Why high heels could put you at risk during air travel

A recent revelation has drawn attention to a lesser-known air travel safety concern: the potential dangers of wearing high heels on a flight. While most passengers focus on comfort and style while dressing for air travel, flight safety experts warn that certain footwear choices—especially high heels—could compromise emergency procedures.

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Flight attendant and YouTuber Barbara Bacilieri, known online as Barbie Bac, highlighted this issue in a recent interview with lifestyle website report whatsthejam.com. She emphasized that while high heels may be fashionable, they pose a real risk during emergency evacuations. The primary concern stems from the possibility that sharp heels could puncture the inflatable evacuation slide, a critical safety feature used to exit an aircraft quickly during emergencies.

If damaged, the slide could malfunction or become completely unusable, drastically slowing down evacuation and potentially endangering lives. In such cases, flight attendants are trained to instruct passengers to remove hazardous footwear, including high heels and heavy boots, before using the slides.

Beyond evacuation issues, some footwear can also trigger delays at security checks or even result in passengers being asked to change before boarding. While there is no formal dress code, airlines can intervene when safety is at stake.

The advisory serves as a reminder that safety should come before style when flying.