A Viral TikTok Hack Promises Better Sleep During Flights. Here’s Why You Absolutely Shouldn’t Try It—And What to Do Instead
My partner travels a ton and can sleep pretty much anytime, anywhere. But me? Not so much. Even though I love traveling and take several cross-country and international flights a year, I am terrible at sleeping on planes. On overnight flights to Scotland and Italy, when I really had to sleep, I managed to doze for a grand total of about 30 minutes both times. And I know I’m not alone.
We’d all love to unlock the secret to sleeping soundly on planes—those small seats are a far cry from our comfy beds!—and a recent travel hack that’s gone viral on TikTok promises to do exactly that. There’s just one problem: Experts say it’s not safe (plus, it’s also kind of rude). We spoke to a former flight attendant, a sleep expert and a vascular physician to explain why they don’t think this is a tip you should try.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more travel, cleaning, humor, tech and fun facts all week long.
What’s the viral hack?
@zoreandtomekWrap the seatbelt around your legs ✈️♬ original sound – zoreandtomek
The TikTok hack is fairly simple (for those who can get their legs in this position, of course): Instead of keeping your feet on the floor, you pull your knees up to your chest and rest the bottoms of your feet on the seat. Then, to hold your bent legs in place, you buckle the seat belt (or “feet belt,” as some are calling it) around your ankles instead of across your hips. TikTok creators claim this position is more comfortable and helps them sleep more soundly.
But experts say keeping the legs in this position during a flight is potentially dangerous (among other things), and they discourage travelers from trying it. Let’s get into the reasons why.
Why is this such a bad idea?
Experts cite several reasons why sitting like this is not a good idea. Here’s what you should know about this highly suspect viral hack.
It’s dangerous
“People underestimate how violent unexpected turbulence can be,” says Tyson Sadler, who worked as a flight attendant for Air Canada for 21 years and flew mostly long-haul international flights. “If your legs are strapped up against your chest, you’re not seated in a stable position, and you can get thrown sideways very quickly.”
You’re also making it harder for flight attendants to do their jobs. “In an emergency, flight attendants need passengers upright, properly belted and able to move immediately,” Sadler adds. “Wrapping yourself into the seat belt creates delays and confusion when seconds matter.”
It’s not healthy
Keeping your legs in this position is also not good for circulation and could raise the risk of a dangerous blood clot—especially during long flights when you’re already mostly immobile for hours at a time. “Prolonged air travel already increases the risk of blood clots due to extended sitting, restricted movement, dehydration and cabin-pressure changes,” says Mounir Haurani, MD, chief of the division of vascular surgery at East Carolina University.
Even when we’re seated for the majority of a flight, we still fidget and shift in our seats a little bit, get up to use the restroom and even stretch and reposition our legs. We also move a little while we’re sleeping, Dr. Haurani says. “Following this ‘travel hack’ may make individuals even less likely to move for an extended period of time, potentially further increasing the risk of circulation issues, such as deep vein thrombosis, in which a blood clot forms in the leg,” he explains.
Sitting in a tightly compressed position with the knees at the chest can also strain the joints, muscles and blood vessels, according to Dr. Haurani. “The physiology and physics of how blood gets out of your legs to your heart is complex but relies on pressure changes from breathing, the pumping motion of your leg muscles, your heart pumping and a series of valves,” he says. “Folding your legs and hips at these angles disrupts almost all of these mechanisms.”
It’s just bad manners
Strapping yourself in like this is inconsiderate to other passengers. “Once someone pulls their legs up onto the seat, they usually start spilling into the space beside them,” Sadler says. “On a full flight, that becomes frustrating for everyone around them.”
And really, no one wants to deal with your feet. “Putting shoes on the seat is also something passengers complain about constantly,” Sadler says. “Airplane seats are shared public spaces, and people generally don’t want shoes where they’re sitting or resting their arms.”
What are better ideas for sleeping on a plane?
Fortunately, there are safe, effective ways to sleep on planes that won’t disrupt other passengers, says W. Christopher Winter, MD, a neurologist, sleep specialist and author of two books about sleep. “I travel a ton, and I think having an organized plan is essential,” Dr. Winter says. He carries three essentials to help him sleep on flights: earplugs, an eye mask and a neck pillow. (He likes the NapAnywhere pillow, which folds flat and is super light.)
If he’s not in a seat that reclines, Dr. Winter chooses a window seat. He normally sleeps on his left side, so he tries to pick a seat on the left side of the plane whenever possible so he can mimic his natural sleep position. “A few days before the flight, I look to see if there’s a window seat that has a seat next to it empty,” he says. “Many times, if you do this, you will buy yourself some extra room.”
Sadler echoes Dr. Winter’s ideas. “Passengers who handle long-haul flights best usually keep it simple: neck pillow, eye mask, hydration and comfortable layers,” he says. “Window seats are usually best for sleeping because you’re not being climbed over constantly and can lean against the wall of the aircraft.”
And all of the experts recommend staying adequately hydrated before and during flights—and that doesn’t mean lots of caffeinated drinks or alcohol. “Both will contribute to dehydration and disrupt sleep quality,” Dr. Haurani says. He offers one final tip: Pack light. “Only bring the absolute essentials on board with you,” he says. “The space under your seat is valuable space for letting your calf and thigh muscles flex. On long trips, spending the extra money to check a bag and keep the floor clear could be the difference between blood clots and a safe journey.”
RELATED:
- Always Bring This Item on International Flights—It Can Save You a Surprising Amount of Time!
- Ew! This Part of the Airplane Is Crawling with Germs—And You’re Going to Touch It
- Report: This Is the Safest Place to Travel in the World—And It’s Packed with Loads of Bucket-List Attractions
About the experts
|
Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing, and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Tyson Sadler, former flight attendant for Air Canada; email interview, May 16, 2026
- Mounir Haurani, MD, MPH, chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery at East Carolina University; email interview, May 18, 2026
- W. Christopher Winter, MD, neurologist, sleep specialist and author of The Sleep Solution; email interview, May 18, 2026
- Popular Science: “The Best Way to Sleep on a Plane, According to Science”
- TikTok: “Airplane seat buckle around feet”
The post A Viral TikTok Hack Promises Better Sleep During Flights. Here’s Why You Absolutely Shouldn’t Try It—And What to Do Instead appeared first on Reader's Digest.
from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/QEIjRb8
Comments
Post a Comment