New Policy Now Affecting Passengers at MSP Airport

Are you flying soon? A big change is now in place that's affecting travelers at Minnesota's biggest airport.

We know that the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is the largest airport in both the North Star State and our neighboring states of Iowa and Wisconsin. It's also the 18th largest airport in the country. So it's no surprise that a LOT of Minnesotans (and Iowans and Wisconsinites and others) head through the TSA checkpoints every year at MSP.

But when word broke earlier this week about a new rule the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is implementing, it appeared MSP wasn't included. According to CBS News, the TSA is slowly allowing the rule that says travelers have to remove their shoes while going through the security line to expire.

SEE ALSO: The TSA Just Added New Tech To Speed Up Customs Lines in MN

That annoying rule was first enacted nearly 20 years ago, after Richard Reid, (aka the "shoe bomber") attempted to blow up an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami with explosives hidden in his shoe in December 2001, Straight Arrow News reported.

Originally, many news outlets reported that the new, keep-your-shoes-on policy was only confirmed at airports like Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Fort Lauderdale International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Portland International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport and Piedmont Triad International Airport in North Carolina.

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But now, MSP has confirmed that the new policy is also now in effect here in Minnesota. In a statement released on July 9th, 2025 MSP said:

The TSA announced this week that passengers traveling through domestic airports can now keep their shoes on while passing through security screening at TSA checkpoints. The new policy will increase hospitality for travelers and streamline the TSA security checkpoint process, leading to lower wait times.

Of course, if you have TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry, you've been able to keep your shoes on while going through security for a while already. Either way, this new policy should help you go through those TSA lines even faster.

ALSO INTERESTING: The Surprising Fact About MSP Airport You May Not Know

And, did you know MSP also unveiled a program called MSP Reserve? It's a free reservation service that allows you to book a place in the airport security line for yourself and your traveling companions ahead of time, allowing you to go through a separate line-- and avoid all those crowds.

And while you might still have to take your shoes off-- at least for now-- while going through the TSA security lines in Minnesota, there are still some items you are NOT permitted to check in your bags and any airport here in Minnesota or Wisconsin. Keep scrolling to see what they are!

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