Dress code when flying

{mcuth: mod note: This topic split off from the original "Anyone seen this? VS A380 interior" (here) to enable the chat about dress codes to continue}

Originally posted by sailor99
Oh yes your right Alan, planes today aren't a touch on the comet. And the cabin crew were real cabin crew in those days, not that they were called cabing crew then. Have you seen what they wear these days; youngsters they are, and no mistake. Pah!

Yes, and always with a shapley leg in stockings and high heels, plus that natty scarve....

Remember the passengers would also dress for the flight, none of this shell suit brigade you know..

We still dress to fly - although most of the time I don't see the point;) Even in UC, you come across people in shorts and T-shirts.

Cheers,
VS045

Originally posted by VS045
We still dress to fly - although most of the time I don't see the point;) Even in UC, you come across people in shorts and T-shirts.
Cheers,
VS045

Ahh, now this is an interesting topic for a thread! What do people dress like for flying these days. Staff travel with some airlines is still really strict, with staff being made to wear shirt and tie, and sometimes even jackets for travel in premium cabins.

I've been turned back from the BA staff travel desk at T4 for a flight to Washington as the only seat left was in First and I had a casual top and chinos... eventually they gave me a boarding pass with instructions to visit Tie Rack in departures.

My mum fondly remembers flying to Canada 40 years ago and having to wear a hat on board!

But to be honnest it has to be comfort these days... epsecially in Economy, but even in Upper.

One of my worst Flying Fashion Faux-pas has to be shorts and T-shirts coming back from Reunion island in the Indian Ocean when I was a student. I got the cheapest ticket, with an 8 hour layover in CDG in February. Froze my bits off!!!

My first job with another airline often involved upgrading passengers at check-in... and there we'd only ever pick people who looked fairly smart... Though even the smartest passengers would be left to Que for economy if they failed to smile when I asked to chck their tickets!

Jeans, t-shirt, old jacket. Nothing special really

Oh god that's a dilemma - what to wear. Polo shirt or short sleeved shirt and light trousers. Oh that sounds like Dad talking... oh sod it, I've begome middle aged. Anyway, I know what I have seen other people wear that I do not like on planes:

1) Sandals on men. Fine for the beach, pool etc - not for international travel in confined spaces.
2) Jogging bottoms with visible sweat. This is especially unpleasant if you are in the aisle and the wearer is standing adjacent. Just foul.
3) Fancy dress worn by groups of people. I'm more scared by the thought of that than by windshear, clear air turbulebnce or even crying children.

TTFN

Paul

Good job on spliting this one off Michael [y]

[Nottingham Nick]

I tend to wear Dockers, polo shirt and blazer.. not through and snobbery or false pretense of being smart, but when I am flying - there is no such thing as too many pockets. [}:)];)

[buns]

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
I tend to wear Dockers, polo shirt and blazer.. not through and snobbery or false pretense of being smart, but when I am flying - there is no such thing as too many pockets. [}:)];)

I quite agree[y][y] I usually opt for a shirt with a breast pocket to make sure I have the passport with me at all times;)

[mcmbenjamin]

Jeans and t-shirt/Lacoste in the winter, shorts and t-shirt/Lacoste but then sometime sandels, black runner shorts, white t-shirt.

But then when I non-rev on Delta; Dockers, Lacoste, and leather dreesy shoes. (On Indy Air it was anything that the employee would normally wear as non-revs stick out as they normally are the best dressed.)

[RichardMannion]

Great thread!

All depends what mood I am in to be honest - I never dress up for a flight though. From very casual, yes I have been the fool with the shorts, t-shirt and trainers in Upper, to smart casual.

BA must have changed their policy, as the one time I flew in First (Dec 2002) I was not wearing a tie. More like a shirt and chinos. My sibling on the otherhand would have quite easily fitted in a Dr Dre rap video - we shall call it Westwood fashion. White Phat Farm 'sneakers', Burberry trousers, grey ralph lauren t-shirt, gold chains, and white furry collar anorak - oh yes the true rap celebrity. Fortunately for the outbound on Concorde, he had dressed a little better in jeans and shirt - and then proceeded to decline all the food options onboard as he didn't want any of that 'posh sh*te', the crew were great and got him some sandwiches from the captains selection. They did chuckle at his drink request, 'Vodka and Red bull', to which they explained that they didn't have the latter, so he then asked if the fresh OJ 'had bits in it'. As you can see we are somewhat like chalk and cheese.

Thanks,
Richard

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by sailor99
Good job on spliting this one off Michael [y]

Hear! Hear!

I like smart casual - slacks or good quality jeans, t-shirt and jacket or coat (depending on the season)

The worst I have seen have been at the opposite ends of the spectrum. On my first VS flight - to JNB - there was a middle-aged guy wearing a pair of shorts so short as to be indecent [:I] On the other hand, last year when we were flying Easyjet to LGW (to connect to VS) there were two elderly gentlemen of a vintage that believed you dressed up for travel. They both had on suits, shirts and ties and in one case, a sweater. Fine, except it was a swelteringly hot evening in July. We were being held in a glassed in stairwell waiting to board. It faced west and the sun was pouring in (and sweat was pouring out) It was like a sauna and I felt so sorry for these two gentlemen and just wished that they had felt able to wear something a little more comfortable but still smart

[preiffer]

Jeans & T-shirt, simple. Why would you wear anything else to sit in your own sweat for 12 hours...? [?]

Beware the 'knicker-grabber' or 'arse-grabber' when deciding what to wear. No seriously, I went on a flight training course at the BA flight training centre at Heathrow a few years back (the company I worked for thought it would be a great idea for fun day after a major drinking session [:$]).

Anyhoo, they put us through all the crash simulators, smoke-filled cabins, life raft business etc The one thing I really will never forget is the emergency slide; there is a piece of material on the bottom designed to stop you from plummeting into the sea in the case of a crash landing over water. It is very rough and is known as the 'knicker-grabber' as it stops you dead at the bottom of the chute. However, it will tear your skin if you're not wearing anything substantial, like jeans. So boys beware, no flimsy skirts, even if you are flying in the pointy bit.

Jacq x

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by preiffer
Jeans & T-shirt, simple. Why would you wear anything else to sit in your own sweat for 12 hours...? [?]

Don't they do sleep suits in your size Paul? [:p]

As for the South African gentleman that thought it was de rigeur to change into his sleepsuit in the aisle! [:0]

Thanks,
Richard

Usually Chinos and a shirt, and shoes and socks.

Never do the shorts and sandals bit mostly coz the planes are a bit nippy on the way back!!!

I also have a routine that a pilot once told me was good - leave my shoes on til the plane is up and in the air and the seatbelty sign has gone off - God forbid there is an emergency but running around in yoru bright yellow sockies aint gonna be too plez!!

I know its not a requirment but Im sure if you after an OP UP its btter to be well presented than not!!!

I wouldnt say that I dressed 'formally' to travel, the days of flying being a black tie affair are long gone. Conversely I wont wear shorts or a tracksuit either, but I will take a pair of shorts on board a night flight for sleeping in, its more comfortable than long pants.

Dressing for my first flight:

I was six and it was in the mid-1960's. We were flying American Airlines from Rochester to New York and my mother made sure I wore a coat and tie.

Back then, we always dressed up for flying.

Originally posted by Jacqueline Lewis


It is very rough and is known as the 'knicker-grabber' as it stops you dead at the bottom of the chute. However, it will tear your skin if you're not wearing anything substantial, like jeans. So boys beware,

Jacq x

Kinda reminds me of those plummeting water chutes like the one at Blizzard Beach - instant enema!!

Ooooooooooooohhhhhhhh

For me, its a comfortable t-shirt, jeans, trainers and a hockey jersey to put or keep on when it gets cold.
Comfort is a must for me, but shorts... nah, 1. Seats itch 2. Not comfortable 3. My hairy legs would scare anyone off.

Kev.

A&F Combats and a smart casual shirt... The combats for sufficient pocket space and loose fitting comfort, and the shirt so I look respectable when I smile sweetly in the hope of an op-up (assuming my scruffy lower half hasn't been spotted as I walk up to check in! [:w]

It's also important to think about what you wear underneath.

Whilst sitting in PE, seat 70H, the lady in 70K found it very funny when seeing a man get up from his suite, a bit too quickly after waking up.

She was a lawyer too. Shame on her [ii]

[ChuckC]

Originally posted by preiffer
Jeans & T-shirt, simple. Why would you wear anything else to sit in your own sweat for 12 hours...? [?]

To quote you, Paul ... "ewwwwww".

Chuck-

[preiffer]

Exactly, Chuck - which is why I'll never understand people "dressing up" for a flight.

If it were a 10 hour train journey, would people dress up for that? (Even in "first class"?) [:0]

I'm as casual as i can get away with - i'd walk on in my PJ's if i could - but i do love it when old people dress up - it makes me smile. I don't know why.

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by Lipstick
I'm as casual as i can get away with - i'd walk on in my PJ's if i could - but i do love it when old people dress up - it makes me smile. I don't know why.

Why not travel in your PJs? My god sister does it and goes to sleep as soon as she sits down.