As tempting as it is to wear comfortable flip-flops on a long trip, you shouldn't do it for security reasons. A former flight attendant took to Quora to explain exactly why tourists shouldn't wear flip flops while flying.
Tony Kuna, who used to work as a flight attendant, explained that in the event of an emergency, wearing flip-flops could become a safety issue for the passenger. “During an emergency, all sorts of debris and nasty ground surfaces will block your escape route inside as well as outside the aircraft. If your legs are not properly covered, it will be difficult for you to get to safety,” he explained.
For the same reason, it is not recommended to walk around the cabin of an aircraft barefoot. “Imagine how you hurt your bare feet if you run down an aisle covered in broken glass, fire and metal shards. Something like John McClane in Die Hard, only worse,” Tony said.
This point of view was supported by American Airlines flight attendant Andrea Fischbach, noting that flip flops can tear during evacuation. “I would strongly advise against wearing high heels, flip flops or any kind of flip flops, mainly for safety reasons,” she commented.
CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo's main recommendation when traveling is also to always avoid wearing flip-flops. “Please wear comfortable shoes and leave them on until takeoff. I see people boarding in flip flops and I think if you have to get up and run and you fall or you can't run, you're not only hurting yourself, but dozens of other people on that plane. So take your shoes,” she advised.
For those who care about a healthy lifestyle, we recommend reading: “A nutritionist named 5 foods that help reduce dangerously high blood pressure.”