While tourists may be tempted to throw on flip-flops for a flight to get into the holiday spirit right off the plane, it’s best to pack them in your suitcase. The reasons why this type of footwear is not recommended to be worn at the airport and during the flight were voiced by aviation experts and flight attendants on TikTok.
In their opinion, flip-flops are one of the worst types of footwear for air travel. Thus, aviation analyst Mary Schiavo explained the indignation of experts about beach shoes as follows: “Please put on comfortable shoes and wear them before landing. I see people boarding flights wearing flip-flops. At this time, I think about safety: if you have to stand up and run, then in flip-flops you will fall or not be able to run at all. So you will not only harm yourself but also dozens of other tourists on this plane. So put on some comfortable shoes.”
American Airlines flight attendant Andrea Fischbach echoed a colleague’s warning: “If you have a short transfer and need to move between terminals, it’s best to have shoes that support mobility. I would advise against wearing high heels, flip flops, or any kind of flip flops, mainly for safety reasons. If there is an evacuation and evacuation slides are needed, your high heels will either come off or hurt your foot. In addition, they can puncture the inflatable slide. They are still not very practical for emergency running.”
For similar safety reasons, passengers are advised not to remove their shoes when boarding. So, aviation expert Christine Negroni previously said that the riskiest time in a flight is the time of landing. “I think it should be a general rule to be in your shoes when you land. If you leave the plane, the floor may be very hot or cold, covered in oil, or even on fire. In emergencies, we can dare to sit down, for example, in a corn field. I think that in emergencies that arise suddenly, you will not want to walk barefoot,” she said.
Also, flip-flops ruin the style aspect. According to elegance coach and fashion expert Anna Bey, flip-flops are not the way to go if you want to look expensive while traveling by air. Yes, in a YouTube video, she said: “Flip flops should be for the pool, nowhere else, especially on a plane. You shouldn’t dress too casually, because it’s a matter of self-respect and respect for other people.”
As for shoes, the elegance coach suggested an alternative option — shoes with flat soles, such as ballet flats, moccasins, or sneakers. In her opinion, this is the only valid option. At the same time, you should be careful with the choice of the latter, as stylish shoes are suitable for the plane, and not everyday ones said the fashion expert.
DIP previously wrote that “A flight attendant told me why you should never wear jeans and sneakers on planes.”