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!

I tend to travel either in linen mix trousers and a short sleeved top with light jersey jacket/cardigan or sometimes if super hot shorts and t shirt. I’ve been upgraded a few times but I doubt it’s because of how I’m dressed.

To be fair, it doesn’t stop me wearing nice toe post sandals to travel in. Ultimately, I’d just go with whatever is most comfortable.

And enjoy your trip!

I haven’t read all the replies but think this is hilarious. I often wear shorts and sandals flying, wouldn’t give it a second thought. Wear whatever you fancy!

As for dressing for an accident, who would get on a plane if they thought there was a chance of it crashing??

Of course it's acceptable. Your friends are weird.

@Carrie76

As for dressing for an accident, who would get on a plane if they thought there was a chance of it crashing??

A few posters here may have or still are responsible for passenger safety on aircraft so as a result of their training are possibly more prepared to think about the supposed unthinkable than the general population.

All they are saying is that in the highly highly highly highly etc etc event you are involved in an evacuation what you wear can make a difference, more so on some aircraft than others because of the slide length/height...

Posters are obviously free to completely ignore that input, but nevertheless it is informed advice and it's well meaning...

The “need to look put together” crew sound like a bunch of fucking losers.

Fabric is much more likely to pick up and transfer bacteria than skin. Clothing traps moisture, skin cells, dirt, microorganisms and bacteria can survive on clothing for days.

Skin is a living surface - bacteria don't survive for long in it because of competition from your existing skin microbiome.

Having said that I'm not sure why are you worried about bacteria anyway - do you think that it this is going to make you ill? There is bacteria everywhere.

I agree with not treating public transport like your home, but mid thigh length shorts are really not an issue for hygiene.

Your friends are talking out of their linen covered arses! 😂 They won’t get upgraded, and they can’t dictate what you wear. Tell them to fuck off with their demands!

There is no chance. Mykonos flights have "club europe" which is not a fixed cabin, they move the divider between standart economy and club europe depending on number of bookings. You can upgrade for online though, it won't be too expensive.

not only emergency
imagine being stranded at an airport over night.
happens regularly

with being standed comes walking a lot inside the airport possibly outside waiting for busses, back in, being led to another area...

I could walk all day in my Birkenstocks! They’ve also just passed the running test, as I’ve had to run for my bus (although I’m not supposed to run at all)

I wear shorts on the plane sometimes, about as short as those you’ve posted, and not had any issues. And I’ve seen many many others do the same.
I stick to trainers on my feet though for all above reasons: running through airport if needed, not wanting anything run over or dropped on my feet and generally just more comfy for walking around an airport in. On long haul I take fluffy socks so I can remove my footwear.
I always take a blanket so I can use if I get cold, or as a pillow.
Enjoy your holiday!!

I couldn't be friends with anyone who was 'horrified' at my choices for comfort on a plane. They sound dreadful

I wouldn't travel in shorts just cos I'm always FREEZING on a plane. But avoiding shorts for a potential upgrade is crackers. Trackies all the way

Nothing looks less ‘put together’ than a sweaty old pair of travelled in linen trousers that have got creased to buggary around the crotch

We normally holiday in September cos we don't have kids and schools have gone back, I usually try to wear something that will be warm enough in this country but cool enough for our destination. Last time i wore a thin long sleeve top under a linen jumpsuit. Wear what you are comfortable in, nothing worse than being uncomfortable on a flight.

The Club Europe part of the cabin is moveable. They will set it up for the number of people who have club tickets. There won’t be any upgrades.

I travel long and short haul frequently. At least twice a month. I have frequent flyer status and I travel in what is most comfy. I would fly in shorts and Birkenstock as long as the shirt were long enough so my skin wasn’t touching the seat aa it’s uncomfy and unhygienic.

Im terms of upgrades, the PP is correct, it’s staff first and then frequent flyers (ie BA gold members over silver) and even then it will be solo flyers not groups.

I have been upgraded to business and that was without seeing what I was wearing as I check in online and travel hand luggage.

This. I have only ever been upgraded on long haul. They do indeed just move the business class on European flights to accommodate the number of bookings.

My Dsis who lives in the US was upgraded a few times on transatlantic flights, and she was always wearing ultra-casual relaxed - nothing remotely expensive. IMO they chose her a) because she was on her own, and b) because she’d come across as quietly spoken/polite, so prob. the last sort of type type to make the most of upgrade free drinks and become loud and obnoxious.

The sort of people who usually fly business/first class anyway, are very often dressed quite casually, as you would see in a FC/business airport lounge.

BTW I often feel chilly on planes so would never wear shorts anyway.

@ClementineFortyNine

Im terms of upgrades, the PP is correct, it’s staff first and then frequent flyers (ie BA gold members over silver)

This wasn't my aisle in my working days but that doesn't sound quite right to me and might give the wrong impression.

I'm open to correction but if there's a need to look at upgrading passengers due oversales in economy then staff traveling on a basic economy staff standby ticket would probably not be upgraded before frequent flyers travelling on a commercial economy ticket.

It's slightly more complex if the staff traveller has bought a tier of ticket that has an upgrade entitlement.

Happy to be set straight by those in the know.

I know someone who works for BA and they usually ( I far as I know always) get upgraded to business. The free flights are a perk of the job just like someone might get free private healthcare. They fly as often as they can and the main reason they work for BA.

The free flights are a perk of the job just like someone might get free private healthcare.

For info at BA at least unless it's changed tickets for leisure travel are not free....

In fact off season on one route for a while a staff standby ticket was more expensive than the equivalent, guaranteed to get on the flight commercial ticket bought through ba.com

Reason being staff travel.prices were based on a fixed matrix whereas commercial fares were subject to the whims of dynamic pricing.

It's just common sense 🤷‍♀️