Is it problematic to wear cleated shoes through airport security?

[oxford_guy]

Hi - we're off at the end of the week for a cycling touring of the Czech Republic, but are flying there (with our bikes in suitable bags, protected with additional cardboard etc,) and are trying to keep the weight we have to check-in down. I'm only taking two pairs of shoes - some MTB-style SPD cycling shoes with cleats and a pair of Teva F1 Lite sandals. I was hoping to be able to wear the cleated shoes on the plane, but is this going to be problematic when going through airport security?

I guess I could remove the cleats, though I'd rather not if I didn't have to.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Shoes off through the scanner should do it, shouldn't it?

 

[palinurus]

Should be no problem- take them off. I sometimes wear safety shoes when flying for work, similar issue.

 

[jefmcg]

Lots of shoes have metal spines. Just take them off with your jacket and belt and put them through the scanner.

 

[oxford_guy]

Okay, I was just wondering if they might somehow thinks the cleats could be used as a "weapon", given how paranoid some airports are about things...

 

[Cycleops]

Okay, I was just wondering if they might somehow thinks the cleats could be used as a "weapon", given how paranoid some airports are about things...

Can't be as bad as golf shoes.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Given a background in such things, I'm going to advise taking off the shoes when going through security. Anything that looks different to a baggage screener will just attract unwanted delays.It is their job, and anything that is JDLR* is suspect.

*JDLR-Just Don't Look Right.

 

[oxford_guy]

Given a background in such things, I'm going to advise taking off the shoes when going through security. Anything that looks different to a baggage screener will just attract unwanted delays.It is their job, and anything that is JDLR* is suspect.

*JDLR-Just Don't Look Right.

Taking off as in taking them off and putting them on a tray through the X-Ray, or taking them off as in packing them in the luggage going in the hold of the plane?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

off and in tray would be my tactic. I've done it a Gatwick without issue and at Geneva they didn't even set the beepers off/force us to remove our shoes.

 

[Hitchington]

Okay, I was just wondering if they might somehow thinks the cleats could be used as a "weapon", given how paranoid some airports are about things...

Like the "From Russia With Love" shone knife?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

[QUOTE 2621346, member: 45"]I've been asked to take off normal shoes at security. Just bung them into a tray.

It's a funny feeling walking through the machine with no shoes, belt, watch etc. A step towards how naturists must feel.[/quote]
It's even funnier standing post-machine with no shoes, belt, watch, etc., getting frisked and feeling your trousers fall down. Ruddy diet.

 

[hopless500]

When we were travelling last year, every single airport had a policy of taking your shoes off before going through the scanner.

 

[CopperBrompton]

You were unlucky or looked suspicious. :-) The normal rule is 25% of passengers, mostly randomly selected.

 

[hopless500]

You were unlucky or looked suspicious. :-) The normal rule is 25% of passengers, mostly randomly selected.

Nope - everyone was in line stripping shoes and belts off.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Nope - everyone was in line stripping shoes and belts off.

Yes, they are supposed to make the pattern unpredictable, but in practice loads of airports simply do it for 15 mins per hour.