shoes

TSA shelves “shoes off” policy

The Department of Homeland Security formally announced on Tuesday that all commercial airline passengers passing through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at airports are now allowed to keep their shoes on.

TSA first instituted a “shoes off” policy in 2006, almost five years after “Shoe Bomber” Richard Reid tried to set off explosives hidden in his shoes during an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami.

Travelers with TSA PreCheck status have been able to keep their shoes on at TSA checkpoints since 2013, courtesy of the expedited screening privileges the paid program offers.

But as of today, all passengers, including those with and those without TSA PreCheck status, may keep their shoes when going through screening at airport checkpoints.

Why the change?

DHS believes that its “cutting-edge technological advancements and multi-layered security approach” means the agency can now “implement this change while maintaining the highest security standards.”

Keep in mind, though, that the ‘shoe pass’ isn’t universal.

If you have shoes with metal in them, they’re likely to set off the alarm and you’ll be asked to take them off and send them through the X-ray machine.

If you’re selected for random extra screening (the dreaded “SSSS” on your boarding pass), you’ll also likely be asked to take your shoes off and send them through the machine.

And, as we were today, you also may be chosen at random to step aside at the checkpoint and have your shoes wiped with those little pads to check for explosives.

Fresh art at SFO Airport features shoes from around the world

Combat boot, Mickey McGowan (Apple Cobbler), courtesy SFO Museum

 

The newest exhibition from the SFO Museum at San Francisco International Airport features footwear from around the world, including wedding shoes, early basketball sneakers, beaded moccasins, European clogs, Chinese children’s shoes, art shoes and more.

Here’s a sampling of the fantastic footwear on display in Stepping Out: Shoes in World Cultures, located pre-security in the International Terminal Main Hall Departures Lobby at San Francisco International Airport through November 12, 2017.

Snow boots (Japan, palm fiber). Courtesy SFO Museum

Moccasins c. 1940
Gwich’in Alaska; courtesy SFO Museum

Sneakers c. 1910
Hood Rubber Co.; courtesy SFO Museum

Five reasons to appreciate Pittsburgh International Airport

Chocolate hockey puck from PIT

Despite the van driver’s assurance that we’d get stuck in rush hour traffic, I arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport yesterday with plenty of time to poke around before my flight.

Good thing. Because in addition to the free internet access, there really are plenty of reasons to appreciate spending time at this airport.

Here are just five of them:

The dinosaur

Dinosaur at PIT

The shopping.  Plenty of it – and a shoe store. Enough said

Nine West shore store at PIT

The mobile by Alexander Calder in the center core.  This is a great art treasure to have at the airport.

Alexander Calder mobile at PIT

The shrine to Mr. Rogers, who filmed his long-running running TV show in Pittsburgh.

Mr Rogers shrine at Pittsburgh Airport

And, just across the way, a wall covered in Andy Warhol self-portrait wallpaper, along with several pieces of his artwork.

Andy Warhol Wallpaper at PIT