Airport Security question

[Auntie Kelly]

This may be a stupid question, but I thought I would ask anyway. I will be flying out of Logan next month. Last time we all had to remove our shoes. To save time I thought I would wear flip flops and change into my keds after we get through security.

My question is, even with flip flops on will they make me remove my shoes? The thought of being barefoot on those floors turns my stomach. If there is a chance they'll make me remove the flip flops I'll just wear my keds, with socks and keep my laces undone.

 

[MNT568]

We went through Logan last week and I had to take off the flip flops. However, my DS had sneakers on and he did not have to take them off. You may be OK with the kids. The floor is gross. I too had thought the flip flops would be ok.

 

[DebbieB]

It depends on the airport. Sometimes they will allow keds through, other times not. A TSA employee told me there are new rules regarding the thickness of the sole and having to take them off, apparently there have been cases of smuggling stuff in the soles of tennis shoes. In May they allowed my Keds through but not my mom's reeboks because they were thicker (same guard). I would think the same would apply to flip-flops, I've seen some lately with huge soles. The bottom line is it's up to the TSA employee's judgement. My motto is better safe than sorry.

 

[Auntie Kelly]

Thanks for the responses. I'll just wear my keds, with my little ped socks. I don't want to take any chances of being barefoot there. They have some really nasty areas in that airport that look like they have never been cleaned.

 

[kelscross]

My cousin is a supervisor for TSA out of Columbus Ohio and I just asked him about the criteria for removing shoes. He stated if the passenger meets the criteria for shoe removal they will be asked to remove their shoes. I asked what the criteria was and he said they were not allowed to say what the criteria was. However, if you refuse to remove your shoes you will definately be hand wanded, so it would be in your best interest to remove your shoes when asked to do so. If you are grossed out about walking on the floor with no shoes on then you can bring some footies if you'd like.

Hope that answers your question.