A flight attendant has urged plane passengers to stop making a “disgusting” mistake in toilets. Gemma Sophie shared what everyone should know before travelling
Katie-Ann Gupwell Content Editor
11:33, 13 May 2026Updated 13:02, 13 May 2026
The flight attendant urged people to avoid the mistake (stock image)(Image: Mindaugas Dulinskas via Getty Images)
We don’t always appreciate just how much knowledge flight attendants possess when it comes to air travel, as they regularly dish out useful advice on the best ways to fly and the most suitable outfits to wear on planes. However, one flight attendant has recently shone a light on a particularly unpleasant subject — plane toilets and what goes on inside them.
Gemma Sophie recently shared a travel tip in a TikTok video, revealing that certain things genuinely horrify her about air travel. If you consider yourself a particularly hygiene-conscious person, you might want to pay close attention when going on holiday, as it could change your approach to flying for good.
This isn’t the first occasion a flight attendant has dispensed useful travel advice either. Previously, another cabin crew member admitted there’s a specific reason they greet passengers upon boarding, and it has nothing to do with being courteous.
Filmed while wearing uniform, she outlined her “five top icks” as a flight attendant, with one of them centring on the aircraft toilets. Among her most shocking on-the-job experiences were passengers being sick in the sink, nappies being changed in the cabin and emergency calls being triggered by mistake.
She also highlighted something else she finds utterly revolting. She wrote: “People using plane lavatories with no shoes on.”
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The clip has since racked up thousands of views and sparked plenty of debate online. One viewer said: “Stop talking about my nightmares.”
Another added: “No shoes in the toilets actually kills me. The floor is ALWAYS wet.”
Many confessed the shoe revelation “hits them hard”, admitting they’re shocked people actually do it. In the comments section, Gemma also pointed out it’s something that occurs “way too often”.
What you need to know
While numerous passengers may do it for comfort reasons, you should never enter an aircraft toilet without footwear. Flight attendants and health professionals strongly advise against it because the liquid on the floor is frequently bodily fluids (such as urine, vomit or blood) rather than simply water.
This presents considerable hygiene and infection hazards. The lavatory floor is regarded as extremely unhygienic, harbouring bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Not to mention, the “mysterious liquid” on the floor is seldom just water. There are additional factors to consider as well.
For instance, should an emergency evacuation ever be required, you need shoes to safely navigate through debris. This is yet another reason why it’s always best to keep them on.
If you genuinely want to remove your shoes for added comfort, you could always bring slippers or disposable shoe covers for travel. You can use them to move around the cabin and visit the bathroom.
It’s something that’s certainly worth bearing in mind. After all, nobody wants their feet to be covered in germs.