People Have Wondered for Years if Going Barefoot on Long Flights Is a Good Idea. Airlines Are Clear About It

While not as heated as the pineapple-on-pizza debate, a travel dilemma surfaces on nearly every long flight: Should passengers take off their shoes? Is it acceptable to remove them on flights longer than five hours? Is it rude? Does it seem unsanitary? Do airlines even allow it?

The discussion resurfaces on social media platforms from time to time. Surprisingly, it has prompted analyses, surveys, and codes worth considering.

Traveling without shoes. Frequent travelers, whether by train or plane, often notice passengers slipping off their shoes to feel more comfortable. Some remain in their socks. Others go completely barefoot. It’s a common sight—just as common as the disapproving looks from other passengers.

The numbers. Flying or traveling by train with or without shoes has been studied extensively. Kayak, a travel platform, published a 2023 report on the “unspoken rules” of air travel, gathering opinions on issues such as armrest use, onboard food, phone calls, and luggage racks.

One of the survey questions addressed going barefoot on flights. The results were striking: Among Americans, opinions were split. Fifty-six percent believed travelers should keep their shoes on, while 44% disagreed. Even more concerning, one in five respondents found it acceptable to walk to the bathroom without shoes.

Socks: the red line. While opinions on removing shoes vary, there’s much more agreement about socks. Kayak found that 76% of respondents believe passengers should not take off their socks on planes. That percentage surpasses those who object to phone calls and watching movies or listening to music without headphones.

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“It is impolite.” A Jetstar survey of more than 20,000 travelers revealed that most people feel “disgusted” by barefoot passengers at airports. Only 6% of Australians and 9% of Japanese respondents found it acceptable. “Let’s remember an airport or aircraft is not your personal loungeroom,” Zarife Hardy of the Australian School of Etiquette said. “The number one rule of etiquette is making others feel comfortable in your presence, not wearing shoes makes others feel uncomfortable. It is impolite,” she stated. 

Hardy said removing shoes on long flights might be acceptable if a traveler remains seated for hours, but that doesn’t mean they should go barefoot. “Wait until the plane is well and truly up in the air, and bring some socks or lightweight slippers to wear,” she advised.

A matter of hygiene and health. Oddly enough, the biggest risk isn’t to fellow passengers but to those who go barefoot—especially if they visit the bathroom. Walking down the aisle or into the lavatory without shoes or in socks can pose serious health risks.

“On long-duration flights, I have noticed people―often, kids―walk barefoot towards or into the bathroom,” Jagdish Khubchandani, a public health professor, told The Huffington Post. “This is a very unhygienic tendency with potential for infection if someone has skin cuts and injuries on their foot,” Khubchandani added.

Sometimes, “it’s not water.” Flight attendant Leysha Perez told Business Insider the risks of walking barefoot on an airplane. “It’s not water that you’re seeing on the bathroom floor sometimes,” she said. “It’s probably bodily fluids that you’re walking in”, she added. Many flight attendants admit they would “never” go barefoot in an airplane bathroom, regardless of the flight length. “Walking throughout the aircraft barefoot or even with socks is disgusting,” they insist.

What do the airlines say? On some airlines, wearing shoes isn’t just a personal choice—it’s a rule. American Airlines requires passengers to dress “appropriately” and states, “Bare feet or offensive clothing aren’t allowed.”

Similarly, Hawaiian Airlines warns that it may refuse to carry a customer who doesn’t meet “Hawaiian dress standards.” That includes wearing shoes “for safety reasons,” unless the passenger is unable to do so.

Image | topcools tee (Unsplash)

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