From the days of flying in your Sunday best to wearing those velour tracksuits, plane attire has changed a lot over the years. Picking out what to wear these days could mean wearing your pajamas or choosing your favorite outfit to go out in right when you land.
But there are some definite don’ts when it comes to your wardrobe for the flight, no matter what. I’ll never forget when I decided to wear brand-new, tight jeans to the airport without thinking twice. Big mistake. Halfway through my flight, I was shifting in my seat and counting down the hours until I could peel them off.
So, if you aren’t sure what to wear on a plane for your next trip, before you leave for the airport, check out these helpful tidbits from various travel experts (I wish I had).
The footwear
Travel advisor and product manager at Businessclass.com Adeel Khan has the details for what to wear while flying, and it starts with what you put on your feet. Or shouldn’t put on your feet.
- No tight shoes
- Please, no flip-flops
- No bare feet
You know you will have to take your shoes off, yet there are always people who wear the most complicated lace-up shoes that take forever to undo. Khan knows this “can cause delays during security and can also make you uncomfortable during the flight.”
CEO of RatePunk Justin Albertynas says to stick to “lightweight, comfortable shoes” so your legs aren’t any more tired from all that walking through the airports. Yet, don’t go too far the other way, as Albertynas’ no-go’s for footwear include “at the top of my list for men is flip-flops followed by sandals and Birkenstocks.”
And please, please, no bare feet. You don’t want to know what’s on the airport floor, but if your feet are prone to being somewhat smelly, wearing socks is also a courtesy to those around you.
One of my favorite hacks for long flights is wearing compression socks. They help improve circulation, reduce swelling, and can even prevent that heavy, tired feeling in your legs after hours of sitting. Plus, they keep your feet warm, so you won’t regret skipping the flip-flops. If you’re looking for a recommendation, the compression socks I always use when I travel are from Bombas, and they work pretty well for me.
The accessories to skip while flying
- No accessories with metal
- No valuable accessories
- Put down the cologne
- Take out contacts
Everyone agrees that keeping your accessories to a minimum while traveling is best. BIPOC entrepreneur and the director and travel advisor at Nepal Hiking Team Balaram Thapa thinks “wearing expensive items or excessive jewelry can attract unwanted attention.”
Khan wants you to “avoid clothing with metal accents” so you don’t set the metal detector off. It also holds up the line if you have to take off a bunch of accessories, then again, while everyone has to wait for you to put it all back on. Pack it away in your bag or leave it at home.
Travel expert at Asaptickets Mercedes Zack wisely points out certain accessories are “more likely to get you flagged by the TSA,” so it’s best to skip as many accessories as possible anyway.
Thapa had another great point with accessories, reminding you to “avoid strong perfumes or colognes.” Khan agrees it’s “best to avoid anything that might be overwhelming.” If you don’t want to smell a strong cologne the whole flight, don’t do that to someone else.
Something else you might not think of in the moment is how dry your eyes could get if you have in contacts. For the flight, keep the contacts in the case. Zach’s tip is to “consider bringing a pair of glasses along instead if you plan on working on your computer or reading while on the plane.”
What accessories should you wear on a plane?
If you have a belt with metal accents, sometimes that can be a tough accessory to just skip when heading to the airport. Luckily, there are good belts out there that have no metal, so you don’t even have to take them off when going through airport security.
I’ve been wearing the Atlas belt by Arcade, and I love it. It has no metal, and it’s lightweight, stretchy, and ridiculously comfortable — a far cry from the stiff belts I’ve worn on planes in the past. And if you don’t mind removing your belt when going through TSA, I’ve also tried the new, dressier Motion belt, and since it’s stretchy with great support, it’s perfect to wear if you’re going from the plane straight to a business meeting or a nice dinner.
The outfit itself
- No tight or restrictive clothing
- Keep the offensive logos packed away
- No shorts
- Nothing that wrinkles easily
Whether your flight is quick or an hours-long haul, you want to be able to sit in your seat without constantly messing with your clothing. According to Thapa, pick a “breathable fabric that will allow you the flexibility to move around.” Zack agrees, opting to avoid “anything tight, such as skinny jeans or slim-fit jackets.”
Another item to never wear is shorts. Just wear pants and leave the shorts for when you get to your destination. Dean of International Education at Endicott College Warren Jaferian states, “Airplane seats are rarely if ever cleaned, so from a purely hygienic perspective, avoid direct contact with unclean surfaces.”
Skip offensive clothing — for obvious reasons — but you also never know what TSA is going to flag someone for. But as Thapa points out, these kinds of items could “create unease for fellow passengers,” so save your offensive graphic tee for the night out with the guys.
If you’re going somewhere as soon as you land, make sure you wear fabrics that won’t wrinkle up from sitting for so long. If you don’t know if you’ll have a steamer where you’re going, leave those items at home.
The one travel outfit rule you should follow
- Wear layers
When thinking about what to wear on a plane, you never know if that plane is going to be freezing or if the air won’t work and you know you can’t avoid sweating. Wear a few lightweight layers so you can adjust to whatever conditions you’ll be sitting in. Another one of my favorite hacks is wearing a scarf that can double as a blanket for when it gets chilly during the flight.
Khan knows having layering options “allows for flexibility and comfort.” Zach says layering is also a good idea to “save up some space in your luggage.” Every little bit helps when you have to pack for vacation.
After you pick out your clothes, do a simple sweep of these hard passes to make sure you aren’t making a travel outfit blunder. You need to think about possible flight delays or layovers, where you could be sitting in those clothes for longer than you originally planned. We know flying in general gives people enough stress, so help yourself out by knowing what to wear on a plane to have one less thing to worry about.
