What to Wear (and What Not to Wear) on an Airplane
On an airplane, comfort is key...and
so is safety.
Pants are a better bet than skirts, as the plane gets cold at upper altitudes. Hosiery and tights can even pose a safety issue. A long wrap sweater that can double as a blanket is a travel lifesaver. The most comfortable and practical outfit
I've found is a long-sleeved, fitted, white-T, a pair of loose,wide-legged, stretchy pants that don't
wrinkle and that look dressy, and a long, black wrap sweater.
Comfortable shoes that can be slipped off easily at security complete the outfit. The exception is traveling with boots--I don't want to take up room in my bag, because then I'll have to check it...but they are a hassle at security, where the TSA basically expects you to undress at this point.
While we're talking about packing, checking your luggage, and the TSA--don't check anything you aren't willing to lose. Ever. Sad, but true. Also, if you must check bags, be sure to take at least one extra outfit and your toiletries in your carryon.
Can you tell how much I just LOVE to fly?
What Not to
Wear:
- tight jeans
- anything that wrinkles badly (like linen)
- hats (baseball caps are the exception)
- pantyhose or tights (these are actually dangerous--see below)
- high heels
- long full skirts or other clothing that could hinder movement
- tight shoes
- shorts
- jumpsuit (try getting in and out of one in an airplane bathroom. You won't do it more than once).
Safety Concerns
Not all these
items are on the list for comfort or fashion victim reasons--what
you wear or don't wear on plane could mean avoiding serious
injury or possibly even death.
If there's a crash and the plane
catches fire, items made of flammable synthetics can kill
you.
Pantyhose is especially dangerous, as the
fibers will melt in a fire and stick to your skin. Anything that hampers
movement (e.g., a long, full skirt or high heels) could mean the difference
between getting to safety and not.
What to Wear
Loose, comfortable clothing in layers, so you can add and subtract layers according to the temperature. For example, if you're traveling in warm weather, the air conditioning in the plane isn't on while you're on the runway and during taxi, so it can get quite warm. Once the plane takes off and the AC kicks in, you may find yourself freezing cold.
I like to travel with a long wrap sweater with front panels like a blanket so I can cover myself with that instead of an icky airline blanket.
Remember that your feet may swell during the flight, so starting with a comfortable shoe is key. If you take them off during the flight, you may have difficulty getting them back on. |
