The Art or “Rawdogging” a Flight: Embracing Unscripted Travel Adventures

As the art of distraction has become an essential part of air? travel, many of us rely on setback entertainment systems, e-books and pre-downloaded playlists or movies to get through lengthy flights. Airlines like Delta offer a plethora of new releases and classics - from bangers at the box office to middle of the road outings. Airport staples like Hudson News are stocked with bestsellers and magazines, ensuring that even the most forgetful travelers have something to read.?

It’s second nature to us now: we download our favorite shows and songs before boarding, just as we instinctively remove our belongings from our pockets at security. This ritual of plugging in, zoning out and enduring the cramped economy seat has become synonymous with modern flying. However, a growing number of travelers are rejecting this norm and embracing a different approach. They’re opting to “rawdog” their flights, stepping into the unknown with minimal preparation and allowing their journeys to unfold organically.

Is "Rawdogging" a flight as awful as it sounds?

In an era of hyper-planned itineraries and meticulously curated travel experiences, a growing number of travelers are embracing a more spontaneous and unfiltered approach known as “rawdogging” a flight. This term, while it may sound unconventional, captures the essence of embarking on a journey with minimal preparation, allowing the adventure to unfold organically. Here’s a deeper dive into what it means to rawdog a flight and why it’s becoming an increasingly popular way to explore the world.

What Does “Rawdogging” a Flight Entail?

“Rawdogging” a flight involves abstaining from the usual forms of in-flight entertainment and comforts. This means no movies, music, or even reading materials. The goal is to be present and mindful, experiencing the journey in its most unfiltered form. The only exception to this unorthodox approach is the real-time flight tracker, allowing travelers to remain aware of their journey’s progress. To add to this, not even eating or drinking is permitted.

Paradoxically, the way that we, and now you, have been forced to learn about rawdogging travel is through social media - namely, practitioners recording videos of themselves staring blankly ahead as time passes, and then uploading them to TikTok to boast. GQ interviewed a 26-year-old London rawdogger, upon whose videos one commenter wrote, “Yup, from London to Miami this week… pure bareback, no food or water.”

That is a nine-and-a-half hour flight endured without entertainment, food or even water. Fasting is not an unusual practice among travelers - avoid bloating by avoiding salty food, amongst others, - but that, coupled with everything else to such intense heights bolsters the note that GQ’s interview ends on: that the practice is meditative and that its heights, puts him in touch with himself in ways that are ordinarily inaccessible.?

Is rawdogging as mindful as these guys claim? Is it all just a performance - does it matter if it starts out that way before becoming something else? Perhaps most importantly, is it even safe to go a whole long-haul flight without taking a sip of water?

Is “rawdogging” just a place-specific term for meditation?

Carlos Diaz, who leads the meditation practice at The Ranch Malibu’s new Hudson Valley outpost, defines meditation as being “more present, relaxed and aware of what’s happening to your body and mind”. To find the beauty, the miracle, in our most default behavior and in fact, to watch the flight tracker and develop an awareness of the great lengths you are traveling and places you are passing over, could be grounding: “if this is going to stir something in you where you can fall in love with yourself and your immediate environment, then it’s working. If you’re just doing it to post about it, then you might be touching on some elements but missing the point. It’s all about your intention.

Don’t be daunted by the prospect of such ceaseless alone time, either. Diaz notes that a common misconception from the sceptical or nervous clients is that meditation just doesn’t? work for them and that they cannot manually? empty their minds. “It’s not about stopping the mind. It’s about observing it without changing it, judging it, or engaging it.”

Can you drink water while rawdogging?

Abstaining from food and water while rawdogging is not necessary, and doing the latter is unwise. Nutritionist Dani O’Brien recommends opting out of this element of the trend. “As a dietician, I would never recommend not drinking water, especially on an airplane which is known to be an externally dehydrating environment,” says O’Brien, “You need water for your systems to work properly, including your brain if this is being done for mindfulness.”

Skipping food while flying, especially in the short haul, is nothing new to O’Brien, who says, “I have seen people forego food and drink for digestive reasons and it makes sense that that would feel better. When the canin pressure changes, it leads to bloating and gas, and that, combined with the hyper-processed, salty food on the plane, can be hard to digest. You can always bring your own food if that is what concerns you.” O’Brien also advises being mindful of time zone changes, wherein a dedicated fast might lead to tanked blood sugar when you land which accentuates jet lag.

While it’s definitely not for everyone, those who embark on this type of experience need to know what they are doing. Even if you abstain from entertainment on a flight, it’s fine. We also understand not eating food. But there is no benefit to skipping water.

If you’re going to rawdog, do so with intention.

About WENS Travel

WENS is about taking the least beaten path. To travel beyond the normal traveling principles. We propose?the best destinations, tailored to your specific needs to the highest quality standards. Since 27 years ago we strive to change the stock perspective of potential travelers and show the magic travel?generates, all created by our team of professionals. Traveling with WENS is the right way to travel.

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