In my 10 years as airline employee, it would never have crossed my mind
to ask another passenger to rent his/her shoes for the flight. Most airlines
do have a dress code for flying NRSA and it is the employees responsibility
to comply with those. Of course like some of you mentioned this could have
been a companion. While working at an airport, I have encountered passengers
holding buddy passes who had no clue what standby travel was about.