Heathrow Security???

Spon Farmer

Hi,

Does security at Heathrow Airport still require passengers to take of their shoes?

I thought that most airports had stopped that now, but someone told me every airport is strict on it.

I've never had to do it at Dublin.

Cheers.

Siuin

Spon Farmer wrote: »

Hi,

Does security at Heathrow Airport still require passengers to take of their shoes?

I thought that most airports had stopped that now, but someone told me every airport is strict on it.

I've never had to do it at Dublin.

Cheers.

Are you planning on smuggling something in your shoes or...?

BuffyBot

Generally, I've only seen them request heavy shoes/boots. Trainers etc can stay on.

coylemj

From the Heathrow Security FAQs.......

Do I need to remove my shoes at security?

Only if you’re asked. Some passengers will be asked to remove shoes in order for them to be x-rayed. We can’t comment on the selection criteria.

http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/heathrow-security/faqs#shoes

Miaireland

I was there in December and most people appeared to be asked to remove there shoes particularly if they had thick soles. Everyone wearing boots had to remove them.

To be honest I noticed lots of people removing their shoes before they came near security even if they were wearing very flat shoes.

coylemj

Miaireland wrote: »

To be honest I noticed lots of people removing their shoes before they came near security even if they were wearing very flat shoes.

+1 I'm a bloke who wears normal laced shoes. If the line is moving slowly and I'm coming up towards the scanner with my stuff already in one of the trays, I often whip off the shoes just to have it done whether they're going to ask me to do so or not.

cml387

Can't speak of Heathrow recently.
Stansted last week, no one seemed to be removing shoes or asked to.

listermint

Never been asked myself.

Spon Farmer

Seems to be just up to the mood of the security team on the day.

The security section of Heathrow and a few other airports also mention that you can keep all your metal and electronic items in the carry on bag as it goes through the scanner - I didn't know this and I thought it all has to be separated out on the tray.

Also, we have to put our coats on the tray. If was only wearing a hoodie [ and pants, of course but no t-shirt underneath ] would I have to take that off?

If so, could I have the hoodie in my carry on bag with my other items or would they just root them all out?

BuffyBot

You don't need to seperate them out. Phones/iPods etc can stay in.

Larger items such as laptops/iPads/Kindles they generally make you take out. Overcoats go in trays. Whatever your last layer is, it can't stay on. If you're just wearing a hoodie, the hoodie would stay on.

You can put the hoodie in the bag no problem.

Spon Farmer

BuffyBot wrote: »

Larger items such as laptops/iPads/Kindles they generally make you take out. Overcoats go in trays. Whatever your last layer is, it can't stay on. If you're just wearing a hoodie, the hoodie would stay on.

Do you mean if I had a rain coat over hoodie, I just take off the raincoat?

And if I had on a raincoat, hoodie and t-shirt, then I strip to the t-shirt?

But if if I'm only in a hoodie, then I get a pass and I keep it on?

BuffyBot

I'm not quite sure what's confusing. They make you take off jackets/coats/scarves etc. If you have just a t-shirt on under that, so be it. If you have a t-shirt and a jumper, you can keep the jumper. They generally don't make you take it off. If you have another item above that that is zippable, buttonable or whatever, you'll be taking it off. If you just have one layer of clothing, you'll keep it on. There is no "pass". Cloth is cloth. They just don't want layer upon layer of it on you because it makes it harder to pat you down and identify a problem should the alarm be triggered.

Security is paramount, but they're also working in a high volume enviroment. They don't have time to keep sending people through unessecary repeated scans..

Gatica

Dublin airport used to require everyone to take off their shoes at one stage. They even had signs for it and those televised announcements while you're in the queue. They've changed it since then and will usually only ask people with heavy shoes to remove them. I can't see why it's an issue that they do that at other airports too. Just have shoes on that are easy to remove or have them unlaced and ready to go in case you do need to take them off:

coylemj wrote: »

If the line is moving slowly and I'm coming up towards the scanner with my stuff already in one of the trays, I often whip off the shoes just to have it done whether they're going to ask me to do so or not.

keithclancy

Gatica wrote: »

Dublin airport used to require everyone to take off their shoes at one stage. They even had signs for it and those televised announcements while you're in the queue. They've changed it since then and will usually only ask people with heavy shoes to remove them. I can't see why it's an issue that they do that at other airports too. Just have shoes on that are easy to remove or have them unlaced and ready to go in case you do need to take them off:

As a frequent traveler I always wear slip on shoes when going through airports.

Although once going through Dublin Airport it went:

Woman: What did you take your shoes off for
Me: To speed up the security process ?
Woman: You take off your shoes if I tell you to take off your shoes alright
Me: Ok, will I put them back on ?
Woman: Don't be getting smart with me.
Me: Silence
Woman: Go on through.

Bloody airport security staff, saying that 99% of them are fine, its the 1% that acts like that.

Don't get me started on the TSA in the US, they are complete clowns.

coylemj

keithclancy wrote: »

As a frequent traveler I always wear slip on shoes when going through airports.

Although once going through Dublin Airport it went:

Woman: What did you take your shoes off for
Me: To speed up the security process ?
Woman: You take off your shoes if I tell you to take off your shoes alright
Me: Ok, will I put them back on ?
Woman: Don't be getting smart with me.
Me: Silence
Woman: Go on through.

Bloody airport security staff, saying that 99% of them are fine, its the 1% that acts like that.

Don't get me started on the TSA in the US, they are complete clowns.

I once spotted a female security officer on the scanners in Heathrow that matched her description. She was a totally bossy b***h, completely unsuited for the job. I made sure to pick a different lane, she was giving innocent travellers major aggro.

I find that if you whip off your shoes and belt in advance, the security people are less likely to bark orders at you as they can see you're a frequent traveller and they're more likely to give you a second shot at the body scanner if you set it off wearing a watch as I often do.