I'm one of those "morons" who like going barefoot. I'm flying to Maui later this month and was dreading the long flights as well as an eight hour layover in DFW. Then I remembered past times when I've flown barefoot (to/from Aruba and Hawaii) and how much better it made the travel time go. So I fully plan to do so this time as well. I was only really hasseled about it once by an AA gate guy. And he was quite rude about it, so as soon as I was at my seat off came my sandals for the rest of the long trip and stopovers.

I realize there are a lot of up tight bare foot phobics out there but they don't bother me. I keep my feet to myself and unless you looked down you wouldn't even notice. And if dirty feet disgust you well, tough. I have my own pet peeves about others that I can't do anything about either. I'm not wearing shoes just because someone out there doesn't like to see bare feet.

I've seen others do it and have read posts on FT about seeing others do it. But my question is is there anyone else on FT that does it and what have been your experiences??

I generally wait until I'm on the plane to take my shoes off, but then invariably off they come. I applaud your tenacity. I think as long as your feet are clean and appeasing to the olfactory senses, it should be fine.

Just out of curiosity, do you go barefoot through the whole process--like walking through the airport etc?

I wear sandals most of the year and kick my shoes off every chance I get. I was actually told by a AA FA a couple of years ago that I had to wear socks, shoes or slippers if I was moving around the plane.

I don't see anything wrong with going barefoot and I don't know of any laws that says that you can't do it in an airport. Stand your guns and be comfy!

I would never let my feet touch any surface of an aircraft. They are gross. What gets me is 1. When people put their feet on a bulkhead like they are in their living room and worse, 2. doing so barefoot.

My opinion? People who do that have zero class.

Yup, the whole process, airport and all (that's the best part). But doing so I must admitt the bottoms of my feet get quite dirty, but heck, that's half the fun! I do have flip flops in my carryon just in case the unthinkable happens.

Have you ever heard of Vibram Five Fingers?

Well, an exhibitionist I am not. Like I said before I keep my feet to myself. But I have no qualms about walking around barefoot on surfaces that some might claim to be gross or unsanitary. I'm sure airplane/airport floors aren't any worse than most hotel floors or even some peoples' home floors. Adrian Monk would hate me but I certainly wouldn't want to be in his shoes (or mine).

I take it you also plan to go into the airplane lavs barefoot, then track all that wetness back on the carpet to your seat? Real smart.

And wearing shoes prevents this how?

I thought wearing shoes and shirts in public was just to keep the hippies out. Most places say it is for hygiene and the health departments usually mandate it...but that doesn't mean it's necessary.

Whoah! This is the first I've heard of them. Ace -- have you worn these before? Are they comfortable? Aren't people's toes different lengths?

I grew up in a shoe-less household so I really hate wearing shoes and will kick them off at work as long as I'm not doing anything where my footwear is visible, but I always wear at least socks on a plane, if only for warmth.

If you knew of the amount of glassware broken in restaurants you wouldn't be so keen to ignore health department regulations.

That said, I have no problem with bare feet, but bare feet in most public places are not part of the US culture. So, unavoidably, people who flaunt cultural norms attract attention and suspicion upon themselves.

Since we are herd animals, different often means damaged and the bare feet in public that we are most exposed to indeed frequently belong to street people.

That said, there are posters on FT who espouse the health benefits of going barefoot. I suspect we will hear from them shortly.

Personally, I remove my shoes aboard aircraft, but leave my socks on. I wear kung foo shoes to and from the lav since I do not want my feet nor socks soaked in other peoples, nor mine, for that matter, excrement.

What the? Gloves have an advantage over mittens because you use your fingers to manipulate stuff. I thought that humans had evolved past using our feet like hands.

These things make sense if you're doing something that requires fine balancing, etc. (rock climbing, tightrope walking, etc.) but airplane travel is not one of those things.

As a resident of two countries where baring the sole of the foot is offensive to local customs/traditions (one in Asia, one in the Middle East), I think those Vibram 5 fingers are a much better alternative than bare feet in a confined space where people may take offence. If you're culturally insensitive, probably wouldn't be in a position to be travelling in these regions anyway, but still...

I am completely amazed though, quite how wet aircraft toilets can get. Maybe I'm just a uniquely good aim, but seriously - what are people doing in there???

Disgusting. Wear flip flops at least.

I may get disgusted by proxy, but barefoot people aren't going to track anything that shoes won't. If they're okay standing in the urine in the lavatory, so be it.