If you’ve ever found yourself stuck on a long-haul flight with nothing to do, staring blankly at the seat in front of you, congratulations—you might already be part of a bizarre travel trend that has taken over TikTok.
Called “rawdogging” a flight, this viral challenge involves sitting through an entire journey without any form of entertainment.
No movies, no books, no music—just you, your thoughts, and the seatback in front of you.
What started as an unusual personal challenge quickly exploded online, with thousands of TikTok users attempting to “rawdog” flights of varying lengths.
Some even take it a step further, avoiding food and drink for the entire trip, making the experience a true test of endurance.
And believe it or not, Seinfeld star Patrick Warburton thinks he might be partly responsible for the whole thing.
Patrick Warburton’s Seinfeld Scene Sparks the Trend
The 60-year-old actor, best known for playing the lovable but clueless David Puddy on Seinfeld, recently took to social media to reflect on how a famous scene from the sitcom might have unintentionally inspired the trend.
In the scene, Puddy and his on-again, off-again girlfriend Elaine (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) are sitting on a plane.
When Elaine asks what he plans to do during the flight, Puddy simply responds, “I’m just gonna sit here, staring at the back of the seat.”
Apparently, that line resonated more than anyone expected.
Warburton shared the clip on social media, captioning it: “The ultimate Puddy stare, try this trend at your own risk.”
Poking fun at the phenomenon, he jokingly admitted, “I feel a little bit responsible for this becoming a thing.”
Warburton Issues a Lighthearted Warning
While amused by the trend, Warburton couldn’t help but warn people about the risks of diving in unprepared.
“My concern is that somebody’s gonna get hurt,” he said.
“If you’re not watching something, reading something—if you’re just sitting there with your thoughts—you better be okay with what’s going on up here.” He tapped his head and laughed.
“I’m not,” he joked. “But it’s weird and entertaining at times. Just be careful, it’s not for novices.”
TikTok Users Fully Embrace the Challenge
Since its rise in popularity, the “rawdogging” trend has taken over TikTok, with thousands of users documenting their attempts to complete flights without distractions.
One TikTok creator, @westwashere, has become somewhat of a pioneer in the movement, frequently posting about his “barebacking” travel experiences.
In one viral clip, he set the challenge for his followers, writing: “Is someone gonna match my freak? (go the whole 10-hour flight, not moving from my chair, only watching the maps and airspeed.)”
Meanwhile, another TikToker, @cookestraveltok, shared that her mother is a devoted “rawdogger.”
She posted a clip of her mom calmly sitting through a nine-hour flight with no entertainment whatsoever. “No iPad. No headphones.
No book,” the caption read. “At least she’s comfy! Go girl.” The video has since racked up over eight million views, with countless users in awe of her mom’s ability to sit still for so long.
Psychologists Weigh In on the ‘Silent Meditation in the Sky’
With the trend growing, some experts have begun analyzing why people are so drawn to it.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula described it as a form of mindfulness, referring to it as “a silent meditation in the sky.”
According to Dr. Durvasula, some people may naturally gravitate toward this type of travel because they are “mental introspectors”—people who have been trained from a young age to zone out and self-reflect.
She explained that decades ago, before personal in-flight screens and WiFi, everyone essentially “rawdogged” flights because entertainment options were extremely limited.
“There were no individual screens, just one movie playing overhead, whether you liked it or not.
You could bring a book or magazine, but that was about it,” she said.
Now, however, it has become an aesthetic choice, with some people embracing distraction-free travel as a badge of honor.
What Are People Thinking About During These Hours of Nothingness?
That’s the big question. According to Dr. Durvasula, it could be anything—deep self-reflection, overanalyzing life decisions, or simply observing everything happening around them on the flight.
“It could be a nifty built-in mindfulness experience,” she said, “or just a way to prove you can survive without your phone.”
Whatever the motivation, it seems like the rawdogging trend isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
And if you ever find yourself sitting on a plane, staring blankly ahead for hours, just know—Patrick Warburton called it first.