A viral TikTok trend encouraging holidaymakers to wear their seatbelts around their ankles for added comfort has been met with stern warnings from air travel experts who point out the significant risks.
While airline seats are notoriously cramped and can be particularly uncomfortable during long-haul flights, passengers in search of relief have been influenced by a unique yet questionable method of wearing the seatbelt that’s making waves on social media.
Videos have emerged showing travellers putting their feet up on the seats and fastening the belts around their legs, touting this as a more relaxed position. However, aviation specialists are raising serious concerns over the advice being presented in these clips, urging people to disregard this peculiar trend.
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As reports the Mirror, the team at Netflights have recently compiled a list of inappropriate aeroplane behaviour, weighing in on this questionable seatbelt practice. They said: “With millions of views on TikTok, passengers on long-haul flights might be tempted to try this for ultimate comfort, however, experts strongly advise not to do this.
“It’s extremely dangerous and can cause deep vein thrombosis, which is a blood clot issue associated with flying. It’s a very unsafe position to fly in if turbulence occurs, and flight attendants are likely to ask passengers to fasten their seat belts correctly.”
Long-haul travel has long been acknowledged as a contributing factor towards the formation of blood clots. The NHS warns that “Prolonged periods of immobility can lead to slow blood flow in the veins which increases the risk of developing a blood clot within a deep vein in the body.”
General advice to help reduce the risk of a DVT is to stay mobile as much as possible. When seated, passengers should be able to flex and extend their ankles to encourage blood flow.
TikTok users are split over the travel hack that’s been circulating on social media. User @mimiswardr0be is among several who have posted videos trying out the seatbelt hack, saying, “Thanks to the girl that told me to put the seatbelt around your feet. Forever grateful.”
However, some social media users are raising safety concerns. A former flight attendant known as @moxeytravels shared her thoughts in a video, warning her followers about the dangers of this trend.
She highlighted the unpredictability of turbulence and stated that fastening your seatbelt around your feet “to get through the seatbelt rules” could result in being “very, very hurt”.
In a recent discussion with the Daily Mail, Nicky Kelvin, editor at The Points Guy, also contributed his opinion to the debate. He remarked: “Seatbelts on planes and other modes of transport are installed to be worn correctly and are instrumental in keeping passengers safe in the event of an emergency.”
He added: “With turbulence becoming more frequent on flights, wearing a seatbelt properly – low and tight across your lap – can help with the safety of yourself and those around you.”