Dresscode on Commercial flights in First Class
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,452
Was it different these days? Did the dress in commercial First Class differ from what they were supposed to wear daily in their offices?
#18
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: DUB - Ireland
Programs: EI-GCE, BD-G, BA-G, A3*G, TK*G, FB-G, HH-G, Hyatt-Dia
Posts: 8,527
I think a better question is: do you care?
If Japanese local custom is that locals wear suits that fine for them, but it does not apply to you. Would you be offended if a Saudi businessman wore a dishadash on an airplane between JFK and ORD? Or a Seikh in a turban between MCO and SFO? Or an African in one of those wonderful colourful tunics?
I don't know Japan well enough to say whether you'll be stared at, but I do know it well enough to say you won't offend anyone by dressing as you suggest.
If you did wear flip-flops... uggh!
If Japanese local custom is that locals wear suits that fine for them, but it does not apply to you. Would you be offended if a Saudi businessman wore a dishadash on an airplane between JFK and ORD? Or a Seikh in a turban between MCO and SFO? Or an African in one of those wonderful colourful tunics?
I don't know Japan well enough to say whether you'll be stared at, but I do know it well enough to say you won't offend anyone by dressing as you suggest.
If you did wear flip-flops... uggh!
#19
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: London, England
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 3,772
The only reason "everyone" wears suits on Intra-Japan fligths is that "everyone" is going to a meeting or flying for some other work-related reason. I've flown domestic Japan mid-week and it was like this. I've also flown at weekends and it was much less formal as more people are travelling for leisure purposes. I was wearing jeans on both occassions and never felt self-concious or out of place (at least not due to my clothes!) Wear what you want. The biggest thing in Japan is to show respect through your actions, not through what you are wearing (within reason).
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,452
I think a better question is: do you care?
If Japanese local custom is that locals wear suits that fine for them, but it does not apply to you. Would you be offended if a Saudi businessman wore a dishadash on an airplane between JFK and ORD? Or a Seikh in a turban between MCO and SFO? Or an African in one of those wonderful colourful tunics?
I don't know Japan well enough to say whether you'll be stared at, but I do know it well enough to say you won't offend anyone by dressing as you suggest.
If Japanese local custom is that locals wear suits that fine for them, but it does not apply to you. Would you be offended if a Saudi businessman wore a dishadash on an airplane between JFK and ORD? Or a Seikh in a turban between MCO and SFO? Or an African in one of those wonderful colourful tunics?
I don't know Japan well enough to say whether you'll be stared at, but I do know it well enough to say you won't offend anyone by dressing as you suggest.
Someone notoriously got in trouble for being seen in an Aloha shirt in Hawaii. He was not even a Japanese, he was a Mongol.
#21
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: PHL
Posts: 877
I think a better question is: do you care?
If Japanese local custom is that locals wear suits that fine for them, but it does not apply to you. Would you be offended if a Saudi businessman wore a dishadash on an airplane between JFK and ORD? Or a Seikh in a turban between MCO and SFO? Or an African in one of those wonderful colourful tunics?
I don't know Japan well enough to say whether you'll be stared at, but I do know it well enough to say you won't offend anyone by dressing as you suggest.
If you did wear flip-flops... uggh!
If Japanese local custom is that locals wear suits that fine for them, but it does not apply to you. Would you be offended if a Saudi businessman wore a dishadash on an airplane between JFK and ORD? Or a Seikh in a turban between MCO and SFO? Or an African in one of those wonderful colourful tunics?
I don't know Japan well enough to say whether you'll be stared at, but I do know it well enough to say you won't offend anyone by dressing as you suggest.
If you did wear flip-flops... uggh!
#22
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: PHL
Posts: 877
What is an Aloha shirt and why are they bad?
#23
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: PHL
Posts: 877
#25
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: Delta GM, US Silver, Hyatt Diamond, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 412
There is a wide gap between what is acceptable to wear and what some consider aesthetically pleasing. Someone wearing clean clothes that cover all the proper parts of their body is not offending anyone (unless they were otherwise required to be wearing something else). If the airline does not require a person to soil and wrinkle their dry clean only "sunday best" riding in their cattlecars, nobody should be offended if a person shows up dressed in something else.
Mondays I travel in dress pants and a cashmere sweater, Friday afternoons its jeans and a cashmere sweater. I don't think that the fact that the textiles used for making my pants is different makes me any less acceptable for airtravel.
The dress code at my current client is jeans on Friday and often if you aren't wearing jeans people will ask, "Did you forget it was Friday?" One thing that most of the consulting world has picked up on is that you need to make your clients comfortable. Showing up every day in a suit and tie when they are a khaki/polo type of work environment actually makes an inverse impression; "I'm better than you". While its entirely appropriate to dress up on certain occasions: initial sales calls, big wigs in town... I'd say its better to make the client feel at ease with you.
Mondays I travel in dress pants and a cashmere sweater, Friday afternoons its jeans and a cashmere sweater. I don't think that the fact that the textiles used for making my pants is different makes me any less acceptable for airtravel.
The dress code at my current client is jeans on Friday and often if you aren't wearing jeans people will ask, "Did you forget it was Friday?" One thing that most of the consulting world has picked up on is that you need to make your clients comfortable. Showing up every day in a suit and tie when they are a khaki/polo type of work environment actually makes an inverse impression; "I'm better than you". While its entirely appropriate to dress up on certain occasions: initial sales calls, big wigs in town... I'd say its better to make the client feel at ease with you.
#26
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: PR Premier Elite
Posts: 1,950
When I was a very young child back in the early 70's, me and my brother flew unaccompanied quite often. I clearly remember my mom always dressed us up in our little suit jackets and trousers with our little clip on ties for a flight. From a child's perspective, at least in our family, flying even in coach, though common to us, was still a formal event on par with a wedding or some kind of special church service. No kind of airline rules, that is just how my mom was. I think that era was all over for us by '76-'77 when by that time it was jeans and a t-shirt.
Even today I still usually dress business casual on allot of Asian flights. Not because anyone would probably care that much if I didn't. Just in Asia I perceive that there are sometimes subtle differences in how you are treated based on how you are dressed. More so than the US, where I have flown more than a few first class domestic flights in camo cargo shorts, t-shirt and 'gasp' sandals.
Although by now Japan and most Asian populations with wide exposure to western visitors are pretty much hip to the fact that Americans are a little more on the casual side and think nothing of it.
Even today I still usually dress business casual on allot of Asian flights. Not because anyone would probably care that much if I didn't. Just in Asia I perceive that there are sometimes subtle differences in how you are treated based on how you are dressed. More so than the US, where I have flown more than a few first class domestic flights in camo cargo shorts, t-shirt and 'gasp' sandals.
Although by now Japan and most Asian populations with wide exposure to western visitors are pretty much hip to the fact that Americans are a little more on the casual side and think nothing of it.
#27
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fernandina Beach, FL
Programs: Global Entry, 4MM, Lifetime AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 258
Looking out my apartment window in Tokyo right this minute, I see how everyone's dressed. All school kids are wearing their uniforms, with tie, backpack and sneakers. The teenagers going to work are wearing their black suits, (sometimes with brown shoes, but that's getting better), and shoulder bag. Of course the business men and women are smartly dressed in their (mostly black - always dark) attire, with shoulder bag or briefcase. Even on weekends, suits are very common. Now I see someone standing out in jeans with no shoulder bag - oh yes, it's a foreigner. Japan is a country of conformity, people are respectful, rebels are noticed and people care what others think. I truly love this country and its people.
Last edited by InPlaneSight; Jan 6, 2009 at 5:09 pm Reason: .
#29
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 643
I personally do miss the days when people had respect for themselves and other. The days of morals and chivalry. Yes the wonderful days when people would not consider going to church in anything other than the Sunday best. The days when people dressed up for dinner, movies and gatherings. Yes, days of Leave it to Beaver, Alice or The Brady Bunch. Much better social environment than we have now with so many feeling that they must express every minute of every day how much they have rights. Rights to do what they want, when they want, however they want, whereever they want. Even if that means boarding an airplane in the pajamas with a dog and a chicken under each arm. Yes between the two, I prefer the earlier scenario. Let the bums and the ones that look like bums ride a bus.
#30
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,544