These Barefoot Travelers Refuse to Put on Shoes Even at the Airport

Airlines may deny you boarding for being barefoot. But they don't care.“Has anyone traveled on a flight barefoot?”, a Reddit subthread asks. The thread received some affirmative replies with people admitting to flying without shoes without any issues between Germany and Spain and from the U.K. to Portugal. One person admitted, “Sure, but it’s hit-or-miss in the U.S. American Airlines has given me trouble before. Flew within the Caribbean barefoot, also around Southern Africa. I did a day trip within Guyana and was barefoot door-to-door. Would like to do this more often.”There is a difference between shoe-wearers who take off their footwear on flights, and barefooters: the latter do not wear footwear unless required. It’s a lifestyle choice, and though there are exceptions, you’d also see them walking at airports without shoes.The individual who posed the question chatted with Fodor’s anonymously and said they are barefoot all the time except when they go to work. In Australia, it’s not as uncommon, they mentioned in several other barefoot threads. “I would love to just leave my shoes at home when I go on holiday, as I won’t wear them anyway. But for a flight I worry that in case one of the staff doesn’t like it and doesn’t let you aboard.”The worry is valid. Airlines have the right to deny you boarding, and dress codes are being increasingly enforced. Skimpy or offensive clothing and a lack of shoes can be grounds for being evicted from a flight. Continue Reading Article After Our Video Recommended Fodor’s Video Going Barefoot Years ago, an Indian supermodel made headlines in the country when he started running marathons barefoot. Milind Soman, now 60, participates in long-distance running around the world and frequently ditches shoes. But a quick Google search reveals that the barefoot community is much bigger than the people who run or hike without shoes—there are people who have wholly adopted this lifestyle and only wear footwear when absolutely necessary (like in emergencies or when there’s a risk of injury).Barefoot running went mainstream after the release of the book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, in which he describes a tribe in Mexico that runs long distances in minimalistic sandals or barefoot. Research has hinted that being barefoot is better for balance and foot strength, and grounding (walking barefoot in nature) has become a wellness trend. But experts recommend that people be careful where they step, especially outdoors. Apart from dirt, there are dangerous objects (like glass and needles), pests, and bacteria that can cause more harm than good. For those who find a middle ground, more brands now offer five-toed barefoot shoes. It may not be for everyone, and that’s okay, too.Historically, there have always been communities that have relinquished footwear and lived what would now be considered an alternative lifestyle. Hippies rebelled against society in sandals or barefoot. Modern-day barefooters find it freeing to be without shoes all the time, but many wear them as and when required. People have transitioned to this lifestyle in different corners of the world, from cities to remote towns, and use platforms like Reddit to support each other. But, just like other lifestyles such as nudists, they have to comply with certain rules in public. Flying, for one, is not barefoot-friendly. Related: 12 Things Passengers Do That Flight Attendants HateThe Contract CaveatBarefoot luxury, a phrase adopted by luxury hotels that invite people to surrender to nature, does not fly with airlines. All airlines have contracts of carriage that every passenger agrees to when they buy a ticket. Many specify that they may deny entry to barefoot travelers; some are stricter in their wording than others. American Airlines, for example, specifies: “Dress appropriately; bare feet or offensive clothing aren’t allowed.” United says it has the right to refuse transport to passengers who are barefoot. However, Lufthansa—which many barefooters said they flew with—does not explicitly ban it.But, as with most policies, it depends on the discretion of the staff members. They may enforce the rule, or let it slide. In any case, barefoot travelers keep a pair of flip-flops handy. Barefooter Kriss Sands insists in a blog on flying barefoot that the gate is no place to argue with crew. If you’re asked to wear shoes, “simply wear the flip-flops or other footwear to your seat, then remove them and put them away for the rest of the flight. It is highly unlikely that anyone on the plane after that will say another word to you about your feet.”Sands took 114 flights between 2004 and 2023 with 13 different airlines at 31 airports, and was told only eight times that he couldn’t board without shoes.If you want to try it, be sure to check the airline policy about it. It’s better to have sandals in your bag in case you’re asked to wear shoes. You might also get some stares and questions if you spend the flight barefoot. Often, passengers find it annoying when their co-passengers invade their personal space and put their bare feet where they don’t belong. Many think being barefoot on a plane is not a good look. In the age of social media, people also shame others by sharing photos. Sands says that these are not barefooters. “We are not those people, and it behooves us to always be respectful of other passengers on airline flights and never prop our feet up on or near where someone else is sitting.”The advice for travelers in such cases: keep your shoes on. “Boarding in shoes but removing them later just kind of puts us in the same category as the people that are being complained about, as the general public does not know the difference between true barefooters who never wear shoes and the rude people who board planes in shoes, remove them later, and then put their bare feet in places they don’t belong.”