Quote Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT View Post
After checking out the TSA website, I see why those South Park gyroscopes are more comfortable than flying
1) Having to take off our shoes.. So un-hygenic and I can't see how metal detectors/chemical sniffers don't work if you're wearing shoes.
From my experience, many shoes have steel shanks in the sole. These always set of the metal detectors anyway. There is no real way to know if it's just a steel shank or someone modified their sole to conceal a knife or such. By taking them off, they go through the X-ray machine where a proper determination can be made. This used to drive me crazy as I wear cowboy boots and they have that steel in the sole. I know some workboots and even dress shoes have this as well.

As for un-hygenic: two thoughts:

Not much more un-hygenic than packing a couple hundred people into a flying sardine can when there's alot of coughing and sneezing happening.

I agree there is a lot about the TSA (thousands standing around) that can be improved but I guess I'm a little biased right now. I'm happy to endure a little more security if it means 3k more of my fellow citizens don't get killed. As human nature is wont to do, we usually knee jerk react to a situation then the pendulum swings back to a more reasonable position later. It's not necessarily right, but it is the way of things sometimes.

By the way, the last paragraph isn't intended to suggest that others don't care about American lives. I'm just trying to establish a frame of reference for my statements.

I'll be facing a similiar thing as my family hijacks me in May to take me to Florida. I want to take my straight with me but I don't think I'll be doing so.

By way of suggestion, contact Josh. He travels with his straight alot from what I've understood. I'm sure he could give you some ideas for safely getting it through security checks.

Have a safe trip!