long haul flight clothes

[calistaraines]

Ok, what should I be wearing??

Flying next week, Virgin upper class with children
Arriving in a hot but conservative country

Layers. Don't worry about appearing posh/smart etc in upper class. I usually wear long vest, leggings or super stretchy jeggings, comfy sandles and a light sweater. When you arrive you will likely need to cover shoulders, down to knees and down to elbow. I recommend massive scarves that you can drape as needed.

I'm flying to Los Angeles next week and have flown there lots of times. It's an 11 hour flight. I wear my usual clothes (jeans, smart top and jacket etc) in the airport then I get changed as soon as I board the plane into loungewear type trousers. I've got a pair of black, loose roll top trousers from the white company which look a bit smarter than jogging bottoms. My DH and DS will do the same. Keeps us comfy on the whole flight. When the flight is around an hour/30 mins away from landing I put my skinny jeans back on. It means I'm smart again going through immigration etc. It's usually hot when we go but the airport is air conditioned and then we just nip into our hire car and shower when we get to our destination.

Oh forgot to say in upper class on Virgin I got free pyjamas/loungewear to change into. Not sure if they still do it though. Def take your own to change into. You won't look daft I promise

Harem / yoga pants - especially if you are arriving somewhere hot, they will be useful on your trip too. Loose long sleeved T. Long cardi. Scarf. Converse or similar for your journey to airport, with some flip flops and slipper socks in hand luggage.

Harem/yoga trousers, tee-shirt, and a cotton or Linen long sleeved top to put on the top when you get to destination.
Cardi for UK bit of journey.

I'd go in my pjs if I could. I couldn't be arsed getting changed as Blondie says above (sorry!). I just want to be comfy. I take all make up off before I fly too. You will be find with yoga pants or joggers. Cosy socks are a good idea.

The thing about getting changed is the annoying queue for the loos (whether business/upper or not) before landing. The number of women who lock themselves in and do a 20 minute makeover drives me nuts. I shamelessly bang on the door and stare them down when they leave. Try to avoid 'the change' if you can.

Chuckles at relevance of travel class when clothes are being discussed.

I think that if you're crammed into economy or stretched out in business has a bearing on what you might want to wear for that experience actually.

Really?
I am afraid whether i am travelling first/business/econ i wear the same clothing.

How lovely for you!

In economy I wouldn't want jeans cutting into my waist as I tried to sleep sitting up. Lying down in business doesn't bother me.

More likely to get hot and stuffy in economy than business so would adjust the type of layers I wore for that.

Ratio of people to toilets worse in economy so less time in there to faff around with getting changed - if changing is your thing.

They were the sorts of thing that sprang to mind.

I would nip in the toilets for about 30 secs to change my trousers while I'm peeing-TMI. If the toilets are full I would change my trousers under the blanket (I'm shameless I know!).

Had the luxury of "turning left" to LA and every single last woman in the cabin was wearing yoga pants... I guess those who fly that length of time regularly know that comfort/bloat is best worn with forgiving lycra.

This might sound odd but on planes I always always wear a stretchy black bodycon dress (like this one except mine is from topshop: M&S website

It looks smart but is like wearing a giant cosy stretchy t-shirt. (not that looking smart particularly matters, but it's nice not to have to change on the plane)

I'm always in economy mind so never fancy having to change in the toilets

I'm with [Blondie], I tend to change into yoga type pants with a light long sleeve t-shirt and cadigan / pashmina. If it's a night flight, I'll change in the lounge before boarding. Comfort and layers are the way forward.

Herethereandeverywhere, surely comfort is the only thing one requires on a long haul flight, whichever class you travel.
Judgey pants and snide remarks are never required!

All this changing -- why?

I just wear the clothes I plan to fly in to the airport.

Doesn't matter if I'm flying economy, business or first.

Because on many flights I'll be going straight to or from a meeting so in business gear and I imagine others are similar.

I wouldn't be changing in Virgin UC loos, they are the same size throughout the plane. Upper Class wee on your feet smells and feels the same as Economy!

By upper do you mean business?

I fly business to Sydney and I'm flying first class in July London to Sydney. I'll wear jeans on the plane with converse (the clean ones) and a loose fitting top. I change into the pjs ASAP to keep my own clothes fresh. I wear what I normally wear but a slightly cleaner and less tatty version. I travel for pleasure rather than business so no suit for me.

When I fly in their summer I pack shorts and flip flops in my hand luggage so I can change into them before we land.
I don't take absurd amounts of faffy hand luggage as it just doesn't seem to be the done thing ...but do what you want there you aren't asking that question

And I always appreciate it when those travelling with kids do the whole "we must be quiet when the lights go out" routine with their little ones. I'm not someone who rolls their eyes when kids are in business class or first. Quite frankly their seats been paid for so they have every right to be there... But there's no denying that people have paid upwards of £4k for their own seat in business for a reason - a more comfortable journey.

Have a fab time on your flight. Business and first is AWESOME! Hope your flight is long as long as possible for you to enjoy it!

I change because If I sat in skinny jeans for 11 hours on a flight (plus a few hours at the airport before boarding) I would feel sticky and smelly.

But why wear skinny jeans in the first place?

I spent most of a flight from Sydney in virgin upper class pjs once after DD vomited all over me 30 mins into the flight...they were fine but not something I would have voluntarily spent 20 hours in, including 3 hours in Hong Kong airport!

Do Virgin upper still offer the massages? That was lovely after a few hours!

Skinny jeans are the best. But there's only one thing to travel long haul in... LEGGINGS OR PJS.

BA offer massages in first... If you can get in there OP if that's where your cabin is.... Do so! Book in advance though!