# Ever Seen Someone Take Their Socks Off On A Flight? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 24, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534 "2023-05-24T20:36:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/1 "2023-05-24T20:36:27Z")
This is part of a list on travel etiquette. Never seen it, and it would slightly gross me out if almost anyone did this. But I’m sure it is on the list for a reason… > **[‘Never a Reason to Take Off Your Socks’: A Flight Attendant’s 12 Etiquette Rules](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/24/travel/summer-travel-etiquette.html)** > > Air travel is going to be busy this summer. With some common sense and courtesy, could flying be … pleasant? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/2 "2023-05-24T20:48:32Z")
Yes, and indeed utterly disgusting to see that combined with putting feet up on the armrest of the seat in front ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/3 "2023-05-24T20:48:42Z")
Well, some biz class flights hand out compression sock, so my personal socks are off long enough to put those on. I have been known to fly in flip-flops, also… ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/4 "2023-05-24T20:48:45Z")
And of course the middle seat should get both armrests. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/5 "2023-05-24T20:52:54Z")
Shoes AND socks?! That’ll send you to the [“Bad Place”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ_d4yZmKY4). ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/6 "2023-05-24T20:54:47Z")
I’ll have you know I put my compression socks on at home before I leave for the airport. I figure car ride to the airport, flight(s) and another car/cab ride after, so compression’ll be handy all day. But a quick sock-change wouldn’t bother me at all. And if I have a middle seat, I ask the passengers if they mind if I take the back 4" of the armrest and they can have the rest. That’s the spot I really need if I’m going to nap (last trip was to Africa, so napping was mandatory for me. I slept most of the way, and bam! No jet lag). ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/7 "2023-05-24T20:56:24Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > Shoes AND socks?! That’ll send you to the [“Bad Place”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ_d4yZmKY4). Wichita? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Rd5dYQHoZS0/maxresdefault.jpg "Planes, Trains & Automobiles (9/10) Movie CLIP - My Dogs Are Barking (1987) HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd5dYQHoZS0) ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/8 "2023-05-24T21:01:22Z")
Plus, in long haul biz, you’re hopefully in a “pod” seat, and the proles (😁) turn right behind business class so no one is filing past you while you do a quick toenail clip! What? That wasn’t on the list so it must be ok, right? ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/9 "2023-05-24T21:23:47Z")
In 2019 I was flying out of Denver on my way to California. ::sound of can being cracked open behind me:: Thinking to Myself: No, that’s can’t be?! ::Smell of tuna hitting me at full force:: Thinking to myself: Who the hell opens a can of tuna on a plane? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/10 "2023-05-24T21:28:03Z")
Yes, I’ve seen that. She was at the bulkhead and put her feet up on it. I’ve also seen someone clip their toenails on the train at 5:30 in the morning. Transit time not wasted! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/11 "2023-05-24T21:30:37Z")
I’ve never taken off my shoes _or_ socks on a flight. That said, it’s hard for me to give a rat’s ass what some flight attendant’s etiquette “rules” are.\* \*one of mine is, don’t put your hand on me if I haven’t re-adjusted my seat from its 15-degree “reclining” position or “returned the seat back to its full upright position” fast enough to suit you as the plane nears the end of the flight. Just ask politely. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/12 "2023-05-24T21:35:32Z")
Saw a gal strip down to her slip on a train ride, then put on her nighty. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/13 "2023-05-25T00:13:29Z")
To be clear, I don’t care about the list as such. Just surprised the title item made it. I would not be much bothered by someone changing their shoes or socks, nor even taking off their shoes given good hygiene. But keep ‘em on the ground, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/14 "2023-05-25T01:42:08Z")
I’ve been on the LAX-Singapore flight at least once, and I will take advantage of every amenity or offer, socks included. 17 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/15 "2023-05-25T03:31:49Z")
I could only read half the article. Does she mention not polishing your nails? I was on a flight once where the couple next to me argued the whole way, and the woman polished her nails. It was a relatively short flight but I had a killer headache by the end. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/16 "2023-05-25T03:39:35Z")
Diaper change in the lap did me in. The woman just didn’t give a crap. She just did it. I was across the aisle. It wasn’t pleasant. A flight attendant did come with a barf bag for the newborns dipey and wipees. Everyone on the flight groaned outloud. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/17 "2023-05-25T14:26:15Z")
No. Her twelve rules: 1. Ask and look before slowly reclining your seat. 2. Clean up after your kids. 3. Don’t move others overhead luggage. 4. No one wants to hear your phone conversations. 5. Middle seat gets both armrests. 6. OK to end convos siding headphones. 7. Keep your socks on. 8. Use call button judiciously. 9. Don’t discipline others’ kids 10. If split group, try to solve this at the gate not when boarding. 11. You don’t have to switch seats. 12. Flush. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/18 "2023-05-25T18:33:58Z")
Yup, I’ve seen it. I think it’s rather unpleasant. There again, I have had aquaintances who insist I take my shoes off when I enter their house. I think this is a bit of a power trip, though. On the other hand, there seem to be cultures (Japan perhaps?) where this is accepted as commonplace, so if visiting I would be polite and follow the local custom. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/19 "2023-05-25T18:35:57Z")
In such cultures, slippers are often provided for visitors. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534/20 "2023-05-25T18:49:43Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > There again, I have had aquaintances who insist I take my shoes off when I enter their house. > I think this is a bit of a power trip, though. That’s not a power trip, the bottom of shoes are nasty. Shoes OFF when entering my house! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-someone-take-their-socks-off-on-a-flight/984534.md?page=2)