Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Navigating airline etiquette can be tricky. Many passengers find the idea of wearing shoes throughout an entire journey unpleasant. But when is it appropriate to remove your footwear on a flight? A travel etiquette expert provides clarity on in-flight shoe removal.
The Great Airplane Shoe Debate: When Is It Okay to De-Shoe?
Whether kicking off your shoes on a flight is acceptable is a frequent debate. One etiquette authority offers specific guidance.
The Four-Hour Rule
Jodi R.R Smith, an etiquette expert, told the New Zealand Herald that passengers may take off their shoes on flights lasting over four hours.
The Odor Caveat
There’s a major condition: Smith states that foot odor must be nonexistent.
Emergency Exits: Stay Shod
Rosalinda Oropeza Randall, another etiquette expert, cautions a particular group against removing their shoes, even on long flights:
- Passengers in emergency exit rows must keep their shoes on.
- These passengers have a responsibility to assist calmly and quickly.
- Searching for shoes and tying laces wastes critical time.
Hygiene Matters: Why Bare Feet Might Be a Bad Idea
Beyond etiquette, hygiene is another crucial consideration.
Germs on the Floor
Flight attendants have shared warnings on social media about plane floor cleanliness.
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Danielle, a TikTok user and airline worker, advises against walking barefoot in the lavatory.
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The substance on the floor may not be water, she implies with a hint.