A flight attendant has issued a warning to passengers, advising against wearing flip-flops or Crocs on board.
The reason for this caution is not related to concerns about foot odor but rather for safety reasons during a flight.
In an interview with whattowear.co.uk, Ms. Fischbach, a flight attendant for American Airlines, explained why shoes like these, as well as backless sandals and high heels, should be avoided at all times.
She emphasized that these types of shoes can pose potential dangers during emergencies, especially if passengers need to evacuate the aircraft quickly.
Fischbach said: 'Heels can possibly cause further damage to emergency exits or hurt others if they go flying off somehow.
'I would really advise against high heels or flip-flops or any slides, mostly for safety purposes.
Although flight attendants themselves may wear high heels, Ms. Fischbach revealed that they are often impractical and are frequently removed during flights.
She added: 'If there is an evacuation and slides are required, your high heels will have to come off, as they can puncture the slide.
'Who knows where and in what conditions you'll land. Plus, they aren't very practical running gate to gate.'
Ms. Fischbach advised against wearing high heels, flip-flops, slides, or any backless shoes primarily for safety reasons, especially in the event of an evacuation where high heels might puncture the evacuation slide. She also pointed out that they are not suitable for quickly moving from gate to gate during layovers.
She added: 'As if another reason is needed, they make the metal detectors go off (if you are lucky enough to have pre-check) thanks to nails in the heels.
'Flip-flops and backless shoes can also end up flying off your feet, and your feet are more likely to freeze, especially during a long flight.'
She emphasized that open-toed shoes can lead to an unsanitary experience when visiting the airplane toilets. Therefore, she advised passengers to opt for closed-toe shoes when using the lavatory to avoid potential contact with unsanitary liquids.
Ms. Fischbach also provided additional advice on what not to wear for the sake of comfort, practicality, and safety during flights.
She recommended that passengers avoid not only sports bras but also leggings when traveling by plane. Tight and constricting clothing was discouraged, as it could lead to discomfort, stomach swelling, or even deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Ms. Fischbach suggested that passengers layer their clothing to ensure a comfortable flight and recommended packing a lightweight jacket or cashmere hoodie.
She also advises packing your own pair of thick socks for extra warmth.
