If you’ve flown anywhere over the past couple of decades, you’ve likely been subjected to fellow passengers boarding the plane in wildly inappropriate attire. Additionally, you’ve probably observed that things - meaning outfits - are not getting better. The U.S. Department of Transportation has launched a big media campaign that “encourages” the flying public to “dress-up” for air travel. The goal is to restore civility to the airways. As part of any conversation about this, you may have heard a reference to The Golden Age of Air Travel. Well, allow this Silver Senior to give you a little history lesson about this Golden Age - because I was there.
When Flying Meant Something
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Commercial jetliners, like the De Havilland Comet, first went into service in the early 1950s, but it wasn’t until the decade was nearing an end that planes like the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 made their first appearance. (So did I. Do the math, if you must.) These jets were bigger, roomier, safer, and faster. Their arrival propelled a new age of faster flying. Wait. Maybe “propel” isn’t he right word because propeller-powered planes were suddenly perceived as old school. So, airlines began to “jettison” them (get it?) - and replace their aging fleets with jetliners. Doing so was essential to remain competitive. At this time, flying was still an exclusive means of travel. That meant expensive and that meant as much luxury as possible to justify the cost. Seats were bigger, there was plenty of foot-room, and full meal service was a given. While these amenities varied between the cabin classes, they were standard in all. Flying to a destination was a big deal. It made you feel special. Dressing-up for it was a given - an integral part of the whole experience. I wore a necktie for my first plane ride.
The Age of the Jumbo Jet
In 1970, the Boeing 747 became the first jumbo jet to enter service. The enormous size of the aircraft meant that more people could fly at lower costs - for both airline and passenger alike. While the skies were opening up for the masses, service and seating weren’t compromised - yet. In fact, the upper deck of the 747 was a designated lounge for first class passengers. The decor was likely what I like to call “Jetsonian” or flashy futuristic. It was a place to pose and mingle. A designated bartender was ever-present and might be accompanied - literally - by a piano player. Even if you were a passenger “below deck”, it didn’t mean a lower, lesser sense of self and attire. This was still an era in which sweatpants had not become airborne. Later models of the 747 featured expanded upper decks, but by then, the goal was to accommodate more seating. First class was still first class, but the party scene was ditched for practicality - unless you were lucky enough to experience the highest high life in commercial aviation:
Concorde: The Final Icon
I was. On a lark (which is how a lot of my major decisions are made), I decided to “pay back” my dad for all of the father & son adventures he provided to me as a kid. So, I booked a quick trip to London for the two us. By quick I mean Mach 2 / 1,300 m.p.h. / “across the pond” (Atlantic Ocean) in just 3 hours. It was fast and fancy and fashionable. I still remember exactly what I wore, but alas, Concorde is no more. It was, perhaps, the last and ultimate vestige of The Golden Era.
Why How You Dress Still Matters
Subsonic speed and the complicated efforts involved in any type of air travel these days is not made easier by flying somewhere with complete disregard for your appearance … because it’s not to your advantage, on many levels. Think about it. You get better service, anywhere, if your appearance is perceived to be respectful. That doesn’t mean expensive or uncomfortable, just planned and maybe a little “polished”. It’s always wise to plan-for-the-plane. There’s limited space for luggage, so less is more - wait - less is less, when it comes to the cost of both checked and now carry-on bags. Packing your travel wardrobe needs to be well thought out. So does your “attire aloft”. It’s just about being smart. Duh. When traveling, if you need assistance or want something and there’s a human being capable of facilitating it - in any way - the respect aspect is to your advantage. Again, it’s not about wearing expensive labels and gaudy designer logos ( I mean, you do not want to be mistaken for, ewww, a Bravo-lebrity). It’s about looking clean, like you care, and like you didn’t oversleep - which brings up the following list of Cautionary Clothing Considerations:
Cautionary Clothing Considerations
Some choices, however, deserve special mention:
Sleepwear
In my mind, pajamas aren’t for public spaces. There may be a few high-end designer collections that have recently showcased pajama-inspired looks - but they’re intended for The Runways during Fashion Week in places like London, Milan, and Paris … not The Runways of Detroit Metropolitan, Chicago O’Hare, and Atlanta Hartsfield. Maybe I’m just jealous of people who can readily doze-off upon takeoff. It’s never been easy for me to achieve - without prescription medication in the mix.
Wearing Your Entire Wardrobe
…so you don’t have to check a bag. Layering is an art when it comes to wardrobe, but an outfit that’s overflowing can infringe upon the space and comfort of others. Puffy parkas can be problematic. “Oversized” may be a fresh, new scale of fashion, but it could evoke some stale stares from seatmates who are forced to participate in your proportions. Speaking of “too much” …
Too Much Skin
You may be headed to or returning from a tropical destination with pool time in the mix, but wearing obvious beach attire for travel is inappropriate for several reasons. First and foremost, let’s focus on safety. Flight crews readily frown upon flip-flop wearers. Literally. You may notice smiling attendants’ expressions instantly change during their rapid, required head-to-toe visual scan of passengers as they board. If you’re a flip-flopper, forget about vying for a roomier exit row seat because your flimsy footwear potentially becomes a hazard to yourself and everyone else in case of an evacuation. Another note about “footwear”, that actually means wearing it on your feet - at all times. Bare feet on airplanes are unsightly, unsanitary, and unsafe. They are also banned on most airlines. There are other parts that one can bare - but for the sake of airline rules - one should spare. Dress codes exist for all airlines, and they vary from carrier to carrier. Don’t mistake your sense of style or need for comfort as your “your right” to travel wearing anything … or not wearing something. You may be flying sky high, but your hemlines shouldn’t. Plunging at cruising altitude is a bad circumstance and to be avoided if possible - and so is a plunging neckline that gets you prohibited from boarding at your departure gate. Tanned and toned may be assets to flaunt elsewhere, but too much of a good thing may be perceived as just “too much” and airlines don’t have to accommodate it. That’s the bottom line. So, don’t reveal your bottom line.