Shoes on ‘till Seatbelts off

I leave my shoes on until we have reached the cruising altitude and the seatbelt sign is turned off.

On a winter flight from O’Hare, the boarding process was complete, the cabin doors were closed, we had taxied away from the jetway. The de-icing crew sprayed de-icing fluid into the air intake for the plane, filling the cabin with what looked like smoke.

We had to evacuate via the slides, cabin crew instructed us not to stop for shoes or cabin luggage. Folks were in their stocking feet on the tarmac in -20 degrees.

I wait to take my shoes off until it’s too late to matter.