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 🙏

This! But you will need to ask for them.
I always set the alarm off so always have to go barefoot through the full body scanner.
I’ve learned to take my own (horrid) blue polythene overshoe thingies with me now but ask gif them if I forget. Simples.

It depends what airport you are travelling through.
Departing Manchester flip flops stayed on my feet. But for the return journey from Barbados even flip flops had to go. No exceptions.

If you want to avoid bare feet I would wear footwear that you can easily slip on and off with socks.

Hahaha! No they won’t.

Or do like a pp said - a pair of socks in your pocket.

Can't say it's ever occurred to me to be bothered about walking barefoot through security, but then I've walked home barefoot from numerous pubs and clubs in my life which is probably far worse.

Anytime I wear boots they have to come off, sandals, trainers never seem to be an issue. Just put a pair of flip flops on.

Socks and sandals are super cool amongst teens these days!

Anything that covers the ankle should be removed. Or anything with a chunky heel.Sandels /trainers are fine

@wasacasa "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 😀)"
It was 2010 when I was barefoot, and I can't remember the conversation, and I was not the only one. However, maybe I'm weird, but it is one of the things I really hate, so since then I have always worn socks, as I am not risking it again.
I wear thinish socks, and save them for the return journey. I now usually wear slip on shoes, as they are easier to deal with.
Gatwick a few weeks ago, yes, I was one of those asked to remove shoes, whereas some men in trainers were not.
I have just accepted it as one of those things, now.

I had to take my trainers off at Heathrow a fortnight ago.

At Hamburg on the way back, I didn't. Same trainers.

It seems to be pot-luck.
I only wear ballet flats when flying, & rarely get told to remove them. I keep blue bootees in my handbag just in case.
But I've been told to remove my glasses, & made to walk through the scanner whilst my walking stick was on the conveyor belt

Walking sticks are great places to hide stuff in.

I just got back, through Bristol airport.
i didn’t have to remove trainers, the guy said anything under the ankle without a platform sole is fine.
flew back in sandals so no worries there.

I had to take my sandals off in March and was barefoot. Luckily I had anti bac wipes so gave my feet a clean after. I have to admit it didn't occur to me to ask for those bootie things despite me not being happy about being bare footed. I'll bring a pair of socks this weekend as I'm flying in on Fri and always need to either be patted down, rescanned, shoes off, bag checked!!

I wore crocs flip flops through Stansted last week and wasn't asked to take them off. I'd say flip flops are the way to go.

They may be provided but I don't think that it's universal around the globe.

My OH got very close to being denied boarding at Houston George Bush c2017 around struggling with being barefoot. She'd not heard of the so called shoe bomber....

Given the extent to which we're OK being barefoot on beaches, poolsides I'd no issue.

It never occurred to me to be bothered about walking barefoot for about three metres.

But the tiny footlet 'socks' take up no room at all so just wear those under your sandals when it's time to go through security.

I'm just back from Portugal via Gatwick and wore flip flops and was not asked to remove them

It's no good anyone sharing their experience. It varies hugely, even at the same airport.

I traveled from Heathrow twice within the last few months. The first time I wasn't asked to take my shoes of, the second time I (along with everyone else in the queue, whatever they were wearing) had to it then on the tray.

I imagine that it depends on any intelligence the airports have at any point, about possible threats.

Just pop some footlets in your handbag, OP. It's no biggie.

Gatwick have a couple of security lanes where you take nothing out of bags nor shoes off but I wasn't paying attention and ended up not in those lines. Mine line had signs saying shoes off but when I asked said it was fine to leave on (trainers). Take a pair of easy to put on socks (fluffy tend to be much quicker I find) just in case you find yourself needing to take shoes off.

I was asked to remove my flip flops at gatwick not to long ago, but they did give me those blue foot cover things to pop on while I walked through!

Flip flops or ballet flats.

I've worn crocs through Stansted Airport the last few times. Only once been asked to remove them, and they are so easy to put back on again afterwards.

I was asked to remove them once because they weren't sure what had triggered the alarm as I went through (it turned out I had forgotten to remove my Fitbit watch).

They did not offer foot covers. It wouldn't have occurred to me to worry about being barefoot to just step into a scanner. Single use foot covers can't be good environmentally, surely.