Why You Should Never Take Your Shoes Off on a Plane, According to a Flight Attendant

We tend to overlook a lot of behaviors while flying—be it indulging in an elaborate, multi-step skin care ritual mid-flight or drifting off to sleep against a stranger’s shoulder. But one thing that should remain off-limits is taking off your shoes. And this isn’t just for the sake of other passengers; it’s for your own health, too.

“There are hygienic considerations. I always compare taking off your shoes on a plane to going shoeless on a public bus,” Natalia Yepes, an ex-flight attendant and owner of Adventuresque Travel Boutique, shared with Travel + Leisure. “Think about how many people ride it a day. At each stop, the cleaners only have 10 minutes—sometimes less. They are not focusing on germs, but just on keeping the plane looking aesthetically clean (free of crumbs and big debris).”

While the entire plane is a danger zone for bare feet, experts say going into the bathroom with no shoes should be where you draw the line.

“I’ve flown 213 airlines, so I’ve seen a lot over the years. I also worked on the ramp and used to clean airplane toilets back in the day. They are gross,” Kerwin McKenzie, travel advisor and former airline employee, said. “One should never, ever walk in airplane bathrooms without shoes. And always sanitize your hands after leaving or hold the door handle with paper and throw it away.”

And don’t think wearing socks is enough. As McKenzie described, passengers sometimes spill liquids on the floor, or miss the toilet when they go, and all that “stuff gets on your feet through your socks; it’s just not hygienic at all.”

Even worse, he added, when you put your feet back in your shoes and head off the plane, you “bring all those germs home with you.”

As for how often those planes get cleaned, like Yepes, McKenzie explained they usually get a quick wipe down in between flights, and are only vacuumed when planes are in a terminal overnight. And those floors “under the seats are no better, so keep those shoes on as well.”

Beyond being unsanitary, Yepes added that sometimes, it also can be rude to other guests.

“It might make others uncomfortable, or you might have an odor that doesn’t bother you, but might bother others,” Yepes said. And there’s one more reason to keep those shoes on: “If there’s an emergency and you suddenly have to evacuate, it’s best to be ready and have your shoes on,” Yepes explained. “I’m completely against going shoeless during a flight, and I’ve never met a crew member who was in favor of it.”

The good news is you don’t need to commit to uncomfortable footwear. Check out T+L’s editor-approved airplane footwear that will get you to where you’re going without tracking germs from point A to point B.

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure