As a child, I remember dressing up to fly, even if we were just flying to Florida or Bermuda, we’d dress up in at least khakis and a sports jacket. It was second nature, even through college, to at least wear nice pants.
Then, as I got into the work force, and my masters, it seemed that jeans were acceptable on a plane. Further, as I traveled for work, I still work nice slacks, or maybe jeans, if I didn’t have a business meeting, but I started to see folks traveling in sweatpants, or yoga pants, and I started to wonder whether one really needed to dress up or not.
Looking back, I remember thinking that if one were to meet their maker, it made sense to wear a jacket and tie, because, you wanted to make a good impression after all. Was this the reason to dress up for a flight? Or perhaps the reason was because formerly it was reserved for the “well to do” who apparently always dressed up.
I’m not sure what the answer is, or was, or will be. But more and more I’m asking myself, when traveling in hot climates (like Southeast Asia), or even traveling during the summer in the US, is it acceptable to wear shorts?
I used believe the answer was no. I wore pants on planes without fault for years, decades in fact. Taking into account the latest incidents, I even wondered whether pants were preferred because, in the event of emergency, you were safer wearing pants vs. shorts, going down the emergency evacuation slide.
Maybe all of that was just trying to find a reason not to wear shorts. After a while of looking around, I found that many, many folks were wearing shorts. So I too, will give wearing shorts when flying a try. I may still change into pants when flying in the way pointy end of the plane, but if I’m just flying business or economy, I’m seriously wondering if it makes sense to wear pants, when, in all honesty, I’ll be more comfortable in shorts.
What do you think? Do you wear shorts on a plane? Does it matter what cabin you are flying?
I’ve been on planes with broken A/C (at my seat and other times plane-wide). I’ve had a 6-hour layover in Newark during an unseasonably hot early May where the policy of “we don’t turn on the A/C until May 15” overrode the logic of “it’s really hot in here, we need A/C.” I’ve been forced to run through airports to make connections because of delays, last minute gate changes, and/or long security/immigration/customs lines. And I know I’m far from alone in these experiences. People who harken to a past when air travel was more refined and then blame it on the passengers aren’t really being fair. Air travel is far from a luxury experience. 4- and 5-star hotels would be ashamed to hear any of my above complaints from their guests. Airlines and airports just shrug and say they’re sorry and there’s nothing they can do, that this is just reality. Today air travel is uncomfortable by nature, so I dress as comfortably as possible.
@Robert — wow, air travel has declined over the years, hasn’t it? Of course, it has gotten much nicer in the pointy end of the plane… hard to say what the net result is…
The modest increase in protection afforded by pants v. shorts will probably be the least of your concerns should you really need to emergency evacuate a plane via slide. You might actually fare better should you need to run following emergent egress.
@De – good point!
i always wear jeans when flying because planes tend toward the cool end of the thermostat rather than the warm end. but that’s just my personal preference.
@Mason – I hear you, usually I’ll wear travel pants, most recently though, flying on Cathay Pacific, which tends to keep the cabin warmer, I opted for shorts, but it was interesting seeing how few folks did wear shorts.
It’s a bit of a nasty quandary. Shorts are generally more comfortable, but I don’t want to be That Guy. Also, if I’m checking into a nice hotel, I feel out of place wearing shorts to check in.
Some good comments above! I’ll add something I read awhile ago (on Quora?) that the author had received more seat upgrades when he dressed nicely (jeans and blazer).
I wear what I’ll use on the trip so there’s less to pack.
I’m a freeze baby. So, even if I’m sweating at the gate, waiting for the plane in a tropical location, I know that when I’m at 30K feet, I’ll be really really happy that my legs have some insulation against the cold.
I do wear jeans. But nice ones. Never yoga pants. Always wear or bring a sweater or a coat (or both) on board, because, again, I’m a freeze baby. The blanket you may or may not get on a domestic flight these days, even in the front of the plane, are good for nothing but hiding the earbud wires leading to the music in your lap, as you try to sleep through take off. They offer no warmth, whatsoever.
I can totally see that… My thing was – Cathay Pacific likes to keep their planes rather warm.
Perhaps those travel pants that have the zip-off legs will suit you? You never know if it is going to be hot or cold on the plane so jeans work well for me because they give some warmth if it is cold and I don’t mind if I sweat in them if it is hot.
@Jack – have you ever worn those zip-off legs pants? They are not very comfortable when laying down. I usually just pack pajamas (unless the airline is giving them), my challenge is the short and mid-haul, e.g. 3.5 hour flights between Singapore and Hong Kong. Feel kind’ve funny changing. Just easier to wear shorts.
SHORTS4LYFE