Perhaps it does not reach the level of the debate about whether or not the tortilla should have onion, but when we talk about airplanes there is a dilemma that arises on practically all long flights: to take off our shoes or not to take off our shoes? Is it justified to take off our shoes to make a transoceanic flight of more than eight hours more bearable? Is it uncivil? Is it unhealthy? To begin with, do the airlines allow it?
The debate pops up every so often on social media. And surprising as it may be, it has given rise to a few analyses of and surveys on the subject that are worth bearing in mind.
About travel and shoes. If you frequently travel by train or plane, especially long distances, you will have seen it a few times (maybe you even do it yourself): there are passengers who take off their shoes at the start of the journey to be more comfortable. Some stay in their socks. And others go barefoot. It’s a relatively common sight. As is seeing how other passengers in the car or plane start to look at those feet with annoyance.
A figure: 56%. It may seem like a minor issue, but the question of flights (and train journeys) with or without shoes is significant enough that there are companies that have dedicated themselves to studying the subject in depth. One example is the Kayak platform, which in 2023 published a report with the “unspoken rules” of air travel, in which it collected passengers’ opinions on issues such as the use of armrests and luggage racks or phone calls
One of the questions in the survey was about footwear on planes. Is it okay to take your shoes off if the flight is long? It received two answers, each one more striking than the last. The first is that at least among North Americans there is no clear opinion on whether or not it is correct to take off one’s shoes on the plane. 56% believe that passengers should remain shoed, but as Kayak itself slips in that means that there is another 44% who differ from that opinion. What’s more, according to their data, one in five people believe it is okay to go to the toilet without shoes.
Socks, the red line. Where there is much more unanimity is in the fact that, even if a traveler takes off their shoes, heels or sneakers, what they should never do is take off their socks. Some 76% of those surveyed by Kayak do not approve of people removing their socks on planes. The percentage is even higher than those who consider that phone calls should not be made on board the plane or that headphones should be used to listen to music or watch films.
“It’s unpleasant”. In other countries, opinions are much more categorical. Some time ago, Jetstar conducted a similar survey among more than 20,000 travelers and found that most of them were “outraged” that there are people walking barefoot through the airport. The idea only convinces 6% of Australians and 9% of Japanese. “An airport or an airplane is not a private living room,” emphasizes Zarife Hardy, head of the Australian School of Etiquette. “Taking off your shoes in crowded spaces is unpleasant for others.”
In her opinion, taking off your shoes may be acceptable on long journeys, when the traveler spends hours and hours in their seat, but Zariffe reminds us that this does not mean you should be barefoot. “Wait until the plane is in the air and wear socks or slippers,” she advises.
A question of education… and personal hygiene. There is another reason why we should think twice about taking our shoes off on a plane. We may gain comfort, but in the long run it can lead to more serious problems. Especially if we continue to go barefoot when we feel the urge to go to the toilet.
“On long flights I have noticed that people (often children) walk barefoot to or into the bathroom,” explains Jagdish Khubchandani, professor of public health at New Mexico State University. ”It’s a very unhygienic trend with the potential for infection if someone has cuts or wounds.”
“Sometimes it’s not water”. Leysha Pérez, a regional flight attendant, went even further in an interview with Business Insider, in case there were any doubts on the matter, explaining why moving barefoot on an airplane may not be the best idea in the world: “Sometimes what you see on the bathroom floor is not water. It’s probably bodily fluids you’re stepping in.” There are airline crew members who admit outright that they would “never” go barefoot to a bathroom, no matter how long the flight. “Walking around the plane barefoot or in socks is disgusting,” they stress.
And what do the companies say? There are cases in which traveling barefoot is not even an option. The reason: the airlines themselves prohibit it in their policies. For example, American Airlines clearly states that all its customers must dress “appropriately” on board its aircraft, and in case there are any doubts, it adds: “Bare feet and offensive clothing are not allowed.”
Something similar happens with Hawaiian Airlines, which points out that its staff can refuse to transport a client if they do not comply with “Hawaiian dress standards”. And that, it clarifies, implies wearing footwear “for safety reasons”.
