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Shoes off at airport security (outside the USA)

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Removing shoes at airport security is mandatory in the USA. However, most other countries - for example all European countries - do not require passengers to remove their shoes. Only certain types of shoes need to be taken off, for example boots or high-heels. Or the screeners instruct just some passengers to remove their shoes. Some people even voluntarily take off their shoes to avoid setting off the metal detector. Share your experiences about shoe removal at airports outside the US.
You are ...
male
female
What is your age?
< 15
15 - 25
25 - 35
35 - 45
45 - 55
55 - 65
> 65
How often do you travel by air per year? (count each trip)
once or twice
3 to 10 times
11 to 20 times
21 to 50 times
more than 50 times
Do you travel mostly for business or for pleasure?
for business
for pleasure
Have you ever been required to take off your shoes at the security checkpoint?
yes
no
If you clicked "yes" on the previous question, where has this been? (click all that apply)
in the USA
when flying to the USA
outside the USA
If you clicked "outside the USA" on the previous question, where was this? (click all that apply)
Canada
Australia
Japan
Korea
China
Russia
UK
France
Germany
Spain
any other European country
any other Asian country
Mexico
Africa
If you had to take off you shoes, why was this?
Everybody had to take off his / her shoes.
Everybody was taking off his / her shoes. So I took mine off as well. (I do not know, if it was mandatory.)
I was told by the security screener.
I set off the metal detector.
I voluntarily took off my shoes, because I knew they would set off the metal detector.
I took off my shoes, because I always do.
If you took off your shoes, where did you take them off?
right in front of the metal detector
when waiting in the queue for the metal detector
before reaching the queue for the metal detector
I was searched after I set off the metal detector.
How long were you without your shoes?
less than a minute
two or three minutes
about five minutes
about ten minutes
longer than ten minutes
Ladies, what did you wear on your feet?
socks
thick pantyhose
nylons
nothing - I was barefoot.
Men, what did you wear on your feet?
socks
nothing - I was barefoot.
Was there any carpet on the airport floor?
yes
no - just normal airport floor
Was the floor cold?
yes, quite cold
yes, rather cool
no, warm
Was the floor dirty?
yes, filthy
rather dirty
a little bit dirty
no, it was clean
Were you embarrassed taking off your shoes?
No.
Yes. People were looking at my feet.
Yes. I don't like being without shoes in public.
Did you like taking off your shoes?
No. The floor was dirty.
No. The floor was cold.
I told you. I was embarrassed.
I did not care.
It was nice to have my shoes off.
Do you think that airports should require all passengers to take off their shoes before passing through security?
No. I do not undress in public.
No. I see no reason.
It should be optional.
only certain types of shoes
yes. all shoes
If you clicked one of the last three options on the previous question, why should shoes be taken off?
It adds to security.
It speeds up the security check.
If you clicked "only certain types of shoes", which types of shoes should be taken off? (click all that apply)
boots
high-heels
any shoes with a heel
all male dress shoes
all women's dress shoes
sneakers
flip-flops
hiking boots
shoes with thick soles
Ladies, what kind of shoes were you wearing?
boots
high-heels
other dress shoes
sneakers
flip-flops
hiking boots
other
Men, what kind of shoes were you wearing?
boots
dress shoes
sneakers
flip-flops
other
This poll was created on 2010-08-30 20:29:58 by flyer73