Long haul flight: What to wear.
 

Our twenty two hour flight from Sydney to Rome starts with a 3am check in arriving in Rome at dinner time (8.30pm). Why am I looking at "jeggins".? And should I be.....I've done Sydney to the States a couple of times in the past...recall being cold on flight and having a little bit of trouble getting my shoes back on. And yes traveling economy. Have one hour on the ground in Dubai. I will change before landing in Rome ... I guess my question is really about jeggins are they comfortable do they hold shape...are they warm. I know leggings even Metallicus don't go the distance and jeans just ...no...too uncomfortable. What are your long flight tricks. Rob thinks pjs but I said No.

Wear anything as long as it's comfortable. I've been on flights which are too hot but mostly I've needed warmish clothes so suggest you layer. A soft cardigan and/or scarf can be handy. No need to change before Rome - the Italians wear leggings/jeggins too - fashion isn't any different to here really. Hand cream/moisturiser is a good idea. I always take a toothbrush so I can clean my teeth at the transit stop. A clean pair of knickers is not a bad idea either. I've found the in-ear noise cancelling ear phones make the sound quality on the entertainment systems heaps better. You can buy them at HB for under $100. Pack a good book and hope that the entertainment system works (I've been on flights to Europe where they ran out of food -hideous flight - and where the entertainment system didn't work for half the cabin - and that was a 30hr flight.)

22 hours is actually a pretty good flight time from here (and great that you have a quick transit) but no matter which way you look at it - it's a bloody long way! But absolutely worth it! It's also good that you are arriving in the evening so you can get into the rhythm of the local time very easily. I always go for a walk before going to bed so wandering over to the Trevi fountain is a great idea.

Are you flying in the next few weeks? Because if so, then jeggings will be too warm I think when you get off the plane. I am also usually too cold on planes, so I sometimes wear tights + long lightweight skirt on the plane, but take off the tights upon arrival. I also pack a shawl, or something to wrap around my neck, and socks.

The jeggings that are in Italy are skin tight, so I don't think they are comfortable for a long flight and in generaly it helps to have fabric that is breathable. It will stay fresher smelling.

I think it is best to have a sleep mask and good ear plugs, and for such a long flight in economy, I would consider taking a neck pillow. Most important thing, of course, is to drink loads of water and do some walking around the plane, and leg exercises while seated.

I sometimes bring boring reading material to make myself nice and sleepy!

I find jeggings too snug especially through the knees for as much sitting as you will be doing. I have recently worn a less fitted pair of yoga pants which look fine and are comfortable for sitting. Wear a light weight long sleeve top and take a cardigan. If you get chilly, there are blankets.

mamcalice makes a good point about not wearing anything that will bind the back of the knees, especially if you already tend to get swollen feet. Constricting the vein at the back of the knee is a bad idea for a long flight. The tights/leggings that I wear are more like yoga pants for soft stretchy-ness.

My problem with relying on the flight-issued blanket is that it is not long enough to reach both my neck and my ankles (I'm quite tall), neither of which I want to feel drafty. Silk neck scarf/loose longish socks can be removed and stuffed into a purse (so can the leggings if you have a skirt) at the end of the flight.

I just realized that you are the person traveling on All Saints Day -- which means most of your trip will be in cool weather months. Jeggings will be fine for your overall trip in general, but I would wear something more comfortable for the flight itself. Something like this would be comfy and fashionable on and off the plane

http://www.camaieu.com/F-10024-panta...-trousers.html

Also, if you have a lightweight cuddly-soft zip hoodie, they are great for plane travel and for Italy. In the daytime you can often go just with the hoodie, but in the evening, you can wear it under a jacket and be warm enough to have a cocktail outdoors and watch the sunset. Hoods are great too for unexpected rain.

http://cashmereandvelvet.com/lightwe...up-hoodie.html

I was going to suggest joggers like the style sandralist posted. I can't think of anything better for a long flight + dinner. Soft stretchy leggings (not stiff/tight/binding) that hold their shape would also be okay for me (I like Hue brand).

Do you have checked luggage?
Another consideration in choosing what to wear on board is a possibility of delayed luggage. While the published statistics, around 0.1% to 0.5%, look small to be negligible, it is actually high in that one would get hit by on of these at some point in their life. I have had two incidents myself, my sister had one, several of my office colleagues had their luggage delayed multiple days. If you wear something you can also wear on the street and combines with a change of clothes in your carry-on luggage, you can survive with less impact until your luggage arrives.

I have some black knit travel pants with wider legs. They are comfy for longer flights because they feel like pjs, yet they are also fine for street wear. I usually wear a nice tee shirt under a casual, long-sleeve blouse and bring a light fleece or zip sweater for the plane. This covers all contingencies. If it is super hot on the plane (rare but a possibility) I can temporarily roll the pants legs up and just wear the tee shirt. If it is cold (more likely) I put on the fleece. If you also bring a large size silk scarf (think shawl) it serves as a good blanket and adds surprising warmth.

Make sure the shoes you are wearing are generous sized so you will be able to get your swollen feet into them. We always wear our heaviest, chunkiest pair of shoes on the plane so as to lighten the weight in our suitcases.

And, I second the advice about having extra things in case your luggage is lost. We've had this happen to us a few too many times, and having at least clean undies and an extra tee shirt helps. Finally, always carry your jacket with you on the plane in case your luggage gets lost. My husband learned this rule the hard way when we landed in cool and rainy Ireland without his jacket (he thought was too much hassle to carry on the plane) because he had put it in our luggage that got lost. It is one thing buying a new toothbrush and tee shirt to get you through a few days, but buying a jacket is truly of a different magnitude.

Since my MD recommended compression socks, I haven't dealt with swollen feet after a long flight. I take them them off as soon as we land.

I second the suggestion of compression socks.

I prefer stretchy knit pants with an elastic waist band.

http://www.travelsmith.com/classic-f...ceCode=AFFLSKI

Our long haul is about 24 hours too. :(
I get cold on planes, always take a light cardigan or zip up (easy to remove, so needs to not be pullover style hoodie) and have lightweight, loose black stretch pants that don't look too daggy (from Kathmandu and Sportscraft). Jeggings look way too tight. I also wear my bulky walking shoes as I only take 2 pairs total, other is a walking (Teva) sandal. Short sleeved smart T shirt underneath. Scarf (for draughts).
My teens wear t shirts and shorts, I get cold just looking at them.
I did have one trip where my luggage went on a different holiday to me, and wished I'd had a spare t shirt and knickers in my handbag.

ATHLETA makes some wonderful knit elastic waist pants with a drawstring that look great and are extremely comfortable. They hold up well on long flights, and look more dressy than sweatpants or jeggings.

As others have already said, I would bring some extra clothes, socks if you're not already wearing them on board, and a longish sweater or light jacket so that you won't freeze on board.

I also highly recommend an inflatable neck pillow.

I really Love those pants Sandralist But I don't think they deliver to Oz....and yes that's me All Saints Day...we are traveling from 1 Oct to 4 November.

Off to shop for yoga/knit style pants! and soft hoodie.

We will have checked luggage...airline only allows one on board bag...handbag, camera bag or laptop. But will still be able to pack a second set of clothes...just in case.

Thanks for all the great tips. Scarf/shawl knickers, toothbrush spare clothes carry jacket on board, and I'll buy compressions socks for both of us..it's a sensible precaution.

Thanks everyone. So pleased I asked the question before shopping.

As an international flight attendant,I would highly recommend dressing in layers.I find that elastic waist pants with a short sleeved t shirt and a cardigan with slip on/off shoes will make the flight more comfortable.
I would also bring either a blowup or regular neck pillow and possibly silk type blanket with a bottle of water that you can continuously refill,earplugs,chapstick,moisturizer,saline gel for your nose and eyeshades if you can tolerate them (some folks just wear their sunglasses).
I would highly recommend packing a change of clothes along with something to sleep in,flip flops and a small version of your toiletries in your carryon.Its nice whether you are flying standby,missed a connection or if your luggage gets lost to have several other things to change into.I also pack a jacket or my umbrella in my carryon.
Put all your chargers in one bag and keep all of your electronics in a bright colored nylon bag so you can take them out of your carryon and put in your seat pocket or under the seat.I find that Benedryl is perfect to use on a long haul flight (I usually only take a half tablet) as it keeps your nose clear and helps you doze without knocking you out like an Ambien.
Make yourself get up every hour to get your blood circulating and if your doctor advises, I would take aspirin before you get on the flight to make sure you don't get blood clots?
Have a great time!

On my flights from Melbourne to London or New York I wear layers - short sleeve t - shirt , wool cape type jacket with arm holes , skirt with leggings and socks . I have tried compression socks but found my feet swell either side of the compression part of the sock . I never take my shoes off - just wear a basic ballet type flat . I always carry another T shirt , pants and socks in my onboard luggage . I carry Natio face spray and lip balm for the flight.

You're flying EK415 Emirates Sydney/Dubai/Rome, right? My family fly this route always and I have done it a few times myself.

This is a great flight and airline. Try and get the middle row aisle seat and hopefully at the time you travel the leg to Dubai won't be full, so you may have room to stretch out. Loose leg black yoga pants and slip off canvas shoes will work well. Don't wear a hoodie as the hood gets in the way and will cramp up your neck after 13 hours in the air to Dubai plus the additional six to Rome. Wear a soft sweater instead.

When you land in Rome it will be night and cool so take a jacket in your carry on.

blueeyedcod,

Can you reveal what year it was you wore a hoodie on a flight and encountered this problem? Do you even own a hoodie?

Just make yourself as comfortable as possible with loose clothing. I generally end up sleeping on flights to Asia from the US because (a) they are boring, (b) they leave you alone and (c) they are long. I never sleep on East Coast flights to Europe because they are too busy. For the record, I always fly coach (even when I use miles). The plane gets there the same time no matter what class you are in.

Yoga pants... comfiest.. leggings or jeggings can just feel too restricting after hours and hours of mostly sitting.

I always bring a scarf.. doubles as many things, shawl, head cover, eyeshade etc.

I wear slip on sketchers.. super comfy. I always bring a pair of those cheap throw away slippers in my carry on, I throw them out after trip. I would never use a airplane bathroom in stocking feet like I see some folks do.. ew , gross.

I also think a hoodie would annoy the heck out of me , however if you wore it with the hood up it could have a nice cocooning effect ( covering ears and shading eyes a bit if loose enough)

A hoodie would really annoy me also when sitting, as the hood would get all bunched up and bother your neck as there is no good place to put all that fabric. Unless you do wear it as a hood over your head. I would never wear such a thing when traveling long distances on a plane. I always take some kind of sweater for layering (over a Tshirt in warmer weather or long-sleeve knit top of some kind in cooler weather). The thickness of the sweater can vary depending on weather. YOu can buy some jackets that are similar material without a hood, if one looks and wants that.

For feet, I usually travel wearing some kind of mule or slip on loafer as it is so easy to slip them off on the plane. The mule can be a sneaker mule, I do wear shoes on the plane that will get some use during the trip. Most recently, I bought a pair of Easy Spirit sneaker mules and they were one of the most comfortable pair I had even for walking hours around while sightseeing. Sometimes mules can tire your feet from the slight cramping your foot may do to try to keep them on if the upper isn't long enough and they are too loose. Those Easy Spirit ones can a long upper so that wasn't an issue.

I also would never wear jeggings on a plane (or ever, actually, but I know what they are and are made of). They are meant to be tight, obviously, and of thicker material than regular tights/leggings, so I would think they'd be extremely uncomfortable for hours on a plane. I wear jeans sometimes myself, though, I find them very comfortable and wold think if someone thinks they aren't comfortable, they are wearing very tight jeans. I don't. Men rarely have this problem as they don't (usually) wear skin tight jeans and you'll see lots of men in lines at the airport wearing nice comfortable jeans.

I have never heard of an airline that didn't allow a carryon bag, only a personal item, for long distance flights. I've never flown on one that had that criteria even for local flights, although I cold see some might. Reading the Emirates rules, I'm not sure, but think they are poorly worded and they do mean you can have a carryoon plus a personal item. Because those rules are idiotic if they are saying you are only allowed one piece, they give the dimensions, and then insist it can only be a handbag or laptop bag. That's crazy, if they give a size, and item that fit it should qualify, not just something called a handbag or laptop bag.
<<Economy Class customers are permitted one piece of carry-on baggage, either a handbag or laptop bag, that may not exceed 22 x 15 x 8 inches (55 x 38 x 20cm) and must weigh no more than 15lb (7kg).>>

That size is the size of a carry-on piece of luggage, not a handbag, anyway. Who has a 22 inch long handbag or laptop bag? So I think they mean one purse/laptop bag in addition to one carryon bag of that size, but I'd call to check.

I don't see the point at all of changing clothes just before landing. What for? You are arriving and going directly to the hotel to check in. This is presuming you wear something onboard that is not pajamas. And how could you pack that anyway, if they only allow a purse or laptop bag?

@ Sandralist - why do you always resort to a personal attack? What is the ludicrous and insulting point of asking me 'do you even own a hoodie?'. You're a really angry person - and you live in Italy...As you can see I'm not the only one who would think a hoodie would be uncomfortable on a long haul flight.
Have you ever flown 13 hours straight, then make a one hour connection and then flown for another six hours?

Hi there, we have done this flight a couple of times, and I agree with a few other posters, take a change of clothes in your carry on, the last time we flew into Rome there was a massive storm as we landed, the power went out as we entered the terminal and our bags were delayed to the carosel. My bag was one of the last loaded and had obviously be dropped into a puddle, I trailled water out the terminal!! Everything inside was soaked! I always carry a few extras now!!
I second the jeggings, a bit tight particularly behind the knees. I'd go yoga pants: running bear have a nice pair, I bought them online from Zodee or birdsnest.
There is a NZ site that do lovely silk knits, I have a tank and matching cardigan that I always wear on flights, light, warm and layers.
Shoes are always an issue, I wear vans with light merino socks, I don't take them off, after seeing the toilets after long flights in economy, I would never take my shoes off or change in the toilets, they are usually places to avoid.
I also wouldn't wear a hoodie on a flight, for what its worth.

While amusing to read at time, anyone asking a question about what to wear on these boards is often responded to with a lot of totally silly comments from fashionistas. For heaven's sake, wear what is comfortable. It is not a fashion parade on a long haul flight.