I don’t know about you, but one of my favourite things to do when I get on a flight is look at all the movies available that I have yet to see and mentally take note of which ones I’m going to watch and in what order. 

@jdrunsfar The only thing to watch whilst flying @VirginAtlantic 🫡 #flightmap #plane #flight ♬ original sound – strongsack

Movies aren’t the only form of entertainment I like to have on hand, though. There’s no better time to start a book than cruising at 30,000 feet with nothing but uninterrupted hours ahead of you. Being a working parent, there are very few moments – let alone hours – that you get to yourself to be able to catch up on some pop-culture, so you have to make the most of it when you can. And what would a movie and book be without some good snacks? I always have my favourite snack foods packed in my carry-on. If I manage to get some sleep in as well, even better.

But according to the internet, people have different ideas about how to pass the time in the sky. The latest travel trend taking over TikTok and social media is called ‘raw dogging a flight’. So what does ‘raw dogging a flight’ actually mean? People sitting on a flight and doing nothing at all. No eating, no drinking, no sleeping, no watching movies, no listening to music, no reading, no reclining of the chair. Just sitting upright and watching the flight path screen for the entire duration of a long haul flight. 

@oiwudini 🧘🏻‍♂️ #fyp ♬ The Only Thing They Fear Is You – De8ed

Interestingly, those taking part in the trend are claiming it as a mental victory saying that it’s a display of how the ‘power of their minds knows no bounds’ by being able to resist the urge to eat, drink or be entertained on a flight. But it does go against what most aviation and health professionals recommend, which is to stay hydrated when flying and to stretch your body when safe to do so. The Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) recommends drinking a cup of water per hour while on a flight. Stretching is also said to reduce the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis, which is a condition that develops if you sit for a long period of time.

So if the glory is more important to you than your general wellbeing, maybe this trend is for you. But, it’s a resounding ‘absolutely not’ from a serial snacker like myself. 

Related story:  ​​Why you should eat a banana before a long-haul flight