Flying is a common dream for people. That being said, just about anyone can fly any more. All it takes is buying a ticket to the board a plane and travel anywhere that planes fly. This process has changed quite a bit over the decades though. It used to be that to fly one had to dress a certain way, or at least was expected to dress a certain way.
It used to be that when people got ready for flight that they dressed in their best. Men dressed in suits and women wore conservative dresses. The attendants used to collect hats and gloves at the door of the plane as passengers boarded. This was because flight was expensive and something that only the elite of society was able to enjoy. Since the flight was expensive, it was a treat to be able to fly and it was seen as a social to do.
While flight was almost immediate commercialized for public use, it was not as common as it is today. Today it is a daily thing, flights come and go at such a frequency that people never even think about flight. They dress in whatever they want to dress in, jeans, shorts and ratty tee’s. The downside of this is that it has decreased the value of flight. It is no longer the luxury transportation that it used to be.
There are some tips for dressing when flying. These tips can help provide a comfortable flight and limit the chances of being stopped by TSA. These tips can sound like common sense, but then again, common sense is not always so common.
Do not wear tight or new shoes when flying. Wear nice shoes that look good, lace up and fit comfortably. When flying your feet will swell and new shoes will not give enough to accommodate that. Wearing lace up shoes can help provide more room for your feet and make them feel more comfortable. Skip the flip flops though, they look trashy and cheap in most cases this is not the way to obtain an upgrade.
Skip outfits that wrinkle. Even though it is important to look good on the plane, wear an outfit that is stain resistant incase anything spills and something that is wrinkle resistant. There are plenty of beautiful and stylish outfits that fit in these categories.
- Wear outfits that provide a little extra stretch. You will swell while flying and clothing that is very restrictive can feel very uncomfortable. Layers are also a good idea. Some planes can change in temperature depending upon where they are and what elevation they are at.
Do not purposely go against the dress code that is put out by the TSA. Do not wear baggy pants, heavy belt buckles or anything with a lot of metal that would set off the alarms. Do not wear shirts that promote terrorism or appear to slam the defenses of the country.
- If you dress respectable, there is a higher chance of being able to get through security without any issues. If you dress cheap or “gangsterish” than there is a much higher chance of being stuck in security for quite a long time.
If you use a little bit of common sense, flying should be the simple process that it was originally meant to be. Take a minute and think about how you are going to dress and remember that the TSA is for your safety, not just to be a hassle. In addition, remember, people make snap decisions within 5 seconds of seeing you. These people are going to share a flight with you. Dress to impress.