Air Travel

Question:

>Since the shoe bomber incident U.S. security > has given greater attention to footwear, but > passengers have complained that each > airport enforces a different policy.

I think this is one of the biggest holes in the TSA security system. The inconsistancy at different airports.  We found it to be this way on our last trip and that is what so many other people were complaining about.  We did not and were not asked to take off our shoes at any of the airports we used and neither one of us was wearing sandals.  The agent at our departure airport seemed more concerned with getting us to put our food inside our carryon and no one seemed to  be concerned with our feet.   I guess they must have some "instinct" about which feet are dangerous because some people were asked to take off shoes. Trice

Response:

>I think this is one of the biggest holes in the TSA security system. >The inconsistancy at different airports.  We found it to be this way on >our last trip and that is what so many other people were complaining >about.  We did not and were not asked to take off our shoes at any of >the airports we used and neither one of us was wearing sandals.  The >agent at our departure airport seemed more concerned with getting us to >put our food inside our carryon and no one seemed to  be concerned with >our feet.   I guess they must have some "instinct" about which feet are >dangerous because some people were asked to take off shoes.

I noticed the inconsistency as well.  A few weeks ago at the commuter terminal in SAN before boarding a 30 seat turboprop they not only removed every ones shoes.  They also ran a wand of some sort over EVERYONES feet while you were seated in a chair.  Children and little old ladies not exempt.  Then they hand searched EVERYONES carry on luggage.  It was intrusive but I will give credit that they conducted it as professionally as possible attitude wise.  Then 45 minutes later in LAX before boarding a 747 I had to remove my shoes which were ran with my carry on, quickly through a x ray that the operator barely looked at.  There could have been anything in there.  I thought it odd there was such a high level of security on a commuter flight and such a low level on a international 747 flight.

Response:

>(huh?  Agence France-Presse?  Did no North-American press agency >report this?)

Yes it was reported a few days ago, even posted here I think. It didn’t get much US press because sadly, air travellers in general have become accustomed to acquiescing to every new bit of nonsense from the TSA. I’m keeping my shoes on, if I get ’secondarily’ screened so be it. They can kiss my ass while they’re at it.

Response:

Friday, July 11, 2003 Posted 7 a.m. ET – Friday   Headed to the airport? Wear clean socks The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said Thursday that it will try to persuade all air passengers to remove their shoes at screening checkpoints, Agence France-Presse reports. Officials say they won’t require passengers to go shoeless, but will strongly "encourage" them to remove their footwear for X-ray examination. The TSA says it’s "clarifying" its shoe policy to help speed up security lines