What to wear - long haul flight plus train travel

[ThisLoftySquid]

I'm flying to South America next month for a conference. It will be around 30°C when I get there. The flight is around 15hrs, and I have a 6hr train journey in the UK to get to Heathrow.

I'm attempting to travel light, so just a cabin case and a le pliage tote, mostly because I don't want the hassle of a big case when changing trains. I'm planning on wearing linen trousers, shirts and tshirts while I'm out there, which don't take up much room to pack. I'll take one pair of trainers, which I'll be wearing, and pack some sandals.

My question is, what to wear on the train journey and flight. It will be cold and probably wet in the UK when I leave home, and I will be hanging around on draughty train platforms. The plane will likely be chilly, and I want to be comfortable on the long flight (hopefully asleep as it's overnight). But when I get to my destination it will be hot, and I can't check in to the hotel for a few hours.

How would you balance the change in temperature and the need for travel comfort with travelling light?

Keep a summer outfit in your cabin case eg T shirt and shorts? That shouldnt take up too much room?

Wear cotton joggers and then swap your jumper for a linen shirt?

I would wear leggings under joggers, fluffy socks under my trainers, thin base layer long sleeve top, my comfiest bra, and a sweater.

Id maybe wear a leather/suede jacket that i thought could be useful while I’m away in South America if there was a chilly evening/over my shoulders.

A big scarf that can double as a pillow/blanket for the flight.

In my tote bag I would keep a change of underwear, T-shirt and clean socks, and put them on at the end of the flight/airport. So I would remove the base layers and just stick with the joggers, T-shirt and trainers for mooching around. I’d wear the same outfit on the return journey home.

I tend to wear a soft jersey dress then put leggings underneath in the uk that I can remove before landing, I have a coat that packs really small that's is surprisingly warm (craghoppers).

I did a similar long haul last year in Dec from UK to an equally hot country.

I bought this jacket. Its light and folds away into a pocket on my back pack, but is warm enough for UK weather. In the depths of winter if I was outside for hours, I have a heavier coat, but this one was perfect in keeping me warm to/from Heathrow too. https://www.marksandspencer.com/feather-and-down-packaway-puffer-jacket/p/clp60711631?color=BLACK#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r1c2|prodflag_New

I always have a scarf/pashmina. I wear it as a scarf getting to/from the airport, but on the plane its large and thin enough to sit over my shoulders as an extra layer or be rolled up to make a pillow. I bought mine abroad can don't have a link I'm afraid but I think its cotton.

I wore trousers, T-shirt and a longer sleeved top. Layers are good, because I get cold on the plane, then hot walking around airports.

I also take an extra pair of socks on board along with slip on, hotel type slippers. I remove my shoes/socks on board and put on my warmer, thicker socks and slippers. Plane toilets are grim with all manner of liquids on the floor, so I always have slippers on.

I take a lightweight jacket that packe up small. Apology for awful link. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Craghoppers-Womens-Compresslite-Insulated-BlueNvy/dp/B0CDC7PHWJ/ref=sr111?c=ts&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gqEpZT7moMh6TfNt4KfdyvdJnpfDrfokulkz1-c3KZfss4guKcdQOgWfl5025wEEzP6qq8c-kdVk00I6WJBrqrdCNyFBfHhL8KbotZQpnetBUqZeUD8JMPZVpeKYwZoQmytlsgKyDJHqqxZs0LWwfU3KNTK52t386YrtregpVn5ic7J0InW9I3UNDekPL5Fh.Vv0tWqNval5xjCekvNhkA0zCTgBzl6sl9kN33KHIOdw&dibtag=se&keywords=Women%27s+Outdoor+Down+Jackets&qid=1734773927&refinements=pp89%3ACraghoppers&s=apparel&sr=1-1&ts_id=3076558031

I forgot to add, the M&S puffer jacket I linked above, also has a hidden hood which zips away into the collar!

Thanks all. I do have a long puffer coat that packs away into a small bag, perhaps I can get away with warmer weather clothes underneath that to travel to and from the airport.

I have a similar journey ahead of me - Uniqlo is your friend here, everything came from there.

Thermal leggings under some Lululemon dance studio pants (these are light enough to wear in 30 degrees and my one non-Uniqlo item! I'll swap between the leggings on the flight and the dance studio pants on arrival), built-in bra vest (ideal for plane travel as opposed to a bra and can be reused there), lightweight merino wool cardigan (again can be reused in notoriously cold air-conditioned conference rooms), and a fold-away puffa jacket—trainers with thermal socks for the journey and a big pashmina scarf which doubles as a blanket on the plane.

I will either hand wash or treat myself to a hotel laundry of the leggings, socks etc so they are fresh for the return journey.

Gosh, any reason why your employer is not funding a connecting flight from your local UK airport to LHR?

I agree from bitter experience working across Asia that it will be bloody cold in the conference rooms.

I’d avoid linen for the work bit tbh, will def need to be ironed after unpacking and will crumple badly during the event.

Question is whether you need to look good/professional during the journey. Will you see any colleagues or peers before you arrive at the actual conference?

If no pressure to look good I’d go with combats, T shirt and zipped hoody or merino cardigan for the plane and a jersey dress to change into on arrival, keeping hoody/cardi on until you’re out of the aircon.

Oh I'd forgotten about the air con at the conference - will pack more cardigans. I'm happy with my linen choices, I can iron in the hotel if necessary. It's an academic conference not a corporate one so I'm sure I won't be the only person in slightly crumpled linen.

Re the airport - my 'local' airport is 3hrs away from home, so connecting flights wouldn't make a huge amount of difference to the journey.