For two decades, American air travel has carried its own rituals: removing shoes at security, stuffing toiletries into tiny bottles, and pulling laptops out of bags. These inconveniences, introduced after the 9/11 attacks, became part of the airport experience, so ingrained that travellers barely questioned them anymore. But now, for the first time in nearly 20 years, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is beginning to loosen its grip.
As of last month, passengers no longer need to shuffle barefoot through X-ray machines. The infamous “shoe rule” has finally been retired, putting the US in line with airports in Europe, Singapore, and Dubai, where footwear remains firmly on. The shift comes just ahead of Labour Day weekend, when nearly 17.4 million passengers were expected to pass through American airports, which is 2 percent more than last year. For many, the timing couldn’t have been better.
Adam Stahl, acting deputy administrator of the TSA, admits the change may sound minor but insists it will make a big difference. “In aggregate, these are things that have significant impacts to the passenger,” he said to a global technology, data, and media company.
Social media certainly agrees as memes and cheers greeted the announcement, with travellers celebrating the end of what had become a sweaty, sometimes smelly ritual.
If shoes were a sore point, liquids have been a full-blown headache. Since 2006, travellers have been forced to decant shampoos and perfumes into 100 ml bottles, or risk the dreaded bin of confiscated toiletries. That rule, too, is under active review.
Officials haven’t spelt out specifics yet, but discussions are underway to raise the permitted limit on carry-on liquids. Security experts say that for this to happen safely, the US must accelerate the rollout of advanced computed tomography (CT) scanners, machines that produce 3D images and can more effectively detect potential explosives. Currently installed in 285 airports, these scanners aren’t expected to be fully deployed until 2043, though the TSA is exploring ways to fast-track the process.
Technology is also reshaping the way passengers prove who they are. Facial recognition lanes for PreCheck travellers have been rolled out in 15 airports, and new “eGates” developed with Clear Secure are being tested to speed up ID checks. Stahl calls biometrics “arguably one of the most effective forms of identity verification,” but privacy advocates and lawmakers remain wary. A bipartisan bill in Congress is pushing for stricter safeguards, including ensuring the technology remains optional.
Still, many frequent flyers see these developments as a win. Travel agent Brooke Towe, who flies around ten times a year, described the new shoe policy as “so much smoother” and says the potential easing of liquid rules would be “a huge win for everyone who flies.”
With the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 on the horizon, the US has strong incentives to simplify airport security without compromising safety. It’s a balancing act: too strict, and air travel becomes unbearable; too lenient, and risks loom large. As Stahl put it, TSA’s new approach is “laser focused, a little more innovative, and embracing technology.”
For travellers, the result is simple—packing for a flight may soon mean fewer zip-lock bags, less juggling at the security belt, and, thankfully, no more airport floors under bare feet.
(With inputs from various sources.)