TikTok videos recommending plane passengers put their seatbelts around their ankles have become a trend, with some garnering hundreds of thousands of views and likes.
But one flight attendant said this advice is ‘the last thing [cabin crew] want to see go viral’ – as it’s a ‘dangerous’ tip.
TikTokers who have touted the supposed joys of fastening the seatbelt to the bottom of one’s legs during flights include 26-year-old New York City-based influencer Lauren Wolfe.
The content creator posted a clip in which she has her feet up on the seat and the seatbelt around her ankles that carried the caption – ‘to the girl who said to put your seatbelt on your ankles instead of your waist to be comfier… I owe you my life’.
It amassed over 193,000 views and attracted comments such as ‘OMG so excited to try this’ and ‘this looks so cozy’.
Lauren Wolfe posted a TikTok in which she has her feet up on the seat and the seatbelt around her ankles that carried the caption – ‘to the girl who said to put your seatbelt on your ankles instead of your waist to be comfier… I owe you my life’. Lauren’s post amassed over 193,000 views and attracted comments such as ‘OMG so excited to try this’ and ‘this looks so cozy’
Another TikToker, who posts using the handle ‘helens_princessdiaries’, published a similar clip, titled ‘best flight hack ever’. This received 1,650 likes.
TikToker ‘mychellelynda’ followed suit, with her ankle-seatbelt video amassing 401,000 likes.
But Jay Robert, a flight attendant who runs the popular Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew Lounge network, told MailOnline Travel: ‘The thing about seatbelts is they actually play a very important role in air travel safety, for example, keeping your head from hitting the ceiling.
‘In theory, it might seem like a harmless travel tip, but from the perspective of safety professionals who have seen the injuries that result from a plane hitting unexpected clear air turbulence, [wearing seatbelts around ankles] is dangerous and could cause you to suffer serious head, neck, and spine damage.
‘This dangerous advice is the last thing we want to go viral. I think most cabin crew, myself included, if we saw you sleeping soundly like this and the seatbelt sign was on, we would wake you up and tell you to wear the seatbelt properly.
‘Turbulence isn’t a joke and can come without notice and can come super hard.’
Travel expert Lucia Polla (above), said: ‘I can’t stress enough how dangerous this practice [ankle seatbelts] is’
Nicky Kelvin, Editor at The Points Guy, agreed.
He told MailOnline: ‘Seatbelts on airplanes and other modes of transport are installed to be worn correctly and are instrumental in keeping passengers safe in the event of an emergency.
‘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.’
Lucia Polla, a travel expert specialising in Southern Spain, added her thoughts, revealing that a locked seatbelt saved her from injury during an episode of turbulence over the Pacific.
She said: ‘Take it from someone who’s logged countless miles in the skies – I can’t stress enough how dangerous this practice [‘ankle seatbelts’] is. On a flight over the Pacific, we hit an unexpected thunderstorm, and we dropped thousands of feet in seconds. Only my locked seatbelt kept me from slamming into the cabin ceiling. I can’t imagine what would have happened if I’d only had the belt around my weak ankles. I understand the desire for a more relaxed flying experience, but your comfort should never come at the expense of your safety.’
Michael Donovan, the co-founder of StayNewEngland.com and the holder of a degree in biology, added: ‘The sky is no place for risky behavior, especially when it comes to something as critical as buckling your seatbelt properly.
‘I can’t stress enough how this new TikTok trend of fastening seatbelts around ankles rather than waists is not just a harmless prank – it’s a potential safety hazard.
‘I’m not here to be the fun police. But think twice before jumping on this trend. Focus your energy on enjoying your flight safely with some quality in-flight entertainment or by getting to know your seatmate. If you really need to stretch your legs, get up and walk the aisle when the seatbelt sign is off. Keep the TikTok antics on the ground and enjoy your flight the right way.’
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