Note: This article pertaining to Why You Should NOT Always Dress Up on an Airplane was originally published on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at 12:56 in the afternoon and has been updated.
Unbelievably in the year 2025, myriad articles, videos, and social media accounts espouse the tired old mantra that if you dress up while you travel, you may score an upgrade — with some of them also advising that by dressing up, you will feel better about yourself while helping to improving the work environment to be pleasant for the flight attendant.
One blatant example is an article in Travel + Leisure that was updated on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 in the hopes of enticing readers to use affiliate links — which increases revenue for the publication — in order to purchase clothing under the premise that Flight Attendants Reveal What You Should Wear If You’re Looking for a First-class Upgrade. Thankfully, the comments section of the article shows that at least some readers were not fooled.
Why You Should NOT Always Dress Up on an Airplane
I respectfully disagree. Comfort is paramount to travel, in my opinion; and whenever I am dressed up, I am usually not comfortable.
Besides, you likely will not get upgraded by wearing a suit or with other forms of business or formal wear — regardless of what other people might tell you.
I have been given upgrades unexpectedly over the years; so the likelihood of that happening is improbable but not impossible. However, I did not get the upgrades because of what I wore. Rather, it was how I treated employees of the airline — with dignity and respect. Your chances ever so slightly increase even further if you are patient, understanding, and empathetic during a hectic time for that airline employee when he or she is in the middle of handling irregular operations…
…but you will most likely still not get upgraded.
Still, say “please,” “thank you” and smile” when addressing employees of the airline. I lost track of how many articles I have written over the years which espouse those simple words in showing respect to other people in general…
…and even if you follow my advice, again: you will most likely not get an upgrade. What I imparted to you were rare occurrences. Hopefully, though, you will get the satisfaction of making the day of the person to whom you show respect and dignity — and that should be to everyone and not just to employees of the airline.
Be honest with yourself – and yes, the answer could vary, depending on the circumstances: is an upgrade really that important?
My “Secret”: Black Jeans.
Whenever I travel, I almost always wear a pair of black jeans and either a comfortable shirt with buttons, a polo shirt, or a nice T-shirt with no tears or holes in my clothing; and no obscene or offensive words are printed on any shirt that I wear. The footwear of choice is sneakers or running shoes; but they are not in day-glow colors with flashing lights and a roller wheel embedded in the heel. Most pairs of sneakers which I have worn over the years resemble actual shoes from a distance, as they were all black from heel to sole.
In other words, I dress casually — but neat and not like an obvious slob. Unlike blue jeans — which can possibly evoke casual to the eyes of others — black jeans give more of an appearance of slacks while still providing the comfort of jeans, in my opinion…
…and these days, jeans come in all sorts of colors: beige to mimic khakis; green to mimic slacks — or blue if you want that classic casual look that has survived for decades.
Thankfully, I am rarely required to wear suits while traveling; and that is only when I plan on heading straight to an appointment when the flight concludes.
Saving Space in Baggage?
I pack light; so even when I travel with a suit, I can pack it in a bag and still travel light. I do not need to wear a suit to save space in my bag. I have not used a garment bag in years.
An old mantra suggests that you collect your belongings to pack for a trip; and then pack only half of those belongings while leaving the other half behind.
Bonus tips: here is how to fold a shirt in fewer than two seconds; and you can also fold a suit into a bag without it wrinkling or using too much space.
Final Boarding Call
In the days of yore, travel by commercial airline was supposedly an experience which was not taken for granted where passengers dressed up for the flight — treated to what might be considered impeccable service by members of the flight crew — but that was when the experience was purportedly more special than it is today.
Personally, I would be especially miserable if I were dressed up during this flight operated by Etihad Airways; or on this flight operated by Alitalia; or this flight which was operated by Gulf Air. Air travel at times feels like little more than riding a city bus in the sky — crowded with people who stink, litter, and simply do not care about their fellow passengers — and I certainly do not want to be dressed up under those conditions.
If you feel better whenever you dress up, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that; but I do not need to dress up in order to “feel better about myself” as some people claim. I like to be comfortable whenever I travel; but the clothes I wear are not casual to the point of looking like a slob.
My recommendation is to dress how you like in which you believe that you would feel comfortable and yet still be respected by others. If you want to wear a shirt with expletives or a controversial statement printed on it, do not expect to be respected by others…
…in other words: how you address may give more of an impression to others than simply how you dress. Do treat others in a civil manner with respect.
All photographs ©2015, ©2018, ©2021, and ©2022 by Brian Cohen.
