Lina – stock.adobe.com
At the airport, the runways are strictly for planes, not for fashion.
When it comes to mile-high style, it’s best to store your stilettos in your suitcase and opt for comfort according to American Airlines flight attendant Andrea Fischbach.
But the cabin crew couture connoisseur assures travelers that “it is possible to dress comfortably and still look chic.”
“I would advise against anything really constricting,” Fischbach told Who What Wear. “You want to get the most comfortable you can be to avoid cramping, swelling, and anything that can affect you later.”
It’s common to be bloated during or after flying due to changes in air pressure and water retention, meaning that elastic fabrics and breezy garments are a traveler’s best friend on a flight. Not to mention, there’s a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis, a kind of blood clot, while flying on a plane due to the lack of mobility.
“It’s very important to be able to move around a bit in your seat — very difficult, I know — and keep your blood flowing,” Fischbach said, adding that “as cute as they may be, leather pants probably aren’t the best.
“If you are tall, travel a lot, or are on a long flight, this is extremely important because you face the risk of developing DVT.”
Thankfully, many companies are starting to design garments with a bit of give in the fabric and, most importantly, the waist band.
“Lots of dressier pants have a bit of stretch to them now, always a more comfortable choice in any situation,” Fischbach said, while recommending that travelers who need to bring a blazer can ask the flight attendants to hang it up in the closet.
And, in the event of an emergency, certain clothing choices can hinder your ability to get out of harm’s way and evacuate the air craft.
Fischbach personally prefers a long sleeved shirt and long pants to cover her skin, warning that “emergency slides are not fun to go down and hurt.”
“The more you cover the surface of your skin, the more protection for your largest organ,” she explained.
Best case scenario, you’ll at least stay warm on aircrafts, which are notoriously cold.
“Practically every flight, I see someone with barely any clothes on — crop tops with booty shorts; sports bras and leggings sans jacket; bathing suits and board shorts. You name it; chances are we’ve seen it,” she said, recommending passengers travel with a spare change of clothes in case of emergency.
“And practically every time we see this, these are the people who want a blanket on flights we don’t provide them on. We all know airplanes are freezing, and it’s just common sense to dress for it.”
Then, there’s the issue of fabric flammability — and your fringe jacket might be better off packed away in your luggage.
“Going a bit extreme here, but there is always a risk with long fringe should the plane have a fire,” she continued, advising that travelers wear non-hazardous clothing.
She added: “While our uniforms have polyester in them, I always wonder and worry myself that they could be a hazard if they got too close to extreme heat and melt on us.”
Fischbach also warned against improper footwear, such as heels or backless sandals, which are difficult to wear when trying to evacuate and could pose a risk to the inflatable slide or others.
“I would really advise against high heels or flip-flops or any slides, mostly for safety purposes,” she said. “If there is an evacuation and slides are required, your high heels will have to come off, as they can puncture the slide. Who knows where and in what conditions you’ll land. Plus, they aren’t very practical running gate to gate.”
Pumps could also make metal detectors go off due to their construction, and slide-type shoes could easily come off of your and not keep them protected from cold cabin temperatures or the unsanitary lavatories aboard the plane.
“That isn’t water on the floor (yes, use your imagination), and sandals invite whatever that liquid is to splash on your feet,” she noted.
Wearing jewelry isn’t advisable while going through TSA security checkpoints, as it could set off the machines, and certain metal objects could be perceived as weapons.
“I always am sure to take off all jewelry before I get to the airport and keep it in a convenient place for after I get through security,” Fischbach said. “I’ve had my Cartier Love bracelet set machines off, and trying to unscrew that with a nail isn’t fun — especially when you are frantically trying to do so.”