For the last 20 years, a trip through airport security has meant kicking off your shoes, juggling your tech devices, and trying to ignore the mystery grime on the floor. It was a routine we all had to endure in the name of security. Those days are now coming to an end.
The TSA recently announced that thanks to new screening tech, travelers will no longer need to take their shoes off at security checkpoints. As NBC News reports, “travelers racing to catch a flight at U.S. airports no longer are required to remove their shoes” and the change is “immediately effective nationwide”. This means fewer awkward moments, faster lines, and a small step back toward sanity before takeoff.
The practice began after Richard Reid’s failed shoe-bomb attempt in late 2001. In the months and years that followed, the TSA implemented a range of new security measures—some smart, some symbolic.
The shoe rule was arguably both. It addressed a specific threat but also became one of the most visible representations of post-9/11 travel: a time of collective vigilance, unquestioned compliance, and some deeply awkward moments.
A Symbol of a New Kind of Travel
It’s hard to overstate how much this tiny act shaped the airport experience. Parents herding kids while hopping out of sneakers, business travelers eyeing each other’s sock choices, the quiet horror of realizing you wore sandals and forgot to grab a bin. No matter how seasoned a traveler you were, the TSA checkpoint had a way of leveling everyone.
Something is amusing about how taking off your shoes at airport security has become a shared experience. It didn’t matter who you were; everyone had to do it. Maybe it wasn’t logical, but for a few seconds, we were all just tired people in our socks, trying to catch a flight before the sun came up.
Technology Catches Up to Habit
The TSA is finally giving our feet a break. Thanks to new CT scanners that can peer inside our shoes without requiring us to take them off, the era of barefoot airport limbo is coming to a close, at least for most passengers. It’s a small but mighty upgrade that instantly makes the security line less dehumanizing.
The change signals a shift in how we think about travel. For years, tech like PreCheck and CLEAR has made things easier for the frequent flyer crowd. Now, we can all enjoy a little less stress while in line at security.
A Small Step Forward (With Shoes On)
For years, this awkward pause in the travel process reminded us of what we were afraid of. It taught us to accept inconvenience in the name of safety, to follow the rules without question, and to carry a bit of extra humility through every terminal.
It also prompted us to reconsider our travel routines. Slip-on shoes became a travel uniform. Cute socks mattered more than they should have. People bought travel-sized foot wipes. We adapted in big and small ways to something that, in hindsight, was always a bit strange.
A Bit More Breathing Room at the Airport
It doesn’t seem like much, but for a lot of us, this feels like a real change. Flying is already enough of a mess, and not having to stop and yank off your shoes in a crowded security line? That’s a small win. When everything else about air travel feels rushed or uncomfortable, even a little bit of ease goes a long way.
So here’s to keeping our shoes on, moving through the line a little faster, and maybe feeling just a bit more human before boarding a cramped flight. We’ll take it.
Chelsea DeAngio is a freelance writer and Wander Worthy contributor based in Greensboro, NC. Inspired by a rootless childhood as a Navy brat, she enjoys traveling every chance she gets. Pop culture often drives her trips. Whether channeling her inner Lady Mary at Highclere Castle in the UK or noshing on nachos at Showgirls filming locations in Vegas, Chelsea is always in search of a little silver screen glitz.
