A little self-deprecating humor this morning, courtesy of your author. I showed up to LAX in my slippers…and it was not deliberate. Then I did it again.
Oops: I Forgot To Take My Slippers Off Before Arriving At LAX Airport
I tend to wear loafers when I fly because they are easy to slip on and off in case the TSA has the metal detector turned up and because they are more stylish than gym shoes (then again, I’m the odd millennial who still likes Brooks Brothers) but more comfortable than wingtips or other more formal shoes.
Around the house, though, I wear these lovely Birkenstock-like slippers with cork latex bedding that conforms to my foot…thanks to my German wife for showing me the joy of “house shoes” (slippers are called Hausschuhe in German).
Most days, you can catch me wearing these slippers, even when I take the kids to school, though I don’t wear them out otherwise. I had a morning flight and was up before dawn getting work done, enjoying my coffee, and finishing my packing.
Of course, I was wearing my slippers…
I finished packing, kissed my wife goodbye (the kids were still sleeping), and got in the car. I drove over to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)…about 30 minutes from my house…parked, and walked into the terminal.
Arriving in Terminal 5 (I was flying American Airlines), I stepped on the escalator to head upstairs to the security checkpoint. It was then I looked down and saw this:
The thing is, those beat-up old faux Birkenstocks are pretty trendy considering what people in LA wear these days…I wouldn’t have really minded if I was anywhere else…
But I was flying to Pittsburgh (a far more formal city) on a work trip and that meant I did not have my work shoes!
Thankfully, I had packed some suede shoes in my carry-on bag along with my gym shoes…otherwise I would have been stuck buying a new pair of shoes or trying to wear my gym shoes to work but sorry, I’m too old to pull off the Nike look in nice pants and a collared shirt.
I wasn’t even going to write about it, but then I DID IT AGAIN.
This second time I had to turn around and drive home (thankfully, I had time) and switch shoes.
So the bottom line: look down at your feet before you step out of the house. It took me 20 years to make this mistake and now I’ve made it two trips in a row.
Wow…what a dolt that Live And Let’s Fly guy is.
Slowly embracing your German side, one sock in a Birkenstock at a time.
My thoughts exactly!!
Was in Miami and didn’t realize I was wearing socks in sandals as I was stepping out of my hotel to grab a quick bite. Some German tourists came up to me and asked for directions, and luckily for them, I speak German. Had a bit of conversation and when I told them I was an American but my grandmother was German, they jokingly told me that they could tell because of my footwear.
I wear those same Birkenstock slippers at home for the last 20 years or so (have replaced many of them with same model). They never go out of the house so they are always clean to wear inside my home. Now, I never wear them with socks. According to my wife, that sin would allow her to start discussions about a divorce. LOL! They are by far the most comfortable slippers you can wear and I also have the plastic version for the beach.
Always socks for me. Socks come off in sauna, shower, and bed…that’s it!
At least you were wearing a matched pair. Far greater crimes have been committed.
I wouldn’t be able to recognize you not wearing Artioli CF Nero Moccasins.
In addition to being embarrassing, wearing open toe footwear while flying is highly UNSAFE. There are many reasons to wear closed toe shoes (and long pants and sleeves) whenever flying, be it commercial aviation, general aviation or military aviation (where it’s required).
I stand corrected!
I get the idea… but I’d rather be comfortable for hundreds and hundreds of hours in shorts etc and risk being unsafe in a 1/10000000000 chance of crash. We all make those choices constantly.
I do home slippers too. It’s an Asian thing. My sisters family are always in the crocs summer time with a communal pair for guests. So we now know you live 30 minutes from LAX. With or without traffic ? LOL I just switched from Starbucks to Maxwell House.
Sanity >forgetting >mild cognitive impairment> dementia> nursing home >funeral home.
The former Californian in me means I wear Rainbow flip flops basically everywhere despite being 40. As for “the Nike look,” forget about Nikes and get some stylish Ons. They’re great athletic shoes and believe it or not, they pair nicely with Lululemon or Vuori slacks.
Nice sandals. I tend to stick with Rockport versions of the same, although I do American style without the socks.
I wear the plastic Birkenstocks about 90% of the time sans socks. My friends give me grief but who cares. I’m old too and I live next to the beach 🙂
Inside the house it’s bare feet though.
Sure is hell getting old!
I find it hard to believe any frequent flyer would travel with 3 pairs of shoes. We go to Europe and even on 2 week long trips I only take the pair I am wearing to minimize luggage.
I mean it really depends on what you are planning to do on said trip. If it’s a city vacation, I expect to do a lot of walking during the day so comfort is key, but I might also want to eat at an upscale restaurant at night. Even on a business trip, unless it’s only a day or two, I’ll want to get a workout in which also requires some kind of sneaker. If it’s a vacation where golf might be in the mix you usually have to pack golf shoes, etc.
I guess you don’t run or excercise then. How is your health? I am in Thailand for 7 weeks. I have a dedicated pair of running shoes and two other pair of Nikes for wearing around.
Well, I was just going to say, “I’m LA,” but Mark answered it better.
Matthew it’s time for a quarterly post about travel wear now that you are an influencer. Everyone needs to update their stuff and an exchange of what works ( or not) would provide a good exchange of ideas. Plus provide a shopping guide. Don’t laugh.
“I’m too old to pull off the Nike look in nice pants and a collared shirt”
Absolutely not! You should post your outfits on here.
You pack two pairs of shoes in your carry-on? Wow. Not room for much else.
Just gym shoes on shorter trip, but I do bring a second pair of dress shoes on longer trips.
For me it’s a dress belt, I manage to forget those more often than I’d like. I own 3 or 4 nice but overpriced belts purchased at the stores in SFO’s International Terminal when I didn’t have time to drive home. That and collar stays are my nemeses.
As a FSA for AA, I’ve seen customers fall &/or injure their toes, feet, ankles & legs when they trip on the jetway entering the aircraft. Lawsuit! The metal always wins. Hard, sharp steel is not forgiving. Try not to wear flip flops or sandals. Try not to forget safe shoes.