Shoes That Definitely Shouldn't Be Part Of Airport Outfits

Ah, travel! We never really realized how much our souls crave the experience of jet-setting until COVID-19 lockdowns, well, locked us in. The old adage is true: "We travel not to escape life but for life not to escape us." For those who love hopping on a plane for their next adventure, the airport can be an exhilarating place. While some like to dress to the nines for their getaways, others like to be as comfy as it gets, not really caring about accidentally committing a fashion faux pas. 

No matter which one of the two groups you belong to, there is no ultimate right or wrong. While there are things you should avoid wearing on a plane, there are also certain airport outfits that will never go out of style — but no rule (other than any set by the TSA!) is set in stone. However, whether you like to travel en vogue or you prefer to be dressed a bit more casually, there are certain shoes, like high heels and gladiator sandals, that should definitely not be a part of your airport outfit.

If stilettos are on your go-to list, American Airlines flight attendant Andrea Fischbach says you should reconsider. "High heels ... make it difficult to quickly evacuate the aircraft, and heels can possibly cause further damage to emergency exits or hurt others if they go flying off," she told Who What Wear. In the case of an evacuation, you'll have to remove your pointy shoes as they could poke holes in the emergency slide. "Plus, they aren't very practical running gate to gate," Fischbach adds — and we find it hard to imagine that those pumps would be comfy on long-haul flights.

"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," flight attendant Andrea Fischback tells Who What Wear. Plus, if you are required to take them off while passing security control you will have to walk barefoot on the floor, which thousands of other people have walked on before, and (eek!) think of all those germs that will transfer to your feet. You could, of course, wear socks with your slides, but isn't that a huge faux pas and fashion mistake to avoid at all costs when flying?

Move over stilettos — wedges are walking into the spotlight. If you're thinking of ditching your stilettos in lieu of your wedges, then good for you! But not so good for your traveling plans, sadly. Since you are not likely to wear socks with your wedges (why would you?) then the same principle applies as with slides: You'll be barefoot on germs when taking them off for your security check, not to mention evacuating the aircraft could become difficult.

Flying causes swelling. More specifically, pressure in the veins forces fluid to transfer from one's blood to nearby tissue, which absorbs it for the duration of the flight. Gladiator sandals, which restrict parts of your feet and legs, can be very uncomfortable for this reason and leave your toes exposed, which can lead to painful accidents! As flight attendant Amy Caris told Reader's Digest, "I've broken my own rule and worn sandals before. As I was standing in the aisle waiting to get to my seat, the person in front of me backed up onto my foot and bent my nail back."

If you are traveling during the winter, then keeping your feet warm is at the top of your priorities list. However, there are certain winter shoes that should definitely be avoided at all costs — particularly boots with metal buckles and accessories. Metal accessories will set the alarm off while passing through security if you are traveling abroad (in some airports outside the U.S., you are not required to remove your shoes). But even when traveling in the U.S., removing boots with buckles can be time-consuming and stall the line of passengers in a hurry to board behind you.