What would you wear on a business flight?

[Onlyrainbows]

A few of my colleagues (including my boss) and I are going to a conference in the US. We're all flying together and I've never met these guys before. I was going to in what I call "smart joggers" and a nice cable knit jumper and a coat.y DH thinks this is beyond casual and should about wearing something else. I'm all about looking smart but it's a transatlantic flight and comfort to me is paramount. Do you think I'll look too dressed down?

Nobody flying business or first regularly will dress up. Wear comfortable, tidy clothing, you will look seriously out of place in business attire.

Never heard of smart joggers! Cable knit jumper could be quite warm in the plane. How about black jeans?

I don't think smart joggers are a thing? Surely joggers are about as relaxed as it gets!

Nobody cares what you wear though, so joggers will be fine.

What ever you feel comfortable in

@WowIlikereallyhateyou

Nobody flying business or first regularly will dress up. Wear comfortable, tidy clothing, you will look seriously out of place in business attire.

This. Wear comfortable clothes that you don't mind spending up to 24 hours in. Smart joggers (I get what you mean by that!) and a jumper sounds good. I'd personally wear a loose top and a cardigan, so I can get rid of one layer if I get too warm at some point.

You want comfort on a long haul flight, not business attire. There will be people dressed in suits in the lounge, but 90% of those are about to embark on short-haul flights. Nobody wears business attire on a 10-12h flight, not if they fly regularly at least.

It's those! I think they look ok! I find jeans very uncomfortable for a flight (especially an 18 HR one when you add all connections).

I'm with you, comfortable is what you need. I'd be too warm in a jumper though.

No I wouldn't wear those. I'm all for comfort too but it's still work. Not business atire but not joggers.

East or West coast? It makes a big difference because the flight to the West could be twice as long as the flight to the East!

Regular business class travellers will be wearing whatever is most comfortable, so you should do the same. I wouldn't wear the jumper as sometimes it does get very hot on the plane. You need layers, so something you can take off/put back as you need to.

Smart joggers (I know what you mean!) would be perfect. Wear trainers too.

Just watch a couple of those videos on YouTube where they do reviews of flying business class on different planes - it all looks very casual to me.
BTW, I’m envious!!! When I fly long haul, I get changed into leggings and a baggy T-shirt when I board the plane.

They are not smart joggers...

But dress for comfort. I usually wear skinny jeans with some stretch in them, layers on top and take a big cashmere wrap to use as scarf/blanket/pillow.

I think those are fine. Get them in black if you want to look a bit more smart, but honestly you just want comfort on an 18 hour trip. The other guys will also be too tired or too drunk by the end of the day, to even notice what you're wearing. Are you the Newquay poster? If yes, good luck with the trip!

We're flying to the SW, I also think nobody will really care.

Nobody wears business attire on a 10-12h flight, not if they fly regularly at least.

I used to wear a suit on a lh flight I had to take every week. This was because I had to hop off the plane, straight into a cab and into meetings, so otherwise I would have had to change on the plane, which is grim.

I wore leggings on the red eye back!

Depends if you are going straight onto a business meeting, last time I flew out with dp when he was on business (to take advantage of the lovely hotels his company owns - we book a few days extra) he checked in and dropped off his case (and me) whilst our driver was waiting to to him to work. He travelled in business attire consequently.

We're landing at around 6pm, then transfer to hotel, probably change and then h qd out for dinner (or have it at the hotel).

Those joggers are horrible, don't wear them. I would wear some leggings if I wanted to be casual or some jeans and a top, with a hooded jacket if I get cold.

I'm going to go against the grain here but first impressions and all that. If you knew everyone really well, and had a good reputation then it wouldn't matter what you wore but if it was me I'd be leaning towards black leggings and a tunic and a very smart coat with boots (thick socks for plane) so I would be comfortable but give the illusion of business atire.

@Onlyrainbows

It's those! I think they look ok! I find jeans very uncomfortable for a flight (especially an 18 HR one when you add all connections).

Ah, jobby catchers

I'd wear something like these wide legged trousers a decent teeshirt, and a cardi. Probably with black trainers. So not that different to your version, but possibly a bit less tracksuit looking bottoms.

Not so much at the moment, but I regularly fly from the UK to NY.

One of the good parts of business class is more hand luggage, so I'd generally plan to get to the airport in 'smart casual' (especially if I was going from the office or meeting clients or colleagues in the lounge) - normally a dress, light jacket and flat shoes or smarter-end trainers - but pack very light, foldable travel clothes, such as leggings, a long-sleeved jersey top and a wrap of some kind.

Smart enough beforehand, change on the plane for comfort, then, if you have to, change before you get off at the other end.

I am perhaps a wee bit more formal in my habits than others, but given you haven't met your colleagues before, I wouldn't be turning up in trackies.

Go on MeandEm wrebsite. Choose stylish comfort but bring change of clothes for arrival if journey v long. I sometimes do that

A dress with jumper type thing is fine. I've worn dress with a shirt before and a couple of other times loungewear. You'd be amazed how slouchy people dress for business class.

Even though it's business class you still do want to be comfortable during the flight. If in doubt carry a spare set of clothes in your carry-on and change into that once onboard. I've done that before too for a night flight

I would clarify the 'then transfer to hotel and probably change' bit, before you go.

Once you land you need to clear immigrations and customs. That can take one hour. Then pick up bags and get to the hotel itself. Will you be expected to drop off your bags and go to dinner immediately? Or is there a set time for dinner which allows you - flight timings depending - to actually go up to your room and change?

Probably not an issue for any men as they'll probably be able to go for dinner in whatever clothes they've worn on the plane. Personally I wouldn't have an issue wearing joggers on the plane, but I definitely wouldn't want to go to a restaurant in them. So I'd want clarification on whether I will have time to change.

Again, my goodness. There was a huge thread on this a couple of weeks ago. Aside from some rather odd people name checking brands and banging on about cashmere, the consensus was wear what is comfy and works for you, no one else cares. The 1950s and the glamour of flying is long, long gone.