Say Goodbye to Taking Off Your Shoes at TSA Checkpoints

If you are flying out of Providence or Boston soon you will be pleasantly surprised that you no longer have to take your shoes off at the security checkpoint.

The Transportation Security Administration announced it will no longer require you to take your shoes off to go through the security checkpoint, a requirement that has been in effect for over two decades as a post-9/11 policy following Richard Reid's attempted "shoe bombing" on a trans-Atlantic flight from Paris to Miami in December 2001.

When Can You Start Keeping Your Shoes on Going Through Airport Security?

The change will begin on July 13 and will be rolled out in phases at airports across the country.

Why the Change in Policy?

If you have flown in the past 19 years, you know just how uncomfortable it is to have to stand there and take your shoes off at security, and not all people take care of their feet as they should. It quickly becomes a stinky situation.

READ MORE: Boston Logan TSA Won't Let You Check These Items for Flights

In a press conference held at Ronald Reagan National Airport, the Department of Homeland Security made the official announcement, citing REAL IDs as one of the many upgrades in security since the no-shoes rule was originally implemented.

It's also notable to mention that taking off and putting on your shoes at security adds precious seconds to the screening that can sometimes be the difference in making your flight.

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It's my hope as well as that of the DHS that the removal of this policy will speed things up a bit so we don't have to stand in line tapping our toes.

Will Everyone Be Able to Keep Their Shoes On?

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that those who trigger alarms at the scanners or magnetometers will have to remove their shoes.

What About Other Flight Rules?

The liquids rule still applies and you absolutely need to make sure you bring a bag that'll fit in the overhead bins.

Now you don't have to pack those nice shoes you wanted to bring but wouldn't fit in your suitcase; throw them on an strut through the airport with confidence knowing no one is going to see that your socks are old or don't match.

Safe travels!