Page 8 | Is it acceptable to travel in shorts and sandals?

MrsClatterbuck · 27/06/2026 13:22

Dh and I once got upgraded from premium economy to club class on a transatlantic flight home. It was from a very small airport and have no idea what either of us were wearing. Certainly not linen or very dressed but just comfortable clothes for an 8 hour flight.
What got us up graded or so dh thinks is the fact he helped with suitcases onto the conveyer belt for the woman at checkin. Made the flight home much more comfortable especially the extra leg room for dh who is over 6'

Yetone · 27/06/2026 13:20

sevenwonde · 27/06/2026 13:19

It’s a normal slightly oversized t-shirt. I still don’t see the issue!

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That is perfectly fine.

BlueMum16 · 27/06/2026 13:20

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!

Just landed back from Greece.

All four of us, me, DH and 2 DC (late teens) all travelled in shorts and flip flops/crocs.

Travel in what you are comfortable in.

As for planning for plane disaster, they tell you about life jackets, not fire so safe to assume landing in water is more likely and therefore less clothes will make it easier to swim/float 😁

Original poster

sevenwonde · 27/06/2026 13:19

Yetone · 27/06/2026 13:14

Agree, just watch your top is fairly decent.

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It’s a normal slightly oversized t-shirt. I still don’t see the issue!

OP posts:

igelkott2026 · 27/06/2026 13:19

I wouldn't wear flipflops and a vest top with my boobs hanging out but shorts and sandals are fine.

I'd take a cardigan though as air con can be fierce.

Thechaseison71 · 27/06/2026 13:18

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!

The box class on that flight is same as economy with a block middle seat Whoopie do

Thechaseison71 · 27/06/2026 13:15

WTF?? Why would you dress up for the airport?

And I do travel in business class regularly. My partner wears shorts of it's going to bet when we land I tend to wear leggings for comfort

Original poster

sevenwonde · 27/06/2026 13:14

OnlyGarden · 27/06/2026 13:08

Slip on sandals dont seem very practical for schlopping about an airport. Or if you somehow end up having to run for your flight.

Won't shorts be cold?

I dont know the upgrade procedures but I can't imagine that a group would be upgraded anyway.

I’ve said they won’t be slip on?

OP posts:

Yetone · 27/06/2026 13:14

sevenwonde · 27/06/2026 13:05

Not in normal shorts!

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Agree, just watch your top is fairly decent.

Ponoka7 · 27/06/2026 13:13

"Could there be an any more Mumsnet thread"
It's given posters the chance to declare their status re flights, it's probably made their day 😄

Ponoka7 · 27/06/2026 13:10

beigetriangle · 27/06/2026 12:10

an airline pilot said to me to always travel in clothes/shoes you can run with and garments that don't melt in case of fire.

I don't wear sandals, I have foot problems. Trainers are my go to, because I like to walk/take public transport. But it doesn't make sense, you're more likely to have a train incident or car crash, or be mugged etc, so outside of a closed resort, there's no place for holiday clothes, by that pilot's logic.
When younger, pre scanners, I'd wear a strappy dress and flat, sling backs, to save being searched/having to remove clothing/shoes.
I've never been cold on an airplane, though, or hyper about supposed hygiene risks.

OnlyGarden · 27/06/2026 13:08

Slip on sandals dont seem very practical for schlopping about an airport. Or if you somehow end up having to run for your flight.

Won't shorts be cold?

I dont know the upgrade procedures but I can't imagine that a group would be upgraded anyway.

Original poster

sevenwonde · 27/06/2026 13:05

Yetone · 27/06/2026 12:56

Airlines have been known to to ask people to cover up.

Not in normal shorts!

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Nsky62 · 27/06/2026 13:00

catslovehairties · 27/06/2026 10:54

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

Nor I, cropped cotton yes

Yetone · 27/06/2026 12:56

Airlines have been known to to ask people to cover up.

BerryTwister · 27/06/2026 12:52

Dress for comfort.

And anyway, people wearing linen, by the time they’ve sat in a car to the airport, will look as if they’ve slept on a park bench.

Original poster

sevenwonde · 27/06/2026 12:46

I’m an anxious flyer anyway so really can’t fathom planning my outfits around the possibility of a less painful death - it would stop me even getting on the plane.

The Birkenstocks are Milano, so they have a strap at the back and stay on

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Globules · 27/06/2026 12:44

Could there be an any more Mumsnet thread? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Fwiw my 2 chn (aged 6 + 4) and myself were once upgraded to business for free.

None of us were wearing linens or looking put together. We weren't frequent flyers either.

I could never go on a plane wearing sandals. Far too cold!

TransportNerd · 27/06/2026 12:42

MoonriseKingdom · 27/06/2026 12:34

The only time I ever got upgraded, on a flight to Australia in my 20s, I was very casually dressed in combat trousers, t-shirt and trainers. There were several people upgraded, we were all lone travellers who had checked in early.

The thing is, with a short haul trip like this, the upgrade gives you virtually nothing anyway, and you'll have absolutely minimal contact with airline staff. You check in online, go through security, and then get admitted to the plane. No-one is going to even think about offering you an upgrade.

Kevinbaconsrealwife · 27/06/2026 12:39

Wowisthisit · 27/06/2026 10:55

I don't know I got an upgrade to an exit row seat 😂

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Well check you out my lovely 😁

Marycontrarygarden · 27/06/2026 12:37

sevenwonde · 27/06/2026 11:28

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

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Jesus....this is an ott trip. I wouldn't have friends who would ever be "horrified" by my wearing shorts. How old are these women?

concertinacornflake · 27/06/2026 12:37

Oh just wear what you want. Life's way too short for this nonsense: the other half thinks you need to look put together in the airport and dress in a nice outfit

Snufkin88 · 27/06/2026 12:35

As if the lady checking you in behind the desk gives a shit what you are wearing. Do they honestly think they are sitting there going let’s wait for the most presentable person to give an upgrade to ? If it happens which is very rare how you look or what you are wearing would have zero to do with it . Such a ridiculous thing to think

MoonriseKingdom · 27/06/2026 12:34

The only time I ever got upgraded, on a flight to Australia in my 20s, I was very casually dressed in combat trousers, t-shirt and trainers. There were several people upgraded, we were all lone travellers who had checked in early.

Marycontrarygarden · 27/06/2026 12:33

Your friends are weird