Transportation Security Administration (TSA) continuously update their various rules to ensure a smooth traveling experience for the passengers. A long existing rule has now been updated by the TSA, which is very likely to bring relief and result in less hassle during the security checking at airports.
TSA has announced that passengers are no longer required to remove their shoes while they are being checked. This rule came into effect post the 9/11 attack and has been enforced for almost two decades. The fact this rule is finally changing was mentioned by a Tiktoker named Travelwiththeharmony, who is a former TSA officer and owner of Gate Access.
View this post on Instagram
The best part is that this new rule will be applicable for all passengers, regardless of their enrollment in TSA PreCheck. The passengers, however, need to have valid documents regarding their identification and make sure they are going by the identification documents rule that came into existence since May end.
This change is an extremely welcome one as it is likely to significantly reduce the wait time at the security lines. Taking off one’s shoe to go through the checking process and then putting it back on can prove to be quite frustrating given that there are a lot of other things to take care of before boarding a flight.
View this post on Instagram
Especially for people with children or elderly will find the new rule to be extremely helpful. It is also likely to move the lines faster and thus make the on-boarding process even more hassle free. The change in this rule came mostly because of the advancement of technology that now allows for a thorough checking of a person without one having to remove their shoes.
As reported by Irish Star, “The shoe removal requirement was implemented in 2001 after Richard Reid, infamously dubbed the ‘shoe bomber’ attempted to smuggle explosives aboard a transatlantic flight by hiding them in his footwear.”
View this post on Instagram
The rule remained unchanged for almost two decades despite the many problems it caused including the slower moving of a security line and passengers’ discomfort of removing and putting their shoes back on. However, now with technological advancement, TSA has finally seen fit to remove the rule and thus ensure both safety and comfort of the passengers.
