New raw-dogging flight trend is bad for your health, according to experts – here are the risks
EXPERTS have warned passengers that participating in the new “raw-dogging” trend on flights poses health risks.
Despite the eyebrow-raising name, those who “raw dog” their flights are simply passengers who simply choose to endure their trip without any entertainment.
Social media users have been sharing their “personal bests” in distraction-free flights with the trend soon sweeping the internet in viral fashion.
Whether it’s watching films on the plane’s seatback system, listening to music on personal headphones, or even reading a book, passengers are giving it all up for the new trend.
Some even go completely without food or water in a bid to sit still for hours.
Why they’re doing this remains to be properly explained, but it seems to be something of an endurance test to see who can go the longest without wishing to reduce the boredom of being on a plane for a long haul journey.
However, experts have now urged those carrying out the behaviour on flights to consider the health risks involved.
Nutritionist Toby King told travel site Inspire Ambitions: “The trend requires you to sit still for hours at a time and not take in any food or liquids.
“This is a recipe for disaster that could have terrifying consequences.”
He explained that plane cabins have low humidity levels and can cause you to become dehydrated throughout your journey.
“If you aren’t drinking any water when flying you are adding fuel to the fire.”
King advised: “Keeping hydrated can help your skin and mucous membrane cells to keep bacteria from entering your body, and makes you more susceptible to infection, especially when you are surrounded by hundreds of others in a confined area.
“Getting sick at the beginning of your holiday isn’t a great way to start it.”
However, he warned, this isn’t actually the worst of it.
King warned: “Immobility and dehydration can increase the risk of a blood clot when travelling, two factors that this trend is promoting.
“If you do get a clot when travelling it can break off and cause a blockage of the arteries in the lung which is very serious and can cause death.”
He added: “This is one of the most dangerous trends I have seen on social media in a while, and while it looks innocent and a bit of fun on the surface, this could have deadly consequences and I would urge people to use sense when travelling.”
He advised that to avoid getting clots when flying, you should move around ideally every hour or at least for 5 minutes every two hours and drink a glass of water for each hour that you are in the air.
But if that wasn’t enough to usher potential “raw-doggers” away from the trend, experts also added how it poses the risk of increasing your stress levels.
It may also contribute to jet lag which can cause you to feel exhausted on landing at your destination, say experts at Netflights.
The phrase seems to have first been used on X, formerly Twitter, back in 2022, when user @blackprints wrote: “The dude next to me on the plane just absolutely raw dogged this entire flight.
“He got on a TEN HOUR FLIGHT to Europe in jeans, no headphones, no book, no neck pillow, literally just a paper cup of coffee without a lid, like sir are you okay?”
People responded saying the man was a “psychopath” and suggesting he had “insane energy”.
Another claimed they had to prepare for a flight “like I’m getting kicked out of my house” by bringing all their belongings with them.
It was also used recently in relation to an entertainment-free flight by Instagram user Damion Bailey, who shared a video of himself simply watching the map on his personal TV, with the caption: “Any one else raw dogging these flights?”
Regardless of what it’s called, it seems there are people out there who need nothing more than their own thoughts to keep them occupied for hours at a time.
The Sun Travel team's holiday essentials
WITH decades of experience and hundreds of countries under their belt, the Sun Travel team have shared some of the essential items they always pack on a trip.
Here are some of the game-changing items we always pack – and some will barely cost you a thing.
- Lisa Minot, Head of Travel – Global travel plug with USB (£64)
- Caroline McGuire, Travel Editor – Hotel Slippers
- Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor – Pack of 40 earplugs (£40)
- Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor – 1 litre water bottle (£8.99)
- Ryan Gray, Travel Reporter – Bluetooth eye mask (£16.50)
- Giuli Graziano, Travel Writer – AirTag luggage location tracker (£29.99).