Ammon News - For many travelers, sleeping while seated upright is a huge challenge, making long-haul flights an exhausting experience for those in economy-class seats.

Passengers often go to great lengths to get some inflight Zs, whether they’re buying pricey neck pillows and “foot hammocks,” or contorting themselves into awkward positions.

Most of the time these efforts — futile as they may be — are completely harmless. However one so-called flying hack making the rounds on TikTok and Instagram in recent months has experts alarmed.

In the videos, which have racked up millions of views over the last year or so, passengers can be seen pulling their knees up to their chest and placing their feet at the edge of their seats. Then, they secure their seatbelts around their ankles to prevent their feet from slipping off the seat, allowing them to rest their heads on their knees.

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Not surprisingly, flight attendants in the US aren’t in favor of passengers attempting this hack. Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents 55,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines, did not mince words.

“This is extremely dangerous,” she said in a statement to CNN Travel.

“The seatbelt is designed to sit low and tight across your lap. This is to best protect you in the event of turbulence, an emergency landing or an accident. This is not only for your safety; if you are not properly buckled in you will likely hurt someone else when thrown in turbulence.”

In addition, she says it could land you in trouble with the law.

“Bottom line, this is a violation of federal regulations and instructions from crew members. Stop it,” said Nelson.

“Willful refusal will also make you subject to a fine up to $35,000.”

Reaction to the viral social media videos of travelers demonstrating the seatbelt sleep hack has been mixed.

Some say they will try it out on their next flight, while others claim they aren’t flexible enough or are too tall to even attempt to pull it off. Some have come out in defense of it, saying the airlines have pushed travelers to extreme measures by making economy-class seats too small and uncomfortable.

Plenty of critics have chimed in as well, warning in graphic terms of the injuries that could occur during severe turbulence.

Many also suggest that buckling your seatbelt around your ankles will increase your risk of blood clots. CNN