What’s Best To Wear On A Long-Haul Flight?

A fair question, but there’s no simple answer. Depends very much on who you are, who you’re with, and maybe who is meeting you when you touch down at the other end.

If it’s an important business client, for example, chances are you’ll have to look good no matter what, even if you’ve spent the last 24-hours in the air or in various departure lounges awaiting connecting flights. First impressions count.

One way of maintaining a smart appearance at the end of a long-haul flight is to change into a spare set of loose, casual clothes on the plane itself. Then just before landing, change back again into the smart clothes you checked in with. Problem solved. You’ll still feel tired but at least you’ll look good.

If you’re a mum and dad with a young family in tow, you won’t care a jot what you look like when you land. It’s probably been a stressful flight not only for you, but also for the children. You’re just glad to have made it with a little bit of sanity left!

It’s best to think carefully about what you’re going to wear during any long-distance flight. You’re going to spend hours in the air so you’ll want to be as comfortable as possible no matter the conditions.

Dressing in layered clothing is probably best because you can never tell what the temperature will be like aboard the plane. Sometimes it’ll feel hot and at other times cold. Being able to shed a layer of clothing to compensate for variations in the temperature gives you a fair degree of control and flexibility when it comes to feeling comfortable.

Make the outer layer something like a light cardigan, jumper or sweater of some kind. Directly underneath, wear a shirt, blouse or some kind of t-shirt. Wear loose-fitting trousers if you can, such as tracksuit bottoms, for example, or something similar.

A pair of warm, comfortable socks is worth thinking about and maybe change into a pair of light sandals or even flip-flops for the flight. Choose clothing made of natural fibres instead of man-made fibres, to reduce any sweating.

A final point to consider. Wearing comfortable and loose clothing should make it easier to gently exercise feet, ankles and shoulders while sitting in your seat. You certainly should exercise during any long-haul flight to help keep your circulation moving.  Take time to get up and walk about the aircraft during a long flight, as this will also help avoid the very small risk of deep vein thrombosis.