First factor to look out for in a flight shoe is comfort and flexibility air pressure and humid cabin conditions mean your feet are going to spread so look for shoes constructed from lightweight materials that are going to give feet room to breathe.
Insoles are crucial too, get a pair of effective stay-dry insoles and these will help keep your feet fresh and dry, crucial when you are going to be flying long haul, as hot and sweaty feetmean tired legs and feet, and it is important to promote good circulation.
If you are on duty whether as a steward or stewardess or even as a pilot, then youll want to be smart too, so design is a big factor, you want materials that give a quality finish, so look for flexible leather or shoes made from advanced micro fiber fabrics, which also have the benefits of being wipe clean and machine washable.
Go for classic designs in black or dark colours that are easy to match, and if you are going for leather go for a leather that has been specially treated with an oil and chemical resistant coating, to safeguard the longevity of your footwear and protect against any nasty spillages.
When looking for airline shoes it is fairly important to choose shoes with an entirely metal-free construction if you are going to be passing through airport security as you dont want to have to remove your footwear.
And shoes with gel padding in will be much better for tired legs and feet providing round the clock shock absorption and reducing impact and stress on joints.
A great multi-purpose flight shoe for women that I would recommend is the Lucy classic pump, this timeless black pump will match with most items in your wardrobe, and, crucially its flexible and lightweight enough to allow feet to expand, maximizing comfort while remaining smart enough to wear while on duty.
The shoe also comes with special size inserts, meaning you can adjust the width fit when feet start to spread, from a regular to wide fit, handy in hot cabins where conditions can be humid.
A smart yet comfortable shoe for men thats an excellent airline shoe is the Smart Walker, a stylish black brogue shoe thats perfect for pilots, stewards, or passengers. The Walker comes with gel cushioning inside and two pairs of special Ortholite insoles that will help to wick sweat away from the feet keeping them cool.
This shoe looks high end but is actually highly affordable, and its well made and durable design means this should make a good investment shoe that will last you a while.
Both of these shoes are entirely metal free so airport security wont be a problem and are affordable investment options for those looking for smart flight shoes for men or women who dont want to skimp on quality.
Oh and one last thing to remember to look for when shopping for your flight shoes, check for a high grip sole preferably one that complies to current EU safety shoe standards, this is an absolute essential for pilots,and also for stewards and stewardesses who are on their feet all the time seeing to passengers demands, as its crucial to prevent in-flight accidents.