A new travel phenomenon has swept TikTok in the form of ‘rawdogging,’ which means consuming no form of entertainment during a flight – except for the basic maps or data shown on the seatback screen.
Taking it to greater extremes, some will also claim to forgo food and drink for the duration of the journey.
Many videos show travelers with blank expressions as they stare into space, while overlaid captions brag about them completing the challenge.
However, a team of travel experts from the site Netflights have now warned that the practice can have many negative impacts.
Take a flight down to see some of the reasons why you shouldn’t try ‘rawdogging’ on your next short- or long-haul flight.
Worse jetlag on vacation
A new travel phenomenon has swept TikTok in the form of ‘rawdogging,’ which means consuming no form of entertainment during a flight (stock i
‘Rawdogging’ on a long-haul flight may be great for building your mental strength, however, the experts say that relaxation and sleep help curb jetlag.
Therefore, passengers ‘may feel worse’ after disembarking the flight if they have been sat for hours forcing themselves to stay awake.
They add: ‘Relaxing and sleeping on a flight can allow your body to rest and recover, minimizing the potential effects of jetlag.’
Increased fatigue
Passengers who are ‘rawdogging purests’ during their flight will have to say no to the snacks and meals.
In long-haul flights, meals are included as part of the fare and one of the perks.
Along with not getting your money’s worth, the experts say not eating can cause ‘fatigue and extreme tiredness.’
They recommend eating the meals or at least snacking on long-haul flights so ‘passengers feel energized when arriving at their destination.’
Danger of dehydration
Passengers who decide to ‘rawdog’ on their flights tend to avoid drinking completely.
However, the travel pros warn that ‘flying can be dehydrating, which can result in headaches, dizziness and fatigue.’
Continuing on the topic, they say: ‘With low oxygen pressure on flights and a change in humidity levels, an increased amount of water evaporates from our skin and lungs when flying, so it becomes increasingly important to stay hydrated and consume liquids when flying.’
Drinking alcohol on flights also contributes to symptoms of dehydration, so experts advise opting for soft drinks over alcoholic beverages when flying.
Increased stress
‘Rawdogging’ on a long-haul flight may be great for building your mental strength, however, the experts say that relaxation and sleep help curb jetlag (stock image)
Some rawdoggers have said that doing nothing during their flight has benefitted them due to the ‘dopamine detox.’
However, the experts warn that it ‘actually has the opposite effect and poses the risk of increasing stress instead.’
Explaining why doing nothing could raise stress levels, they say: ‘Passengers who decide to stare into space on a long-haul flight may experience increased stress because with nothing to do, they could start overthinking and this could spiral out of control.’
Less enjoyable flight experience
If you’re headed on vacation why not relax instead of subjecting yourself to such a grueling practice?
The experts say that the onboard entertainment is there to be enjoyed and it’s a great way of getting you into ‘vacation mode.’
They note: ‘For most passengers who are off on their holidays, enjoying the flight is the beginning of the holiday, so it’s the perfect time to relax and enjoy the journey.
‘We advise enjoying the flight and for ultimate happiness, explore the in-flight entertainment or take activities so you can switch off and take a well-deserved rest!’
