Wearing shorts on the plane
 

I am taking 2 day flights 1 from TLV-FRA and the other from FRA-SFO. I was wondering if I should wear shorts and a teeshrt as opposed to jeans and a sweater so I don't overheat on the plane. I know the plane has the aircon but if I use the blanket I should be fine. I want to feel comfortable since in CA the weather will be in the 80s upon my arrivals and I don't want to come overdressed. I am also staying overnight at a hotel so I want to pack my backpack as light as possible.

I always change on planes at least once.

I wear shorts on planes when the weather is appropriate. Although, if San Fran is your final destination...it's not going to be 80. ;)

Seems that this is a highly personal issue. I have yet to experience a longhaul flight where I did not shiver and feel terribly cold using a blanket plus a sweater to keep somewhat comfortable and warm. FWIW it would suggest to use the "onion" model: Wear several layers of light comfortable clothing that can be removed or added easily so that you have a light sweater and long trousers in FRA while redressing for California (and change into short pants in the airplane restroom). Though wet and cool SFO can be quite a bit colder than FRA, especially in summer, so short pants might be more useful in FRA :D

FWIW on most long hauls, my problem tends to be feeling cold rather than hot. I have settled on a "layers" approach. I start with a lightweight shirt and long pants, also socks. Then I have a sweater or a sweatshirt in my carry on. Finally the airline's blanket. That takes care of most situations. I also carry 1-2 changes of clothes with me, but that is not because of cabin temperature, rather what if my luggage got misplaced and arrived late.

I avoid shorts out of the superstition that I am less likely to be ill-treated if I look properly dressed. :) Similarly, due to security checks, I switched to loafers from proper shoes and to a very light weight belt.

Planes are never chilly enough for me. Wear shorts if that's what is comfortable for you.

I almost always wear pants and a short-sleeve shirt on the plane and pack either a long-sleeve t-shirt or light jacket in my carry-on in case I get cold.

I find that planes tend to be stuffy and hot when sitting on the tarmac and then things get colder once we're in the air.

Have to agree with the "onion" layer approach suggested by another poster. Dress to be able to add or remove layers as needed. Maybe that's where those trousers with zip-off legs to convert to shorts can be handy.

You also want to wear something that's not too binding. For long haul, I always change into lightweight sweats or basketball pants. Wearing jeans or chinos for 10 hours is very uncomfortable for the "boys."

I doubt you'll get too hot on the plane. Wear layers so you can adjust accordingly. I've never been too hot on a long flight, but I've been too cold plenty of times.

I almost always wear shorts on my flights also as it's normally not cool enough for me either. However, I usually layer my upper body with a dri-fit t-shirt, shirt/sweater, and have a jacket handy. If I do get chilly, I just toss the jacket or blanket over my legs and I'm fine.

On the other hand, my buddy never wears shorts for fear of needing to jump on the emergency slide and skinning the heck out of his legs :rolleyes: .

Personally, I would not wear shorts on a plane unless going to or coming from a beach vacation spot, Australia or Israel or somewhere else where shorts are usual wear.

Seems a little unmannerly. :)

Loose & light, that's my rule. Khaki's, short-sleeve shirt, slip-on shoes, often a light jacket or windbreaker with zip or snap pockets to hold extras - wear it if cold, stuff it beside me or overhead if warm.

I didn't even wear shorts when I flew to Tahiti.

Seriously, people make big money selling warm clothes to tourists arriving in San Francisco. It would be a rare day where you would feel hot when you step out of the airport.

Take socks.
 

Makes as much difference in comfort as long or short pants.

Yeah. I mean, I'm from Alaska and I was still chilly in SF during the evening.

I always carry a change of clothes - shorts are very acceptable.

In First, shorts might be fine.

For me, in coach I always wear long pant and long sleeves. But not for temperature reason. It's just that when it's a packed flight and passengers are squeezed together, I'd rather not have my bare arms or legs touch another passengers hairy bare arms and legs.

Those extra millimeters of cloth are important to my illusion of personal space.

But that's probably just me.

Cromely.

Shorts On a Plane. Move to AUS if you want to be accepted. :) ^

There is a safety concern about light clothing on a plane.

I recall reading that most people die in air crashes due to fire. Hence it is recommended that you wear long sleeves and trousers that are made from natural fibres.

How about using long pants with zipoff and make it a short when you need and make long pant where you don't want to wear shots.

I find it too cold on the plane to be wearing shorts. In all actuality, there has been many times I'd love to have slipped into my flannel pajamas.:)

It really depends on how nice your legs are:D

I think the only time I've worn shorts on a plane have been when I've been flying from somewhere where it wasn't practical to wear long trousers to the airport due to heat.

gotta agree about SFO. Be forewarned, it is usually NOT warm in SFO this time of year. The fog clears late and then comes back in early, and the swift breezes whipping through the city will chill you to the bone. The East bay is a different story...

want to feel comfortable since in CA the weather will be in the 80s
 

When you arrive to SFO will you drive 30 minutes south to Sunnyvale or 15 minutes North to the City? SFO is in South San Francisco and is usually nice. Sunnyvale can be uncomfortably hot in the summer on some days. The city itself (SF) is usually nice but can be cooler when the fog rolls in.

There's a famous quote: "The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco.--Mark Twain" ;)

The quote doesn't reveal everything about the Bay Area which has an amazing variety (21?!) of micro-climates. Drive up into the hills onto dirt roads above Los Gatos at 11:00 am on a hot summer day and you can move from sweaty hot bright sun of Sunnyvale to cool misty forests with condensation dripping onto your windshield from the dark towering forest. Back down the hill at 2:00 and you're hot again. Amazing!

Enjoy your trip! :)

The first time I went to San Fran, the first day I was there was glorious, the temperature was in the low 80s, sunny. I wondered why everyone complained about summer weather there. The next morning the headlines read that San Fran had set a high temperature record not just for the day but for the month. A few days later I was at Macy's trying to buy wool sweaters, pants and socks. This was in July.

i'm at the AC at DFW in shorts and riding up front.. no problem here

I always get cold and only feel warm if the AC is not on at the gate for some reason. My flying uniform is jeans and a t-shirt with a poly-cotton zip-up jacket.

I try to wear shorts whenever the departure or arrival city does not have freezing temperatures.

My wife on the other hand always bundles up as she can never seem to stay warm on planes.

I also never travel without a change of clothes in my hand luggage.

Would you be comfortable in just shorts & t-shirt if you were delayed/diverted and ended up overnight in an airport hotel?

Allways plan for the worst.

In the summer, you'll def. see more people wearing them. Perfect for when you're sitting on the tarmac for a ground-stop, ATC, ______ delay for who-knows-how-long.

In Singapore in June? Yes.

In Oslo in December? No.

I always plan for the possible.

It's hell to be stuck at the gate for 2 hours, sitting on a hot plane in July. I've kicked myself in the a$$ before for not wearing shorts.

I wore shorts on a weekend PHL -> LHR -> GOT flight a few years back. My luggage was lost on the BA -> SAS transfer in London. I almost had to get new clothes for my business meeting the next day, but my luggage arrived later that evening.

Since then, I'll still wear shorts on the flight... but I make sure I have a change of clothes in my carry-on.

Actually, I think you should wear shorts and a sweater or jeans and a T-shirt. That way, at most, half your body will be too hot and half will be too cold, so it should be quite comfortable on average.

IIRC from previous posts, the OP hales from the SFO area. If he's man enough to wear shorts enroute, I say more power to him.

Amen.

Huh? Unless that is to prevent one from polluting the atmosphere as one is
burning, that recommendation makes little sense.

Following this logic perhaps we should all routinely wear flame resistant clothing and hoods when travelling....just in case :(

If I had to dress just in case of a rare disaster I doubt if I would ever bother leaving the house.

Wearing clean underwear (just in case i'm rushed to hospital) was the extent of routine emergency preparation I was taught and I doubt that was for my benefit, more so to show the hospital staff that my parents brought me up properly:D!

This is a great piece of advice. I've missed connections where I was dressed for my destination weather (warm) and not my connecting cities weather (cold). I do fairly often travel in shorts, but if there is a stop I make sure I have at least a fleece jacket or something to put on in case I get stuck somewhere.