schwarm

A while back we were on a flight with one of the world's foremost yoga teachers. Not only did he not wear shoes while in transit, he looked quite uncomfortable when his traveling companion actually got down on his knees in the aisle and put shoes on his guru's feet in preparation for disembarking. It looked as though the yogi was incapable of putting his own shoes on, and it probably wasn't because of lack of flexibility (I looked at the pictures in his most recent book.).

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...57#post4735057

OliviaM

Reading these articles about barefoot airline passengers made me change minds about safety and comfort. If these people feel better barefoot then airlines should have exceptions about safety.

BamaVol

I'd be more worried about the female pax in the exit row with high heels.

But I hate rules of almost any type, especially arbitrary ones based on someone elses ideas of taste, health or safety. Just make 'em sign a waiver until we can purge the planet of lawyers.

ALadyNCal

I DID search before posting (which I always try to do) and used 'barefoot', which really only brought one thread that focused on feet (Feet [gross]--rant!). But thank you for finding those.

imalawyer

At least she didn't start clipping her toenails, which a lovely seatmate of mine did in the past, with nails flying every which way!

zoenkie_25

growing up in africa, i used go barefoot until the age of 13 (yes, even to school). never had any problems healthwise until i habitually started wearing shoes. suddenly i got all kinds a problems, from athletes foot to blisters and painfull arches.

i have absolutely no problem with anyone walking barefoot anywhere.^

AC110

I'm going to guess it's not permitted for safety reasons, i.e. in an emergency evacuation with debris around that barefoot pax is likely to slow up the other evacuees.

htb

Funny then that high-heel shoes are ordered to be removed before using the slide... (yes, you've probably already cleared the debris, but removing the shoes is really going to slow down everyone else...

HTB.

Loren Pechtel

They don't want a heel popping the slide.

MRKEY

paging richard

rrz518

Oh yes there is. We wear shoes for a reason. All kinds of disgusting things live on your feet.

LapLap

That's EXACTLY why many people choose to not wear shoes. If you boxed your hands in wool and leather for 16 hours a day lots of disgusting things would live on them too.

What's all this about health and safety in the air anyway??

You have to take high heels off to use an escape shoot anyway (punctures).

Airlines give you socks to wear (more and more of them instead of slippers, alas). Those socks aren't going to protect you from glass, liquid or anything else.

I don't see why it's more dangerous to navigate an airport barefoot than it is a beach (which is more likey to have hidden turds, jellyfish, sea urchins or hypodermic needles). The main danger seems to be from luggage trollies/carts.

At least the Australian lady wouldn't have released a stench on liberating her captive toes like so many others do. In fact, with regards to health and safety she'll bring far less bacteria into the plane than most of the other passengers.

jerseyfinn

. . . I'm going to guess it's not permitted for safety reasons, i.e. in an emergency evacuation with debris around that barefoot pax is likely to slow up the other evacuees . . .

A related thought is that although I too will slip my shoes off in-flight, I never remove them until we're in the air as if something not-so-nice happens during take-off or landing, one wants their shoes on both for things sharp and things hot.

I don't see one who goes through life barefooted as dismissive, or indifferent ( though I'd love to see that gal fly to Chicago when it's snowing or walk through the park after someone walks their dog ). But I would characterize them as foolish if this is how they fly for the above-mentioned reasons.

Barry

htb

By the same logic high heels would have to be strictly prohibited on board. Not only will removing the shoes hold up everyone behind, in addition not removing the shoes might puncture the slide/raft and further endanger everyone else.

Of course you're still most likely right.

HTB.

UncleDude

Which the TSA Insisit are spread around their security areas so everybody can get a share.