After reading some other posts, it sounds like some people (those in 1st class) dress up/wear power suits. Do people really do that for those really long flights?
Part of me wants to do that - maybe get the free upgrade. Part of me thinks pajamas sound like the best way to go. :)
What do you wear/what do you see others wearing?
I dress for comfort on long flights. I usually wear stretch denim jeans, or sometimes khakis. You aren't likely to get an upgrade based on what you are wearing, so you might as well wear something that you will be comfortable sitting in for several hours.
I suspect the people who wear full business drag on a transatlantic flight are heading straight from the airport to business meetings!
I like to get off the plane looking at least a little polished, and since a long flight leaves my face and hair a mess, I try to make an effort from the neck down. But I also like to be comfortable while I'm in transit for 13+ hours. So my favorite piece of travel clothing is a pair of black pants, cut like jeans, in a thick, stretchy ribbed knit fabric. If I dress them up with a nice cardigan and a fun necklace, I feel put-together without feeling like I'm going to the office instead of on vacation! But more importantly, they have enough give that I can sit in an airplane seat in them for hours and hours without feeling every seam imprinting on my poor legs.
Like you, we also fly from CA--with at least one stop along the way. It makes for a long trip. Therefore, I wear very lightweight pants with a drawstring waist & ankles. I wear a french dressing cami under a lightweight, loose top. I don't wear anything binding or tight. You want to be comfortable while you are trying to sleep. However, remember what you are wearing on the plane you may be wearing for a while once you arrive at your destination (commuting to your hotel). I wear the shoes that I will be wearing during our trip--you will have to stand & walk a lot once you arrive. We fly business class. Yes, some people dress for the part. I dress for comfort but still look cute (according to hubby). Have fun!
Dress for comfort! The days of dressing up to travel are over. I remmber when I was a kid my dad wearing a suit when we traveled.
I wear convertible hiking/travel pants, sandals, and a nylon Tee shirt on the plane. I have much nicer clothes at home, and that is where they stay when I am on vacation:)
Something you may want to consider is how you are getting your luggage there. We are carrying on (and dealing with carry on weight limits), so we will be wearing our very heaviest clothes. While lightweight stretch pants or pajamas would be the most comfortable, they are also light weight. We'll be wearing our jeans. Hopefully we'll be able to find a balance between comfort and weight...
If you're a college student, it's almost expected that you dress sloppy. (If you're sitting near me, please be kind to my nose. LOL!) For anyone else, I think comfortable and neat is appropiate. Who knows! It might mean a difference between you getting that last pillow or someone else. Airline employees are human too! For me personally, I dress for warmth (like wearing a sweater) and comfort. I tend to get chilled on long flights.
Scrapper, I suppose everyone has their own strategy for this, but when I travel I always wear my "travel friendly" Tilley clothing. It's comfortable, durable and can be washed in a hotel room sink if necessary. I use the same clothes for air travel as for touring around when I get to my destination.
BTW, when are you leaving? My flight to the UK leaves next Wednesday (getting a bit nervous at this point, which is usual).
I dress in layers, with a camisole or such underneath a button-up shirt and also wear the jacket I'll be taking, so as not to have to pack it and also so I won't have to use those airline blankets. (Quit using them when I got one once which was covered in someone else's hair and who knows what else. They don't clean them between flights.) Remember you'll be carrying your luggage if you're just taking a carry-on, so do't wear anything that might snag or get dirty. Wear socks so you can take your shoes off and be comfortable. Dressing up is only for folks who are travelling for business and have to be somewhere soon. NOBODY gets upgraded based on appearance. You have to have a lot of frequent flier miles, medallion status, or a lot of $$$ to get upgraded.
I dont thinks ive ever noticed anyone wera a suit in business or first class for a 12 hour flight! People are right - wear comfortable - but decent looking closeths if youre trying for an upgrade. But even wealthy people were t-shirts! For my strategy - to travel lite - weat either the heavier or more expensive item in your bag (merino sweater) or the most necessary item (hiking boots) just incase you must check your allowed carry on. You could also wear your heavier items to lighten you carry on- in layers and peel off as needed on the plane.
My very best tip is to take a genuine pashmina shawl. I wear that with a tank top if it is summer and long sleeve tee if not. It is so lightweight and so warm at the same time! They are big enough to use like a blanket on the flight without having to deal with the nasty ones provided. On arrival you flip it over your shoulder and look tres chic, regardless of what your pants/skirt look like! Even if you don't use it again on the vacation (but you probably will)it doesn't take up any room in your luggage until your return.
An earlier poster commented that "the days of dressing up for travel are over". A rather sad statement but from what I often see, that statement is probably true!
While dressing for comfort is important, it is also equally important to look polished and presentable. I'm not talking business suit if you are a leisure traveler but don't go too casual, either. If you want respectability, don't show up braless in a white t-shirt, or in cut off short jean shorts and flip flops or a micro mini so short that when you sit down you make everyone uncomfortable.
And don't wear your pajama pants like you're a kid ready for bed upon arrival!
If you present yourself well, you will be treated well. First impressions do count. When Crew are looking for an ABP to assist in an emergency situation, we consider several safety related factors. Attire is one. Clothing/footwear condusive to safe evacuation is a factor. You can not navigate hazzards on the Cabin floor successfully in flip flops. Just one example...
You don't have to dress up like the Flight Crew and sport a $1000 virgin wool suit, but you might take some tips from our Federally regulated dress requirements. From a safety standpoint you might consider the following:
Wear natural fibres/flame retardant properties. By federal law, longsleeved blazers must be worn during critical phase of flight. The long sleeves and flame retardant properties are beneficial in firefighting. (Not to scare anyone but that is what we are trained for)
Dress in layers. Cabin temperatures can vary according to seat location. The Aft Cabin is often draftier as opposed to the forward cabin, depending on configuration.
Leather tie-up comfortable shoes can be loosened for comfort and safer for evacuation. Definately no flip flops!
Don't wear those cheap socks that come in your comp toiletry kit. Especially not during critical phase of flight. Socks give no protection from hazzards on the cabin floor. Not to mention the "unmentionables" on the floor as well.
Patricia. A word about those "nasty' airline blankets as Karen likes to call them...
If you are being handed a blanket that is not in a sealed plastic bag, simply refuse it! A sealed plastic bag is your only real assurance that it has in fact been dry cleaned and not recycled from a previous passenger. Most airlines worldwide have now moved to a system where drycleaned blankets are in sealed plastic. You obviously were given an unsanitary blanket and that should not have happened!
Some airlines sell you your blanket now for a nominal charge of a couple bucks and is yours to keep. For those of us who travel light might not want to keep it but you could always leave it behind on the aircraft. Groomers actually consider finding these a bonus!
I believe you can be comfortable and still look nice. I wear jeans (comfy - made from that fabulous stretch denim!)nice top, usually a tank top, and a comfy fitted jacket. I take the jacket off once on the plane and use a blanket like a shawl. I wear flat but nice shoes. This year I wore my new hiking sandals with socks so I could kick them off easily - and put them back on for walking the isles.
Flight Attendant, Thank you for some "eye opening" and also some very important safety information. Jeannine
A loose or stretchy waist band is important because of the expansion of gasses in the digestive system at the lower cabin pressure. I always wondered why my waistband was uncomfortable, but read recently that our natural gasses (about 1 liter) expand to 2 liters at the pressure maintained at altitude in airplanes. Wear or carry enough clothing to allow for a cool cabin; more people are too cold than too warm. BTW, those cold air blower things over each seat are adjustable and can be turned off entirely, if necessary. Not everyone knows this. Also, your seat back has little flaps that can be turned out so you have a place to rest your head while napping.
Dress comfortably for flying. I always layer up because planes, no matter the season, can be either warm or cold for no apparent reason.
I have seen a few people in suits in first class, but mostly Americans don't bother. I have traveled on first class a couple times on free tickets coast to coast in the US and rarely saw anyone dressed up.
Flight Attendant - "When Crew are looking for an ABP to assist in an emergency situation, we do evaluate you on that impression because sometimes that is all we've got" - I am in shock! You flight attendants will be helping your customers based on their appearance/dress?! In this case I hope I never get to fly with you in charge. Don't show up braless? Well, I don't show up without a bra, but as soon as the plane is in the air and the bathroom opens, I go there and I DO TAKE OFF MY BRA. I usually wear a very loose cashmere sweatshirt and loose yoga pants. There is absolutely no way in the world I would be sitting in that tight space for 11 hours wearing a bra. No way at all. You flight attendants are at work on the plane, and I wear a bra at work, too. But not on the plane going on vacation.
I have noticed several comments about wearing socks so that you can take off your shoes during the flight. Have you recently been in the toilet of a long-distance flight? Gross! Cleaning them seems to not be the norm any more. I buy cheap, light "slippers" which easily go in my carry-on and can later be used in the hotel, if needed. They keep my socks from getting so soiled that it takes several washings to be comfortable wearing them!
I also wear yoga pants for my flights overseas. I wear a sport bra and a lightweight sweater/t-shirt combo.
I usually get cold as some point on the plane, so long pants work. If I get hot, I simply pull the pant legs up a bit to expose my calves, and thus cool down.
Absolutely no underwire bras for me on a 10+ hour flight...and no panties at all. I get very uncomfortable with anything binding on my body.
Yoga pants are a heavier fabric (hey, they work great in yoga classes for movement, and for modesty) and work perfectly- even look a bit dressier to me than jeans- when paired with a nice top/sweater and cute shoes.
I don't wear sandals on my flights...again, too cold at times. I wear Puma shoes or something "european" looking and socks. As soon as I'm on the plane, the shoes come off for comfort.
Our bodies swell at 36,000 ft, and I wish to be as comfortable as possible, and thus a bit more refreshed when landing!
This has been an interesting read!
I'm wondering about the natural fiber clothing while in flight (in case of fire), though. I'm planning on taking only clothes that will dry quickly when washed and hung to dry in my hotel room. I don't think any of the things I'm planning on taking are pure natural fibers.
As far as shoes go, I'm wearing Crocs (specialist - the ones with no holes). They slip on and off very easily. But, again, the socks are not pure cotton - I got a fiber mix so they'd dry fast after washing.
Just when I think I've got it all figured out, something else gets pointed out to me. :)
Natasha:
I thought that the purpose of this site was to exchange thoughts, ideas and shared experience. IS IT NOT?
I stand on the fact that first impressions do count. This is human nature, right or wrong.
An "ABP" is an "Able Bodied Passenger". This is a passenger who receives a special safety briefing, usually is seated by an emergency exit, and verbally agrees to assist in an emergency. They are selected based on SEVERAL factors which are primarily safety oriented.
ABP's are pre-selected to assist in a potential evacuation and are NOT granted any other special priviledges.
No, of course, I would never go to a job interview or a church sloppily or scantily dressed. But the plane for me when I am flying to my vacation destination is neither a workplace nor a church. That's the whole point of it. You are there to work, and you have to wear your uniform. And I am there to relax and be, above all, comfortable. And I agree with another poster here, I, too, not only wear no bra on the plane, but no panties, either.
Thanks, Jeannine. I'm glad you appreciated my safety oriented post. I guess some of us did get the point!
people wear lots of different things. Just keep this one thing in mind. When you're on a long flight your feet and hands and stuff swell up from the lower air pressure at that altitude. So lots of people take their shoes off and such. Others say not to take their shoes off because they can never get them back on again. It takes several hours of being on the ground for that swelling sensation to go away.
That being said, be comfortable. Most people who wear power suits in 1st class can afford to have them tailor-made, so the suits fit them as well as your pjs do.
here is a foot-wear-for-flying idea that works for me, I have a pair of super light weight fleece clog type slippers from Lands End. I take these in my carry on. they have vinyl soles so no worry about stepping in nasty stuff in the loo, and they wash and dry really quickly once I get to where I am going. they weigh almost nothing. bring a ziplock bag to store them in.
Jeans would be way too uncomfortable for a long flight imo. I wear knits--long black comfy skirt and long sleeve tee if cool. I have a knit jacket that is a bit bulky to pack so I wear that and add a nice scarf which comes off after I board. Shoes have to be slideon/ clog type and I take thickish socks to walk around in and throw them away upon arrival. The pashmina ( real or fake) is handy to have in the carryon bag. And I would never dream of not wearing underwear! I remember once not being able to get shoes back on due to feet swelling so therefore clogs only which are good idea for security checkpoint also.
Well Susan.. I'm glad you mentioned the underwear thing.. I don't want to sound judgemental.. but my Momma always told me to wear clean underwear... just incase.. what does one do sans??
Sometimes pax don't wear underwear on a flight for a reason. And I'm not talking about comfort. And that might explain some of the stains found on the seats. Sorry, don't mean to be offensive...I've seen it all...
OMG Flight Attendant.. that's soo funny.. thank you! I wonder if I had thought of that during the '72 Larry Csonka "vacant" flight from Dallas to Las Vegas.. things might be different now..
ummmm.....what's PAX?
She asks, feeling rather sheepish.
I didn't know either til I kept reading all the threads re: flying.. pax means passengers..
Sorry for the abbreviations...I guess I'm so often surrounded by my own kind I sometimes forget that not everyone knows the lingo. It can be helpful to learn a little about the wonderful world of Aviation. Use a few terms when talking to the crew and then you'll really peak their interest!
Pax-Passenger
F/A-Flight Attendant
IC F/A-In Charge Flight Attendant (same as below)
ISM-In-flight Service Manager (same as above)
SPAT-Special Needs Passenger
A/C-Aircraft
ABP-Able Bodied Passenger
UM-Unaccompanied Minor
Just a few of the more popular ones "Pax" might like to know...
It also can be helpful to learn the 24 Hour Clock. Learn the Standardized Phenetic alphabet. Learn some City Codes. Or at least the ones you are flying into/out of.
Having a few of these skills can make travelling a lot easier. It makes timetables easier to read, directions easier to understand, and repeating confirmation numbers more accurate.
I could post these in a thread, if anyone deems it helpful.
thanks for the abbrevs.
I did finally figure that PAX meant passenger, but since the X didn't make sense, I thought perhaps it meant a certain type of passenger.
Nancy how right you are.. We Americans have taken "casual" to another level that just spells sloppy. We are ambassadors for the one of richest most well educated and prosperous countries in the free world. Why not dress accordingly
I'm with flight attendant on this one. I judge every single passenger when I get on a plane. I look at the travelers from every other country in the world and then I look at the Americans. Only Americans show up for a flight in pajama bottoms, slippers, and a Tshirt, toting a full size bed pillow. It may be about comfort for some, but for the rest of us, it's about proper respect for fellow travelers.
Silk panties (Wintersilks) don't have the heavy elastic at legs or waist. I take some Isotoner slippers that are small/flat to put on after boarding.
I can remember when I traveled with my parents we each had our “traveling outfits”. I'm all for comfort but I draw the line with pajama pants. We just returned from Rome and I wore my favorite pants and top by EXCLUSIVELY MISOOK they make the best clothing easy to wear and wash (hand wash) and after and 8 hour flight my clothing looked great. Sorry to sound like a commercial but they are great.
