THE internet is a baffling place sometimes – one weird idea can capture the imagination of loads of people and before you know it, everyone’s copying each other.
One place where strange internet ideas are frequently passed on is in the plane cabin, with passengers swearing by new ways to get comfortable or maximise the small space they have access to.
This week I talk about why you shouldn’t always follow Tiktok fads
TikTok / @alexisburnaby1711Passengers are choosing to sit with their feet up and strapped in after seeing it online[/caption]
I understand it as well because those economy seats can be cramped, especially during long haul flights, so people are going to want to try everything they can to make it more bearable.
But following everything you see on Tiktok is not a great idea because some of the the “advice” that I see on there is just confusing, unhelpful and at times dangerous.
Included in that is something that I came across on a recent flight I was working on, which I will talk about in this week’s blog for Sun Online Travel.
I saw a row of three passengers, all sat with their feet on the chairs, with their seatbelt wrapped around their ankles.
They looked like little owls, all perched on their seats, it was really strange.
The seatbelt sign was on at the time, so I asked them to put their feet down and strap in properly before my curiosity got the better of me.
I asked what they were doing and why. They said they’d seen it on Tiktok as a method to sit more comfortably on long haul flights.
None of them looked particularly comfortable, nor did I see any real benefit in what they were doing.
In fact, other than them looking hilarious, all I could think about were the obvious potential problems that could arise from sitting like that during a flight.
The main issue was that, if there was any turbulence, they were in prime position the plant their faces straight into the back of the seat in front of them.
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Anything more severe could also see them launched up into the air because there’s no way they were securely fastened in with the belt around their ankles like that.
What’s more, having your feet in that position is a sure-fire way to increase your chances of deep-vein thrombosis and blood clots, which is far from comfortable.
Aside from creating your own problems, it could also hamper you if we have any emergencies on board.
If you need to evacuate quickly, you need to be able to stand up and get off the plane as soon as possible.
Sitting like that will only slow you down or trip you up.
There’s also no real benefit to it, as far as I can tell.
You’re already cramped enough in your seat and that’s just going to make everything much worse.
Your legs should be outstretched, with regular movement in your ankles to maintain blood flow and prevent DVT.
My main takeaway from all of this is that not everything you see on Tiktok is a good idea, so instead of just blindly trying what other people insist is clever, think about why it might not be first.
That said, there are some good ideas on the internet that will help you get some much-needed extra comfort on board planes.
Armrest button
Plenty of people have pointed out the little-known armrest button that is very useful for aisle seat passengers.
A small button can be found on the hinge of the armrests, that will lift it up and allow you to stretch into the aisle unimpeded.
Just make sure you’re not doing it during meal or drinks services, or we will smash you with our trolleys.
Meal stickers
Some airlines offer stickers to passengers, however others like to bring their own.
They let the cabin crew know whether or not they’d like to be woken up for meal service, or not disturbed if they’re sleeping.
These are great for us because we don’t always know if you want to eat or snooze.
Instant noodles
These are a godsend for people who want to bring their own food on board the plane.
We’re more than happy to just fill them up with hot water for you and let you have a tasty treat during the flight.
Plenty of people on social media have shown this and it’s great – I’m all for it.
Meanwhile, this is one of the main reasons why plane seats seem to be so uncomfortable.
And there are built-in ways to improve your in-flight comfort on board a plane.
AlamyI’ve seen people trying the new fad on my flights and I don’t understand the benefits[/caption]