Should there be a dress code when flying

[dot]

I generally wear business casual on flights - good jeans or chinos, polo shirt and dress boots.

The whole subject makes me wonder about the Airlines attitude to standard of dress. As the OP mentioned, he was "inspected" to ensure he was appropriately dressed. Many moons ago, on my first J International flight for business on QF to NRT, I was told to be smartly dressed. Recently, on a DONE4, my brother-in-law (First Officer for BA) put in a good word for me to get an upgrade to F across the Atlantic. He told me NOT to wear jeans since wearing them would put my upgrade in jeopardy.

The F upgrade came through and I noticed that most of the F pax were more casually dressed that I was (no shorts, but it wasnt the weather or destination for it) - many in jeans.

I would have thought that in this day and age, with business casual becoming much more prevelant, the Airlines would have got over the idea that F (or J or Y for that matter) pax should 'dress up' for the flight. Don't get me wrong, I am in favour of minimum dress standards, but I also think that pax should be comfortably dressed, especially on longer flights (please dont ask me to wear a suit across the Pacific!) - and if that means jeans, cargos, shirts without a collar, PJs, track suits etc then fine, go with it.

Has anyone experienced preferential or otherwise treatment because of your atire? How do you know it was your atire that affected things? Which airlines?

 

[simongr]

Not sure if it was connected but I was wearing a pair of Polo Chinos and a Rodd & Gun short sleeve shirt - very positive comment from FA on quality of R&G products and excellent service for entire journey.

Oh and I was in PJs at the time of comment - it was only as I handed clothes on hanger that comment was made...

 

[serfty]

... Recently, on a DONE4, my brother-in-law (First Officer for BA) put in a good word for me to get an upgrade to F across the Atlantic. He told me NOT to wear jeans since wearing them would put my upgrade in jeopardy.

The F upgrade came through and I noticed that most of the F pax were more casually dressed that I was (no shorts, but it wasnt the weather or destination for it) - many in jeans. ...

ISTR reading the FT BA forum that there are specific dress rules for Staff when travelling, perhaps it's related in that your B-I-L had those rules in his mind.

 

[dot]

ISTR reading the FT BA forum that there are specific dress rules for Staff when travelling, perhaps it's related in that your B-I-L had those rules in his mind.

That would make sence now that I think of it...

 

[littl_flier]

When QF staff travel on "staff travel" (ie. 10%) in Business class, the policy dictates that they must not wear jeans and must wear a collared, long sleeve shirt. This may be where the B-I-L was coming from if BA is anything like QF.

 

[straitman]

If you get to checkin and they have a choice of upgrading 'you' who is smartly dressed vs some other scruffhead, who do you think is more likely to get the upgrade :?:

No discriminationhere, just perceptions :!:

 

[maninblack]

If you get to checkin and they have a choice of upgrading 'you' who is smartly dressed vs some other scruffhead, who do you think is more likely to get the upgrade :?:

No discriminationhere, just perceptions :!:

Opups have usually already been allocated before you get to the checkin counter so if Mr Scruff is a platinum flyer he will still get the upgrade ahead of Mr Smart who has low status.

As to dress code, I say reasonable hygiene is a prerequisite (though a little hard to police), a dress code really is not.

 

[Reggie]

Well people my clothing depends on where I am going or where I have been, but alway includes jeans, and elastic sided steel capped boots (could be handy for kicking out window's), generally top is a polo shirt with company logo embroided on it, however if returning from or going to site it is a rather tasteful bright orange shirt with beautiful silver relective stripes on it. I bet that turns some of my fellow J pax of there breaky.

 

[Commuter]

I usually end up in a suit or something akin to a suit because I've either just come from work, going to a meeting, or on my way to work.

My life suddenly seems boring...

 

[milehighclub]

I think the dress code in place is that as long as it doesn't offend anyone, it is allowed. Remember the guy who had the shirt with "Worlds #1 Terrorist" under a picture of Bush. QF denied him boarding as did DJ.

I think one item that should be banned - CROCS!!!

QF has two dress codes for staff
1) For staff travel in Economy Class
2) For staff travel if Business Class upgrade is purchased and for duty travel (regardless of class)

 

[maninblack]

I think the dress code in place is that as long as it doesn't offend anyone, it is allowed. Remember the guy who had the shirt with "Worlds #1 Terrorist" under a picture of Bush. QF denied him boarding as did DJ.

I think one item that should be banned - CROCS!!!

QF has two dress codes for staff
1) For staff travel in Economy Class
2) For staff travel if Business Class upgrade is purchased and for duty travel (regardless of class)

Offensive behaviour (which may include stupid things written on clothes) is subjective, is "Sex Machine" on a t-shirt (I have seen this) okay?

CROCS are absolutely fine, my kids wear them on holiday flights all the time, why are they worse than thongs? (or other ugly fashions people may choose to wear)

And finally, who cares what QF staff have to wear, we are paying passengers.

 

[Starship]

Oh and I was in PJs at the time of comment - it was only as I handed clothes on hanger that comment was made...

PJ's - interesting look to board in. Maybe we should reserve that for the under thirty somethings, along with the mandatory teddy bear and feeding bottle.

 

[QF WP]

I'm with the majority on this thread - business (or smart casual) long sleeved shirt and chino's, business pants or smart casual. Definitely the business shirt need to have pocket so the BP has somewhere to go.

 

[BlacKnox]

Not here in the good ole USA Second woman says Southwest made her cover up - CNN.com

Kayla, the first Southwest woman was on Dr. Phil today; not a bad sight .

Irrespective of flying class, to warm destinations I wear thick thongs and long shorts, usually with a 100% cotton collared shirt. I sometimes wear deck shoes. If its good enough for the yacht club, then its good enough for a plane.

Have never had people look at me funny either in a lounge, onboard or elsewhere. Note some hotels however suggest that thongs are not suitable attire for the lobby area etc.

 

[jasonja3]

Note some hotels however suggest that thongs are not suitable attire for the lobby area etc.

Was this verbally suggested?

 

[NM]

Note some hotels however suggest that thongs are not suitable attire for the lobby area etc.

Not in Queensland .

 

[Harriet Vane]

I hit the stores today to get a few winter things on sale for our upcoming trip. I picked up a pair of Bonds yoga pants for the plane. They aren't particularly dressy, but I'm going to be way at the back of Y for 13 or so hours and dealing with three airports before the day is done. It's also an overnight flight, so I want to get some sleep. Comfort is the more important factor.

I would usually wear a skirt, but I have had complications from an ankle/foot fracture earlier in the year and have to wear fetching compression stockings, which isn't the most fashionable look with a skirt.

I do remember taking off my shoes coming back from LHR once and swapping to masseurs only to find when we landed at BNE that my feet had swollen so much my shoes wouldn't go back on. Quite embarrassing!

 

[BlacKnox]

Was this verbally suggested?

Yes, last week I was at the Peninsula in Beijing. It was verbally suggested ever so softly and profesionally when checking in (in the room). Similar comments were in the hotel manual. At the Peninsula in Bangkok the week before the same suggestion on check-in (again in-room) and the manual. Apparently similar policies exist at the Oriental, although I have not stayed there. Having said that I still wore my thongs around the hotel premises sometimes (e.g. for breakfast), and was not alone. Note my thongs are not the $2 kind, rather pretty dressy, as far as thongs go .

I have stayed at several other high-end properties and have seen similar comments in the hotel manual, though I can't recall it being verbalised before. NM is right in that these codes do not apply in Qld - I lived in my thongs in my recent stay at the Sanctuary Cove Hyatt .

 

[Reggie]

Having said that I still wore my thongs around the hotel premises sometimes (e.g. for breakfast), and was not alone. Note my thongs are not the $2 kind, rather pretty dressy, as far as thongs go .

I hope you are talking about footware.:shock:

 

[BlacKnox]

I hope you are talking about footware.:shock:

What on earth are you talking about :?:

From the freedictionary: THONG - What does THONG stand for? Acronyms and abbreviations by the Free Online Dictionary.

THONG: Topless Humans Organized for Natural Genetics