If you do want to wear a sandal, opt for a more sturdy and enclosed style like a fisherman sandal. These styles can also be worn with socks too, so you can avoid having to walk completely barefoot through airport security.

Yes, you can wear sandals on a plane, but in 2026, travel experts and safety professionals generally advise against it for several reasons. From a safety perspective, closed-toe shoes provide much better protection in the event of an emergency evacuation, protecting your feet from fire, debris, or fuel spills. From a comfort perspective, plane cabins are often kept at very low temperatures, and feet in sandals can become uncomfortably cold during a long flight. Furthermore, if you do not have TSA PreCheck, wearing sandals means you will have to walk barefoot across the security floor during the "shoes-off" process, which many find unhygienic. If you must wear sandals for a tropical destination, consider keeping a pair of compression socks in your carry-on to stay warm and prevent swelling during the journey.