Is it gross to wear sandals on a plane?

It's not prohibited but may present a safety issue if you need to evacuate the aircraft and run across the tarmac or wherever you land. Be sure your feet are clean for the courtesy of others. The airline probably won't offload you over it, but the other passengers might consider it sort of gross.



Wearing sandals on a plane is a divisive topic in 2026, often viewed as a hygiene risk by frequent travelers. While they are convenient for clearing airport security, the cabin of an airplane is a high-traffic environment where the carpets are not deep-cleaned between every flight. If you wear sandals, your skin is exposed to "microbiome filth" and the intense dry air of the cabin, which can lead to cracked skin. More importantly, it is considered a major breach of etiquette to take your sandals off and expose bare feet in a confined space; the recirculated air can carry odors quickly to your neighbors. Most "travel pros" recommend wearing closed-toe, slip-on shoes with socks. This protects your feet from the unsanitary floors of the airplane lavatories (which often have "liquid" on the floor that is not just water) and ensures your feet stay warm in the notoriously cold cabins. If you must wear sandals for comfort, the compromise is to bring a pair of "flight socks" to put on once you are settled in your seat.

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Anything tight Restrictive clothing does not pair well with bloating, also common on airplanes. You want to be able to move comfortably, encouraging healthy blood circulation and avoiding deep vein thrombosis. Avoid cramping by doing exercises in your seat and taking a walk to the lavatory, whenever possible.

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A barefoot passenger may be prohibited from boarding the plane, or may be forced to leave the plane, according to Spirit Airlines' contract of carriage.

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A flight attendant has revealed the most annoying thing passengers do on a flight. There's plenty of clothing rules that people should follow when flying, including no thongs or shorts and keeping socks on at all times.

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Travel Flight Socks Prevent Swelling
This can cause problems with blood circulation that you might not expect. Blood can pool in your lower extremities and cause your feet and ankles to swell, and this can make it painful to walk once you've landed. Compression socks help keep blood from pooling near your feet.

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Yes, really. Your grandmother and marathon runners are on to something. These stockings help increase circulation and reduce the risk of swelling or worse deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and clotting on a long flight.

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Yellow inside an airplane can make our eyes tired. While yellow is a color that evokes happiness, it is such a bright color that it reflects more light and hence could stimulate the eyes too much. This might explain why most vehicles, especially airplanes, hardly ever use yellow in their interior.

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Generally, it's a good idea to wear easy-to-take-off, comfy shoes to the airport, especially if you pass security checks. Slides are a fantastic option for this because they are often comfortable to wear and are simple to put on and take off. Imagine trying to exit a burning aircraft in flip flops.

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Pajamas. We're all for being comfortable on a flight, but since you do have to be out in public, it's best not to wear pajamas to the airport and onto the plane. Instead, wear loose-fitting, comfortable pants with an elastic band, said Susan Fogwell, a former flight attendant with 22 years of experience.

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Wear a sweatshirt and loose-fitting joggers for maximum comfort. This comfy sweatshirt and jogger set will keep you warm when the temperature drops on the plane and provide additional comfort when sleeping.

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Remember that anything over 6 hours flying time is considered long haul, but flights of longer than 10 hours are not uncommon either. One important thing to remember is to keep your seat belt fastened at all times in case of unexpected turbulence.

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If you've ever taken a long flight, you've probably noticed that your legs and feet begin to get puffy. That swelling can be dangerous. In extreme cases, you might develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT), where a potentially fatal blood clot forms in a vein deep in the body. Most deep vein clots occur in the legs.

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Airplane passengers or crew on long or frequent air flights may want to wear compression socks to help increase circulation and reduce their risk of developing deep vein thrombosis or blood clots.

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High heels Not only is it important to wear comfortable shoes in case you need to run to your gate, but also in case of an emergency. Airline safety demonstrations advise that in an emergency all high-heeled shoes need to be removed in the case of an evacuation—heels can cause damage to the evacuation slide.

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Instead wear: Slip-on shoes Even though they're perfect shoes to wear on vacation, trainers, boots, and Birkenstocks will only slow you down at the airport when you are inevitably asked to remove them to go through security.

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Yes, sweatpants are acceptable on an airplane. However, the passenger would be wise to wear very nice sweatpants with an equally nice top. I think a passenger in First Class might want to dress a bit more formally, but of course that's not required.

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