Raw-dogging on planes: Heroic or just plain stupid?

Mr Bailey says he enjoys the “challenge”.

“The first time I did it was on a shorter flight, out of necessity,” he says.

“I forgot my headphones, and there wasn’t anything on the entertainment that I wanted to watch.”

But he has carried on doing it. “I like the challenge, for sure. I fly so often. Why not challenge myself?”

Allowing yourself to be bored for a few hours is actually quite good for us, argues Sandi Mann, academic and author of The Science of Boredom. “It can really improve our relaxation and creativity.”

People have to find ways to wean themselves off the constant “highs” they get from modern technology, she says.

“We need to reduce our need for novelty and stimulation and whizzy-whizzy bang-bang dopamine, and just take time out to breathe and stare at the clouds – literally, if you’re on a flight,” she says.

But she acknowledges all the current advice stresses the importance of staying mobile, particularly on longer flights, and also suggests avoiding food and water would pose added health risks.

“I think people need to understand this is not ideal for a seven-hour flight,” says Ms Mann. “You’ve got to get the balance right.”