Rawdogging a flight? But, what’s that?

A long flight journey for us would mean, carrying a book for some, stock up on entertainment by downloading movies, web series, and music playlists or for many travellers, it would be just fly through the movie menu – but would you “rawdog” your in-flight entertainment?

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Sounds absurd and weird? “Rawdogging”, is the TikTok’s latest travel trend, which requires plane passengers to sit silently and screen-free on long-haul stints in the sky. It means no music, no phone, no screen, no books or magazines, no food, no water, and no sleep.

So basically, rawdogging a flight is a self-imposed challenge where you endure the entire journey without any form of entertainment or distraction. People are ditching the usual flight rituals of reading a book, plugging in music, binge-watching shows, or picking up that in-flight magazine to do nothing and just be with their thoughts and musings. This trend, quite popular in the West and on TikTok, is called rawdogging a flight.

Now, from the flight parlance, let’s talk what rawdogging means in the sexual context

Rawdogging is an infamous slang term for having unprotected sex, in air travel, the meaning alters to boarding a plane without any of the usual preparations or comforts that most travellers consider essential.

Rawdogging a flight and flying without any distractions might seem impossible, especially in times when we are almost constantly stimulated, all thanks to our phones. However, TikTokers, primarily men, are taking up the challenge and posting about their experiences of rawdogging long flights—7 hours, 8 hours, and even 11 hours.

It even means refusing complimentary food and beverages, and ignoring in-flight entertainment options, unless you are in a low-cost carrier that operates long-haul flights. Practising the trend could be easier where they don't provide free but otherwise it’s hard to resist.
Anyway. While many deem this trend meditative, for others it is just a challenge. Mental health experts, however, call rawdogging long flights a dangerous trend, especially for those with anxiety issues.

So what are the probable pros and cons

Experts feel, rawdogging a flight and just sitting with your thoughts for a prolonged time can lead to repetitive thinking, especially if you haven't developed any coping mechanisms to help you manage the continuous, vicious cycle of thoughts. This can be dangerous and triggering, leading to anxiety and panic attacks.
Experts also believe that a complete absence of external stimuli might intensify feelings of claustrophobia and restlessness, resulting in both physical and psychological distress.

Here are some more cons:

Another problematic aspect of this trend is abstinence from drinking water. While many people deliberately avoid eating on flights due to gastric issues, drinking water is essential. The cabin air is very dry and can be dehydrating. Similarly, not taking a loo break for the sake of rawdogging a long-haul flight is worrisome.

How about a limited approach to this trend?

There are only a few avenues when one can be with oneself, and one of them is on the flight (if there is no in-flight Wi-fi). There are no calls to attend or emails to respond to. Using it as an opportunity to introspect and reflect on your thoughts is a great idea, but doing it as a challenge on a long flight could possibly wreak havoc on your mental health.

A more balanced approach, alternating between moments of quiet and engaging in gentle, mindful activities, is what mental health experts suggest.

You can catch the entire explanation here: