The dangerous reason you should never wear leggings or jeans on a flight

The Irish Sun

9 hours ago

Read on to find out what you should wear on a flight instead
TAKE OFF The dangerous reason you should never wear leggings or jeans on a flight
EXPERTS have warned of the two items you should never wear on a flight - even if it means sacrificing comfort.
Despite being a popular item of clothing, leggings are said to be one of the most dangerous items you could be wearing during an emergency onboard your flight.
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Brits shouldn't wear certain clothes when flying, including leggings
Credit: Getty
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Author Christine Negroni, whose book delves into the most mysterious air disasters, shared with Sun Travel that when it comes to fires onboard a flight, leggings could leave you with terrible scars.
She said: "Everyone is wearing yoga pants on planes now, but I avoid all artificial fibres because they are more likely to burn and stick to you if there is a fire.
"I'd advise wearing cotton clothes or anything made of natural fibres."
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While the staple wardrobe item might be the most comfortable choice, leggings are tight-fitting, which can restrict blood flow as well.
For the same reason, this rules out jeans, says Dr. Hugh Pabarue.
The vein specialist at Metro Vein Centers told the Huffington Post: "Wearing leggings and other restrictive garments such as skinny jeans that are too tight reduces blood's ability to flow into and out of the legs."
And when this is combined with sitting for long periods of time, blood can pool in the legs, increasing the chances of thrombosis - a serious condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein of the leg.
Fashion items to avoid don't just stop at leggings and jeans – flipflops are also a no no.
Former cabin crew member Tony Kuna commented on Quora: "During an emergency, all sorts of debris and unpleasant ground surfaces will block your way towards the exit, as well as outside the aircraft."
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"If your feet [aren't] properly covered, you'll have a hard time making your way to safety."
And this is why Christine also says passengers shouldn't take off their shoes when flying - no matter how tempting.
She said: "The riskiest time on a flight is during landing and I think it should be a rule to have shoes on during this time.
"If you escape an aircraft, the floor could be very hot or cold, it might be covered in oil or on fire, or in a cornfield – you won't want to be barefoot."
Whilst not a clothing item per say, travellers should make sure to not wear headphones during take-off and landing either as you need to know if the flight attendants are saying something important.
It also isn't great news for contact lens users, as according to London Vision Clinic, plane cabins are an "inhospitable environment" for lenses.
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Leggings have synthetic fibres that can stick to your skin in a fire
Credit: Getty
London Vision Clinic states on its website: "With the average humidity on planes coming in as low as 20 per cent, our skin and eyes can dry out pretty quickly.
"Combine this with the moisture-sapping effects of contact lenses, and you can have a real recipe for disaster on your hands.
"You can expect to experience itchy, irritated eyes and even distorted vision as your peepers dry out!"
So perhaps, just opt for your glasses instead.
So, what is the ultimate outfit to wear on a flight?
Rather than wearing leggings or jeans, passengers should opt for drawstring trousers, according to Conde Nast Traveller.
Loose trousers prevent a waistband cutting into you and causing blood flow issues.
And following Christine's advice, make sure to opt for a pair with natural fibres to help prevent serious burns if there is a fire.
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Jeans are also not a great choice for a flight, as they are tight fitting
Credit: Getty
Dr. Peter J. Pappas, a vascular surgeon with the Center for Vein Restoration, also told the Sun.com that passengers should opt for medical-grade compression stockings, which can help with preventing swelling and pain in calf muscles.
Regarding footwear, Christine advises to opt for trainers over high heels as well.
For kids, make sure they have layers as it can often get cold in the cabin, says blog Travelled So Far.
Comfortable trousers are also key for little ones - especially if you want them to sleep on the flight.
Just make sure to steer clear of synthetic fibres and leggings for their outfit choices as well.
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Plus, there is an 'emergency pants' rule that flight attendants always follow on holiday.