"Dressing as one should look when flying"
 

In the Feb 10, 2009 NY Times, the 'Itineraries' page had a refreshing article about a young FF whose profession is writing about video games & technology.

He has some unique perspectives on ".. how someone should dress when flying" . Rather than wearing sweat or pajamas & carrying a pillow as if one were going to a jr hs slumber party, he wears slacks & sports coat

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/business/10flier.html

I wouldn't say they're unique - many people feel the same way. It's just that most of them flew on DC-3s.

As long as your feet are covered and you don't smell, please dress comfortably.

Mike

I flew on a DC-3 once when I was a very small child. I wish I can remember how I was dressed.

And they can feel however they like, I have no issue with opinions. Just as long as they don't convey that feeling in a snobbish way, acting like flying is a country club ball instead of transportation (not saying the author is acting like that, didn't get to read the article yet).

But, feel free to dress up if you like. Just don't look down on anyone who may not share the same outdated notions of what's acceptable or respectable.

The perspective's not unique, and it's not limited to old fogeys, either. A person of any age can recognize that, for better or worse, people make snap judgments based on appearance. Thus it behooves a person to dress like he or she wishes to be treated.

Actually, I think it would behoove that person to show those who make judgments based on appearance that respect is shown through actions and words, not pieces of fabric with designer names on them. :)

I find that those who "dress up" the most tend to be those who don't fly much. You know the couple in FC with the bangels and jewelery are not the road warriors on the fourth flight of the week, blerry eyed and just wanting to get home

It goes to your overrall appearance. Who comes across better in the F class cabin, an in shape man, well groomed and with manners wearing jeans versus a 400 pound slob in an ill fitted business suit, shirt half untucked, and smelling of b.o., ordering around the F FAs like they are his personal servants while screaming in his cell phone to some poor underlining back at his office.

I remember flying on constellations. the interiors in coach were very plush, and there was considerable room. on some of the planes, there were sleepers over the seats. i frequently flew from columbus to pittsburg. lunch or dinner was served on that hop.

most males(very few females on these planes) wore coat and tie and polished leather shoes.

^

I did enjoy reading the article, even if I don't exactly relate to it. The fact that he wants to emulate Gregory Peck in "Roman Holiday" just amuses me, in a way that's hard to explain.

I do find flying a bit of a retreat myself. I have X number of hours to devote just to reading, which is a real pleasure. But I do limited flying for work, so I know that most business flyers are going to have a different experience.

I'm all for dressing comfortably, as long as it is tasteful. I did have the lounge dragons in Narita ask a man to put pants on instead of the gym shorts he was in. Yep, I'm the one who made the request. The thick, black coat of fur on your legs was too much to handle, in a bad way. :td:

yep, dc3 dress was different....i worked for ibm a long while back and on the corporate dc3, everyone wore dark suits, white shirts, conservative ties, and hats [straw in summer, felt in winter]....now i wear chinos, shirt and travel vest [w/coat or sweater if needed....

Very true, there are many factors that go into how people treat you. As you mention, manners, hygiene and neatness are very important. Physical attributes can also be important. Dress is also important, in my opinion. It's a whole package. Ignoring just one of them can outweigh all advantages of the others. For myself, I'm always comfortable wearing nice clothes whether on a plane or in a business meeting. I never go casual when traveling or any other time unless I'm in the privacy of my home. Maybe I'm just old fashioned, even though I not old enough to have ever stepped foot on a DC3 or even close.

Of course I have to be sure my clothing is appropriate for the weather/temperature and when flying it often involves a wide range of temperatures from origin to plane to destination, which can restrict somewhat my choice in clothing. Dressing up in a suit and tie when you're going to be subjected to hot temperatures is definitely not a good choice if it will cause you to sweat a lot. I do take special care to try to choose clothing that won't wrinkle too badly after sitting many hours on a plane.

I wasn't always this way. In my younger years I always chose casual and comfort and didn't pay any attention to how I appeared to others. I found though through the years that wearing nicer clothes wasn't uncomfortable after all and that the much better impression it left on people was well worth the effort. I don't look down at all on those who don't dress nicely though, but just smile when I see how sometimes people are treated differently based on how they are dressed.

I pity the poor guy who sat next to me on a recent flight. I had a very long day on the shop floor carrying and lifting equipment as part of a kaizen event. It went long, I had to dash to the airport...

I tried my best to freshen up, but I don't think it was as effective as a shower and change of clothes. Poor guy. And it was on a CRJ. :(

[ I prefer to wear a jacket ('coat' in American) and trousers (not jeans). The jacket provides plenty of storage space for my glasses (sun and clear), pen (for those crosswords) BP, passport, even a rolled up newspaper, mints etc. I always check my luggage unless on a short (day) trip, so do not have any carry-on to worry about. When on a day drip, it is usually for a business meeting when I wear a suit.

Does anyone under the age of 60 really even own a sportcoat anymore?

Suit yes, sportcoat and dress slacks - reminds me of my grandfather.

yes, several

The problem is, the so-called "in-shape" passenger is just (if not more) likely to be an arrogant lout who screams into his/her phone, etc. What then? ;)

I once spoke to a woman who was a stew with Trans-Canada Airlines in the late 50s and early to mid 60s (Now Air Canada). She commented that when she was working on Super Connies she'd take a passenger's breakfast order, then go to the galley and cook it.

"I'll have eggs over easy and bacon."

I wonder what 1 of those flights would cost in today's dollars?

Probably enough to make me rethink my MR strategies.

Yep, me too.

Personally, I try to dress as though I wouldn't be "ashamed" if I saw a client or potential client. Nothing outrages but a nice pear of jeans and a dress shirt go a long way IMO.

+1

Add me to the list of the sport jacket owners waaay under 60.

I go with the good jeans as well and a dress shirt that's never tucked in. Along with with a pair of Cole-Haan loafers. ^

...then again, that's the way I'm dressed most days. So I guess I don't do anything special when I fly.

Suits are for weddings, funerals, and board meetings.

My bolding.

And why was it any of your business what the person was or was not wearing? Regardless of whether or not you like hairy legs it seems very arrogant to impose your standards on others when it really isn't any of your concern.

When I fly I dress for my comfort not yours. I wear what is appropriate for my circumstances, that may well be shorts or a business suit or anything in between.

My wife thought I was very sexy in a sportcoat and Jordaches - I think it was the early '80s (of course my memory of those days is a bit ...cloudy).

Good for you. :D

My girlfriend (and my ex, among others) still thinks I'm sexy in a sportcoat and 7's (or even Lucky's). ;)

...cuz every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man.

Some people have style, some don't
 

There is nothing wrong with looking great.
Some people take pleasure in looking chic, modern, with-it, current, fresh, seductive, witty, stylish and well-groomed, head to toe.
It's a form of self-expression, communication with others, and the pleasure of being alive and in the world.
Partake or not, at your peril.
Some people have style, some don't.
You know it when you see it.

I have a question for all those that believe they should be able to dictate how others dress on an airplane. Did you pay for their travel? If not then, unless they are offending you in some way, and I don't just mean your sense of style, please mind your business.

Does anyone's company have a policy on dress code while on business travel? Mine does not, but I believe that some do. If one's company does have such a policy, then in that case I could see where the company may have a justification, as they are indeed paying for the travel.

Bottom line - if you didn't pay for my travel, please don't try to impose your arbitrary rules on me

And some people find the entire concept of 'style' (especially dictated by someone other than themselves) to be the height of pretension. Chacon à son goût, as Prince Orlovsky says....

For myself, I dress for comfort, but respect the fact that I will be spending several hours in close physical proximity to other people. Like many others, I would never enter an airplane cabin without being well-groomed and wearing clean, neat clothes. However, I personally never fly with just a t-shirt as my only upper garment, because I consider t-shirts to be underwear, and my mother taught me to not walk around in public with my underwear showing. :D

Yes, my son at age 26 owns several also.

Dress Code Jetiquette
 

I could not agree more! It definitely pays off to go for a comfortable and classically tasteful look. I too prefer a sport coat with any jeans or trousers. Even if you decide to wear driving or athletic shoes, the sport coat (which may be removed at any time) takes it up several notches.

The Pillow and Pajama look drive me crazy!!!

Going for the Gregory Peck look is not a bad idea. Sometimes we have to fantasize in order to bring back some degree of glamour. If everyone could get on the same page (airline management, staff, and pax) it would make it easier.

When it comes to airlines putting some style back into air travel Virgin America is doing it in a modern, hip way.

I'm with you on that one ^

Generally I don't care what other people are wearing. As long as people show respect for other people in enclosed cramp areas you can sit naked next to me for what I care.

Once flying into Stockholm there was a gang of 30 somethings in their suits waiting for their luggage trying to look sharp. Next to them was an up and coming rock band at the time wearing clothes reflecting their profession. An elderly lady was trying to get her bag but couldn't grasp it and almost fell. The suits couldn't care or less while the "outcast" did what they could to help the lady and make sure she was ok.

Lesson learnt: Wearing the right clothes says nothing about you or who you are. Being helpful no mater what you wear will get you further in the long run...

FT - where the AARPers hang out before their earlybird dinners

Translation, please? I've heard of him, but beyond that...

I don't get it, it's just a plane, its transportation, it's not a party in the sky. If I am flying somewhere that requires a specific attire, I will wear it. If I am just getting somewhere I will wear what makes me comfortable. What people think of what I am wearing is of no concern to me.

Do people dress up to ride trains and buses too? LOL

DC-3 were mainly converted C-47
 

My recollection of travel in this aircraft must have been travelling in down the back in Economy... the photo here shows a rather narrow seat spacing, and everybody seems very casually dressed - working clothes and boots abound.

Whilst the boarding seen here seems quite orderly, the exit routine seems a little hurried, with no friendly ground reception in sight.

In 1962, I ended up in the back of a C-130, McGuire AFB-Gander-Thule-Keyflavik-Prestwick-RheinMain, an endless and uncomfortable trip, in Service Dress Blue (Grey Gloves & White Cap Cover), not a uniform for relaxing, although I could wrap myself in my Bridge Coat to avoid freezing.

The aircrew were wearing nice, comfortable jumpsuits, not even that itchy but fire-resistant Nomex back in those days.

I swore that ever thereafter unless required in best bib and tucker or equivalent immediately after touchdown, I would make ever attempt at comfort consistent with "suitably attired" and the duration of the flight(s)/journey involved. The basics of that approach do require some limits....no shorts, flip flops, sandals (as much for safety and avoid stubbed toes as for looks) and the ability to easily add/subtract layers to meet weather changes. Add careful planning and purchasing to minimize weight and compressible volume and to increase flexibility with multiple usage, and you've improved not only the time on the plane but the time at your destination(s). My wife and I are off to Central/Eastern Europe in late April, 2 1/2 weeks, over burdened by cameraware, but "carry ons only" this time around.

Fashion is a very SENSITIVE topic here on FT... I got hate mails for speaking up once and I am about to make the same mistake .

Sure I work for the biggest fashion magazine in the world; sure I just went to about 45 fashion shows at NY fashion week last week, and I am going to dress a few actresses to the Oscar tomorrow evening. However, my opinion about fashion on Flyertalk is useless.

Mom and dad on here would slap across my face if I ever tell them what to wear. So yes, go ahead and wear whatever you like. Go for those hideous Crocs, sweatpants, because at the end of the day, if you are brave enough to go out of the house looking like that, I salute you.

To answer someone who wonders if anyone under 60 owns sport jackets... YES, many people who are under 60 still wear sport jackets.

I don't get what all the fuss is about. Just wear what is comfortable for YOU. If that's a sport jacket, so be it. If that's PJs, go for it. Why would you care what others around you are wearing? I guess I don't get it.

BTW, I'm one of those who does usually wear a sport jacket while traveling (yes, I'm not 60 yet). I find them comfortable and convenient.