Big TSA Change Rolling Out at New York Airports

If you're a New Yorker who flies even occasionally, you’ve likely mastered the TSA shoe shuffle - you know, the awkward hop, unlace, tug, and stuff your shoes in a-bin routine that’s been standard for nearly two decades. Well, good news: that part of your airport ritual is finally changing.

New TSA Policy Rolling Out Nationwide

As of this past Sunday, the Transportation Security Administration has officially started phasing out the mandatory shoe removal requirement at airport security checkpoints, including at major airports in and around New York. This new policy, which went out in a memo to TSA officers nationwide, allows passengers in general screening lanes to keep their shoes on.

READ MORE: The Ten Things You Should Avoid Wearing While Flying

What’s Changing and Where

For now, the change is rolling out at “many” U.S. airports, with a plan to expand to all airports in the coming months. Until recently, only travelers with TSA PreCheck had the luxury of walking through scanners with shoes still on. Now, most of us will finally be able to join them.

Of Course, There’s Still a Catch

There’s one caveat: if you set off the scanner or magnetometer, you’ll still be asked to take your shoes off for additional screening. So, maybe don’t wear your steel toed boots on your next flight just yet.

READ MORE: Why You Shouldn't Share Your Boarding Pass on Social Media

Why This Took So Long

The whole shoes off policy dates back to 2006, a few years after the failed shoe bombing attempt by Richard Reid. Even though the explosives never detonated, and experts now say the quantity used might not have even worked, but the rule stuck.

Better Tech Means Better Flow

Modern scanners are now more advanced, capable of detecting threats without needing everyone to strip down at the checkpoint. In fact, TSA has spent years working on ways to speed up the process without compromising safety, and this is a big step in that direction.

A Long Time Coming

The shoe rule wasn’t actually mandatory until August 2006, four and a half years after TSA first “encouraged” travelers to remove them. It eventually became part of the same wave of rules that banned large quantities of liquid from carry ons. Now, nearly 20 years later, we’re finally walking away from that chapter, quite literally.

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What This Means for New Yorkers

Whether you're flying out of JFK, LaGuardia, or one of the upstate airports like Binghamton or Albany, you’ll soon notice the difference. Less hassle, less germy floor contact, and hopefully, a faster line for everyone.