Former British Airways cabin crew member Kris Major, who served for over 17 years, has issued a surprising warning: never wear black socks on a plane. In an interview, he described black socks as a 'nuisance' and a 'risk,' particularly during night flights when cabin lighting is low. Dark socks blend into shadows, making it difficult for crew to spot passengers' feet that may drift into the aisle. This can lead to crew tripping, potentially spilling hot drinks, disturbing sleeping passengers, and causing accidents.
Visibility Over Fashion
Major emphasized that the concern is not about style but safety. 'In a narrow aisle, the crew are moving quickly, sometimes carrying hot drinks, and often working around bags, elbows, and half-asleep travellers. Anything that's hard to see at floor level is an accident waiting to happen,' he said. Passengers wearing black socks also risk having their toes run over by food and drink trolleys.
Compression Socks Gain Popularity
While black socks are discouraged, compression socks are becoming increasingly popular among travelers. In March, a TikTok video of a woman wearing compression socks on a plane garnered 5 million views and 444,000 likes, with another video reaching 4.1 million views and 430,000 likes. This trend reflects growing awareness of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) risk during flights, as noted by the American Society of Haematology. The organization warns that blood clots can form in the legs during air travel due to prolonged immobility in cramped seats. The risk increases with flight duration, especially for flights lasting eight to ten hours or longer.
Understanding Deep Vein Thrombosis
DVT is a blood clot in a vein, typically in the leg, which can be dangerous. Symptoms include throbbing pain in one leg (rarely both), swelling, warm skin, red or darkened skin, and swollen veins that are hard or sore. Risk factors include age 60 or over, smoking, overweight, taking contraceptive pill or HRT, cancer, heart failure, varicose veins, and journeys over three hours. Treatment involves blood thinners for three months or longer, or surgery to remove clots, along with regular walking and leg elevation.
According to the NHS, travel-related DVT was first reported in 1954 in a 54-year-old doctor who developed a clot after a 14-hour flight. The condition was dubbed 'economy class syndrome' due to its link with long-haul air travel in cramped conditions. Studies show that wearing compression socks during flights of four hours or more can significantly reduce DVT risk and leg swelling. These socks stop just below the knee and apply pressure to the ankle to aid blood flow.
