Travel Tips: Why you must wear socks when you fly

Back in 2007 when I first published this article, I couldn’t remember an occasion when I didn’t have to have my shoes screened. It was just a part of the process, a sign of the times. Even the baby’s shoes had to be removed and X-rayed.

Now, things have changed a little bit. At some airports, children under 12 and adults over 75 don’t have to have their shoes off.

For the lucky people whose boarding pass says TSA PreCheck and who happen to be at an airport that handles TSA PreCheck status, Yippee! They get to go through without having to remove their shoes or light jacket. For the rest of us who are not so fortunate, we have to take our shoes off.

I’ve learned a few things over time to handle this unpleasant aspect of airport travel.

1. Wear shoes that slip on and off easily. You don’t want to be the one holding up the line – people are only patient to a point.

2. Don’t wait until you are walking through the sensors to take off your shoes. Please start early. See number one above.

3. If you can, wear socks of some sort.

One benefit is that if you forgot your pedicure, only you will know. On the other hand, if your socks have holes, quite a few people will know – ha ha!

On a more serious note, the floor is usually cold. And, if they pull you aside for further search, you will be walking with bare feet on the cold floor. They won’t be kind enough to return your shoes until they have satisfied themselves that you are not a terror-risk.

While mats feel better than a cold floor, there are concerns. Everyone walks on the same mat, barefooted. I simply don’t like that. At least socks provide an additional barrier from the dirty floor. (I’m the germ patrol. That’s not a bad thing – It means the villa has to be sparklingly clean all the time!)

Seriously though, I am not the only person who is concerned about the hazards of being barefooted in the airport. As I was updating this post, I came across an article on WebMD by Daniel DeNoon entitled, “Shoes: New Airport Health Hazard. Taking your shoes off at airport security checkpoints exposes your feet to fungus and injury.” There is no cause  for paranoia but it does give food for thought.

P.S. If anyone from the TSA is reading this, please hear me loud and clear. I think I speak for millions of otherwise cooperative-want-to-fight-terrorism-will do almost-anything-for-a-safe-country people. I understand why you have to make me take off my shoes but please show some consideration and not have me walk around on your cold hard tile floor barefoot while you search my stuff. If my shoes have tested to be free of whatever you are looking for, please give them back to me quickly and allow me to put them on while you continue your search.

Here are some useful links:

TSA’s Traveling with Kids, click here. In my experience, the recommendations on the site are not routinely followed at all airports. Some airports allow children to leave their shoes on while others insist on them being removed. And, if you travel frequently, you should know, there is no point arguing with TSA.

To find out more about TSA’s PreCheck program, click here. I have never applied for the program but on a few occasions, the PreCheck approval was printed on my boarding pass and I went on through without removing my shoes, belt, or jacket. It is not available at all airports, but  it does work … if you can get it!