This is my list of things not to wear when flying. I’m old enough to have flown in the early 1950s, as a kid, of course. There were no commercial jets. The Boeing 707’s first commercial flight wasn’t until 1958. Flying across the U.S. took more than seven hours. Generally, planes in the early ’50s had plenty of legroom. Smoking was permitted on planes then. Their smell and smoke permeated the cabin.
A major difference, compared to today, was that air travelers in the ’50s were dressed “to the nines.” Men wore jackets and ties. Women wore dresses, their best jewelry and heels.
Today, we see people flying dressed in short-shorts, micro-skirts, underwear showing, flip-flops, pajamas and plenty of T-shirts, often displaying gross cartoons and ugly words.
As an air traveler, I dress for comfort, convenience, consideration, service and safety. I don’t want to return to the 1950s, but I think common sense should be used when air passengers choose their travel clothing.
Here is my list of seven things not to wear when flying.
1. Don’t wear tight clothing:
In 2010, Lady Gaga wore very restrictive clothing made from black and yellow tape, as well as some tight platform heels, to fly from London to New York. According to reports, her legs noticeably swelled during the flight. She had to disrobe because the swelling indicated the early signs of “deep vein thrombosis” (DVT), which according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), can result in a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal.
Forgetting the seriousness of DVT, tight clothing might be fashionable, but they’re generally not comfortable. There’s no point making yourself more uncomfortable than the small seats with little legroom on today’s aircraft already do.
2. Don’t run afoul of the airlines’ fashion police:
The airlines’ unpublished dress code has been in the news in recent years. Airlines don’t permit provocative or revealing clothing, showing off one’s “Calvin Klein’s,” or wearing clothing with offensive or political language or graphics. Make your flights easier. Wear appropriate garb within airline rules.
3. Don’t wear a parka to fly in summer even if traveling to a cold climate:
When flying to a cold climate in summer, don’t wear your parka or oversized jacket. Pack it. In summer, with the recent terror attacks, airport security will likely think you’re hiding something in it. They’ll probably detain you to do a more thorough check. Why give airport security a reason to make your life miserable?
4. Be prepared for a flight emergency:
While few flights ever encounter an emergency, or any kind of incident, many of us have been in a plane with an emergency requiring an evacuation via inflatable slides. Wearing sensible clothing in case of emergency helps you evacuate safely and, in my opinion, is more comfortable than what many wear on flights these days.
Flip-flops, open toe shoes, sandals, high heels or canvas shoes are things not to wear when flying. If there’s debris following a crash, wearing them will make it difficult to safely depart the plane without foot wounds. During the emergency I was in, one woman with high heels punctured a slide with a heel, soon rendering it useless. Another with heels got one caught and broke her leg sliding to the tarmac. Pack the heels and wear sensible footwear for your flight.
5. Don’t wear clothes with a high synthetic fiber content:
If a fire breaks out in an emergency, clothing with a high synthetic fiber content can melt onto your body, potentially causing a bad burn. Natural fibers don’t melt, and they breathe, making them comfortable.
6. Don’t wear shorts, mini or micro-skirts, loose fitting clothing or long shawls:
In an evacuation, shorts, or mini- or micro-skirts can be a problem when sliding down the chute. They don’t adequately protect you from friction burns, which really hurt. I suggest all passengers wear pants or slacks. Loose fitting clothing and shawls can get caught in debris, slowing you down from evacuating the plane.
7. Don’t wear strong perfume or cologne:
Strong perfume or cologne are things not to wear when flying. Typically it makes everyone around you annoyed and uncomfortable. Just use a dab, if you must.
So, what should you wear.
Wear clothing made with natural, breathable fabrics. They’re safer and more comfortable than high content synthetics for flying. Lots of pockets in your clothing is a big plus to carry personal gear you want during your flight through the airport and into your plane. I generally wear a photographer’s vest for that purpose. In a pinch it has enough capacity to be a third carry-on, too. Wear comfortable pants, as they’re better protection in an emergency than shorts, skirts or dresses.
Comfortable walking or athletic shoes are great for flying. They’re also as safe as any footwear in an emergency. Especially for long flights, compression socks or hosiery can help prevent DVT.
Dress in layers to fly, no matter what the season. Your plane’s cabin may be hot, cold or somewhere in between. Dressing in layers permits you to easily adjust to the cabin temperature. Dress neatly in freshly laundered clothes for comfort and to look good. The better you look, the more likely you’ll get great service on your flight and later on after exiting the plane.
Commonsense clothing can improve your flight experience.
(Image: United Airlines flight landing at Philadelphia International Airport – Copyright © 2015 NSL Photography. All Rights Reserved.)
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After many years working in corporate America as a chemical engineer, executive and eventually CFO of a multinational manufacturer, Ned founded a tech consulting company and later restarted NSL Photography, his photography business. Before entering the corporate world, Ned worked as a Public Health Engineer for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. As a well known corporate, travel and wildlife photographer, Ned travels the world writing about travel and photography, as well as running photography workshops, seminars and photowalks. Visit Ned’s Photography Blog and Galleries.
