Feet on Airplanes?

Would not bother me at all... I guess as long as he/she did not have stinky feet. Can't control everything that everybody else does:) I would take that over the snoring person, or drooling... yuck!

If someone removed their shoes and then put on slippers right away, it would not bother me. I can definitely understand not wanting to wear your sneakers or whatever during the flight. However if you are not sitting next to someone you know, you should never be barefoot and you should ABSOLUTELY never put your bare feet up on the seat in front of you. I've seen a lot of posts on the Instagram account "Passenger Shaming" (pretty amusing as long as it's not happening to you...) of pictures of people's bare feet sticking through the middle of the seats from behind and I would completely freak out if someone did that to me. But I also have a really strong aversion to feet.

I think you are well within the bounds of polite conduct, and no reasonable person would mind, though i would not worry about heading to the restroom to put shoes back on. On a long flight there's some space and latitude that you are entitled to, just like on a short flight, but it is a bigger deal when it's 8 or 10 hours or longer. Feet covered, with socks or shoes, is the minimum, imo; I would not sit in or walk around a commercial airliner barefoot, for a few reasons. People who would become agitated by stuff like this need to upgrade to business class and enjoy their extra space.

It wouldn't bother me at all. As a matter of fact, I do that on planes. And I walk to the bathroom in my slipper socks. I would never go barefoot, though, and I would be very bothered by any barefoot person putting their bare feet on my seat or otherwise near me.

I think the feet in new slipper sox would not bother me as they would be more covered than folks wearing flipflops. I don't want anybody's feet in a chair shod or not. Thinking about the invisible crud on people's shoes after them having walked thru terminals, terminal bathrooms, airplanes, airplane bathrooms, etc is appalling. No, I don't want people to sponge off their shoes with germ wipes but I do fall on the side of the folks who wipe down their tray tables etc. ->->->Sorry to get in to a rant!!! lol

I would never go in an airplane bathroom in slipper socks, it always seems they are wet by midway thru the flight!

Agree with Pam about not wearing slipper socks into the bathroom -- that's why I pack fold-up slippers with rubber bottoms. Unfortunately, often forget I have the slippers until the plane is about to descend...

Gretchen,
I'd have absolutely no problem whatsoever with it. In fact, the last time we flew business class with United, the little zip comfort kit included an inexpensive pair of very thin socks (such as I doubt they would survive in a washing machine) for just that purpose.
I don't understand how anyone could think it would be 'bad manners,' especially on a long-haul flight. Likely the person sitting next to you would not even notice, unless they were in the seat when you were making the switch.
I would NOT advise wearing the socks (without shoes) into the plane's restroom. As another poster mentioned, those floors can get pretty gross late into the flight (and no telling what may lurk on the floor early in the flight).
Also agree, no barefoot business with feet on seats/tray tables, poking thru seats toward people in front.....that's rude, even with socks/shoes/whatever on!!
Of course, if the seat-mate had been wearing boots the size of tugboats, it would be important they not 'encroach' on their neighbor's space when 'storing' their 'tugboats.' I also think it would be rude to toss them up in the overhead, unless they bagged them first.
As much as I have flown, I've never encountered a foot problem with other passengers. Maybe I've been just very fortunate.

I fly often and whenever I do, I wear leather shoes onto the plane. I was told by a safety instructor for an airline that leather shoes will protect your feet in case of a bad emergency where rubber ones (most tennis shoes) will melt if subject to high heat. If I am on a flight that lasts over 30 minutes, I at least loosen up my shoe strings and maybe even pull my feet out of the shoe and rest them on top of the shoe. If I have to get up and go somewhere, I replace my shoes and tie them up. I carry a pair of rubber soled bedroom slippers whenever I am going to someplace where I will be staying in a hotel/B&B so that I can wear them there. I have never thought about wearing them on an airplane but I will have to consider that now that I have read these posts.

Slipper sox or even regular socks (if clean and not stinky) are o.k. Bare feet or flip-flops NOT o.k. Just my opinion.

Charlie, that is a very interesting tidbit about the leather shoes. Makes perfect sense. Back in the Dark Ages I traveled frequently with a friend who was a Travel Agent. She was very strict about having both feet flat on the floor (no crossed legs or ankles) on take off and landing. To this day, I can't do a take off/landing unless my feet are flat!

Sorry for the diversion, Gretchen!

I always take off my shoes. That is almost the first I do on international flights. It is part of my ritual of getting comfortable. I can remember years ago when economy seat was reasonable that you had a little care package in your seat when you boarded that included slippers, eye shades, and ear plugs. What is it with bare feet? Bare feet don't bother me. Even if someone was walking around in their bare feet, I am not sure why I should consider that gross. It is their problem, not mine. Are bare feet dirtier than feet inside shoes? There are other body parts if bare would bother me but not feet.

There is a reason most public places in the US state "no shoes, no shirt, no service". Totally gross.

Gretchen, we travel year around and not only would I not be offended by someone removing his or her shoes and putting on new, clean slipper socks, but I do it myself. I always shower before flying (and after) so my feet are clean. I see plenty of others doing the same and going to the restroom that way (my slipper socks have rubber bottoms). Keep in mind we only travel first class and sometimes business class and we pay to be comfortable and the business people on board make themselves at home so I don't know the situation in economy or premium economy. We have a lot of legroom and some planes have beds even so no one's feet are up against anyone's seat. I would say that going barefoot is something I would frown at. That would be rude and gauche. Anyone who is grossed out because someone is wearing slipper socks is a little anal themselves.

Air France puts a pair of slipper socks in its business class amenity kits, along with the comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.

Gretchen,

Unfortunately, some feet still emanate odours even with socks on. My thoughts are that in most cases shoes should stay on unless there are no odours.

Here's an interesting video that covers that subject (among others).....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_JAAEtnwkA

I generally keep my shoes on, however, I usually wear sandals with socks on overseas flights. If I take my shoes off, I put them back on before walking around. The lavatory floor is just disgusting by the end of the flight... that is the part about bare feet or stocking feet on a plane that is gross.

I don't care what my neighbor does as long as their feet don't smell and they keep them out of my space.

Visions of John Candy flashed before my eyes. : )

No, it wouldn't gross me out unless the shoes were really smelly from walking in them for weeks without socks.

If I could wear stilts to the bathrooms on long flights, I would! Yuck!

Bare or socked feet are fine with me as long as they are not near my face or poking through the armrest space.

I was planning on changing into compression socks, but I will be sure to put my walking sandals back on before heading to the restroom. It honestly wouldn't bother me if someone went barefoot as long as they didn't have smelly feet or shoes.

Clean slipper socks are great - better than the stinky socks or bare feet.

The grossest foot encounter was when we were in the last row of business class and the passenger in the first row of economy rested her bare feet on the console between our seats. Eww! Our food and drinks were sitting there. I asked the flight attendant to request that the passenger to remove her dirty, crusty feet from our seats.

It was part of a free upgrade on points and 3rd leg on the return from Paris in the middle of summer.. Small plane with only a curtain dividing business from economy.

Since my daughter was big enough to reach the seat in front, one of first conversations we have when we get on a plane is about which is her seat and which is someone else's (the seat in front). While we have to touch someone else's seat to lower the tray, use the "tv" and access the pocket, don't kick it, push it or stick feet on the armrest. Or grab the top of it to haul oneself out of one's own seat. Had my hair pulled on many occasions!

Would not bother me at all as long as all the little piggies are covered. You have to admit some people have really ugly feet and ugly or not I believe they should be covered with slippers, socks, or whatever on the flight.

Clean socks are fine. Don't even need to be slipper socks. Just clean and foot covering and not smelly. No feet on the seat in front of you and no feet on the side of your seat facing a stranger, even in socks. I sit on my sock-covered feet sometimes, but only if I'm next to a family member.

Fine with me.

Like Frank, I remember when part of the flight was always (British Airways, and before the B.O.A.C., but not BA) - drink the orange juice (or if you were older you might have that other stuff), then dig around the seatback pocket where there was always a plastic bag with fluffy airline colours socks, earplugs, baby toothpaste (AA used to do the toothpaste, too), a pack of cards, and eye shades. Always. I used to have drawers full of the stuff, and even today I use my old B.O.A.C. eye shades when I'm on night shift and I'm trying to sleep in the day. Much better than what you can get now.

Then the ritual was shoes off, socks on over street socks, and read the page in the magazine with the long distance flight exercises and then relax and try to see the movie through all the heads in front of me and people standing up in front.

Why was it always people in the front who had to stand up?

I guess with personal screens now it is less of a problem.

Zoe, stilts are a brilliant idea. Rick could start marketing them! Maybe the shorter ones like drywall hangers use or maybe the kids ones with springs. All in blue and yellow. All with some sort of attachment to clip them on the outside of your convertible carry on. Or perhaps like the new Eagle Creek bag where the frame is removable and then you can turn them into bathroom stilts.

Ken, of course I had to watch your link. I've seen it before and am always mesmerized at what people do on public transport. I can't stop watching it even though I know I am going to be grossed out.

You have to wear some kind of socks.
Can you imagine 300 fellow passengers with their socks off?!
And change into your shoes before you go into the bathroom!

Need these kinds of raised flip-flops for bathrooms on planes - Japanese geta.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dfashion&field-keywords=geta

Someone putting on clean slipper socks would not bother me. Now, the passenger in the row behind me, resting his/her bare feet on the console between our seats, that would last about one second. One way or another, those feet are going back where they belong. A person would have to have been raised in a barn to do this. What are people thinking?! That would gross me out, but not someone merely putting on clean slipper socks.

While in flight, I keep my shoes on but untie and loosen the laces. Of course if I go to the restroom, I tie the laces and make sure no part of the laces will touch the restroom floor. I cannot imagine why someone would walk into the restroom barefoot or with only their socks on! Now that's gross!

I'm like -- was it Frank? above -- it's one of the first things I do when I get on an international flight - part of my ritual. Take off my shoes and put on a nice pair of CLEAN socks to keep my tootsies warm and just for general politeness. I always put my shoes back on to go to the bathroom. but if i had to keep my shoes on for an entire trans-atlantic flight, i'd probably kill myself.

Hi Everyone,

Yes, I immediately take off my shoes and put on brand new slipper socks once on the plane. I always buy a new pair before going on a trip - it helps gets me excited for my trip. I also put my shoes back on before visiting the bathroom. I can't imagine not having shoes on in there. :) I happened to mention this at work one day and some people were surprised I took my shoes off. I certainly don't want to offend anyone. Thanks for (mostly) confirming this is all right.

Enjoy your flights. :)

I always immediately upon boarding take my shoes off and put on a pair of soft houseslippers with rubber bottoms. They are comfortable on the feet for the long flight and work well walking into the restrooms.

It is normal for one's feet to swell during a flight. Keeping your shoes on during a long flight can be very uncomfortable. You can often tell the seasoned fliers on a flight, they are the ones taking their shoes off as soon as they sit down.

I slip back into my shoes to use the toilet or, on long flights, bring a pair of slippers along for that. Airplane toilets are the reason I prefer to wear a skirt instead of pants when I fly.

Worst stinking feet experience - a flight from Paris to Israel in mid-October. Paris had been unusually hot that day and Israel was of course going to be just as hot, but it was fall, so the seasonal fashion was fur-lined boots. I had a little girl - maybe 5 years old - sitting between me at the window and Papa on the aisle. Shortly into the flight, he took her boots off. I could not believe how smelly a little girl's feet could be . . . for nearly 5 hours.

Chani--that is so sad for that poor little girl. I know you had to put up with it, but that child either has a condition or negligent parents. Poor little thing.