Every so often, we see a viral social media post involving bare feet on planes. Sometimes people walk into the lavatory barefoot, sometimes they use their toes to make selections through the inflight entertainment, and sometimes people will put their not-so-nice looking feet a little too close to fellow passengers.
In this post, I’d like to talk about this topic in a bit more detail. Is it ever okay to be barefoot on a plane?
In this post:
Airlines largely ban being barefoot onboard
This may surprise some people, but many airlines actually ban being barefoot onboard. For example:
- American’s contract of carriage requests that passengers “dress appropriately,” noting that “bare feet or offensive clothing aren’t allowed”
- Delta’s contract of carriage states that the airline may refuse transport “when the passenger is barefoot”
- United’s contract of carriage states that passengers “who are barefoot, not properly clothed, or whose clothing is lewd,” can be removed from planes
Based on my interpretation, this doesn’t just mean that you have to board a flight with shoes, but you actually need to keep them on. After all, it’s often listed in the same section as offensive clothing, and it’s not like the ban on offensive clothing is just when you board — it also applies while inflight.
Best practices, since airlines don’t enforce these rules
As someone with whatever the opposite of a foot fetish is, I appreciate that airlines have these rules. That being said, let me be practical with my advice. First of all, despite the rules, many passengers do elect to be barefoot once at their seat on flights. If you’re one of those people:
- Please don’t visit the lavatory barefoot, because lavatories are beyond dirty, and the liquid on the floor typically isn’t water
- Remember that airplane carpets also aren’t particularly clean; think of it like being barefoot on a dirty street
- Make sure your feet don’t smell bad and don’t look particularly offensive; admittedly like many things in life, self selection is probably tricky there
- Keep your feet in your personal space, and don’t encroach on the space of others
To sum it up, the below social media posts are definitely what you shouldn’t do. 😉
While it’s not something I do, personally I think it’s potentially fine if you take off your shoes inflight under a few circumstances. If you’re able to cover your feet with a blanket, or if you’re in a first or business class suite with doors and are sleeping, then it’s probably not an issue. After all, “out of sight, out of mind.”
If I’m on a long haul flight and want to get comfortable, I’ll take off my shoes and put on (clean) socks, and then will use the slippers (if provided by the airline) when going to the lavatory.
What about wearing flip flops on airplanes?
Most airlines do allow passengers to wear flip flops. There are some airlines that have specific policies against this for lounges. For example, Qantas Clubs have among the strictest dress codes, and don’t allow flip flops.
Personally I’d never wear flip flops on a plane, but that’s a personal choice, and isn’t to say that you shouldn’t wear flip flops. After all, I don’t get to make the rules. But I think the golden rule applies here as well, so be considerate of how other people may feel about your feet.
Bottom line
Many airlines do ban being barefoot on planes, which is something that many people don’t realize. However, it’s rarely enforced. If you are going to choose to be barefoot, at least keep your feet in your personal space, don’t go to the lavatories barefoot, and try to make sure they’re well maintained.
What’s your take regarding being barefoot on planes?
My personal rules:
Flip flops and sandals allowed on flights to/from holiday destinations. Shoes preferred/required elsewhere.
Shoes may come off, provided socks are worn, in economy while at your seat and only at your seat. Particularly true if you are stretching out into a full row and will be sleeping across the seats. Please wrap in a blanket. Feet do not rest on another seat back, arm rests, walls, etc. Keep your dogs away...
My personal rules:
Flip flops and sandals allowed on flights to/from holiday destinations. Shoes preferred/required elsewhere.
Shoes may come off, provided socks are worn, in economy while at your seat and only at your seat. Particularly true if you are stretching out into a full row and will be sleeping across the seats. Please wrap in a blanket. Feet do not rest on another seat back, arm rests, walls, etc. Keep your dogs away from other people's space.
Shoes may also be removed in business class in a lounge or a bed mode but again similar rules apply as in economy.
Footwear must be worn when navigating aisles, bathrooms, etc, with the exception of the Emirates and Etihad First Class showers where they may be removed.
That's it.
Ultimately, foot discretion is paramount. lol
My son and his best friend work for our local airport in the summer - that means they get to clean the planes when they arrive. Let me tell you, the status of the bathrooms is often beyond disgusting and truly a bio hazard… and both of these 17-year olds have had to clean them. It is my hope their bio-hazard suits actually work and they don’t contract a disease. Vomit and fecal matter have...
My son and his best friend work for our local airport in the summer - that means they get to clean the planes when they arrive. Let me tell you, the status of the bathrooms is often beyond disgusting and truly a bio hazard… and both of these 17-year olds have had to clean them. It is my hope their bio-hazard suits actually work and they don’t contract a disease. Vomit and fecal matter have been splattered everywhere…floors,walls, toilet… to go in those lavatories is truly at your own risk. Humans are just downright nasty creatures.
Earlier today, was flying Batik in J to Bali.
This guy in row 2 decides to put his bare feet over the middle part of the seat and onto the adjacent seat showing all of his legs since he was wearing shorts. Disgusting
As the flight progressed he slept on the floor of the cabin with his bare feet hanging out into the aisle.
During descent, he put his bare feet in...
Earlier today, was flying Batik in J to Bali.
This guy in row 2 decides to put his bare feet over the middle part of the seat and onto the adjacent seat showing all of his legs since he was wearing shorts. Disgusting
As the flight progressed he slept on the floor of the cabin with his bare feet hanging out into the aisle.
During descent, he put his bare feet in between the middle partition of row 1, and the couple sitting had to put their bag to block the feet.
Worst part= flight attendants did nothing.
I mean I get different cultures and all but that is basic respect. I took pics which are just hilarious, I mean how one can truly treat a plane like a circus is beyond me.
Keep your feet in your personal space, and don’t encroach on the space of others
Completely agreed. For this case, more people should also draw attention to manspreading in economy flights. I do fly economy when PE/J isn't feasible, and the number of times a man next to me has encroached into my seat space because he can't keep his legs closed is beyond me.
Shoes: always and easy to get in and out and fully enclosed
Barefoot: Never
Flip flops: Never (mainly for safety)
Socks: only when going to sleep but always keep shoes next to me in case of an emergency and they are easy to put back on
Slippers: only use the ones provided by the airline to go to the bathroom and always leave them on the plane
Even if you do not wear them at all times during your flight, you should have a good pair of shoes (not flip flops or slippers) readily accessible for obvious safety reasons.
What do people do when they need a number two on a plane?
Hover?
Squat?
Or dare place the skin of their buttocks on the plastic toilet seat where the skin of other buttocks (probably multiple buttocks) have been before them?
Believe me, the single biggest cesspit for bacteria on an aircraft ain't on the lavatory floor. Think more lavatory door handle on exit ;-)
Moronic people who behave like animals will eventually suffer their fate for such ignorance.
No. Absolutely not. It is never ok not to wear shoes in an airline toilet.
Why is this even a thought? The very idea of going shoeless is abhorrent, vile and disgusting.
Ehhem, bigotry is abhorrent, vile and disgusting; going barefoot on an airline is merely 'unsettling.'
Ehhem, bigotry is abhorrent, vile and disgusting; going barefoot on an airline is merely 'unsettling.'
Barefoot isn’t the same as no shoes if you have socks. Maybe that’s why AA puts socks in their amenity kit.
JAL gave me slippers (in F). That’s civilized.
Barefoot isn’t the same as no shoes if you have socks. Maybe that’s why AA puts dicks in their amenity kit.
JAL gave me slippers (in F). That’s civilized.
Ben, we really need an edit function for when spell check goes rogue.
I disagree; bloopers like yours above are 'the spice of life.'
"AA puts dicks in their amenity kit." 10/10. *chef's kiss*
Also, if your 'spell-check' is auto-changing 'socks' to 'dicks,' that may be more a 'you'-thing, than a 'spell-check'-thing. Giggity.
With JALs accident last year, that was a wakeup call for me to wear the proper footwear along with my passport on my person in the unfortunate event of an evacuation. I hope people take note on what they wear.
But during the cruise, I don't ever walk around barefoot. The most I've done is walk with my socks on to the lavatory. But then again I had the upper deck to myself on a...
With JALs accident last year, that was a wakeup call for me to wear the proper footwear along with my passport on my person in the unfortunate event of an evacuation. I hope people take note on what they wear.
But during the cruise, I don't ever walk around barefoot. The most I've done is walk with my socks on to the lavatory. But then again I had the upper deck to myself on a short hop on a 744. Even then, I wouldn't do it again. The most I would do is have a pair of slippers on, but with my socks on.
I remember once, I had someone put their feet up on my seat behind me. But being the non-confrontational person that I am, I didn't say anything. Maybe next time, I should be more confrontational (in a more polite way)
100%. In some countries and on certain airlines, they demand all window shades open, headphones/earbuds off, all items away. As much as I dislike them for different reasons, Finnair is 'militant' about such rules 'for safety,' and perhaps, they are on-to something.
The ONLY circumstance where it’s fine to be barefoot on a plane is when showering on Emirates or Etihad.
And, only when you're in their on-board shower.
(Like, lay out a towel outside the shower, and wear those slippers/flippy floppies elsewhere, so you don't go barefoot on their lavatory floor; then go get that 'fruit plate' waiting for you back at your seat, on Emirates at least.)
"Like, lay out a towel outside the shower..."
EK already does this, fortunately. and it's curved to match the curvature of the shower stall.
Ahhh, they really have thought of everything.
When I consider the things I voluntarily put in my mouth, the skin of my feet touching 'dirty' surfaces is the least of my worries ;-)
Saying that, when a passenger on planes I generally stick a pair of those cheap disposable slippers you find in hotel rooms.
Ben, we really need an edit function for when spell check goes rogue.
Beachfan, I'm not sure Duck Ling said anything he didn't mean to say. Like, I believe Duck Ling when he implies that he's into kinky stuffs. As I've said before on here, let's not 'yuck' someone else's 'yum,' so long as it's not harming anyone. *consent*
The answer to the question posed in your headline is NO.
And while I love reading your articles, in this case, no article is required to get to that answer.
Betteridge's law of headlines
Yet another reason why I don't trust RFK, Jr.
(He supposedly went barefoot to the lavatory on an AA flight in 2023.)