What is ‘raw-dogging’ on flights, the latest travel trend?

Some people watch series on their phones or buy a book to read on the plane.

A section of others uses the time to stare into space, and the in-flight map tracks the airplane’s course.

“Raw-dogging,” a recent TikTok travel trend, is a self-imposed endurance challenge unrelated to reaching the mile-high club.

Here’s all we know about the latest trend.

What is ‘raw-dogging’?

When taking long-haul flights, “raw-dogging” requires that passengers sit quietly and without using their screens.

Thus, no films, music, sleep, refreshments, or other distractions are allowed on the flight.

When raw-dogging a flight, it appears that the in-flight map is the only exemption to the rule against screen time.

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Numerous content creators have posted their “personal best” attempts at going entertainment-free on TikTok.

One user, @oiwudini, a Manchester-based DJ and producer, according to The Independent, wrote, “Just raw-dogged a seven-hour flight (new personal best) no headphones, no movie, no water, nothing. Incredible. The power of my mind knows no bounds."

After an 11-hour journey, TikTok user Jonny Davies shared his personal best on social media, referring to it as “raw-dogging the flight map.” He wrote, “The only thing to watch whilst flying Virgin Atlantic.”

Travel influencer Sophie Cooke also shared her mother’s “beige flag” on the video-sharing platform.

“My mom’s beige flag is that she raw-dogs every flight, no matter how long. This is her on a nine-hour flight. No iPad. No headphones. No book. At least she’s comfy! Go girl,” she wrote for the video where her mother can be seen reclining simply staring into space, as per The Independent.

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The simple approach to flying was well-received by TikTok users.

“This is actually an insane dopamine detox,” wrote one commenter, while another one quipped, “OMG! I thought I was the only one who stared either out the window or at the flight tracker. No music, no nothing, just peace!”

The trend was also picked up by Australian singer Torren Foot, according to People magazine, who wrote on Tuesday, 25 June, “Just raw-dogged it, 15 hour flight to Melbourne, no music, no movies, just flight map (I counted to 1 million twice).”

Since TikTok is prohibited in India, Firstpost is unable to independently confirm these comments.

How did the trend begin?

According to GQ magazine, a 26-year-old Londoner named West started the trend of “raw-dogging” when he blogged about choosing to monitor the flight map during a seven-hour trip without any entertainment.

West asked the newspaper to only use his first name.

“Anyone else bareback flights?”, he had asked in the caption, to which he received numerous response.

One individual said, “Yup, from London to Miami this week… pure bareback no food or water," while another one said, “I swear barebacking flights make it go quicker.”

One staff writer, who is 33 years old, told GQ, “I am a nervous flyer and generally cannot focus on anything on a plane - films, TV shows, books, articles, whatever - with any success.”

The writer said that for years, the flight map had been his primary source of in-flight entertainment. He said, “For some reason, I don’t like processing new information when I’m in the air. I want to stick to things that are predictable and safe.”

The longest raw-dogging trip undertaken by West was a 21-hour journey from Perth, Australia, to London.

He clarified, nevertheless, that the reason behind the actions was the regular travel needed by his job in the music industry.

In addition, West compared flying and raw-dogging to meditation, stating, “You are kind of visually impaired; you can only look at the seat in front of you or to your right or left if you are at the window. All you hear is that drumming sound of the engine. It’s just white noise.”

Beyond its meditative benefits, raw-dogging has other advantages, the Londoner told the magazine.

It was during this time that West claimed to have had his best ideas — like a possible TikTok series — while he was staring at the flight map.

He added that the encounter had left him feeling rejuvenated.

From real to reel?

There are similarities between the new travel concept and Apple TV’s Hijack series. When the bad guys hijack Sam Nelson’s seven-hour aircraft, Idris Elba’s character travels from Dubai to London with a grim, stare-forward manner, according to The Strait Times.

The Entertainment System Is Down, the most recent film from Palme d’Or winner Ruben Östlund, may also feature raw-dogging on the big screen.

The Triangle of Sadness director stated in an early interview that the film, which is billed as a social satire, is set on a long-haul trip where the entertainment system is broken and passengers must deal with their boredom, according to Deccan Herald.

Some of the protagonists in Ostlund’s films, which examine human nature in often difficult situations, would just sit through the flight, essentially raw-dogging it.

With inputs from agencies