Home > Blog > TSA Shoes-On Policy
Lifestyle · Travel · Palm Beach County

TSA Shoes-On Policy: What Palm Beach County Travelers Should Know

Flying in to compare homes or heading back to your other residence? Routine shoe removal has ended, but allow time for identification, baggage checks and the trip to the airport.

Get The Wilder Way Home Get The Wilder Way to a Stress-Free Sale Book a Free 15-Minute Buyer Discovery Call

By Brian Wilder | Wilder Real Estate Group at Keller Williams Realty | Updated October 27, 2026

Quick Take

The TSA shoes-on policy allows travelers to keep footwear on during routine screening at U.S. airports. Additional screening can still require shoe removal. The July 8, 2025 change also applies at West Palm Beach's airport, now President Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT), formerly Palm Beach International. Follow checkpoint instructions and check TSA guidance before travel.

A flight into West Palm Beach can be the start of a house-hunting visit, a return to a seasonal home or a Wellington equestrian trip. Keeping shoes on removes one routine checkpoint step. It does not make a tight connection, a long showing schedule or a last-minute drive to the terminal any more predictable.

Plan your visit around the flight first, then build a home-tour route with room for traffic and questions. The practical benefit is less preparation at security; the tradeoff is that you still need to leave enough time for the checks that remain.

What Changed, and What Did Not

  • Routine shoe removal ended. DHS announced the nationwide change on July 8, 2025. You do not need TSA PreCheck simply to receive routine shoes-on screening.
  • Screening still applies. TSA officers can direct additional checks, including shoe removal. No particular footwear guarantees you will avoid further inspection.
  • Shorter waits were the goal. DHS described a more efficient checkpoint experience. That is not a guaranteed wait time for your flight.

Do not treat shoes-on as permission to ignore instructions about belts, jackets, electronics or liquids. What stays in your bag can depend on the lane and equipment. Listen to the officer at the checkpoint rather than copying what happened on your previous trip.

The original announcement is available in the TSA-issued release. Check the current TSA screening guidance before departure.

Flying Into Palm Beach County to Tour Homes

For a seasonal homeowner, the useful question is how the whole trip fits your routine: airport access, parking or a ride, baggage and the journey between homes. For a buyer, it is whether you have enough time to understand each community, rather than just see its front gate.

  • Home tours: Share flight arrival and departure times before choosing showings. Allow for a delayed flight and avoid making the final showing depend on a perfect airport trip.
  • Wellington visits: If equestrian events are part of the trip, check the organizer's actual schedule and leave room between the event, showings and your flight.
  • Other airports: Compare flight schedules through Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) and Miami International (MIA) with the full ground journey, not just the airfare.

The airport operator confirms the local airport's name changed on July 9, 2026, and its passenger-facing IATA code changed from PBI to DJT on August 18, 2026. Use DJT or West Palm Beach when searching flights. See the official airport name and code FAQ; the name change did not change ownership or airport operations.

Identification and PreCheck Still Matter

  • Bring acceptable identification. REAL ID enforcement began May 7, 2025. A REAL ID-compliant license is one option; a U.S. passport and other TSA-listed credentials also work. It is inaccurate to say a REAL ID license is the only acceptable document.
  • No acceptable ID? Travelers age 18 or older may use the optional TSA ConfirmID process for a $45 fee. TSA attempts to verify identity; payment does not guarantee clearance. Check current procedures before travel.
  • PreCheck retains separate benefits. The expedited screening program generally lets eligible travelers keep laptops and compliant liquids in their bags. Follow the lane's instructions; screening is never guaranteed.
  • Leave a realistic buffer. Check your airline's check-in and baggage deadlines. Allow for parking, bag drop and security rather than subtracting time because shoes usually stay on.

Review TSA acceptable identification, ConfirmID and PreCheck. The official TSA ConfirmID payment information explains the fee and lack of guaranteed verification.

Airport-trip estimates: Existing package research measured no-traffic OSRM routes on October 26, 2026, from Wellington Village Hall: DJT about 12.9 miles and 24 minutes; FLL about 48.3 miles and 67 minutes; MIA about 72.5 miles and 97 minutes. These are dated route estimates, not live traffic, door-to-gate times or a reason to shorten your airline's arrival guidance. Your address and traffic will change the journey.

Selling a Home Before Your Florida Move?

If the purchase depends on selling your current home, discuss both timelines before booking a fast house-hunting trip. Financing, a sale contingency, closing dates and temporary accommodation can affect what is practical. We can help you compare the options and the homes that fit your plan.

What Is My Home Worth?

TSA Shoes-On Questions

Do I have to remove my shoes at TSA security?
Routine shoe removal ended under the July 8, 2025 policy. Officers can still require shoe removal or other additional screening.
Does the policy apply at the West Palm Beach airport?
Yes. It applies at U.S. airport TSA checkpoints, including DJT, formerly Palm Beach International. Follow current officer instructions.
Is TSA PreCheck still useful?
PreCheck has separate expedited screening benefits, including generally keeping laptops and compliant liquids in your bag. Eligibility does not guarantee a particular screening experience.
Do I need a REAL ID license to fly domestically?
A REAL ID-compliant license is one accepted option. A U.S. passport and other TSA-listed credentials are also accepted. Review the current TSA identification list.
What if I do not have acceptable identification?
Adults may choose the $45 TSA ConfirmID process to attempt identity verification. Payment does not guarantee verification or permission to clear security; check current instructions before travel.
How should I plan an airport trip from Wellington?
Allow for your actual address, traffic, parking, baggage and screening. Existing October 26, 2026 package research estimated the Wellington Village Hall to DJT drive at 12.9 miles and 24 minutes without traffic, not a guaranteed travel time.

Flying In to Find Your Florida Home?

Tell Brian your flight schedule, budget and the daily routine you want in Palm Beach County. We can plan a focused visit and compare the communities that fit, with room for the questions that matter to you.

Get The Wilder Way Home Get The Wilder Way to a Stress-Free Sale Book a Free 15-Minute Buyer Discovery Call

Explore Palm Beach County neighborhood guides or explore Wellington homes.

Wilder Real Estate Group at Keller Williams Realty
Brian Wilder: 561-201-4717 | Lucy Lopez: 561-285-8809
1,500+ homes sold. Investing in Palm Beach County real estate since 1996, licensed agent since 1998.
Brian@WilderREG.com

Data date: October 27, 2026. Sources checked October 27, 2026: TSA-issued July 8, 2025 policy release, TSA screening and identification guidance, federal ConfirmID payment information and the airport operator's name-change FAQ. Route estimates reuse existing October 26 package research. Security procedures can change; confirm current official guidance before each trip. Equal Housing Opportunity.