TSA shoe policy change sparks mixed reactions

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Flyers at Springfield-Branson National Airport are having different reactions to the new TSA change, ridding a nearly 20-year-old rule that previously required flyers to take their shoes off during their initial screening at airports nationwide.

"I think it's a wonderful idea," Dale Epperson said.

"It is the first day I've flown without [taking off my] shoes," Leslie Hayn said.

Epperson and Hayn have flown years before the Shoes-Off policy was made in 2006. They're excited about the policy's removal.

Ozarks First spoke to Damya Dickson and Arayah Sanders, both 18, who have flown for several years but lived their entire lives with this policy in place.

"I just feel like maybe we could add more safety things," Sanders said.

"It did catch me off guard just a little bit. Simply just because like I've been used to taking them off for years now," Dickson said.

Hayne says in the last decade and change, she hasn't heard about any attempts since the infamous 2001 attempt by Richard Reid, who tried to light explosives in his shoe on a flight to Miami.

"When the guy Reid, lit his shoes on fire or had the matches in his shoes and, you know, threatened to blow the plane up, that's the last time I've heard of any incident on planes," Hayn said. "I guess somebody finally discovered that that wasn't really a policy that was fruitful."

Epperson says he applauds the move.

"If you're in a large airport like San Paolo or Atlanta, you take your shoes off and maybe you have sandals on in your barefoot on the floor, and that makes me uncomfortable," Epperson said.

For Dickson and Sanders, they agree that the move saves time, but getting used to it will be different.

"It was a bit odd, but I mean, it made it a little more smoother, but I still would prefer to take them off," Dickson said.

"It is also nice for safety reasons that everybody took their shoes off before, but I didn't think too much of it," Sanders added.