Going through security is probably the most tedious part of flying. You have to walk through metal detectors, officials throw away your drinks, and worst of all, you have to remove your shoes.
Standing around barefoot while you wait for your boots to come through the other side of the scanner is awkward to say the least. And we really don’t want to think about how clean (or not) that floor is.
The only thing that’s worse is holding up the line because you’re having difficulty slipping off those sneakers.
It’s safe to say, we’re not fans of the shoe removal policy. But we do understand why it’s necessary.
The horrific events of 9/11 prompted increased security, giving birth to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). It is the responsibility to keep all passengers and flight crews safe by doing thorough checks and confiscating anything dangerous.
In the past, people have hidden bombs in shoes, along with weapons and banned substances. Removing your footwear and letting it pass through advanced imaging technology (AIT) machines that can detect non-metallic objects such as explosives allows the TSA to make sure there’s nothing dodgy afoot (if you’ll pardon the pun).