I will be on a 15.5 hour flight in 3 weeks in the coach section of the plane. What have you found most comfortable? I realize this is not a fashion show but I like to look somewhat presentable.

Sweats/jogging suits are out of the question as I plan to be a lite packer and take no sneakers, just my new Joseph Seibel shoes (purchased after a 3 hour shopping extravaganza at Nordstrom and the Walking Store thanks to the recent "Best Walking Shoes" post) and my old Cole Haan loafers.

I need to look okay, have my shoes suit my duds and Get Some Sleep!

You are asking for the impossible girl!
I say just wear something you can slip out of under the blanket. Next time just cut back on wardrobe extranganza and fly first class. Or take out a small loan. If you wnat to snag that special man, you must look your best and be seated in the right class! We must pay to look presentable!

my cheap company sends me coach on 15+hour flights all the time. i don't wear anything special.

comfortable, looser cotton dress shirt, jeans, shoes that are fairly easy on and off...but just regular shoes not sandles or anything. socks so you don't have bare feet if you take your shoes off. jumper/sweater if it gets cold.

i find pockets useful to keep your essentials easily available in flight(medication, etc). when the lights go out and the seat in front of you reclines back, you will find it very difficult to retrieve anything deep in a bag.

walkaround, you dont get it, she said she wanted to look presentable. Sounds like you dress like an old hippie. That won't do! She needs to be creative

I like to travel in a cotton (not sweats) jogging suit that has knit pants (elastic waist) and a lightweight jacket, under which I wear a tank top. I would wear the Seibel shoes with it.

But if you are opposed to such, Chico's has a great line of travel wear. The pieces are easy to pack, don't wrinkle, and are quite nice looking.

On one transatlantic flight I had thought it would be a good idea to wear a pair of loose-fitting slacks with an elastic waistband. WRONG.

What felt like a loosely fitted elastic waistband at the beginning of the flight turned into torture by the end of the trip. It took several days for the terrible red marks to go away and my skin was very sore.

I would recommend slacks with a drawstring waist instead. Whatever you decide, be careful about elastic!! Make sure any elastic gives you LOTS of room.

And be careful of the trolls - please!

I have flown 20 plus hours flights many times - flying back and forth between asia and the US.

I used to wear jeans, t-shirt, and a cardigan or pullover (planes can get cold).

But the last few flights I would velour pants - loved it! so comfy!

I wore velour pants, t-shirt, cardigan and sneakers. you can wear your other shoes with it.

Just don't wear anything tight. Wear loose pants and walk around a lot on the plane.

Another tip: Some people bring a change of clothes for long flights. So you could bring comfy clothes in your handbag and change into them on the plane. (ive seen ppl bring pajamas).

Before you land or when you land, switch back into your regular clothes.

Depending on time of year, my "coach uniform" varies. I have pants and a top that I like and are very comfortable; like heavy t-shirt material, elastic waist pants (never had a problem like that described above), 3/4 length sleeves on top. Very simple--black, don't wrinkle. I usually wear that in colder weather.

I have a sweatshirt ankle length dress with short sleeves, nice and loose and very comfortable in warmer weather.

I wear slides, no socks, take my pashmina which I prefer to the airline blanket.

Walking around is good advice, drinking lots of water as well.

I took a pair of Josef Seibel shoes to Europe once - they gave me terrible blisters and I dearly regretted the significant amount of money I had spent on them. I must have been unlucky. One reason why I always take at least two pairs of shoes.

I wore a pair of black stretch jeans. The are comfortable but don't get all stretched out and loose their shape. I have microfiber walking shoes and I wore those with socks. I can get these shoes back on my feet if they swell a bit but I get up and walk around quite frequently and drink lots of water which helps keep things moving...so to speak..so I have less fluid retention and swelling. I wore a comfortable t-shirt and had a light sweater to wear. I stowed my jacket but it was available if I needed it to keep warm. I was comfortable but felt I could still look presentable upon arrival.

WillTravel,

Joseph Siebel shoes gave you blisters? you must have gotten a bad pair, what was the style? I have 2 pairs. One I wore when I just went to London and walked so much every day and never had problems. In fact sometimes I had to look down to make sure I wasn't wearing slippes. Mine are the slip on/clog type shoes, but not as bulky as some other clogs. When I came back I decided to pair another pair, the pair I had is red and wanted a more neutral color. I now have a brown pair in the same style, my feet are so happy to wear those during the weekend after a week in high heels. By the way, the brown pair can't wait to travel like the red pair did. I paid $100 buck for each pair and would pay more if I had to. Sorry your pair didn't work out.

I wear a Chico's black travelers outfit: Elastic waist pants, zip front long jacket with hood and sweatshirt style pockets, cotton T underneath (especially if I'm landing somewhere warm). Shoes are slip ons if I have them with me. Sometimes even sandals with socks on the flight, socks to be removed on landing!

This is as close to pajamas as I can get, but doesn't wrinkle and looks casual but presentable upon arrival. I often wear the jacket on the trip as well. They make jackets in several styles, but I agree that pockets are essential on the plane.

For 15 hours, my stretch jeans would have to be a size too big to be really comfortable!

I cannot stand jeans on a flight either!
To binding.
I dress like most here, try for comfort and also try to look presentable. The days of dressing up for airflights are long gone. Especially the way we get crammed onto planes now.

I wear black, the easiest color for a long flight. The one time I didn't, I had on a celery green color, a drunk passenger spilled her red wine all over me. That was a fun time - NOT! LOL.

I take these length of flights all the time, it is normal from LA to Europe, with a stop-over or two. Flexible, comfortable pants are always nice. I wear a black pair of knit pants with a hint of stretch that don't wrinkle and travel beautifully (Eddie Bauer sells a few styles that are terrific). You can't go wrong with a black and brown (or navy) pair as dark colors mix and match well with everything.

On my international flight 6 days ago, I noticed several passengers wearing those sock-type slippers with a skid-resistant bottom when getting up, walking around, etc.

lyb, I should drag those Seibels out of the closet again. Perhaps I'm being unfair. I suspect the terrible heat of summer 2003 had something to do with my blister problem, even though I was not in the hottest spots nor in Europe during the hottest times of that heat wave. I've read that one's feet can swell on the plane, and that factor in addition to the heat, as well as my usual endless walking, may have been what doomed my poor feet.

LynnieD, do you get a "refueling stop" on the 15.5 hour flight?
When I travel from Sydney to London the flight is for 24 hours but it is broken up depending where we fly over.
Last year I flew via Hong Kong (9 hours) had a rest stop there for just under 2 hours. I always arrange to have a shower and then fly again for another 13 hours.
I usually wear loafers, jeans/pants, shirt and take a 3/4 length light trench coat.
The coat can be used as a cover if cold and cover up a slightly creased shirt after a 24 hour flight.
I've never been uncomfortable in this type of gear.
Last year a girl on the flight to London wore very tight short shorts and a little tank top for the entire flight.....I was so overdressed!

Think "long car trip" and you'll know what to wear. The thought of changing clothes in that tiny, smelly head in the coach section on the plane is almost too awful to contemplate. Wear something comfortable on the plane, regardless of how it looks---unless your future in-laws or clients are meeting you at the end of the flight--- and change in your hotel room.

Some kind of a nice looking comfortable matching knit outfit. Chico's traveler's line mentioned above has great pieces. Velor pants and top also mentioned above travel wonderful. For me, black cotton knit pants, some kind of dressier t-shirt, and a black cotton knit jacket are my favorites.

Josephy Seibel's don't fit everyone. I have a longer 2nd toe and it hits the end in every style I've tried.