>>Also, the "free upgrades go to people who are wearing suits" is a myth - complimentary upgrades given when the coach cabin is overbooked go to (1) elite members of that airline's FF club, in order of status, or (2) whoever steps up to the gate late in boarding and at the moment the doors are about to close. <<

Actually that's not necessarily true, your appearance still matters. I have several friends who work the gates at two different airlines, according to their stories if it came down to two passengers that were equally qualified, ie, elite, first to the counter, etc, yet only 1 ugrade, they absolutely decide based on all kinds of whimsical, arbitrary reasons, including but not limited to their mood and how you look/dress.

Also, I think perhaps I didn't make myself clear, I wasn't inferring that everyone in business class is wearing suits. However, every flight I've been on 99% of the passengers in business have been wearing business casual. If your experience is not the same as mine there a thousand different reasons why that could be, different airline, different people, different time of year, different time of day, it could be anything. Our being treated differently could also have been the result of an FA having a bad day. I really just thought it was a funny story. Why can't everyone share their experiences without it becoming about who's right and who's wrong? It seems like eveyrone wants to infer that I'm wrong so here, you win, I'll just conceed that I have no idea what I'm talking about, and become a robotic "yes man" that doesn't aggitate anyone and everyone should just disregard any information that I offered.

I'm sure I'll get totally flamed for speaking my mind. But that's how I feel.

I think you are overreacting.

Probaby. I am having a very bad day.

Giulia,
Sheesh. Sorry if I offended you somehow. I just didn't wan't someone flying in biz for the first time to think they have to get all dressed up or be treated poorly as that is not in my extensive experience true. I am sorry it happened to you on your first biz class flight.

I did not mean to say that attire never comes into play if the gate agent is presented with two otherwise equal candidates for the upgrade, but often in an oversold situation, that is done automatically before anyone at the airport even sees what you're wearing. So, for example, if you are a United 1K checking in for a flight, the automated checkin kiosk may automatically print you off a biz class boarding pass regardless of what you're wearing, to your happy suprise.

I purchased a lovely black stretchy outfit at Talbots (on clearance!) that is loose-fitting two years ago and they still carry it in brown and black. It is a v-necked tunic with rather flowy slacks and doubles as an evening outfit, dinner outfit, and even pajamas in a pinch when it got cold once. It does not wrinkle and the pants can be worn separately without the tunic. They've changed the style slightly but still carry this outfit. A couple of different belts or scarves have dressed it up or down.

You can be comfortable without putting on sweat or yoga pants and a hoodie!

It's sad that the quest for comfort has resulted in dressing down for travel. No matter whether you believe it or not, dressing for travel completely changes your experience when you encounter other cultures.

When is the last time you saw anyone other than an American sporting sweat pants at the Taj Mahal, Conciergerie or the British Museum?

Have fun!

>> I just didn't wan't someone flying in biz for the first time to think they have to get all dressed up or be treated poorly as that is not in my extensive experience true. I am sorry it happened to you on your first biz class flight.<<

I guess I must not have used the right words or have failed in my description. It wasn't some horrible experience. The FA didn't beat us about the head and neck. She didn't spit in our food. It was just a funny anecdotal story and it was just one snooty FA during 1 random incident. I feel like on the off chance it was that I was dressed too casually then I'll correct it just in case. The outfit I described wasn't a 3 piece pin striped business suit, so I didn't think my description was insinuating that someone should get all dressed up. Like I said, I must have used the wrong words. I was being light hearted, speaking with humour, that's why I made the comment about the hot rolls.

I also thought the hot rolls was funny.

Just because someone might wear cotton pants and a hoodie on the plane during an overnight flight does not mean they would wear that to the Taj Mahal or a museum. The question was about what to wear on a long overnight flight.

I thought it was funny also, Suze.

In fact, it reminded me of a flight from Atlanta to Zurich about seven years ago. It was the day that Airline D and (S)Airline announced the cancellation of their award exchange agreement.

We were scheduled by (S) Air with two adults and three children (ages 2, 4 and 6) in 1st class on award tickets on a (D) codeshare flight.

When we boarded with three children in first class, the FA, said, I'm sorry, M'am, but we discourage children in first class on international flights." I gently advised that we would be staying in the seats we booked. She gave me an icy stare and indicated that she would speak with "the lead."

Incredibly, all three kids completely behaved and got down to business with their various books and electronics, not making a peep.

Later, when the same FA came down the aisle, she asked me if my 4 year old daughter would be having filet mignon or the blackened grouper. My little one turned to her and sweetly said, I'll be having the fish, please." To the FA's credit, she completely reversed her position and warmed up to the children, even bringing my son a pasta serving from coach when he was still hungry later and kid-friendly treats during the flight.

She even came back and apologized for her negative expectations at the beginning of the flight and remarked that she had never seen children behave as well on a flight.

That was just the FA and had nothing to do with how we were dressed!

I think the way you feel about the way you are dressed influences your interpretation of your treatment. If, perhaps, you feel a little self-conscious about the way you are dressed, you may be a bit paranoid.

I do not dress to impress on overnight flights; and it is certainly not my goal to impress flight attendants. I wear attractive and comfy velour hoodie sets, and have never been treated poorly. In fact, I am often complimented on them and asked where they can be found.

Much of the what-to-wear question really depends on when an airlines member has to make a decision, and whether a person's dress is an issue.

Again, the airlines have gotten smart enough to put the priority on upgrading their best frequent flyer members, and those who are paying more for their flights. However, given increasingly crowded flights, they often have to make a choice about who gets the upgrade prize.

I've never seen anyone poorly treated based on dress (as someone said -- could this be self-inflicted guilt?) However, I've seen a person's dress affect upgrade decisions. So will a fussy child, all else equal.

Agreed: if you've paid for your ticket and don't expect any extra favors from airline personnel, dress as you please. Yes, I've seen the occasional slob in first class, but not many. There are always different perspectives in personal presentation, and some recognize that the aesthetics of your travel companions may influence the pleasure of the trip, and vice versa. (And yes, god bless well-behaved childen anywhere.)

My profession requires that I track cultural differences in this matter. Americans are known for being very casual and independent, and perceive less responsibility to **consistently** making a good public presentation ("la bella figura," and which explains why American men are usually the only adult males seen traveling in crummy shorts, unless the flight has a lot of vacation hikers. The well-tailored gents in shorts in Bermuda are another exception, but even they seem to wear long pants when traveling. A bit of trivia: Italian men spend the most on well-tailored clothing.)

So: there is often a lot of leaway, from the obviously inappropriate dress or behavior that gets you kicked out by the proprietor, to perfectly matching a local norm, if one actually can be established. Americans insist on lots of personal options, and what we deem appropriate is increasingly casual. We're an "anything goes" society, for better or worse. Some places and situations still prefer to establish some standard that impinges on personal preferences, whether formally or social slights.

*Oh yes: to give you a sense of how old I am: one of my first trans-Atlantic flights was before the inception of frequent flyer miles programs. My sister worked for an airlines, and family could fly standby for the nominal fee to pay the taxes for the flight. We could guess-timate the best chances for empty seats, and showed up for flights to/from London those days. On the return flight, at the last minute, some first-class passengers didn't show. My mother and I, who were basically paying nothing, got those seats. The bottle of champagne we were served cost more than the taxes we paid. Obviously, the airlines got much smarter about who they reward with upgrades.

The City Knits brand or Slinky brand are a neat material that does not wrinkle (especially good for summer travel). Tip for those who aren't airport security savvy: NEVER fly wearing a water bra unless you want to be strip-searched!

Someone mentioned about taking linen on a trip.

Washes great, hang up to dry, and then when 3/4 dry, tug the wrinkles out, looks like you ironed them and so easy. But they sure do wrinkle again fast and wouldn't handle a suitcase well. Like it better than cotton for all natural, but I'd go for the microfiber myself.

thank you for good ideas on comfy travel, will be going on a long overnighter to europe soon with 2 teenagers. The slip on shoes and idea to borrow my moms pashima shawl that I gave her one christmas is great.

I think we have to account for age and body type too. What looks presentable at 30 may not at 50 or 60. And what looks nice on a tall person may not look nice on a short person - ie. the flowy pants and tunic from Talbots that may look great on some and like a sloppy sack on others (myself included - at a towering 4'-10", anything with the word "tunic" in the name will undoubtably look terribly on me).

We also have to account for what a person is going to do after the flight - if you ARE planning to go out someplace, then yes, you should look presentable and not like you just came from the gym. On the otherhand, if you are going from the airport to a hotel, then I don't think it really matters much one way or the other what you are wearing - not much cultural experiences to be had enroute from the airport.

I agree November_Moon.

What works great for someone 5'6" and 130lbs may not work at all for someone 5'3" and 100lbs or someone 5'4 and 160lbs, etc.

Likewise, what works great on someone with long legs and a short torso won't work great on someone with short legs and a long torso - even if they are the same weight and height.

Then add in curves, bust sizes, etc. and it's even that much more impossible to find a "perfect travel outfit" for everyone.

Wow- what a can of worms....
I have decided on the linen pants (returning nikes), ballet flats, tank and hoodie with pashmina. I'm trying to pack light and I don't want anything with me that I won't wear again, and I won't be wearing any work-out clothes, that's for sure!
As for dressing for upgrades, my parents always swore by it and it worked "back in the day," but since we are traveling with 2 kids, I'm pretty sure we won't have that opportunity! Still I always beg my husband to dress up a LITTLE bit (he's a fireman whose idea of dressy is corduroy shorts instead of denim ones.) But in all of life, people do treat you a certain way based on your appearance, whether we like to admit it or not - one's perception is one's reality.

Sorry I open up such a can of worms. My only point is that we are often judged by our appearance and with all the great new travel clothes it is just as comfortable to look good as not. I know for a fact that if there is an open seat in business or first, it will absolutely not go to the last person who races up to the counter at the last minute unless that person has some status with that airline. What will happen is that they will look at the passenger manifesto, locate a person in coach who has some status, move him or her to the front and seat the other in their place. This has happened to me more than once. Flight attendents have an enormous amount of discretion in these matters and they are going to choose some one who appeals to them on some particular level. In addition, the point is not that of trying to impress someone, it's a matter of courtesy. Looking like a slob (and I'm not talking about nice jeans and sports shirts. I'm referring to tank tops and shorts and various other sloppy outfits) is telling not only the crew but other passengers that they are not worth your making an effort to look well groomed. I repeat, with all the great stretch travel clothes, it's a no-brainer.

I don't begin to know how upgrades are chosen. In 2004 I was upgraded with one of my kids, which shocked me. We had arrived without the kids' original birth certificates for a flight to Mexico. Back then I wasn't aware it had to be the original. I thought the agent was a bit rude but I decided not to argue and I raced across LAX to find a notary who could get me the necessary documents for a mere $100 (a racket!) The agent didn't think I'd make it, but I did. When I returned in time, she turned friendly for some reason. Then at the gate, they upgraded two of us to first class. I wasn't dressed up at all, just shorts, etc. as we were headed to a surf resort. I never dreamed they'd upgrade us with 7 & 8 year old boys. Then on the plane, they let the boys take turns sitting with me. (Hubby had to stay back in coach.) I can only assume she was responding to my positive attitude.

<<What will happen is that they will look at the passenger manifesto, locate a person in coach who has some status, move him or her to the front and seat the other in their place. This has happened to me more than once. Flight attendents have an enormous amount of discretion in these matters and they are going to choose some one who appeals to them on some particular level.>>

That sounds like 2 different scenarios. The first is that they go through the manifesto and identify someone with status. That is likely the most common. In this case, they're not seeing you, just your status (unless those computers have surveillance photos).

Then there's the "the flight attendant really liked this person so gave them an upgrade". In this case, how you dress may have an effect, but I'm guessing your attitude will have more.

I wore both my Nike yoga and crop pants (quick drying and stretchy) on my CA road trip. They were great!