I flew last summer (2025) and there was a sign near security that said a certain age and older were exempt from it. I am old enough that I was able to just walk on through.

When I flew the summer before, that was not the case. Shoe removal for everyone.

and now I'm annoyed that it came from Kristi Noem.

On the other side. I’m good with not checking them.

…and hygienically disgusting 🤮.

I’ll wear one pair of socks and have a second pair, in a ziplock bag, at the ready in my purse. If I have to take my shoes off, as soon as I’m thru security, I take off the now-contaminated socks, put them in the ziplock, and put on the clean ones. I don’t want to step back into my shoes with the socks that have just walked thru gawd-knows-what.

I've been doing the same for years (except I use footie socks that I slip on just before-- and off into a ziploc immediately after-- screening.) My husband thinks I'm the only one on the planet who does this. HA!

I'm flying in a couple of weeks and will be trying out a new variation... slip-on "water shoes." They are like footie socks but have a rubbery sole-- even less potential for the ick to reach my real socks AND a little extra grip.

I'll let you know how it goes!

And thanks for reassuring me there is at least one other person who gets grossed out by the thought of inviting whatever horrors lurk on the airport floor into her shoes.

And my hubby thought I was the only one, too!

I finally joined the TSA program and no longer have to take off my shoes...but I keep my footies ready just in case.

btw....I had MRSA (not yet diagnosed) on one of my toes when I flew. I didn't know what it was but knew it was nasty so I took a ton of precautions. After that, I reminded my hubby others may not be as cautious and to put on a sock.

pair of shoes I'm traveling with on the plane to save space. So they sometimes still make me remove them.

And, other than at the originating US airport, TT means nothing on international flights like my upcoming one.

Since Noem has suspended Global Entry and TT "because of the shutdown" (but actually to try and annoy people into blaming Dems), I am preparing for the worst.

Anyway, cheers to us and jeers our doubting spouses!

Husband still thinks I'm bananas, even after I presented the evidence to show I'm in good company! 😁

As promised, I am reporting back on the swim shoes as security footwear...
I'm giving them an A+!

They are quite flat and took up about the same room as a flat-folded pair of socks in the pop-open front of my rolling carryon.

They were easy to slip on and the grippy rubber soles meant that I could walk in them comfortably to a place where it was easier to swap them out for my boots (wearing gloves to avoid touching the soles on either pair) away from the scrum of the bin area.

And the soles felt thick enough to feel confident that no nasties were getting through to my socks.

It was especially nice that they fit back in the zip bag just as flat as they were before security (unlike the hastily removed balled up socks I've used in the past.)

They were easy to handwash at my destination (while gloved, of course 😉 and dried quickly.

Both your results and you following up! I appreciate it!

I don't know when we will travel next...probably not for a bit...or until the AZ sun becomes too much and we need to get away!

I'm going to try it!

But see below for my report on swim shoes as TSA screening foot covers... 🙂

Not having to take off shoes, belt or light jackets. If you fly often it is well worth the cost.