Qantas passenger shares shocking image on board Sydney to Brisbane flight
An Australian domestic flight has drawn attention after a passenger’s ‘uncouth behaviour’ was shared online.
When flying, whether domestically or internationally, most passengers agree that scoring an empty seat next to you feels like a small luxury, offering a bit of extra space and comfort.
But a recent Sydney-to-Brisbane flight has sparked online outrage after one traveller was photographed treating the cabin more like a loungeroom than a shared public space.
Posting to the Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum Group, a passenger on board QF544 on Saturday shared an image of a man who had removed his shoes and propped his feet on the headrest in front of him.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.While the individual could not be identified, a large tattoo covering much of his right foot was clearly visible.
“QF544 SYD to BNE this afternoon, Saturday the 7th,” the post read.
“90 minutes flying can be tough … make yourself as comfortable as possible.”
The post was met with disgust and shock, with some saying they couldn’t “unsee” what had taken place and even labelled the passenger a “filthy pig”.
“Some people are just gross … perhaps they are going to stay in Brisbane and never darken our door again in Sydney,” one person wrote.
“Hundreds of dollars in fines if someone did that on a train — shoes or not. This pig should be fined and banned by Qantas,” another fumed.
“Uncouth behaviour … many of us will be traumatised for some time.
“I hope the crew said something that is totally unacceptable.”
The incident unfolded aboard the national carrier’s newest aircraft, the Airbus A321XLR, which only entered commercial service last year, adding to the surprise among passengers who witnessed the scene.
Removing shoes mid-flight has long been a divisive habit among travellers, frequently drawing complaints from nearby passengers and reigniting debate about basic in-flight etiquette.
Earlier this year, a separate incident captured widespread attention when a woman shared a video showing her daughter seated beside a stranger with bare, visibly dirty feet resting on the seat between them. The footage quickly spread online, attracting more than 10 million views within days.
“That’s so rude,” one person wrote under the short clip.
Barefoot behaviour on flights has sparked controversy before.
Just last month, a separate confrontation unfolded on a Qatar Airways service after a passenger treated her economy seat like a premium cabin.
Witnesses said the woman placed her feet on the back of the seat in front during the Doha-to-Moscow flight and reacted angrily when the passenger ahead reclined her chair.
Despite repeated requests from fellow travellers and cabin crew, the woman, believed to be Russian, refused to lower her feet.
According to East2West News, she shook the headrest using her legs and at one point clapped her trainers together above the seated passenger, who leaned forward to continue working on her laptop.
The disruptive passenger reportedly remained silent throughout the altercation, which began shortly after take-off. Some witnesses speculated she had been denied an upgrade and staged a protest by stretching out her legs as though seated in business class.
