Is it acceptable to travel in shorts and sandals?

[sevenwonde]

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!

Travel in whatever your comfy in!

As airline staff I can confirm they won't be looking for big groups of linen wearers to give out free upgrades. If they need to upgrade anyone (if they have oversold economy for instance but have seats available in a higher cabin) there is a set procedure. After airline staff on upgrade eligible tickets it would be frequent flyers in their loyalty scheme. Therefore wear what you want.

Why would you be suitable for upgrade? Is one of the group crew or ex crew?

in summer I always travel in Birkenstocks

the one time I got upgraded I was in Birkenstocks!

however these days I don’t travel on airlines where there is an upgrade option. Even if there is I don’t think you stand a chance unless you are part of the frequent flier club. Think about it, people check in online these days so at what point do the airline look at how you’re dressed to decide who to upgrade, if anyone? They look and see who has “status”.

your friends are daft. Wear what you like (as long as it’s decent), it will make no difference

I can’t think of anything worse then being overdressed at an airport! Especially if travelling to a hot country!

Shorts and sandals all the way!

I only ever go on package holidays so no chance of getting an upgrade with Tui or Jet2 no matter what I wear though.

I would be too cold in shorts and sandals so it’s a no brainer for me.

Where are you flying? 'Cos there ain't no upgrades on flights to Europe...

Upgrade 🤣 presumably you’re not flying RyanAir

Flying on a plane requires wearing cottons/natural fibres and decent shoes - if you need to exit the plane quickly or god forbid escape from a fire you’re not going to want to be wearing flimsy footwear or clothes that melt into your skin.

The only time I got an upgrade it was done before any of the airline staff had even seen me face to face so I don't think it's affected by what you were wearing!

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

My husband often gets upgrades. It's very rare for a group, and he thinks much more likely if you already have status eith the airline, are already in the middle tier seats (eg premium economy ( and/or already have future flights booked too. He always dresses in the exact same thing - jeans and tshirt - so this seems to have no bearing. Yes he is a weirdo as I can think of nothing worse than travelling in jeans lol! I wouldn't fly in shorts though as planes can be cold and also seats on bare skin is not that comfy.

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!

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

We've flown with BA for the last few holidays out of terminal 5.

We checked ourselves in before we left home. We checked our bags in at the self-service bag drops. I don’t think there were even people manned check in desks. Just a couple of people floating around in case the self service options went wrong.

Even if there were people a silk trouser isnt going to swing an upgrade. Status in their frequent flyer programme might but its unlikely.

I personally would travel in shorts, but only mid length or just above knee. Shorts can look smart/put together.

Remember planes can sometimes be on the cooler side, sometimes you can get drafts, and also if a long flight skin on skin contact can get uncomfortable

Have they travelled before? A large group isn't going to get upgraded. If they do need to upgrade someone it will be a frequent flyer, not the person with the nicest linen trousers.

I thought dressing up for a flight was something people did decades ago.

The one upgrade I had was when I was wearing jeans & trainers.

TBH I get cold on the plane so I put my shorts and sandals in my rucksack and change in the loos at the airport when I land.

They check all bags, there is usually a very long walk, stairs, lugging your suitcases so bitkies are not that supportive plus the plane temperature on your feet can be colder. No one gets upgraded because they wear a silk blouse, in first class I saw someone in pj in the airport lounge. Linen is cool to wear but creases really badly, I'd wear a soft pair of trousers, with your sweatshirt or jumper, trainers, it's more sensible to wear or carry on heavier clothing and get more lighter clothes in your luggage,

It’s not the 1970s. Wear whatever is comfortable.

The one and only time I got upgraded to first class, I was backpacking and really quite scruffy.

What you wear will not affect upgrades - most are done by computers these days based on things like frequent flyer status and ticket type.

I’m sure BA will happily take their money if they want to pay for an upgrade. On short haul routes they’ll just move the Club curtain back another row! It’s not exactly a game changer in terms of experience

They’re not going upgrade a whole group. It’ll be a solo traveller who is part of their loyalty scheme.

Flying is hellish, I always prioritise comfort over style.