Dresscode on Commercial flights in First Class
#76
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,714
#78
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: Nothing - I'm useless!
Posts: 2,441
A couple of notes..
How the Japanese let their hair down can easily we seen in a Wii commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiWuTopIrxk
The general idea is that if it can be bought at the GAP you're good. And japanese school children wear their uniforms for everything, including some serious parkour:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfKxpmnAFRw
That said, the dressing-down of airlines directly relates to the dressing-down of a visit to a Disney theme park. What happened? The 70's.
Disney originally denied improperly dressed hippies from entering Disneyland. Even being a male with long hair kept you out. Social norms changed and Disneyland let them in. The same likely happened in air travel.
How the Japanese let their hair down can easily we seen in a Wii commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiWuTopIrxk
The general idea is that if it can be bought at the GAP you're good. And japanese school children wear their uniforms for everything, including some serious parkour:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfKxpmnAFRw
That said, the dressing-down of airlines directly relates to the dressing-down of a visit to a Disney theme park. What happened? The 70's.
Disney originally denied improperly dressed hippies from entering Disneyland. Even being a male with long hair kept you out. Social norms changed and Disneyland let them in. The same likely happened in air travel.
#79
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Tampa, FL
Programs: Nothing - I'm useless!
Posts: 2,441
#80
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: nobody
Posts: 1,837
I am all for dress comfortably on an airplane, especially on TPAC/TATL flights. However, if someone clothes needs constant readjusting to avoid revealing too much then I think it is inapporpriate. Case in point, I was flying back from LHR last week in C, my seat mate was wearing some low cut sweat pants that she needs to pull her pants up everytime getting in and out of her seat. Come on, wear something that will cover all your private area please!
#82
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 179
For me, flying in C/F is about comfort and not about conspicuous consumption. High heels and skirts ceased to be appropriate for me on a plane during an Atlantic storm where passengers had to literally jump the gap from the plane to the tunnel. (Yes we were assisted but that winter wind was COLD!) Now I wear what is comfortable. If I don't want to make space for my hikers (broken in and slightly ugly footwear) in my luggage, you bet I'll wear them, no matter where I am on the plane. And honestly, I prefer my business suits endure the flight delays/line-ups/seats with foreign crud/in-flight bathrooms in my luggage.
#83
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: GNV which is not where we would like to be :)
Programs: ABP, Mr. Mom without the kids, Signor Mucci, DL PM, HH & Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 4,526
In 2009, most travelers who are in full business mufti (especially in premium cabins) are probably non-revs.
Some years ago, a number of corporations required employees traveling on company business to dress in business attire as they were "representing the company in public". I don't know if any companies follow that practice these days.
Some years ago, a number of corporations required employees traveling on company business to dress in business attire as they were "representing the company in public". I don't know if any companies follow that practice these days.
#85
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Portland
Programs: HH Gold, Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 4,074
My dresscode, be it work or play, is jeans and a t-shirt/short sleeve button-up. While it's not at all sloppy, it's also not formal. My reasoning is that wearing a suit onboard (and I've done this plenty of times) is uncomfortable, so I choose comfort over looks. It's worked so far and the only people to give me cross looks when I'm sitting in F probably should take a look at themselves first.
#86
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 386
My dress code is green for air travel and restaurants.
I pay for the service, I don't dress to impress the vendor.
If the steak dinner was free in exchange for me dressing up, I might do it...but the cut and preparation of the meat would have to be really, really good for me to consider it...Sullivans, Mortons, or Ruth's Chris minimum.
At work and for clients, I don't begrudge a monkey suit...they give me the green.
If I am footing the bill, I dress as I please. If the vendor has an issue with it, I find another vendor.
I pay for the service, I don't dress to impress the vendor.
If the steak dinner was free in exchange for me dressing up, I might do it...but the cut and preparation of the meat would have to be really, really good for me to consider it...Sullivans, Mortons, or Ruth's Chris minimum.
At work and for clients, I don't begrudge a monkey suit...they give me the green.
If I am footing the bill, I dress as I please. If the vendor has an issue with it, I find another vendor.
#87
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home
Programs: Virgin FC, Qantas, Golden Circle, Sofitel, Hyatt, Starwood, Nectar, and my Tesco Club Card
Posts: 1,769
Seriously, why the hell dress up smart to sit on a plane. F/J/Y it's all the same - public transport - I'm so clumsy why do I want to spill food and drink and ruin yet another £50 tie or look like a fool with a nice white shirt with a big stain on it. I'll be dressing for comfort and practicality i.e something to hide the consequences of my clumsyness along the way. If for some reason I need to look smart coming off any public transport I'll worry about that when I'm packing for the trip and 5 minutes before I get out of said Taxi, bus, train, plane.
Last edited by Kettering Northants QC; Jan 13, 2009 at 4:13 am
#89
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TYO / WAS / NYC
Programs: American Express got a hit man lookin' for me
Posts: 4,591
Anyway, I think there's a big difference between this particular game and the notion of a "dress code" in an office, club, restaurant, airplane or wherever. The dress code is not there to show success or status. The dress code is there to show respect for yourself and for the people around you. Sure, you can say it doesn't matter, but it does matter to a lot of people, including the people who are giving you service.
Perhaps I say this because my mother was at one point an assistant manager in the MIA Admirals Club, and constantly sharing stories of the famous or powerful people who came through there--invariably accompanied by some line like "Sean Connery looked just as dignified and majestic in real life" or "KISS were dressed like a bunch of construction workers and the girls out front didn't even want to let them in."
#90
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,950
If you find me flying, if it's for formal business of course you'll find me in a business shirt with tie, trousers and a suit jacket.
Any other time, no matter which class (although I haven't flown F yet), you'll see me in jeans and a collared shirt, with closed shoes. And I do not mean ripped or torn jeans. The shirt is collared - not a t-shirt - but obviously long or short sleeved as appropriate.
I think I adopt a smart casual style when travelling. Personally I don't see anything wrong with that, even in premium classes. Enforcing people in premium classes to wear formal attire may seem more classy and distinctive, but in the end I think is unnecessary and pompous.
Any other time, no matter which class (although I haven't flown F yet), you'll see me in jeans and a collared shirt, with closed shoes. And I do not mean ripped or torn jeans. The shirt is collared - not a t-shirt - but obviously long or short sleeved as appropriate.
I think I adopt a smart casual style when travelling. Personally I don't see anything wrong with that, even in premium classes. Enforcing people in premium classes to wear formal attire may seem more classy and distinctive, but in the end I think is unnecessary and pompous.