Poll of the Week: Taking Off Shoes on Planes

[SarahS]

Do you like to take off your shoes during a flight, or do you think it's rude to other travelers? Vote in our poll!

[travelmel]

I will on really long flights if I'm trying to sleep - but if I get even the slightest indication that my feet are stinky, the shoes go right back on. I try to be considerate to my fellow passengers!

[jocap]

Normally, yes....but only if they're laced or similar, because feet can swell, especially on a long flight, and I don't want to be struggling with them on landing.
Jo.

[elnsie]

If you're wearing sandals and no socks, you have to be careful in the bathrooms. They should teach men to sit down in airplanes! the slightest bump...

[sandydlc]

Never. My feet swell too much if I do. Also - bathrooms are disgusting and I can't understand why people go in without shoes!! Gross!

[fergus29]

I do take my shoes off on long flights, but I have a solution to the problem of going to the toilets. I pack a pair of very cheap elasticised slippers (which weigh about the same as a pair of socks) with me. They are better than the slip on ones from hotels which fall off if I try to curl up to sleep, and they have a flat, flexible sole which allows me to fit them into my carry on bag. So the first thing I do when I reach my seat is pull them out of my carry on before stowing it, along with my kindle, glasses and headphones, and I am set. They also have a non absorbent sole which is the MOST important thing for visits to the toilets Slip them back into a zip lock bag before putting back into your carry on, and everything is looking good.

[Host Bonjour]

Only on long flights and I always make sure they are comfortable shoes. I know about the swelling because of the cabin pressurization but usually my feet don't swell because I have the chronic "constant cold hands & feet" syndrome so I sometimes throw slippers into my carry on but not always; try to wear warm socks!

And ICK, I never thought about the bathroom floors, because as I just said, I often walk the plane in my socks & I think, into the lavatory. Slippers it is from here on!!

[soliteyah]

I definitely take my shoes off on any flights longer than a few hours. I never wear sandals to fly -- my feet get cold! -- so I always have socks on. And I'm not too squeamish about socks in the lavatory. Bare feet, no way!