As a flight attendant, I see thousands upon thousands of people traveling, on the plane and in the airport. Back in the day, regular air travel was a privilege that was reserved solely for the wealthy. Most other fliers had saved for many years to take that one special trip of their dreams. Since it was such a special event to be going on a plane, travelers dressed in their best outfits, often purchasing a new piece for the occasion.

Obviously, times have changed. Air travel is something that is easily available to most people and often whole families fly to visit relatives or to go on vacation. Something else that has changed is that unwritten dress code. It saddens me to see so many people flying in their pajamas, ultra short shorts, men in strap-T undershirts. (If you need some example of what NOT to do, click here!)

Believe me, I understand that air travel (especially in Economy class) is not exactly comfortable. Seats are narrow and barely recline. The desire for comfort is understandable. But there are plenty of ways to be comfortable without looking like you just got out of bed! 

When you fly, your body bloats, so clothes with a bit of give is a good idea. Even if you are traveling to a warm destination, it can get chilly on the plane, so bring a light sweater to layer. Try not to wear something that has metal adornments, requires a belt, or lots of jewelry, as you will need to remove most or all of it when you go through security. Sensible easy-off easy-on shoes will expedite your trip through the TSA line as well. 

For summer travel, I like to wear a pair of capris that fit without a belt but have enough give to not get snug with airplane bloat, a nice tank top that fits me well and isn’t too low-cut or short (you will be leaning over and reaching up when dealing with stowing your bags!), a cardigan sweater to layer, and a pair of comfortable mules that are easy to slip into after walking through the metal detector.

Remember, when you travel, you represent your town, state and country. When you are comfortable and look good, your travel experience will be a lot more pleasant. Everyone feels great when they look great!