Article: The Difference a Foot Net Makes on a Long-Haul Flight

[bPeteb]

Assuming you're going QF here, I think QF fly the A330-200s to India (from memory) and they don't have the nets

Yep. We're in an exit row for the overnight coming back so nothing lost

 

[elanshin]

I use the netting when theres a spare seat next to me in the 2-4-2 a330s config. Using a pillow against the immovable armrest against the window for cushioning, ive managed some sort so semi angled sleeping position using the foot net.

In a single seat Y, I don't find it too useful at 6'0

 

[Chief Wiggum]

"What did you learn at school today, little Timmy..."

"Mum.. I learnt that FOOT NETS exist and they are good"

 

[StevoQFtraveller]

I'm tall and not a great fan of the foot net. But in Y my main issue is my head falling all over the place when trying to sleep. Do those neck pillows work?

 

[significance]

I don’t understand how these can work in Y. There’s already not enough legroom, your legs are already splayed in the memeworthy “manspreading” pose … given that a net must be above the floor level it has to mean your feet are moved even closer to you when using it, reducing the available room?

Or are these just short-people items?

As a short person, yes, nets or foot rests can make a huge difference to comfort on long-haul flights. I've recently learned to wear extra-chunky shoes on long flights (Hoka Bondis) and that provides just enough extra length to make me comfortable without a net. Before my chunky shoes revelation, though, I could only sit in one fixed position to keep my feet supported by the floor -- staying in one position without the small adjustment of moving your feet a bit a bit on the ground results in a stiff, sore back by the end of a long flight.

 

[johnmpenney]

Unfortunately not all airlines allow those But the next best thing is a full-sized rolla-board. Pop that on its side and you have a leg rest flush with the seat pan.

I do wonder why in PEY - for those airlines that have them - they don’t allow the foot and calf rest to go horizontal. It would make it much more comfortable!

Yes the angled leg rest does nothing for me, I want to get my feet up. That is much more important to me than the recline of the seat back!

 

[gecko24]

Whereas I'm 5'2" in the old scale and dislike nets (though better than nothing) and prefer the calf rests in PE in AirNZ, Singapore, JAL.

 

[Forg]

I'm tall and not a great fan of the foot net. But in Y my main issue is my head falling all over the place when trying to sleep. Do those neck pillows work?

If we’re talking Headless Horseman stuff and your body is always fumbling around for your head after it’s fallen off and is rolling down the aisle then no … but if you’re getting a “crick neck” due to weird neck angles then yeah it very much might help, my wife finds them helpful for that reason. Her head’s not as far up the backrest as yours, but I still think you’d get some support.

 

[downgraded]

I agree. The foot nets in Y that QF have make a huge difference to comfort when trying to sleep. I suspect a lot of pax don't even know that they exist!

Agree on both counts. They make a huge difference and you don't see many use them!

Post automatically merged: Jul 17, 2025

after like 5 hours in the air

What is "like 5 hours"? Is it different to "5 hours"?

 

[Forg]

What is "like 5 hours"? Is it different to "5 hours"?

It’s a thumbs-up for 5 hours, and can be quite tiring.

 

[Rob E]

Good to see someone finally calling this out, I used to fly SYD to LHR a couple of times a year and by the end would only fly QF if I was flying Y purely because of the nets and the fact that I was able to get some (all be it minimal) sleep with the footnet whereas I would get zero when I flew EK, QR, SQ or EY.

Also worth noting I'm 6ft, I found that the nets didn't really impact the amount of legroom as they stretch most of the way to the floor, they just kept my legs stable and not sliding around.

 

[Laptop Jockey]

They're probably great if you're looking at being a stunt double for Tom Cruise or an oompa-loompa, but my toes often hit the heels of the seat in front if crammed into a regular Y seat, especially on QF 737s with their inhumane 29" seat pitch now. (That's when I can work the angle so my knees aren't digging into the seatback with great force - I'm not exactly Andre The Giant either, but I do have longer legs)

 

[clifford]

Cubes will work - but as mentioned above they are banned on many airlines.

Well, I've used the cubes on several airlines and never had a problem (if at the bulkhead).

Perhaps you could let us know which airlines ban it.

 

[KiwiFlyer79]

I find it funny how there used to be footrests on planes years ago which were clearly removed by airlines over the past 30 years as part of their reduction of everything from seat size to space between rows in an incentive to make us want to buy a higher class of seat and maximise revenue. Now we’re grateful for something that used to be standard. Cunning move.

 

[StayGoldPonyboy]

PE bulkhead seat reclining on Emirates had me feeling like I was slipping down (when fully reclining with the calf rest). Putting a spare pillow under my knees helped (I often do this in Y seats anyway just for a bit of a change in pressure areas) this might be good for longer legged folk.

I will try the sideways cabin bag trick at the bulkhead next time.

I think the non-bulkhead PE seats on Emirates have a fold down footrest as well as a calf rest?? I may have imagined this. I prefer a fold down footrest to a footnet.

 

[aspro2]

I recently tried a homemade solution for foot positioning: I took a foam roller (fitness thingy) and cut a 20cm slice. This is useful for two scenarios: (1) foot elevation, and (2) thigh/calf realignment. Both of those options help to alleviate back pain in Y/PE for me, and allow for positioning variety. So that the thing doesn't go on safari, I cut grooves on the outer edges for a strap, so I sit on the strap and the foam-roller-slice stays mostly in my space around my feet.

 

[serfty]

Like most aircraft seat footrests, to comfortably use the nets it seems one needs to be between 150cm and 170cm. I'm 183cm so find them generally uncomfortable.