Airport security: Which footwear? Don't wish to go barefoot through security

[bebemax]

Hi

Last time I took a flight I was in flat ankle boots which I had to take off to be scanned and walk through security in socks.

This time round, I'm traveling in the summer to a hot destination and I'm wonder whether I'll be made to walk barefoot if I wore sandals to the airport? Are they likely to ask to scan the sandals? Does it depend whether the soles are chunky or flat?

I ask because I'm not going to be needing trainers at my destination, taking a cabin bag only and needing to avoid catching something like warts or athletes foot because I have other health issues and infections take longer to heal.

Thank you 🙏

I didn't have to remove shoes on my recent trip abroad.
I think some rules have relaxed.

Last time we flew I asked and they said it's only boots or platforms that they ask you to remove.

Take some trainer socks and change into them before security. Either put your sandals back on or carry them through.

In your case I would wear a pair of slip on light shoes with socks, just in case you have to go through security bare foot, I wouldn’t risk being bare foot where others have been.

The only place that I have been asked to remove shoes/boots in the last year was the US . Been to Greece and Italy and France with no problems

A pair of cheap /foldable ballerina flats you can either wear for the whole flight or swap out in the security queue?

Wow I'm so grateful to your speedy suggestions! 👏
I will look into getting foldable ballet pumps for the security bit or at least socks. Thanks again 😊
Have a good day / evening

They will give you some plastic foot covers to wear if you are barefoot

I have never had any offered to me.

@RampantIvy if you say you are barefoot they will give you a pair. No one expects you to be walking barefoot through security.

I flew from Gatwick a few weeks ago. I still do not understand why some men in trainers were able to walk through, but I, wearing flat slip-on shoes, always seem to be asked to remove my shoes.
However, since once ending up walking through barefoot, I now Always wear a thin pair of socks, especially for the walk through security.

Yes, i know it looks naff, and they often don't match my clothes, but I think of them as my 'airport' socks, and reserve them for the return journey.

Last time I flew in May, it was only people wearing boots that had to remove footwear. I wire trainers and didn't need to remove them.

I’ve walked through in trainers and sandals and not been asked to remove them. Only been asked to remove boots

"They will give you some plastic foot covers to wear if you are barefoot"
Nope! Not offered to me.
The time i was barefoor, I was wearing flat open toed sandals. Still asked to remove them. I was with my adult DS, all wearing trainers, who were OK.
(They also had a bag full of electric gear - phones, ipads, chargers, battery packs, headphones - all ok)

Just wear socks.

I flew a few days ago (domestically) in sandals. Something triggered the detector but I didn’t have to remove them - they had a shoe scanning device I put a foot into one at a time. Dunno if this is a thing everywhere.

Don't wear boots they will definitely have to come off.

Otherwise it's random. Yesterday I hade to take off trainers but first time I've been asked for ages and I fly regularly

@milveycrohn how did the conversation go? I just said I’ve not got socks on so I’m not going barefoot. They gave me a pair of swimming pool type blue overshoe things to wear. Obviously just a polite request. Every airport has them. I don’t understand why anyone would go barefoot without questioning (politely obvs as it’s airport security 😀)

Even cheapo sandals can have a metal bar from heel to toe for strengthening.

You have to remove sandals so you don't set the machine off. Flip flups and trainers don't have this

Plastic foot covers are provided for shoe removal

No, really, no-one has offered me anything to put in my feet. I have walked barefoot through security several times at Leeds Bradford and Manchester.

Admittedly, I haven't flown since 2019 so maybe they do now.

Just keep a pair of socks in your bag and in the queue if others are removing shoes pop them on

on My feet.

They don't generally offer them - you ask for them or look for the box on the scanner and take them.

Thank you for the tip. I will know for next time I fly.

Flew from Gatwick last week and didn't see anyone having to remove their shoes and there were all sorts going through.
I set the scanner off (no, I cannot remove my bra before going through the scanner), and even then didn't need to remove my shoes (trainers).