I'm normally a loyal Southwest customer, flying mainly between southern California where I live and Indiana to visit family when I have the opportunity (I less often fly elsewhere for academic conferences or the occasional friend's wedding, or short vacation in the odd circumstances where I can afford it on a grad student's income). Southwest's route network means that my parents usually have to drive three miles round-trip to Indianapolis or St. Louis to pick me up, but they're almost always so much cheaper than the flights I can find on any other airline would be to Evansville (which is like half an hour from where they live) that I still come out ahead covering their gas and (sometimes) a hotel for them (and sometimes they're happy to pay for it themselves, if there's something they want to do in Indy that day anyway).

However, flights to Evansville have been getting cheaper of late, so I always make sure to compare when planning travel so I can spare them the trip if the price difference isn't so insane as to cause a serious hardship to my budget. As it happens, I was planning a flight home for Thanksgiving, and I saw that there was somehow a flight on Delta, first class, to Evansville for about $80 more than what I would have paid to go to Indianapolis on Southwest. Between saving my parents the trip to Indy, and the extra space and legroom (not to mention meal) on the flight, I figured it was worth it, so I went ahead and bought it.

Now I'm wondering--having not done this before, does Delta enforce a dress code for revenue passengers in first class? My typical flying attire is an extremely comfortable pair of shorts and an extremely comfortable Colts or St. Louis Cardinals t-shirt (the latter of which is a few years old and slightly faded by now)--will that be a problem? Googling for "delta first class dress code" speaks of a "relaxed dress code" since 2007, but it's not clear exactly what that consists of, and at any rate it seems that it's only enforced for non-revs, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

Black tie optional, but at least a dark suit.

(I think the only requirement is that you are wearing clothes, though you may get treated better/taken more seriously wearing neat clothing. Particularly by the DYKWIA types on here )

Footwear, too!

DL has a dress code for non-rev passengers -- employees, family & buddy passes, and the like. Paying passengers can slob it up but need to avoid T-shirt profanity.

Taffeta ball gown.

Not sure what ladies should wear.


Just wear what you feel comfortable wearing - as long as it's clean and doesn't have any offensive messages on.

Well, yes, clothing works. It is totally disgusting to see overweight men and women in F and Y wearing shorts. I cannot believe men--with legs like bodies and huge guts hanging over belts--are flying with me.

Say, folks. Cover up.

Some people are like Slinkies: not really good for anything, but you smile when you see them tumble down a flight of stairs.

I have worn a hoodie and sweatpants in F before without issue. As long as you are comfortable in what you are wearing, you will be OK.

When I fly first, I generally try to dress slightly nicer (even if it's leisure). As a dude, I'll usually roll with jeans and a collared shirt (unless I'm heading to see a customer, then it's slacks and a button down).

I always wear shoes of some sort. Flip flops/Sandals and public transit kind of freak me out.

Wow, just wow. I haven't seen such a mean spirited, down right ugly comment in awhile. I guess you're mister/miss perfect, and are gods gift to men/women.

If someone wearing shorts bothers you enough to wish them harm I hope I never have the pleasure of meeting.

The OP's question has been asked and answered and I am closing this one down for obvious reasons.

RSSrsvp - Moderator