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Original poster

Is it acceptable to travel in shorts and sandals?

334 replies

sevenwonde · 27/06/2026 10:47

Help! The friend group is split on this one and it is largely tongue in cheek

We’re off on a girls holiday soon. Half the group thinks it’s fine to travel in shorts and sandals (Birkenstocks), the other half thinks you need to look put together in the airport and dress in a nice outfit (linen, silk trousers etc), in case of an upgrade. They think the nicer you’re dressed the less likely you are to be asked to check your bag at the gate etc.

So, is it acceptable?! They’re not tiny shorts that show my bum cheeks!

OP posts:
MabelAnderson · 27/06/2026 11:34

Fiftyandme · 27/06/2026 10:53

Flying on a plane requires wearing cottons/natural fibres and decent shoes - if you need to exit the plane quickly or god forbid escape from a fire you’re not going to want to be wearing flimsy footwear or clothes that melt into your skin.

Edited

I follow this guidance. I always wear natural fibres, trousers, and sturdy shoes on the aeroplane.

estrogone · 27/06/2026 11:34

Linen or silk Confused?? It is not 1950, how weird and pretentious.

Shorts or tracky dacks and sandals or slip ons - sensible and comfortable. Its only a five hour flight, who cares about an upgrade.

havingoneofthosedays · 27/06/2026 11:34

As long as your feet & toenails are sandal appropriate go for it

Chocolatecrispsdrink · 27/06/2026 11:33

I'd be more embarrassed by your friends. Delusional.

ilovesooty · 27/06/2026 11:31

Onmytod24 · 27/06/2026 11:31

Mykonos is pretty swish where what you like, but I think everyone on plane will be wearing all white outfits proper linen

🤣 Really?

GingerdeadMan · 27/06/2026 11:31

Your friends are hilarious - its not the 1960s!

Big groups aren't going to get an upgrade!

The only time I've been upgraded i was a scummy backpacker, wearing army trousers and walking boots and dragging a big backpack.

Onmytod24 · 27/06/2026 11:31

Mykonos is pretty swish where what you like, but I think everyone on plane will be wearing all white outfits proper linen

Tulipsriver · 27/06/2026 11:30

Fiftyandme · 27/06/2026 10:53

Flying on a plane requires wearing cottons/natural fibres and decent shoes - if you need to exit the plane quickly or god forbid escape from a fire you’re not going to want to be wearing flimsy footwear or clothes that melt into your skin.

Edited

I mean, I'm a pretty nervous passenger but this seems extreme. The likelihood of an emergency is tiny (and the likelihood of an emergency where wearing the right clothes saves you is even slimmer).

Fizbosshoes · 27/06/2026 11:28

I would upgrade my friends if they were horrified by me wearing shorts and sandals!

Original poster
sevenwonde · 27/06/2026 11:28

WheretheFishesareFrightening · 27/06/2026 11:26

I’d freeze on a plane in shorts so I would be aghast as your suggestion. I fly in smart ish joggers, a hoodie and bring fluffy socks and a scarf for a blanket.

I’ve never really found a plane to be that cold! I do plan on taking a jumper with me but for the evening - but it will match my planned outfit

OP posts:
backformoreofthesame · 27/06/2026 11:27

Wear what you like

NameChangeScot · 27/06/2026 11:27

Sandals, no, I don't want to sit next to someone on a place who's got their bare feet out 🤢.

WheretheFishesareFrightening · 27/06/2026 11:26

I’d freeze on a plane in shorts so I would be aghast as your suggestion. I fly in smart ish joggers, a hoodie and bring fluffy socks and a scarf for a blanket.

Romeiswheretheheartis · 27/06/2026 11:26

sevenwonde · 27/06/2026 10:54

We’re flying BA to Mykonos. They think there’s a chance if we get lucky. No cabin crew with us but they’re genuinely horrified that I would consider wearing shorts! My rationale is it’s an evening flight, I have appointments in the morning before I travel and have to get to the airport. I don’t want to be hot and sweaty before we get on a plane!

Wow, how is it any business of your friends what you choose to wear to travel in?! I'd completely ignore them and turn up in my shorts if I were you. I've never 'dressed up' to travel in in my life.

Agapornis · 27/06/2026 11:26

How many of you are there? The plane is likely to be an Airbus A320, which only has 12 first class seats.
Usually it's solo or pair travellers that get upgraded, and it's decided in advance, not at the point of boarding, so not based on appearances.

ilovesooty · 27/06/2026 11:25

DidntLikeTheEnding · 27/06/2026 11:08

They think the nicer you’re dressed the less likely you are to be asked to check your bag at the gate etc.

These people are delulu. Have they flown much recently?!

They sound like utter pains. It's none of their business what you wear.

Thirteenblackcats · 27/06/2026 11:24

Linen and silk trousers 😂🙄

your friends need to get over themselves

Shorts are fine

shhblackbag · 27/06/2026 11:23

I would never wear shorts on a plane from a hygiene point of view! Anything and everything has been spilled on those seats and cleaning turn around time is fast.

Also this. I would never get on a plane in shorts.

GCAcademic · 27/06/2026 11:23

BA don't give upgrades based on how you're dressed. It's done on status and only if the cabin is oversold.

Their short haul business class is shit, in any case. Its exactly the same seat.

dizzydizzydizzy · 27/06/2026 11:23

Large groups don’t usually get upgrades. It’s usually solo travellers. If it’s British Airways, the computer decides on upgrades and it is related to how much you spend with the airline, not your clothes. The exception would be when the cabin crew have to upgrade you due to some kind of problem eg your seat is broken.

Fluffypuppy1 · 27/06/2026 11:22

catslovehairties · 27/06/2026 10:54

I don’t own any linen or silk trousers so I’d be very unpopular with your friends 😂

Same here.

I also wouldn’t wear wide leg trousers when travelling due to plane toilets 🤮 Bad enough hovering over the seat without trying to keep your trousers out of the inevitable puddle on the floor. Most BA short haul only have one toilet at the front for business class, and two at the back for economy so they get very well used.

Newmeagain · 27/06/2026 11:22

sweatymessi · 27/06/2026 10:56

I thought dressing up for a flight was something people did decades ago.

The one upgrade I had was when I was wearing jeans & trainers.

This. I travel often - particularly long haul - and the people who “dress up” for a flight really stand out - by looking odd!!

i personally always wear long trousers on flights as I get chilly. Soft jeans or cotton trousers for short haul, jogger style trousers for long haul.

oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriends · 27/06/2026 11:22

On a practical level, I wouldn't want my bare legs sticking to a plastic seat, or a scratchy aircraft one.

Original poster
sevenwonde · 27/06/2026 11:22

shhblackbag · 27/06/2026 11:20

Why? It does happen. It's a fair comment.

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It’s incredibly rare and by that measure you should always be planning outfits based on the worst possible scenario

OP posts:
shhblackbag · 27/06/2026 11:20

sevenwonde · 27/06/2026 11:02

Christ. That’s a bit OTT!

Show quote history

Why? It does happen. It's a fair comment.

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