# Dress code on an airplane? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 18, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229 "2006-09-18T20:53:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/1 "2006-09-18T20:53:32Z")
As I was flying back to Portland last night from SF, I noticed some folks boarding my flight wearing practically nothing. The flight originated from Mexico, so there were lots of beach vacation folks on board. One woman was wearing a bikini top and shorts. Another dude had a Hawaiian shirt on that was totally unbuttoned. Another woman was wearing skin-tight pajama bottoms. Yet another woman was wearing a swimsuit cover-up. I should mention that I have no problem with this. This got me to thinking: is there a dress code on a flight? Could a woman conceivably walk on board wearing nothing but a bikini? Could I board a flight wearing a swimsuit and no shirt? Could I go barefoot? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/2 "2006-09-18T21:31:45Z")
No shirt, no shoes, no service. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/3 "2006-09-18T21:37:23Z")
The individual airlines have the right to set dress standards and will kick you off the plane if youā€™re wearing something ā€œoffensiveā€ or if your balls are hanging out, for example. Usually theyā€™ll only act if another passenger complains, though. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/4 "2006-09-18T21:39:22Z")
Iā€™d be willing to bet that the scantily-clad people breezed through security. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/5 "2006-09-18T22:12:40Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] The individual airlines have the right to set dress standards and will kick you off the plane if youā€™re wearing something ā€œoffensiveā€ or if your balls are hanging out, for example. Usually theyā€™ll only act if another passenger complains, though. [/QUOTE] One hopes, however, that regardless of oneā€™s balls, they do the kicking out before the plane pushes back from the gate. :eek: Once airborne, strip to your skivvies. Iā€™m sure you wonā€™t mind visiting with the nice people welcoming you to your destination. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/6 "2006-09-18T22:17:57Z")
[QUOTE=Dooku] One woman was wearing a bikini top and shorts. Another dude had a Hawaiian shirt on that was totally unbuttoned. Another woman was wearing skin-tight pajama bottoms. Yet another woman was wearing a swimsuit cover-up. [/QUOTE] I donā€™t know whether such clothing is offensive but Iā€™d think it would be very uncomfortable. These people would have been freezing. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/7 "2006-09-18T23:19:46Z")
[QUOTE=Cunctator] I donā€™t know whether such clothing is offensive but Iā€™d think it would be very uncomfortable. These people would have been freezing. [/QUOTE] Why? Every time I fly, the plane is set at roast. Itā€™s warm even before you pack several hundred bodies into a small enclosed space. And itā€™s much worse when planes sit out in the sun, as they would in these vacation spots. Seems like beach dress would be the most comfortable way to fly. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/8 "2006-09-18T23:21:29Z")
I always chuckle when I see people who were perfectly comfortable when they boarded their plane in the tropics, only to be delayed without their luggage in Chicago or Detroit in the fall! šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/9 "2006-09-18T23:22:34Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Every time I fly, the plane is set at roast. [/QUOTE] Might be a nice change for me- my last few flights have been like meat lockers. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/10 "2006-09-18T23:25:37Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Why? Every time I fly, the plane is set at roast. [/QUOTE] My experience is quite different. All the flights I take (both domestically and internationally) are always cold, cold, cold. Which I like. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/11 "2006-09-19T01:01:34Z")
[QUOTE=Dooku] This got me to thinking: is there a dress code on a flight? Could a woman conceivably walk on board wearing nothing but a bikini? Could I board a flight wearing a swimsuit and no shirt? Could I go barefoot? [/QUOTE] Well, _Iā€™ve_ gone barefoot on a flight at least three times that I can recall, but then, I was the pilot so I could pretty much do whatever the heck I wanted. If youā€™re talking airlinesā€¦ Iā€™d think thereā€™s a general level of attire required to appear in public. Legalities aside, a topless woman (as an example) would probably be too disruptive for the comfort of the flight crew. Airlines have refused to board people who smell bad, or who are wearing t-shirts with wording other people might find offensive. Iā€™d expect that at a minimum youā€™d need something around your loins, something on your feet, and if youā€™re female a shirt that conceal your bust. A guy with no shirt at all might be pushing it. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/12 "2006-09-19T01:16:49Z")
[Airline passenger told to conceal Arabic T-shirt](http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14591252/) > [@](#): > > Aug 30, 2006 > > NEW YORK - An Arab human rights activist was prevented from boarding a plane at Kennedy Airport while wearing a T-shirt that read, ā€œWe will not be silent,ā€ in English and Arabic. > > Raed Jarrar was at the gate to board a JetBlue Airways flight to Oakland, Calif., on Aug. 12 when four officials from the airline or a government agency stopped him and told him he could not board with the shirt on, he said Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/13 "2006-09-19T01:52:50Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl] I always chuckle when I see people who were perfectly comfortable when they boarded their plane in the tropics, only to be delayed without their luggage in Chicago or Detroit in the fall! šŸ˜‰ [/QUOTE] It works the other way around too. Another couple and my wife and I boarded a plane in Copenhagen in Novermber wearing heavy clothing including overcoats. A funny thing happened in Los Angeles customs. My friend had bought some literature of the type that was frowned upon, if not forbidden, in the US at that time. (This was a loooong time ago.) He put the paperbacks in the inside pocket of his overcoat figuring that he wouldnā€™t actually be searched. When we got to Los Angeles it was a lot warmer so he took off his coat in the customs shed and draped it over his arm at which point the books fell out on the floor directly in front of the inspector. He didnā€™t even look up, but my friend scrambled to get them in his pocket and out of sight. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/14 "2006-09-19T15:33:43Z")
An excellent reason for dressing professionally- if you do so, the chances of you being bumped to 1st class are enormously higher. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/15 "2006-09-19T16:05:03Z")
[QUOTE=Broomstick] Well, _Iā€™ve_ gone barefoot on a flight at least three times that I can recall, but then, I was the pilot so I could pretty much do whatever the heck I wanted. [/QUOTE] Piloting by **Broomstick** , say what? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/16 "2006-09-19T21:48:47Z")
A co-worker was told while flying British Air Business Class to Europe that as she had showed up in (clean) track pants, hightops, and a sweatshirt, they were ā€œreluctantā€ to let her on the plane, and told her words to the effect of ā€œin the future, she should dress more appropriately for Business Classā€. You buy a $6000 ticket and thatā€™s the service you getā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/17 "2006-09-20T00:51:21Z")
one should give some consideration to the fact that there may be an actual emergency on the plane. that it may involve fire. that a bikini leaves quite a bit of skin to the fire. i go with long sleeves, wool or leather jacket, wool or tight knit pants (may have to jump seat backs.) and tie shoes with leather soles (you will be able to sling the shoes over your shoulder/neck while sliding down the slide). no silk or nylon or rayon, or (eeeekkkkk) polyester. i have never been warm on a plane and am very glad to dress the way i do. the leather really helps keep the cold at bay. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/18 "2006-09-20T00:57:31Z")
**rocking chair** beat me to it while my browswer went southā€¦ While the social dress codes may be relaxing, especially on flights from San Jose del Cabo to Los Angeles, one should still dress for the crash, not the party. [ul] [li] All natural fibers, especially against the skin.[/li] [li] Layers, at least two.[/li] [li] Leather or other fire retardant/insulating material on the outside.[/li] Nothing that fastens too elaborately or out of easy reach, in case you need to remove it while in the water.[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/19 "2006-09-20T00:58:40Z")
Well crud, shoulda previewed. Those list item tags used to work in vB code, no? ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229/20 "2006-09-20T02:28:46Z")
[QUOTE=bughunter] Well crud, shoulda previewed. Those list item tags used to work in vB code, no? [/QUOTE] They work great if you surround them with {list} and {/list} tags (only using brackets, you knowā€¦) Fixed it for ya. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-code-on-an-airplane/373229.md?page=2)