So this is one of those things that wouldn’t normally cross your mind until you’re already buckled in, and trying to cram your stuff in the seatback pocket: do you keep your shoes on, or do you kick them off the second you’re in the seat? Taking shoes off during a flight is a little silly, but it’s sort of a real debate. Like, people wholeheartedly disagree about this.
There are people who are very serious about taking shoes off during a flight immediately. There are others who think it is borderline morally indefensible to allow your bare feet to roam free on a plane. I don’t know that there is a right answer, but let’s dig in. Because there is a lot to consider, based on what kind of space we are in, who’s around us, and let’s be honest, the general grossness of airplane floors.
Comfort vs. Etiquette: It’s On
Okay, let’s talk about the obvious conflict first. If comfort governs your existence, you are probably the type of person who takes your shoes off before the plane even lifts off. It just feels better, right? You can really settle in to the seat. Especially if you are in for a 10-hour flight over the Atlantic.
Then there are the etiquette folks who basically consider shoe-takers-off, monsters. They buy into the license we have in a shared space to keep our shoes on, for decency and respect in the shared space. And yes, part of the shared space thing, is that we are all in a tiny cabin with some other number of strangers – and the argument holds a little weight if you think about it.
What I get hung up by on, is the level of conviction both sides claim to provide the “correct” way. You’ll see it on social media: someone posts about how liberating it is to go shoeless. And someone else feels obligated to immediately reply about how thoughtless it is. Apparently, nobody wants to budge.
The Comfort Crusaders: Taking Shoes Off?
But who can blame so many people for taking shoes off during a flight? When you get over the “what does the person next to me think” hump, it’s a game changer. You finally get to extend those toes a little, let your feet breathe. There’s that feeling of “I’m home” even though you’re not even close—30,000 ft up to be exact.
I know people who have thought of this: they’ll stash their fuzzy socks or hotel slippers in their carry on so that they can switch those suckers off fast enough once they have sat down. That’s what my husband does. His parents do it too. And now my kids want to do it. It’s practically become a ritual. And to be honest, if you’ve ever done it, it really makes a miserable seat a little less miserable.
I mean, there’s a reason why airlines sometimes give slippers to people in business class. Because it feels good. Nobody wants to have their feet jammed in the stiff shoes for 14 flipping hours. What kind of pain do you get off a flight with ankles the size of grapefruits?
The Etiquette Enthusiasts: Staying Classy
Now, you have the etiquette enthusiasts who look at all that foot freedom and think, absolutely not. They will keep their shoes on from start to finish, and maybe it’s because they are worried about someone thinking bad things about them, or they are just that concerned about the shared space. And to be fair, you can’t simply open a window on an airplane if things start to get too ripe. One person’s comfort with their toes can be someone else’s absolute horror, especially when you’re sitting inches from each other for hours.
These are the same people who would rather sacrifice their own comfort, rather than risk the guest next to them being subjected to the smell of well-traveled feet. They are probably also the people who pack mints and wipe down the tray table like an operating room. Good call! Just imagine a plane full of people with no regard to hygiene – it would be way worse!
Why Hygiene Matters: What You Can’t See is Dangerous
Here’s the part people forget when weighing comfort and courtesy: the stupid floor is disgusting. Like, it looks okay some of the time, but don’t believe your eyes. Between spilled drinks, food bits, and who knows what else; it’s a total germ party down there. You are considering walking around in bare feet? It’s like inviting all manner of sticky mystery spots from row 7 to row 31 to start a more personal relationship with your feet.
Even if you stay seated, you still have to realize that you are probably walking on carpet that certainly has never been cleaned! You could use your bare feet to collect bacteria; or worse, some random fungal thing. It’s kinda amazing that more people don’t get foot infections when flying. So if you absolutely must set your toes free at least slip on some fresh socks. It’s the best, easiest way to keep some kind of barrier between your skin (as well as whatever’s living in the fibers of that old airplane carpet).
The Middle Ground: Socks or Slippers for the Win
If we are honest, the more you think about it, the more it kind of feels like there is a middle ground. You don’t have to existentially be a shoes-on martyr or a bare-feet rebel. You can opt for thick socks, or a lightweight pair of slippers you keep just for flights. You’re even able to relax your feet, without assaulting your seatmate’s nose (or risking foot fungus). It’s a small thing, but it actually makes us all feel better about the miles in proximity on a plane.
That’s what many of those seasoned travelers do. As soon as they are seated, they switch into flight socks, stash their shoes in the overhead or under the seat in front of them, and throw their shoes back on before landing. That way, there is no weird, half-absent-mindedly shuffling to squish your feet back into tight shoes as the plane is on finals. And your neighbor doesn’t have that awkward side-eye on your toes the entire flight. It’s at least situationally responsible, even if it’s somewhat dorky-looking at the same time.
Conclusion: It’s Your Choice, but Just Think About Other People Too
So yeah, ultimately it comes down to your own values of comfort versus how much you care about the people around you. Nobody is going to stop you from taking shoes off during a flight. And nobody is going to give you a reward for keeping on your shoes either. But thinking about the shared space you are occupying and that other people won’t have a whiff of your foot odor might help you decide what suits you best.
Ultimately whether you land more on the comfort crusades, or the etiquette enthusiasts, just remember to be a little considerate of others – it really does matter. If you can find some middle road (socks/slippers), then maybe you won’t have to choose between being comfortable or polite.
So the next time your butt is squeezed into that tiny window seat, maybe take a moment to think it over first before you start taking shoes off during a flight. Weigh your options, pack clean socks…and perhaps just try to do what could make your flight a tiny bit easier, without making anyone else’s more miserable than they already are. There is enough misery with flying as it is – there is no need to add foot drama into the equation.
