Is it acceptable to travel in shorts and sandals?

Unless you're travelling by an airline that offers upgrades, then an upgrade is unlikely to happen regardless what you're wearing. If you're travelling by Ryanair, an operator like TUI/Jet2 or easyJet, then other than extra leg room, there's not much of an upgrade to have.

Wear what you feel comfortable in.

I wouldn’t wear shorts because I don’t like the feel of the leather seats against my legs. I normally just wear trainers or sandals, wide leg linen trousers and a t-shirt. I also have a lightweight shawl/scarf/sarong that I wear if it gets cold on the plane.

Ah got it, thanks.

Yeah but it is a general opinion that her friends have. Not just the opinion for this one flight. That’s why I’ve answered this way

My husband gets upgrades but it's mainly because;

• he's a single traveller (although maybe you all are if you booked separately)
• he is a BA club member and has silver status (which isn't amazing but it puts him on the list and he comes after plat and gold members)
• he does think rocking up in a suit and looking like a sensible business person helps- but linen trousers don't give that vibe anyway.

You're flying to Mykonos, it's warm, it's in Greece, your shorts are not inappropriate, everyone is in flip flops, you'll be fine.

They're not going to upgrade a group. And even if they did upgrade anyone, it's really not worth it in short-haul as they're the exact same seats, just with nobody in the middle. Don't think BA even do proper meals on short-haul either anymore. Unless you intend to get absolutely bladdered and only drink champagne, the only reasons for Club Europe are the lounge - which you wouldn't get with an upgrade - and being first off to get through security quicker - which wouldn't make any difference if you had to wait for the rest of the group. I'd find a skirt more comfortable than shorts personally, but sandals definitely. Definitely not silk or linen as you'd look such a state on the other end with all the wrinkles. And it's much more important to make a good impression at the hotel as they'll be the ones looking after you!

I don't like the idea of sweaty bare\sandled feet in a tight enclosed space.

Knock yourself out with the shorts but wear trainers or shoes.

I travel BA most weeks and can confirm upgrades are very rare. If you have starts you may be offered a “discounted” rate, but it’s still normally ££ and not worth it for short haul.

agree with others about plane being cold but really, wear what you want. The amount of teens/20’s I see wearing hot pants and hoodies to airport is mind blowing. Each to their own i guess 🤷🏽‍♀️

When we use to fly in the 60/70s when I was a child my brother and I travelled in smart regular clothes - and our school blazers!!
I have the pictures to prove it 😬

i Agree you definitely don’t need to look smart 🤣

my friend flys business and first class regularly and wears shorts or joggers

dressing smart is such an old fashioned concept!

I would never wear shorts on a crowded plane. I wouldnt want anyones bare legs pressed up against mine in a small space. Also your legs will be cold up there.

You won’t be getting upgraded in a most likely full flight to a short haul holiday destination. I always look like a clean and put together slob at the airport and I’ve never been treated strangely or asked to check in my luggage. No chance of an upgrade as I use low cost carriers.

Planes are overloaded with bacteria and you would be doing a courtesy not to add to it. I am so over people treating public transport like its their home

Having flown numerous times business class, most people are in jeans and trainers 🤷‍♂️. I wore shorts & t-shirt on way back from Australia as did the vast majority in the cabin. We showered and changed in Doha

I wear shorts for hot countries. If the uk is cold then it’s jeans but change into shorts before we land. Not sure I get the issue about any bare skin touching the seat unless you never wear shorts anywhere you have to sit in public as there will always have had people sitting on them before you plus I shower whenever I get to my destination.

As for upgrades then I would expect it to go on flying status and other conditions with clothing the last. We often pay for business in long haul and most people including us look the scruffiest when boarding 😁

@Boreded

The OPs said it's BA to Mykonos so assuming it's BA mainline (i.e. out of LHR) the only options are Economy and business class.

Your friends are daft. Checking luggage is not based on clothes someone is wearing. Upgrades don’t happen for large groups either, why would they. And people in first class don’t dress fancy, they dress comfy, yes their comfy clothes probably cost more than most people’s fancy clothes, but they’re still in casual clothing.

And depending on where you are flying there may not even be first class on your plane. Smaller flights tend to just have economy and premium economy

Not really, that's what is recommended from a safety perspective.

Btw OP your friends would be shocked if they ever flew in the US. You can expect half of the plane to be in their PJs.

When I flew on an early morning BA flight to Frankfurt the only difference between economy and business class was that we got a cold breakfast and the business class passengers got a cooked breakfast. This was a few years ago when food was included on short haul flights.

Yeah here is the business class seat on ba in Europe

Since when has the BA lounge had paid access?

Wow has anyone on here travelled? Ever? Shorts and sandals are practically the uniform when I’ve ever flown to a hot country (and frankly it’s pretty damn hot here). And this time of year to major cities too (NY etc) - unless you are going to a location wear women are expected to cover up like an Islamic country.
People haven’t ‘dressed’ for flying for half a century. As for the ‘worst case’ scenario - believe you me what you are wearing is not going to be your issue.
Wear whatever you are comfortable in. I’d draw the line at pajamas though!

As others have said, I wouldn't want any of my bare skin to be connecting with a possibly not very clean seat.

Last time I went on a plane in autumn I wore my skechers go walk trousers in grey. Very smart and stretch in all directions, a nice white teashirt, my baukjen cream cable jumper and some barefoot trainers.
Not only a very comfortable ensemble but looked smart too. I can also get out of the plane on the chute without having to take my shoes off. I was a stewardess for a few years and went down that chute in training a few times. You need to be warm and comfotable and have layers you can put on and take off.