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AIBU?

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Original poster

To miss refined air travel?

324 replies

BABaby88 · 17/09/2026 10:05

It's great everyone can travel. I'm sure. But I grew up travelling in airport lounges and flight decks where people dressed for the occasion.

I was in the Gatwick BA first class lounge this morning for a long weekend with DP and DC and goodness it was horrendous. Tracksuits, flipflops, everyone's guts hanging out, people stuffing packets of crisps into their bags as if famine was incoming.

Am I awful to miss the days when non-economy air travel felt a bit like a luxury not an endurance?

OP posts:
Sunbringer · 17/09/2026 10:30

budgiegirl · 17/09/2026 10:18

Am I awful to miss the days when non-economy air travel felt a bit like a luxury not an endurance?

I've never been fortunate enough to travel anything but non-economy, I'm sure I would find travelling first class to be a huge luxury.

I have been in the 'pay to enter' lounges though, and I don't recognise the description you are giving - most people were decently dressed, at least smart casual, if not business smart, no one was acting like there was a famine coming. It was all very civilised and quite quiet. I'm sure it would be even quieter in first class lounges. Although to be fair, someone in flip flops wouldn't really bother me at all. Everyone needs to be comfortable when travelling, especially long haul.

Flip flops bother me because they’re a trip hazard when deplaning in an emergency.

Original poster
BABaby88 · 17/09/2026 10:32

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 17/09/2026 10:14

I think it’s generally accepted that comfortable clothing is the most suitable for air travel.

Guts hanging out is obviously unacceptable anywhere!

Are you saying that as well as eating whilst in the lounge they are taking food away for later? I’d have thought that wouldn’t be allowed tbh. But also, wouldn’t they be able to get food on the plane for any journey that requires being in a lounge? (Forgive me as I don’t frequently use airport lounges!)

I think when you're stuffing your backpack full of free crisps, the social contract is over.

OP posts:
Motnight · 17/09/2026 10:32

10/10 Op 😬

TheFishFish · 17/09/2026 10:32

Goady thread is goady.

GoodGirlFaith · 17/09/2026 10:33

'I am going to be honest and tell you that last night mummy almost ran out of extra virgin olive oil.'

'Darling tell all, was it horrific?'

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 17/09/2026 10:33

Snobbishness is not a good look 🙄

Autumnallaround · 17/09/2026 10:33

She quite clearly says she was in the British Airways lounge. You cannot buy access to the BA lounge!!!!

Op I sort of see what you mean. We took our daughter in the concorde lounge as a baby before a London to Sydney flight in first.

And we were clean, I had blow dried my hair etc. But I was still in trainers and comfy loose clothes. Easier to change into my free jammies! And from memory DD was in a babygro!

I didn't take any crisps though.!

PurpleThistle7 · 17/09/2026 10:33

Wow. I just… wow.

I am SO SORRY you and your sad yet nicely dressed children had to be close to people who… were enjoying themselves and comfortable? What horrors!

Original poster
BABaby88 · 17/09/2026 10:33

SonionRing · 17/09/2026 10:30

Im the opposite, I love how easy and simple air travel is now. More than happy to go on a no frills airline, checking in via phone and my boarding pass being a QR code.

I don't massively use lounges, only when travelling long haul, but I can't say I pay much notice to how people are dressed or if they chuck a packet of biscuits in their bag. I care more about if they have comfortable seating, plenty of plug sockets to charge phones and laptop, and have clean toilets and can make a nice cocktail.

Back in the 1980s my dad used to make us all dress smartly for flights, but would then book seats in the smoking section of the plane. Yes the stewardess might have worn stylish silk scarves and had perfect makeup on but believe me most of those flights were grim for me sitting in a fog of fumes. I think your nostalgia has slightly rose tinted glasses.

And that's brilliant! No frills airlines are great and serve a purpose. I use them sometimes for work.

My issue is paying to use the BA / Emirates lounge and finding people dressed like they're going to a football match shovelling food into their guts / bags.

OP posts:
MurphysColeslaw · 17/09/2026 10:34

Oh heck, this is not going to go well .

Autumnallaround · 17/09/2026 10:34

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Especially at Gatwick...

Heathrow draws a different crowd.

Agrumpyknitter · 17/09/2026 10:35

The first class BA lounge at Gatwick and at T5 is also based on frequent flyer status so meaning it’s not that exclusive. Fly from T5 next time and use the Concorde lounge (you can only access it if you’re flying in First, if you’re Gold card travelling in business you can’t get in) so it’s more exclusive and a delightful experience. We got there early and had breakfast and then lunch before boarding our flight back over Easter. It was a first for us travelling in First but was a lovely experience overall. Not sure when we will get to do it again though.

budgiegirl · 17/09/2026 10:35

I will be go anywhere near to the "pay to enter" lounges. It's like the hunger games on a council estate

Firstly, you clearly haven't been in any of the 'nicer' pay to enter lounges, because it was nothing like the hunger games on a council estate - it was very civilised, with waiter service, food menu etc. Nicely spaced out, comfortable tables, chairs and sofas, a bar with waiters, and lovely cocktails. Everyone was quiet, respectful and well dressed (probably not to your standards though!)

Secondly, you're either a complete snob, and I wouldn't want to be in any lounge that you were in, or you're on a wind up

SleeplessRoads · 17/09/2026 10:35

The occasion you’re dressing for is sitting in one confined place for potentially upward of 6 hours, and maybe lying down and sleeping for part of it, and with no real prior sense of how warm or cold the plane is going to be, and likely to be disembarking in a totally different climate to where you embarked.

I’m not sure why any of that calls for dressing smart… To me, it sounds like an occasion to dress comfortably for, not smartly.

Original poster
BABaby88 · 17/09/2026 10:36

PurpleThistle7 · 17/09/2026 10:33

Wow. I just… wow.

I am SO SORRY you and your sad yet nicely dressed children had to be close to people who… were enjoying themselves and comfortable? What horrors!

What makes you think my children were sad?!

They had the best time and will over the next few weeks while abroad as a family.

They are well mannered, happy children going on holiday. I keep my opinions to myself when around them (although one did say "mummy
why is that man in a football shirt when we are not allowed to wear them to school?") Fair point I would say.

OP posts:
Slightyamusedandsilly · 17/09/2026 10:36

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Thought this was a real thread until I read this comment.

Original poster
BABaby88 · 17/09/2026 10:37

Autumnallaround · 17/09/2026 10:34

Especially at Gatwick...

Heathrow draws a different crowd.

Show quote history

Preach

OP posts:
montysmaw · 17/09/2026 10:37

BABaby88 · 17/09/2026 10:33

And that's brilliant! No frills airlines are great and serve a purpose. I use them sometimes for work.

My issue is paying to use the BA / Emirates lounge and finding people dressed like they're going to a football match shovelling food into their guts / bags.

Show quote history

How does it affect you?

Other than giving you the chance to feel superior? You should be grateful to the plebs for reinforcing your superiority.

Slightyamusedandsilly · 17/09/2026 10:37

BABaby88 · 17/09/2026 10:36

What makes you think my children were sad?!

They had the best time and will over the next few weeks while abroad as a family.

They are well mannered, happy children going on holiday. I keep my opinions to myself when around them (although one did say "mummy
why is that man in a football shirt when we are not allowed to wear them to school?") Fair point I would say.

Show quote history

Why? Was 'that man' on his way to school mummy?

Original poster
BABaby88 · 17/09/2026 10:38

Agrumpyknitter · 17/09/2026 10:35

The first class BA lounge at Gatwick and at T5 is also based on frequent flyer status so meaning it’s not that exclusive. Fly from T5 next time and use the Concorde lounge (you can only access it if you’re flying in First, if you’re Gold card travelling in business you can’t get in) so it’s more exclusive and a delightful experience. We got there early and had breakfast and then lunch before boarding our flight back over Easter. It was a first for us travelling in First but was a lovely experience overall. Not sure when we will get to do it again though.

I do, but I cannot when travelling with the children. Sadly. They lack the tier points (for now).

OP posts:
SleeplessRoads · 17/09/2026 10:38

Sunbringer · 17/09/2026 10:30

Flip flops bother me because they’re a trip hazard when deplaning in an emergency.

Show quote history

So are the high heels I usually wear when I dress smartly.

My casual trainers would be much better suited…

Passementerie · 17/09/2026 10:38

BABaby88 · 17/09/2026 10:33

And that's brilliant! No frills airlines are great and serve a purpose. I use them sometimes for work.

My issue is paying to use the BA / Emirates lounge and finding people dressed like they're going to a football match shovelling food into their guts / bags.

Show quote history

You seem weirdly obsessed with people’s ‘guts’, which are either ‘hanging out’ or being ‘stuffed’ with crisps. Are you labouring under the impression that ‘refined’ flyers are all thin, or don’t eat in lounges?

Original poster
BABaby88 · 17/09/2026 10:38

montysmaw · 17/09/2026 10:37

How does it affect you?

Other than giving you the chance to feel superior? You should be grateful to the plebs for reinforcing your superiority.

Show quote history

It's a bit unsavoury, no?

OP posts:
GreyMoose12 · 17/09/2026 10:39

Not surprising with BA.

One step up from a budget airline now, sometimes not even that. You get what you pay for...

MyManinCaracas · 17/09/2026 10:39

Sunbringer · 17/09/2026 10:09

Every time I fly business it still feels luxury. I don’t even notice what other people are wearing in the lounge (are you sure you were in the First lounge and not the Club Business lounge people can pay £30 to access? The actual first class lounges rarely have more than a couple of people in them).

Either way, enjoy the privilege of a luxurious flight that the majority of the Earth will never get the chance to try even once. Most humans will never even go on a plane or leave their local area.

I fly first class with Virgin Atlantic and BA and the lounges are large and busy. At least at Heathrow.