When you’re getting dressed to go on holiday, you probably don’t think much about the colour of your socks.
But it could be helpful if you did, one cabin crew member has revealed.
In a surprising take, former British Airways flight attendant Kris Major, has said it can be a pain for airline crew if passengers are wearing black socks.
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The reason is fairly simply. It means they can’t see your feet, especially if you’ve removed your shoes for a slumber and the cabin lights are off.
In fact, Kris branded black socks a “nuisance” and a “risk”.
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“On a night flight, cabin lighting is low, and dark socks blend into the shadows,” he told the Metro UK.
“The trouble starts when passengers stretch out and let their feet drift into the aisle. In those conditions, crew may not spot your feet until the last second.”
That could mean crew – or indeed other passengers – can trip over your feet.
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It could be a rude awakening if you’ve drifted off only to be hit by the drinks trolley.
“It’s not about fashion. It’s about visibility,” he added. “Anything that’s hard to see at floor level is an accident waiting to happen.”
It’s not just your socks you need to be aware of when dressing for a plane trip either.
Flight attendants will actually take note of the shoes you’re wearing when you board as well.
In a real emergency, heels and thongs can slow evacuations. So discreetly, as you board the plane, the crew often clock who’s best equipped to move quickly.
Senior Travel Expert Jessie Chambers from Global Work & Travelthey will quietly prioritise who to assist based on footwear alone.
If you’re wearing sneakers, they might mentally flag you as a great person to turn to in the slim chance there’s a need to evacuate.
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Talking of socks, if you’re heading to Japan, this pair has become an unlikely souvenir.
Supermarket FamilyMart is popular for a surprising non-food item: a humble pair of tube socks.
Called “line socks” because of the stripe design, they cost 390 yen (about $3.60).
According to culture magazine Monocle, the white unisex tube socks sold 1.4 million pairs in their first year on the market.
Another thing flight attendants wish passengers would do before take off is also all about being prepared.
“Not knowing the airline rules and requirements, lack of preparation going into a flight and not being mindful and respectful of others,” Raena, who works for Jetstar says.
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