To miss refined air travel?

Dress for what occasion? Sitting down in a tube hurtling through the skies for however many hours is surely a time for comfort, not dressing in your finery??

These sorts of "codes" of clothing etc generally belie unconscious feelings of insecurity. Thus the need to "prove" you belong in the enviroment by dressing a certain way, demonstrating the "right" airs and graces. Often the truly wealthy/upper class do not subscribe to this. They are at ease, and will pull up in the shabby car, swear casually, wear a threadbare suit smelling of mothballs etc.

People focus more on exercise and comfort with clothing now.

Smart, fitted styles in clothes generally only look good if they are well made, fit very well & are made with good fabric. This is now very hard to find and totally unaffordable for most. Even better high street brand clothes are poorly cut.

When im flying first or business its generally because I'm doing so for work, so I'm flying long haul, probably overnight and trying to sleep on board as I'll be going to the office (jet lagged) straight from the airport.

I'm going to be in comfortable clothes - leggings & a teeshirt, comfy jumper. I've probably got sliders for the plane.

I will give absolutely no shits whether you think I'm dressed smartly enough or whether my presence is spoiling your "refined" vibes. It's 2026.

From the title I thought it was going to be from the days of"BOAC" flights
Silver service for luncheon and dinner.
Bone china crockery,crystal glasses
The ladies and gentlemen dressed in their finery bespoke tailored of course.

So, what I’m hearing you say, OP, is “Instead of stuffing their faces with crisps, ‘let them eat cake’”.

No matter how you’re dressed.

That’s because they’re YOUR children.

The answer to this is:

”You’re not at school, darling, and airports don’t have uniforms.”

The airport lounge was in a school?!

The thread for Basil Fawlty and Hyacinth Bucket.

“I just want to keep the riff-raff away, dear.”

If I was rich enough to fly first class, I would enjoy the privilege of wearing my comfy trackies, and trainers (without socks).

When my dad used to do a lot of flying for work, he noticed that his more senior (and presumably wealthier) colleagues often dressed down much more when they were not working: they would be in football shirts out of working hours. And I wonder if that smart, millionaire Eton-educated Boris Johnson wears a smart suit when he’s relaxing?

I’m not sneering at anyone. It’s been my experience and observation. There was surely no sneering from me.

I do agree with you that the airlines get away with much more now. Providing nearly no customer service whatsoever especially if you’re flying economy. And short haul flights is even worse!

I thought I read somewhere there is a private terminal at Manchester.

Maybe you could fly from there.

I think it’s weird to dress up in uncomfortable clothes for a flight tbh.

You only fly first class, what a chav. Private jet all the way.

Don't worry OP. Air fares are about to triple as the cost of Trump's war filters through to the consumer.That should keep the riffraff away.

So you’d like to only contribute to the NHS treating people of whose illnesses you approve?

There is sneering here from posters saying that anyone “dressed up” must be a first-time flyer and “not used” to travel, unlike them, presumably. Reminds me of oafs who say they like “travelling” as opposed to “going on holiday”.

I am far from rich but still think the democratisation of travel is not really a good thing. It has led -as many have observed -to poorer service and people treating going on a plane like a bus ride. The thing is, if I’m on the bus/tube next to a person in flip-flops and malodorous pyjamas, then I know it’s not for long. If however I’m going to be stuck next to them on a 7-hour flight - aaaaargh!

I explained above.

You might want to reconsider the way you see people who you see as ‘poor.

There is a streak of unconscious bias in your very first post.

I think dressing this way is not just seen in air travel. Everyone seems to dress down.

Which of my posts was judgemental?

Yours are not much better.

Yes, I remember Qantas in the 70s. They served steak with proper knives & forks, in economy ...

Never flown anything but standard, but the first flight I took was Sydney to London in 76. It felt to me incredibly glamorous, wide comfy leather seats, China and glass to eat and drink from, offered an aperitif, wine and liqueur. Posh toiletries in the loos. Very glam flight attendants. Children were asked up to see the cockpit(and were given wings or a toy jet) OK the music was through a tube thing to the earplugs and the movie was on a screen. I was jealous of my aunt who flew Singapore Air, she got a pack with silk fans, various sachets of things, nuts, chocolates and a real orchid(which had to be dumped on arrival)

regular first or business passengers don’t treat it like a special occasion surely?

Or maybe a proportion of regular first or business passengers are generally well-dressed? For me, joggers and sweatshirts are for the gym, and nowhere else, although I change into comfortable clothes once I'm settled on board. And I travel business or first long haul, and have done for the last 30 years.