I don’t like the bulkhead in domestic first class, and especially the bulkhead window, it tends to be pretty claustrophobic and will often prefer the bulkhead in coach, an economy plus style coach aisle, or an emergency exit row.
So I don’t know that I think it’s fair to beat up on the person who gets into the first class cabin last and is stuck in the bulkhead. They don’t get to keep their personal items at their feet for takeoff or landing, either.
And I suppose it’s a small miracle that I should be thankful for that the guy in front of me on Sunday’s transcon was at least wearing shoes when he had his feet up high against the bulkhead. I’ve been sitting up front when people in bare feet are doing that. Heck, I’ve even had the displeasure of watching people clip their toenails in first class. During. Dinner. Service.
Still, it bothers me, and I’m wondering if it’s just a pet peeve of mine and if others consider it reasonable. Plenty of people out there must think there’s nothing wrong with it, given the frequency with which people do it.
Tell me — and thereby validate if I’m normal or a bit meshuga — is it ok for a person sitting in the bulkhead row to stick their feet up high against the bulkhead? Is the bulkhead an appropriate (chest level) foot rest?
“an as for the comments about this stuff being an american thing, believe me, it isn’t. i lived in europe for 27 years and today it is just as bad there as here.”
Although it is seen everywhere, I’ve never been in a country like the US where so many people feel entitled to put their feet everywhere! You can’t go into a café, airport boarding area, or a university classroom without seeing lots of people putting their feet (many time bare feet!) on top of chairs, tables, whatever.
Meshuga?
does it make a difference if they’re sitting in paid F next to your upgraded F?
I would say no, and
@work2fly, aircraft/airlines are not “public transportation”
No, don’t act like one of the Beverly Hillbillies.
Just add this to the list of uncivilized behavior you see on airplanes. When I see someone put their feet on the bulkhead, it tells he/she was raised by wolves and could care less about others who such might find such behavior unacceptable (and from the 50+ comments above I know I’m not alone).
People have no class and don’t care about anyone else but themselves. Very selfish.
Its fine, though bare feet are gross. Its the airline’s fault that you are able to do this, if they had a real first class the bulkhead would be too far away to put your feet on.
It’s not necessarily the last one in the cabin. For awhile, the PoS SHARES would just drop upgrades into the cabin from front to back (sort of like how CO stupidly takes meal orders). If you didn’t move your seat in time, the cabin would be full.
It’s fine. Most of the time I’ve seen people do it up front. My seatmate in F did it shoe-less on LAX-HNL. After finding out that he’s a seasoned traveler, I, a not-so-seasoned flyer, did the same. It certainly helped stretch the legs and was a comfortable sleeping position.
Many are saying that feet should be kept on the floor but as mentioned previously by another poster, my feet do not touch the floor either and they are dangling. They barely touch the bulkhead wall but I point my toes and put them on the bulkhead wall to keep from continually sliding down in the seat and having to pull myself back up. With shoes on, with a newspaper under my shoes so I don’t get the bulkhead wall dirty. I don’t mind if someone else does it either as long as their shoes are on.
Technically, it is not good manners. However, I would not mind if it’s done w/ socks on, and shoes off. Shoes off so there’s no scuffing of the bulkhead; socks on so as not to be as offensive to everyone else.
No and no.
Would you put your bare feet up there if you knew the last person who did it had athletes foot or some toe fungus?
Still only see one comment (mine) as to why manners trumps DVT.
No and No. Feet on the floor.
Perhaps a better question would be whether it is appropriate for a First Class seat to be so uncomfortable that it leads passengers to utilizing the bulkhead wall.
I don’t understand it either, beachfan. It is not particularly mannerly to get a blood clot and die and leave one’s family without support. I elevate my feet, and I suggest anyone who cares about their health do the same. Considering the rate of DVT, I think a lot of people are in denial about their chances. It’s a bit like smoking. The person doesn’t die right away — it’s my understanding that it takes more like 48 hours or so after the flight because the DVT is discovered — so it’s going to take a long time to change laws and attitudes because airlines can deny their contribution to these deaths.
There just needs to be more room, even in first class. Some first class seats are a joke, especially Row 1. They’re a health hazard!
No across the board! Seen this many times in first – with shoes/socks it’s not as bad but with bare feet it is just plain gross!
Yes, I’m sure all people that do it are very worried about DVT.
Wow! What a response…….Anyone with manners will say it is bad form and de-classy to do this……..but I do admit that I have done it for brief periods before while feeling like gutter trash while I was doing it………….Now I will make extra effort NOT to do this again……………But I will wear flip flops from time to time………..
You need to take a trip to Syria
I have more problems with my seatmate taking up the floor space in between the 2 seats, especially when more of it is clearly on my side of the central divide. I like to site with my legs apart!
Feet on bulkhead is a minor issue to me compared to the number of people that take their shoes off during the flight and think their feet don’t stink. YES, WE CAN SMELL THEM! You too, ladies! Totally gross. Stop it!
There should be a FAA regulation against this.
I’m all for it.
I think feet with socks against a wall are fine (chest height or lower). Bare feet- not a chance. Nor with shoes on. Why? Because they can cause scuff marks, scratches, and stains and future passengers don’t need to see that wear and tear.
I have no problem with it so long as at least socks are on
My only issue with this post is that it somehow matters in f. Not acceptable in y either.
None of my friends with small living rooms require me to buckle up, sit for extended periods, or sleep in their chairs overnight, next to other people neither of us chose. The bulkhead divider on a plane is simply not equivalent to furniture in a house – find a stronger analogy.
We can agree it’s not the most appealing sight, but unless and until flight crews start enforcing etiquette (and previous commenters have identified a plethora of violations that should be addressed first), here’s a dose of perspective: you can’t see what passenger 1A is doing from a seat in row 32. Pick your battles 🙂
People who have a problem with this need to get the stick out of their rear-ends. What a bunch of ninnies.
I have never done it domestically and usually if I’m on a long haul international flight I tend to be in the middle seat in an exit row and the wall is too far away to put my feet up. But last month I did SFO-HNL-GUM-ROR and back on United; 20+ hours of travel time each way.
On flights like this DVT and feet swell are a concern for anyone in coach. I was in 1st for SFO-HNL and GUM-ROR (and back) and never considered putting my feet up. But in coach for the long leg; HNL-GUM (and back). This time I had the window seat and yes I did put my feet up for periods of time on the edge of the door. It’s actually not very comfortable but it did reverse the blood flow for a while.
I gave up on compression socks after doing SFO-DXB-MLE and back on Emirates and found my feet swelled up for a couple of days each way despite the socks. And I did get up from time to time to walk a bit. But I guess not enough.
I personally don’t find feet disgusting, nor do I understand why people get so upset about feet on a bulkhead. If you don’t leave scuffs or stains, what is the difference? Unless you plan on licking he bulkhead, why does it matter if there were feet there once?
Also, in the realm of what’s appropriate and what isn’t, my seatmate on the HNL-GUM leg decided to use the extra space on the floor to lie down and do stretching exercises. For an hour at a time. I couldn’t believe he had the gall to do it and that the flight attendants didn’t put him back in his seat after fifteen minutes of this. And he did it three times on the seven hour flight!
I’ve seen dudes in Emirates First Suites put their bare feet up along the side wall, so i guess i can’t complain if folks on some crappy domestic flight do it with their shoes on.
But i hate it anyway, i notice it in the lounges, starbucks, everywhere. People just seem to think they are in their living room and can put their feet on furniture where people sit and eat.
It is discouraging to see the degradation of what was once elegance in flying. It is unfortunate that so many disregard the consideration of others. It is ugly, distasteful and inconsiderate, regardless whether the seats are comfortable or not.
The bulkheads are covered in carpet. They aren’t like walls or furniture in one’s home.
Bare feet–no, of course not.
But stocking feet or shoes have always seemed appropriate to me.
I request bulkhead seats so I can put my feet up and relieve my back pain.
i don’t see why people think feet shouldn’t be supported by chairs and such, but it’s fine to have nasty butts on those same chairs. there is a Barbie movie that my kids watch all the time and there is a line I remember: “offense can never be given, just received”. if you have a problem with it, the issue is you, not them.
IT IS RUDE! But now that being rude is the new “cool” get ready to see more of it. Hollywood has convinced us that we are all better off acting like Adam Sandler, Vince Vaughn, Roseanne Barr, and Conan OBrian… I personally think it is sad that our population has fallen for this and prefer feet on the floor.
What’s wrong with u folks ?
I always put my stinking bare feet up on the wall
and it’s an easy way to trim my toenails at the same time when I need to be productive
Just look the other way lol
Pure clawss
DVT is not a valid excuse, there are plenty of ways to avoid DVT. Get up and take a lap around the cabin and do a stretching exercise. Feet are meant to be on the ground. Unless there is a designated footrest then the bulkhead is not intended for feet and they should not be placed there. Its all the more worse if you have no shoes or socks on (just plain gross) or have shoes on (causing damage to someone else’s property). I still don’t like when people do it even with just socks on. I don’t want to see your feet and I certainly don’t need them even a little closer to my nose.
No and no, particularly without shoes. Even if you think they’re fine, those feet stink, people, and I don’t want to have those stinky feet “out and about,” the better to get a whiff of them. Yuck. Keep them down on the floor out of sight where I might not notice that you’ve taken off your shoes.
Hysterical. A lot of people really get so wound up over this? It’s totally fine. Yes socks or shoes would be preferred.
Covered feet okay, and for some people, putting up one’s feet above their heart is a health issue. Some people have venous insufficiency, which means that sitting in a cramped area for a long period of time cuts off the circulation. Putting one’s feet above the heart helps them to have a safe flight rather than get DVT, or experience heart problems, or just unbearable leg pain. Better to tolerate the feet being up, then having your plane rerouted because of a life threatening emergency.
Tacky and disrespectful. Keep your feet on the floor just like everyone else! NOBODY wants to see your ugly feet!
So interestingly — so far, and if i exclude all of the contest/giveaway threads over the years — this is now one of the 20 most commented posts I’ve had. Heh.
It doesn’t seem like it would be comfortable, but sure, it’s ok. As long as you’re feet aren’t smelly, I considerate your problem to be bothered.
Until you get a reasonably stringent scientific study proving how unhealthy it is to have *feet* touching *walls*, then it’s just your cultural standard of clean being bothered by it.
***DISCLOSURE: I’ve travelled to a couple of 3rd world countries and my view may be biased. However, do consider that literally millions of people literally live in the place that they poop/throw garbage/etc. and survive every day, when considering your justification for finding this unacceptable behavior, and worthy of a post.***
It doesn’t seem like it would be comfortable, but sure, it’s ok. As long as you’re feet aren’t smelly, I *consider it* your problem to be *being* bothered.
Guess I should have proof-read that! Oops!
I’m fine with it. As for the shoes off, in a lot of European countries its actually considered rude to put your feet on something with your shoes still on. This applies mostly to trains and buses, but I would think it would translate to planes too.
Now the cutting of toe nails, that’s another story.
Honestly people?! Who cares? Sit in your chair upside down for all I care. Just make sure I don’t have to touch you, hear you or smell you and everything is fine.
it’s kinda tacky, IMHO, to have ‘feet and/or bottoms of shoes’ raised above an area for food or drink. icky. I don’t think it’s EVER ok to have bare feet out for any reason. you aren’t home. you aren’t in a hotel room. you are sitting with groups of people, captive, who really don’t want to get up close and personal.
Wow–it takes this kind of post to generate this number of comments? 😉
Not unclassy or gross at all if feet are covered. It’s often the only way to get comfortable in those seats.