Cruising Altitude is a weekly feature focusing on air travel. If you have an idea for a future subject, complete the form or send me an email using the address found at the bottom of this page.
The Transportation Security Administration stated earlier this month that nearly all passengers canleave their shoes onAt security checkpoints in the airport, and although it’s not a safety issue, I believe this guidance about wearing shoes should also apply to the airplane cabin.
“I believe it’s, similar to any other public area, you should wear your shoes. It’s essentially a type of public transport. You wouldn’t board a subway without your shoes on,” Rich Henderson, a flight attendant at a major U.S. airline and one of the authors of theTwo Men on a Flightblog, mentioned. “People spend eight hours a day at work and keep their shoes on; I can’t comprehend why you’d want to remove your shoes during a flight.”
Begin your day with more knowledge. Receive all the news you need in your email every morning.
He admitted that long-distance flights, especially those at night, can be a significant exception, particularly if you’re in a premium cabin that provides slippers, but overall, Henderson mentioned that travelers should keep their shoes on during flights for several reasons, including safety and cleanliness.
What do the professionals believe the shoe regulations on an aircraft should truly be? Here’s what I was told by airline and manners experts:
Safety first
Security is the primary concern during air travel, which is why it’s crucial to remain wearing your shoes while the aircraft is on the runway and during the time when the flight is getting ready to depart or arrive.
For me, I always keep my shoes on until we’re in the air. The last thing I want is to be sprinting across the runway away from a burning plane with no shoes on,” etiquette expert Nick Leighton, co-host of “Were You Raised by Wolves?podcast, told me.
Henderson stated that Leighton’s advice is accurate, and he further mentioned that during an evacuation, every second is crucial and you may not have time to put your shoes back on.
He mentioned that it’s crucial not only to possess shoes in general, but specifically the right type of footwear for travel occasions.
Airline safety videos frequently emphasize the risk that high-heeled shoes can present during an evacuation, as they may puncture the emergency slide. However, Henderson mentioned that flip-flops and other types of footwear that are difficult to keep on during an evacuation are also not advisable.
“Clearly, a slide being punctured would cause more harm than a single person getting injured due to not wearing proper footwear, but I wish people paid more attention to that,” he said.
Henderson also mentioned that walking around without shoes can pose a safety risk since you can’t be sure what might be on the floor of an aircraft.
“Items often break in the galley, like if a glass was dropped or something similar, and we might not always have the proper tools to remove all the glass,” he said.
Don’t be nasty
Henderson and Leighton both believed that the most unpleasant action a traveler can take is entering the restroom without footwear. And honestly, why would someone do that?
Going to the bathroom in your socks or without any shoes, or whatever, that will never make sense,” Henderson stated. “It’s a hygiene issue. Floors are filthy.
Leighton stated that no one should ever use the airplane restroom without wearing shoes, and in general, he mentioned that his guideline is to only be barefoot at your own seat, if ever.
Respect the bubble
Leighton has often mentioned to me how crucial it is to respect other travelers’ personal space while flying, and refraining from putting your feet on the seat in front of you is one significant way to achieve that.
Last winter, I was on a flight when the woman sitting behind me placed her foot (covered in a sock, but without a shoe) on my armrest, and it made contact with the side of my body under my armpit. Honestly, it was one of the most unsettling experiences I’ve had on an airplane, and I immediately shared it on social media.
Leighton mentioned that this is precisely the sort of social courtesy oversight individuals should strive to prevent.
I believe there’s an urge, particularly as air travel becomes pricier and flights become more uncomfortable, to feel that this experience is something I deserve, that I deserve some personal time. However, it’s not truly personal time up there; it’s shared time. Traveling by plane is a group effort,” he stated. “You’re welcome to be unrefined during your own time, but when you’re among the rest of us, we expect you to raise your game.
Get with the culture
Leighton noted, however, that most of these guidelines are mainly applicable to Western airlines.
It’s crucial to understand that various cultural norms exist regarding shoes and feet. In some cultures, it’s common to take off your shoes,” he stated. “I’ll remember the airline I’m traveling with.
Henderson mentioned that if there is a medical reason to take off your shoes, that is typically allowed as well.
“I’m aware that individuals may experience medical problems, including foot swelling,” he stated.
In the end, it all boils down to: show respect. Remove your shoes if you choose and are able to, but avoid doing so in a manner that clearly disrupts or offends other travelers.
Zach Wichter works as a travel journalist and contributes the Cruising Altitude column to USA TODAY. He is located in New York and can be contacted at [email protected].
This piece first was published on USA TODAY:Flight attendants claim this is the most unpleasant behavior travelers engage in: ‘Be messy during your own time’
