Business class flight .... help! What do I wear - ideas gratefully appreciated!

[Millylovespuddles]

DH and are going on a special holiday to celebrate our 25th anniversary. So, we have splurged on business class flights en-route to Jamaica.

We go mid-Feb, and I'm having a sudden confidence crisis as I don't know what to wear..... I want to be comfortable, yet look stylish (and not look like an imposter)
I'm 55, 5'1, size 8 - feel youthful and want to look trendy, not trying.
Any tips? TIA

@Baxdream

Qatar provide pjs to change into. I've seen people change as they get on the flight into loungewear. Particularly for a night flight although if it's your first business experience you won't want to sleep!

Do you have to ask? I've flown pre Covid with them using FF points for business class. They didn't give me a toiletry bag either. They were too busy fawning over the wealthy business man next to me who they seemed to know .

No need to dress up for it. Comfort is the most important thing.

@SoupDragon

I'd missed the bit specifying wedding/engagement rings 😂 Utterly bonkers.

and the "space mask" 😂

Does everyone queue to get into the loo to change, or are you all wiggling around by your seats like at the beach?

In first there's one toilet per about 6sih people so not much queuing needed.

@EileenGC

Oh and if you change in the loos - like most people do - please don’t leave it until the ‘we’ll be landing in 40 minutes, please use the toilets now’ announcement.

Same for reapplying make up. There is nothing more annoying than queuing for ages because people have decided to get changed at the last moment. Some people actually need a quick trip to the loo at that point as they need to rush to work / their next connecting flight etc.

That's always bloody men going for a 😂

@Doubleraspberry you don't queue in business. Cabin crew come and let you know when it's free but bear in mind there's not many of you so it's unusual to have to queue

@Mercurial123 no I got pjs and toiletries on both legs of my flight but it was a night flight.
Absolutely amazing service. I've flown emirate's too and Qatar was far better

Yes don't dress up too much and nobody wears pashminas any more but it can be cold so layers and especially nice socks and comfy shoes (my feet always swell flying long haul and so does my belly so nothing tight round the middle). Very jealous it's years since I flew business class - enjoy!!

I’ve never had cabin crew let me know when the loo was free. You just go, same as in economy. There can be up to 60-80 people in a business cabin so they won’t be keeping track of whose turn it is to go. First class is a different matter.

And yeah, don’t even get me started on men thinking it’s their God-given right to occupy the loo for… let’s save it 😂

[quote Baxdream]@Doubleraspberry you don't queue in business. Cabin crew come and let you know when it's free but bear in mind there's not many of you so it's unusual to have to queue [/quote]
Never had this happen - you just keep an eye on when they are free.

@EileenGC

I’ve never had cabin crew let me know when the loo was free. You just go, same as in economy. There can be up to 60-80 people in a business cabin so they won’t be keeping track of whose turn it is to go. First class is a different matter.

And yeah, don’t even get me started on men thinking it’s their God-given right to occupy the loo for… let’s save it 😂

I did with Qatar. Probably about 20 seats as it was The Q suite

I shouldn't feel the need on an anonymous forum but I am in fact being horribly flippant and have flown business myself. I just wore my clothes when doing it though. I don't think I'm capable of owning and nurturing a crisp white t shirt.

I no longer fly for work, or pleasure, other than very short commuter flights with horrible Easyjet, so it's all history now. I am thoroughly enjoying the idea that above my head are little teams of people in PJs zooming all over the world.

Q Suite is another story. And not all Qatar aircraft have them anyway.

Actually the PJs and lovely toiletries bags are things that have deteriorated over the years but then I remember the days of Molton Brown and other brands of toiletry bags which were given out. As someone said these things are still there on request. All airlines have been cost cutting even the Middle and Far Eastern ones.

@Millylovespuddles

DH and are going on a special holiday to celebrate our 25th anniversary. So, we have splurged on business class flights en-route to Jamaica. We go mid-Feb, and I'm having a sudden confidence crisis as I don't know what to wear..... I want to be comfortable, yet look stylish (and not look like an imposter) I'm 55, 5'1, size 8 - feel youthful and want to look trendy, not trying. Any tips? TIA

🤦‍♀️ Business class is not luxury. Most people will be travelling with business as I did and will be wearing for comfort/sleep and ease. E.g. no makeup, simple hair that can just be brushed at stopovers to freshen up and elastic everywhere so you can sleep on the recline. Even when I was very long haul and allowed first class or upgraded I dressed comfort. My priority was ensuring I could sleep at least a bit to minimise jet lag. No one will take any notice of you. They might if you waltz in like something from 1950s “let’s dress up to go on a plane” 🤣

[quote Baxdream]@Doubleraspberry you don't queue in business. Cabin crew come and let you know when it's free but bear in mind there's not many of you so it's unusual to have to queue [/quote]
🤷🏼‍♀️ Which airline does that
I spent 10 years flying all over the world, various airlines and even in first class no one ever ever told me this.

My advice Op is to worry more about ear plugs that won’t hurt your ears, shoes you can easily remove, flight compression socks (VITAL for journeys over 5hours - I had a boss who got a DVT on business travel and that was in first class where he was allowed to stand around). And antihistamine or Kalms to break the back of jet lag insomnia

@KosherDill

I don't think it's a matter of whether anyone "will care".

OP wants to mark a special occasion by dressing stylishly. Not everyone aspires to get by with the least possible effort.

I remember when flying was indeed a treat and dressing well was what one did. There's nothing wrong with recreating that feeling.

I’m not sure she has said she wishes to nostalgically recreate the days of dressing up to fly really. More she was having a crisis confidence and it seemed felt people did dress up. People are just telling her to dress comfortably, there is no need to dress up, as no one does that any more.

I think some folks are confusing business class with first. Most airlines only handout PJs on first class flights. Business class is more basic…better seats that can go flatter in most cases but not all , more legroom, slightly better meals ….you’re still treated like a cattle market

I’m also surprised at some of the detail here, someone’s even posted the brand of trainers to wear, how to style hair and to wear lip gloss, which is very bemusing.

@Warblerinwinter

I think some folks are confusing business class with first. Most airlines only handout PJs on first class flights. Business class is more basic…better seats that can go flatter in most cases but not all , more legroom, slightly better meals ….you’re still treated like a cattle market

You’re not really treated like cattle class to be fair, the meals are a lot better, and lie flat seats depends on the airline and destination/length of flight.

OP wants to mark a special occasion by dressing stylishly

No, she wants "to be comfortable, yet look stylish (and not look like an imposter)"

you’re still treated like a cattle market

You must travel on a shit airline! Even onBA (which gets lambasted here) I've never been treated like a cattle market in Business (or economy for that matter)

@SoupDragon

you’re still treated like a cattle market

You must travel on a shit airline! Even onBA (which gets lambasted here) I've never been treated like a cattle market in Business (or economy for that matter)

Agree - must be American Airlines 😂 Chicken or lasagna?

You’re not treated like cattle but I think what the PP wants to say is that you don’t get this personalised treatment some people seem to have experienced, in business class. Unless the cabin is particularly empty or you’re flying in something like a Q suite.

3 years ago business cabins used to be full to the brim most of the time, holidays or not, and I’ve never once seen a member of cabin crew in charge of alerting passengers when the loo was free. They have dozens of people under their care and are too busy asking everybody which meal they’d like, serving, cleaning up, repeat for dessert, repeat for drinks 173 times. Go help out in economy when needed. Take a sip of water themselves. They don’t have time to give you any individualised service.