAP machine. I always get pulled aside, while the rest of my stuff sits on the belt for anyone to pick up. They won't let you gather the rest of your stuff at most airports. To my knowledge, no plane has ever been hijacked or blown up by a middle-aged overweight white woman.

This is from the TSA website. Doesn't say anything about conveyor belt or bin.
"Shoes. Travelers are required to remove their shoes before entering the walk-through metal detector at all U.S. airports and put them through the x-ray machine for inspection. This allows officers to see if the shoes have been tampered with in any way."

Posted By Nancy on June 2, 2009, 12:29 PM

Us, under-educated and misguided control officers believe you are all a threat to security. No exceptions.
Is it too hard to just do what we ask? Does arrogance come to you naturally when asked to do a simple task.
For the older generation, you DON'T have to take your shoes off if you ask politely. We will sit you down in a chair and then ask you to remove them.
Why do we always have to endure the frustrations of a few passengers that think ''security'' measures are exaggerated. We do our best to accommodate and help make the transition as smooth as possible.
Next time you fly, think of the Golden Rule and try to apply it. It could make a WORLD of difference.
Blessings to all.

Posted By Sassy on June 2, 2009, 2:02 PM

Last week I flew out of Ontario, CA and they asked me to put the shoes on conveyor belt. I had one small tube of lotion in my purse and the TSA person gave me a ziploc baggie and asked me to put the lotion in the bag. She was surprisingly nice about it. Removing the shoes is annoying and seems unnecessary, but I am completely over the 3oz rule. That needs to be done away with entirely.

Posted By Tonya on June 2, 2009, 2:18 PM

I flew out of Chicago O'Hare on 5/14 and it was announced while I was in the security line that it was a new rule all shoes must be placed directly on the conveyor belt. Apparently it was a very new rule as people ahead of us in line were able to put their shoes in a bin.

Posted By Eunice on June 2, 2009, 2:52 PM

Just returned from flight from Atlanta to London & return. Our shoes went in the tray on all flights.

Posted By Jo on June 2, 2009, 3:13 PM

I have read a lot of the comments and although I agree that it is a pain in the neck to remove your shoes, your belts, your jackets/sweaters, remove your baggie from your purse, place keys and cell phones in separate bins -- it is for our safety. (The shoe thing stems from the gentleman who had explosives in the soles of his shoes.)

Things have changed and now we can bring finger nail files, tweezers, and nail clippers on planes. I am certain these could be deadly. Not in the same way or with as much destruction as a potential bomb in a tiny carryon size approved container.

Do the TSA people need to be nasty of get a negative attitude or bully people to be effective at their jobs - No, it really isn't necessary. But they are essentially enforcement officers sans weapons and their jobs cannot be much fun.

I am sure our government and governments across the world could do more in terms of beefing up security to ensure that no matter where you board a plane you feel secure. Would the full body scans work? Do I care if someone sees my undies? I don’t like it but I am sure after seeing all of the different sizes and shapes of people that come through an airport they would be so desensitized that it wouldn’t matter to them at all. Should each of our carry on items be subjected to the same search as our bodies? Probably.

I am okay with the inconveniences that we go through as long as someone can prove to me that they are effective. So far – I’m not sure that data has actually been published. Anyone?

Posted By LW on June 2, 2009, 3:30 PM

I usually put the stuff from my right and left pocket in each of my shoes, so that when I get it on the other side I just dump it into my pocket. Otherwise all the change and keys get lost.
I suppose another dumb rule to keep us humiliated.

Posted By Me on June 2, 2009, 4:52 PM

TSA is still in the middle ages. ON a recent trip to Greece, when returning from the Athens airport I WAS NOT ASKED TO REMOVE MY SHOES!!!

Posted By R.Burmeister on June 3, 2009, 10:22 AM

My wife and I recently flew roundtrip to Chicago in mid-May and weren't asked to place our shoes directly on the belt.

Posted By Q on June 3, 2009, 12:32 PM

I am simply amazed that people can get so worked up, and comment ad nauseum, about this subject while the federal government is spending us into oblivion and the public has no clue.

Posted By J Aufderheide on June 3, 2009, 1:11 PM

Just flew out of Amsterdam and they didn't have us take off our shoes at all. One man, who beeped went through again and had to, putting the shoes directly on the convayer belt. Their machines seem to be stronger than ours as I never beep in the States but in Europe just a watch will make me beep.
R

Posted By R on June 4, 2009, 8:13 AM

I put my new fairly expensive shoes on the rollers & they were ripped & falling apart because they got caught on something. I filled out a form for reimbursement but have never heard a thing. Worse than the cost of the shoes was that I had to try to wear them that way since other shoes were packed.

Posted By C on June 4, 2009, 11:18 AM

On several eastern Canadian flights in mid-May, 2009, I was told to place my shoes on the conveyor belt not in the container.

Posted By hnr on June 4, 2009, 12:06 PM

After years of this policy TSA decides it's a "clutter" issue and the bins are getting too full? It clearly is not an issue for the screeners ability to view items or they would have done this years ago. It is a health issue that they'll never admit. The bins are never cleaned, reused thousands of times, and shoes are filthy. The average shoe carries 421,000 units of bacteria, even E. Coli and then you put your cell phone in a bin where thousands of shoes have been, like a recent visit to the restroom for instance. A company called Kangopack has blown this overlooked issue out of the water. There is a new travel pack that converts to an antimicrobial bin liner with a separate divider for shoes. Everything is organized, protected from the dirty bin, the shoes are separated and clearly visible. After screening you just clip the sides, grab the handles, and carry everything away. Immediately getting you out of line to collect yourself without bins piling up behind you. Total peace of mind from germs, lost/forgotten belongings, or a rush to gather your stuff. Helps TSA screeners, Lost and Found Department, keeps travelers organized, and protects there health and belongings. Every airline traveler should have one.

Posted By eric117 on June 4, 2009, 6:05 PM

During May and June, in addition to flying in and out of the US, I have flown Narita-Shanghai-Hong Kong-Shanghai-Narita-US and then Amsterdam-Berlin-Zurich-Berlin. Never ONCE in any of the airports outside the US have I been asked to remove my shoes. In fact, in Hong Kong I did not have to remove my qt-sized bag of liquids either. But there, almost each person, after walking thru the metal detector, gets wanded by the security person because they set the detector at a very hi level.

Flying into Asia from the US and flying into Shanghai from Hong Kong, the local health officials were very thorough about taking our temperatures and making sure we had filled out the information forms to a T. Once the airplane was turned off, there was no A/C and it became very uncomfortable. One woman 3 rows behind me had a fever. For a while we were afraid we would be quarantined for a week because had they decided she had H1N1, anyone within 3 rows would be quarantined. All's well that ends well. We were lucky that they decided she was o.k. We all got off the plane and headed on our way. But we then had to wait quite a while for our baggage. They said they were spraying it because of the person on the flight with the hi temp. I asked why the checked luggage should be sprayed if nothing in the passenger compartment was.

Posted By Betsy on June 5, 2009, 4:02 AM

I have traveled out of the U.S. twice since April, and both times, have placed my shoes in a bin with no problems.

Posted By Susan on June 6, 2009, 12:55 PM

My family of four flew this past week. We put our shoes in bins at STL and MIA, and the screeners did not object.

Screening at STL was fast and easy. MIA screening was unorganized and chaotic.

Posted By Teresa on June 6, 2009, 10:59 PM

Just returned from Europe where you do not have to remove your shoes at all. Also flew last weekend within the US and had to put shoes ON the belt. Why the different rulings?

Posted By Trisha on June 7, 2009, 6:52 PM

I flew through Dulles this past week. It was not a recommedation -- we were required by TSA to take our shoes off and place them on the x-ray belt separately.

Posted By Harry on June 7, 2009, 10:56 PM

I had a horrible experience the last time I returned from Viet Nam, entering the USA through Seattle. First was that all returning citizens were ordered to take our shoes off AFTER we landed and were about to go through Customs/Immigration. Second, a uniformed Border Patrolman asked why I'd gone overseas. When I told him I'd gone to visit friends, he tried to interrogate me about how I'd met my overseas friends. When I told him I'd met them the same way other people meet friends, he got the point and shut up. Whether TSA or Immigration, the agents go out of their way to let us know they're our masters, not our public servants.

Posted By Daniel J. Vandeberg on June 8, 2009, 12:09 PM

Leaving the shoes on the belt, instead of the bins, would be great because shoes have all sorts of yucky stuff on them which get transported to your nice, clean other stuff when they are all put in bins together.

One other note: watch your stuff! On my last trip, I had a guy hold one of my bins (there were very few people traveling at that time) after I'd gone through and retrieved all my stuff. I'd been ready to leave when I realized I didn't have my jacket- a thin linen jacket. I looked over to the guy "manning" the conveyor belt and he was looking at me. I said, "I don't have my jacket" and he said "okay" then allowed it to go through. Accident? Maybe. Maybe not.

Posted By PattiB on June 8, 2009, 1:06 PM

Heathrow Term 3,CDG, ORY all pleasant when you put shoes in the bin. Ditto JFK and SFO.
I used to have a supervisor who reported to me who was responsible for corporate security guards. He frequently had to tell employees to treat the guards--who were really courteous people--with at least minimal respect. Some folks just seem to get great pleasure from snarling at "lesser beings."

Posted By Tom Tellefsen on June 8, 2009, 1:52 PM

Flew a connecting flight from Philadelphia to Miami in May and everyone was told to remove shoes from the bin and put on the belt. Same for the return flight.

Posted By philsgirl on June 8, 2009, 2:41 PM

I guess I've been very fortunate in that I've never encountered a mean or rude TSA employee. Some have been more serious,but most have been very pleasant. Some have actually been cheerful and funny. It must be tough to face the daily stream of (some) travellers with attitudes. It's our choice to travel. Abiding by the rules makes life easier for all involved.
I'll be flying this weekend, I wonder where the shoes should go!!!

Posted By Sally on June 8, 2009, 5:58 PM

As a seasoned traveler who has shoes off, liquids ready, laptop out, etc, I don't think the issue is whether we have to place shoes in the bin or on the belt. It is the "tone" of being asked or told to do it. Having traveled about 6+ flights in the last two months, no where has it been posted to indicate which airports want shoes on the belt vs. shoes on the bin. In some cases TSA has been very polite in asking shoes "on the belt please" (such as ABE - Allentown, PA, MSY - New Orleans) and at other times they have talked to us like we were idiots who couldn't follow a rule (Cleveland, Philadelphia). I understand it can't be a fun job that they have, and I'm sure some enjoy the "power" they get but most are just doing their job. In reality, I'll do whatever is required as long as I know what is required. Please TSA, help us make your job easier, let us know what is required, post a sign, say please, give us a heads up before we get there, it would help relieve the stess for everyone.

Posted By JulieN on June 8, 2009, 9:13 PM

We currently live in the Middle East. On recent trips to Qatar, Kuwait, and Cairo, not only did we not have to take off shoes, we didn't have to exhibit our toiletries or throw away water bottles that we wanted to drink. I didn't even have to wake my daughter up, just pushed the stroller through the metal detector. We dread going back to the States this summer with the multitude of varying rules and manner of enforcement. In Germany, they also aren't so gung-ho. Something has got to change. Passengers are still the customers and deserve more respect than they're getting.

Posted By Trisha on June 9, 2009, 5:11 AM

I have flown frequently between BNA and SMF and I have not been asked to do this at either airport. Next time I fly I will put the shoes on the conveyor and watch what happens.

Posted By RS on June 10, 2009, 1:13 AM

Last I checked, removing shoes was not to check them for explosives, but to avoid the metal on them making the metal detector go off. So it should make absolutely no difference if they are in the bin or on the belt directly. Just another example of stupid TSA protocol which does NOT catch terrorists OR make flying any safer!

Posted By Tzip on June 10, 2009, 4:26 AM

I'm usually asked to put my shoes in a bin by themselves and put my other things in another bin. Since, I've started doing it this way by habit and no one has stopped me and told me otherwise

Posted By Zach on June 11, 2009, 3:06 PM

This whole shoe thing has always been irritating to me. I understand the need for security but what would TSA be having us do if the shoe bomber had hidden that bomb where the sun don't shine instead of putting it in his shoe? think about it.

Posted By Kevin on June 11, 2009, 3:46 PM

The next time we all travel, we should just take off every piece of clothing on our bodies and put it all on the scanner.

No more problems if you are a stark naked traveler.

The rules are implemented to make the skies safer. Sure TSA could do a better job of letting the public know, but the media handles it with such flair!

We are all professionals. As the rules change, we still continue to pay the money to get on the buses in the sky. Don't act brand new when confronted with a rule you just found out about when you get to the airport. Just flow with it.

Posted By styleosophy on June 11, 2009, 4:14 PM

Good day! Blogger Bob here from the TSA blog. I just wanted to pop in and make a quick statement and provide a couple of links for you.

The new shoe protocol is a suggestion to de-clutter bins and make things easier for our officers to see on the X-ray monitor.

If our officers are requiring you to do this, I strongly suggest you use our Got Feedback program and contact a TSA customer support representative at the airport you were traveling through.

Got Feedback - http://is.gd/15wYt
Shoe Post on TSA Blog - http://is.gd/15wZW
Why We Screen Shoes - http://is.gd/15xiG

Thanks,

Blogger Bob
TSA Blog Team

Posted By Bob on June 18, 2009, 3:08 PM

Family reunion in Atlanta last week. Multiple families, same flight, same time of day, different lines, different rules. Discussion ensued when we met up on the other side. Some families told to put shoes in bin, others put shoes directly on belt. How does that figure in the big scheme of things ???

Posted By kikiwow on June 22, 2009, 2:02 PM

I recently had a great experience with JetBlue from Dulles to Orlando. I had purchased hair products and lotions thru a family member and packed them in a box with dirty laundry to check thru. (JetBlue checks one bag free, I hand carried the other one). The agent asked me if I had liquids in the box and I told her what they were. She was concerned about it going thru and had one of the porters take it to the screening area. She also got my daughters phone # in case it couldn't go on the plane and had to be picked up. When I got to the gate, the agent there knew who I was and told me the box would be on the flight with me. These JetBlue people went beyond what they had to do. Guess who will be my first choice for air travel?

Posted By Rosina Codd on June 22, 2009, 2:31 PM

I dont really understand the liquid in a baggie thing. It seems to me if someone or persons wish to use liquids for terrorist activities, it would be just a matter of having a number of so call terrorist all having three ounces of liquids, putting it all together to make enough to do harm to a plane. What is to stop someone from collecting all the three ounces, proceeding to the bathroom and making whatever they wish. The 911 terrorists have us where they wish, by making the U.S.citizens a group of craven, cringing cowards. It use to be pleasant for me to travel, now it is a monstrous unpleasant,experience. Never knowing if you will get a rude,full of himself/herself TSA agent.

Posted By arabella finch on June 22, 2009, 3:52 PM

OMG - isn't there anything more important than "do the shoes go in the bin on on the belt?" Knock it off!

Posted By KR on June 22, 2009, 5:53 PM

There is a company that makes a shoe scanner so you can leave your shoes on. You just step on the machine and keep on going. When are they going to buy these for the US. Israel is using them- what's wrong with us?

Posted By Bob on June 24, 2009, 1:53 PM