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The clothes: Best travel outfits for long flights
The accessories
How to carry it all
In-flight etiquette
What to wear on a long haul flight is part art, part science. The art is the emotional bit that makes you grab things you love, and the science part is packing what fits!
I'm writing this fresh as I get off a 12-hour flight from Asia, while I still remember what I wish I'd had and what I know I'll never use.
And 12 hours is nothing.
Because these days, you could spend upward of 16 hours on a single flight. Qatar Airways will fly you from Doha to Auckland in 16 hours and 23 minutes. If that's too short, United Airlines will whisk you from Houston to Sydney in 17.5 hours. And Sydney-New York is now being tested: when that comes online, you'll be in the air for an interminable 20 hours. That's almost a full day, sleep included.
Other than a chance upgrade to Business Class, the only hope of relaxation you have is wearing comfortable clothes and having your in-flight necessities within reach.
And here's another thought: What if your flight gets delayed? Cancelled? What if your flight is transiting through another destination and you have to stay longer than planned?
Like the Scouts' motto, Be Prepared!
Before we look at concrete recommendations (click here if you want to jump to the comparison chart and shop right away), here are some guidelines to help you pack for a flight that will last the better part of a day.
That should go without saying!
But... what's that I spy sashaying down the aisle? A tight-fitting blouse with popping buttons, a snug wide belt and non-stretch jeans?
Enjoy, because I wouldn't. I need things that flow, that breathe and that stretch.
Think about it: a long flight is like waking up in the morning, sitting down ALL DAY, then going to bed. It's that long.
And what if your flight is delayed? You could be stuck in the airport for extra hours before take-off, or in transit - with no access to your luggage and clean clothes.
Given that you'll be wearing rather than packing these clothes, make sure they're lightweight so you can crumple and fold them if you take off a layer, put them to the side or stuff them in your bag. Better plenty of lightweight items than one heavy one.
There's an exception: if you're going somewhere you need heavy clothing, such as a parka for winter in Canada or a major hike that requires heavy boots. In that case, by all means wear them on the plane (unless baggage weight is not an issue for you).
This is one of the more important tips I can share with you because inflight temperature will not stay stable – anywhere:
Whatever the circumstance, you need to be able to regulate your own temperature and layers are the easiest way to do this.
Metal and chains can actually be dangerous: they can cut flesh, and get caught in such things as trays, armrests or passing trolleys. Space is so confined you can scratch someone with a fancy metal button just by turning around, or get it caught in something.
I try to be chic when I travel – as long as the chic doesn't override the comfort.
Linen is chic, and some of the newer stretch materials look natural and classy.
But that's up to you. If I'm being met on arrival or have meetings as soon as I land (ugh, it happens), then I'd like to make a good first impression. If I'm on my own (the most frequent scenario) I'll happily be more casual.
You can also improve your chic quotient with a few well-chosen accessories or a bit of makeup before landing.
If you've ever worn white on a long trip, you'll know why I say this. Two or even three meals on a bumpy flight probably mean a small spill or two, some crumbs, perhaps a little smear.
Wear a pale color and you'll be showing off those splashes.
Patterns or neutral shades, on the other hand, have a better chance of hiding those unfortunate accidents.
This is hugely personal. Most people recommend against linen, because it wrinkles. But - it's supposed to wrinkle so to me, that doesn't look bad at all. Linen breathes well and seems to adapt to my body temperature.
Whatever you choose, it's key to wear a material that breathes. It's dry up there in the sky and you don't want something that clings and makes you sweat.
There's also a security issue. Should a fire break out, synthetics can be dangerous, both for the way they melt and for the fumes they could emit.
There are two reasons for this: safety, and hygiene.
Safety first: A plane has many surfaces and corners just waiting to bump into you, and breaking a toe is not fun (I speak from experience). Not only that but a trolley can damage those toes severely, and if there's a (God forbid) emergency, you'll want to be able to move around solidly and safely.
The other issue is hygiene. Airplanes are among the dirtiest environments around, and bathrooms even more so. You'll want something robust on your feet if you're wandering into the toilet...
Now that we have some clarity about how to choose the best travel clothes for long flights (plus other inflight necessities), here are some recommendations for fashionable travel clothes.
Remember all that talk about layering? Here's where it all comes together.
Let's start with the tops.
You really need three layers:
Then the bottoms.
This would be a single layer and I would choose between stretch pants (elastic waistbands are nice for flying) and other comfortable travel pants. You could also wear a dress or a travel skirt but I find these less comfortable for long hauls, especially if you're stuck at the airport for any length of time. Whatever you choose has to be super comfortable because you're going to be sitting for hours so some level of stretch is a must. And remember, too-tight pants can increase the risk of DVT, or deep vein thrombosis.
(For travel accessories to take on the plane, check this section below.)
The following are some recommendations and items I like. Just make sure that style-wise, these items fit with the rest of the wardrobe you're taking with you.
Name
Image
Description
This kind of camisole should be part of your long haul travel outfit:
Here's another camisole made from a more unusual fiber: bamboo.
If you prefer a tank top to a camisole, this one is nicely made:
To wear on top of your camisole or tank top, choose a comfortable blouse that doesn't wrinkle easily. Here's one:
The most important thing for this layer is comfort (note that you can also use an oversized T-shirt or man's shirt as this second layer). This V-neck has several features:
This is a stylish cardigan you can easily wear on the plane and throughout the airport if you want sleeves:
Flowing pants like these provide maximum comfort on a long flight:
Particularly interesting if 1) you need a lot of pockets in flight and 2) if these are pants you plan to use at destination. Here's what they offer:
If you get a loose pair of these, you'll find them super-comfortable for the plan.
I won'd suggest any leggings (you can find them everywhere) but these to me perform the same function but are slightly more elegant.
If you don't want to use a travel blanket but worry about getting the shivers on your flight, a pashmina is idea to throw over your shoulders, and you'll also be able to use it to dress up your travel outfits.
This is the perfect accessory for a long flight. It keeps your neck warm, allows you to keep your papers secure and on your person in flight, and looks amazingly good!
Description
Here's another camisole made from a more unusual fiber: bamboo.
Description
To wear on top of your camisole or tank top, choose a comfortable blouse that doesn't wrinkle easily. Here's one:
Description
The most important thing for this layer is comfort (note that you can also use an oversized T-shirt or man's shirt as this second layer). This V-neck has several features:
Description
Particularly interesting if 1) you need a lot of pockets in flight and 2) if these are pants you plan to use at destination. Here's what they offer:
Description
I won'd suggest any leggings (you can find them everywhere and I'm not particularly partial to them) but these to me perform the same function but are slightly more elegant.
Description
Do you suffer from jet lag when you fly long distances? If so, this article may help!
Whatever you decide to wear, make sure it is comfortable. You never know how long you may be in the same clothes!
The issue of comfy travel shoes emerges each time air travel is discussed.
In my opinion, the best thing to wear on a plane are low-heeled slip-on comfortable shoes. They're easy to remove at security or in an emergency, and you can slide them on and off quickly to go to the bathroom. (I use Sketchers and have several pairs.)
A few things to keep in mind when choosing the best shoes for flying:
Clothes are all well and good, but there's a lot more that goes into that packing list for your long flight travel essentials.
I admit it's never happened to me but I have heard stories of people rifling through belongings in the overhead bins while everyone is asleep. Urban legend? Perhaps. But do I want to take a chance? No I don't.
So I keep my important papers with me on the plane: I alternate between a cross-body travel purse that I keep on me throughout the flight, a money belt that stays invisible under my clothes or an infinity scarf that also keeps me warm.
We all have our preferences but here's what I would take on the plane:
There's a lot of conflicting information out there about what to wear on a long haul flight - and what not to wear. We all have our opinions - here's mine, based on more than half a century of spending a lot of time cooped up in the air.
You CAN - but you shouldn't. You could easily cut a foot on some of the metallic edges and in case of an emergency, you want to make sure your feet are protected. So the answer is No, unless you stick them in your bag and use them to go to the bathroom, and even then.
There's no reason why not - other than your own comfort. You can wear your hat onto the plane but if you're on a long-haul flight, you're not going to want to keep it on if you have any hope of being comfortable.
Technically yes - but why on earth would you want to look like you're just getting out of bed? I certainly don't enjoy looking at passengers who think so little of themselves they can't be bothered to get dressed to go out, let alone to travel. You can find plenty of comfortable clothes you can sleep in without looking like you should have stayed home.
What may smell nice to you may turn a flight into a nightmare for your row-mate. Some people are extremely sensitive to smells and being subjected to perfume for the equivalent of half a day is unkind at best, or downright dangerous if someone has an allergy or asthma.
Speaking of smells, remember that the recycled air and closed-in space of an airplane can intensify odors so a rumpled outfit that seems all right after a quick sniff may be close to overpowering by the end of the flight. If you can, save a clean outfit for your flight - you wouldn't wear dirty clothes for a day of sightseeing so why would you wear them for a day of flying?
Use these tips to make your long-haul flight bearable. No one enjoys spending a dozen hours cooped up in the sky but there are ways to make that time pass a little more comfortably and enjoyably. Have a great flight!
Note: This article has been crowdsourced from the savvy readers at Women on the Road and represents their collective wisdom. A big thank you to Amber, Beth, Brenda, Cate, Cathy, Chere, Coby, Dawn, Freda, Jan, Janine, Jo, Joan, Lesli, Maureen, Melanie, Natalie, Pari, Terry, Trish, Victoria and Wendy!