The TSA has not officially announced the change.
WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration has begun allowing travelers to keep their shoes on during security checks at certain airports, according to several reports from Monday. This marks an end to a rule that has long been a source of frustration for many passengers.
Insiders familiar with this update have confirmed to CBS News that at several airports, such as Baltimore/Washington International, Fort Lauderdale International, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Portland International, Philadelphia International, and Piedmont Triad International in North Carolina, passengers are no longer required to take off their shoes during standard security procedures.
Additionally, CBS News indicated that this policy change is also seemingly in place at Los Angeles International Airport and New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Correspondents on-site Monday observed that travelers were not asked to remove their footwear during the screening process.
The TSA has not officially announced the change and did not confirm the new policy when contacted by The New York Times. A TSA spokesman said in a statement that the agency and Department of Homeland Security “are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture.”
The change was first reported by Gate Access, a travel newsletter written by Caleb Harmon-Marshall, who says he is a former TSA officer. Harmon-Marshall said he witnessed a soft launch of the new policy and had seen an internal memo briefing officers about the change.
The shoe removal requirement was implemented after a terrorist attempted to detonate an explosive device concealed in his shoe aboard an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami in December 2001, and was officially made mandatory in 2006.
The development could impact the TSA’s PreCheck program, which costs approximately $80 for five years of expedited screening that includes keeping shoes on.
