What to Wear Whilst Flying: 5 Tips for a Comfortable Flight - Global Incentives

Knowing what to wear (or not) whilst flying is crucial, not only for comfort but, in some cases, to avoid life threatening medical conditions such as deep vein thrombosis.

Whilst flying deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can occur as a result of a number of in flight-risk factors, from low cabin pressure, to dehydration, lengthy immobility and seats that offer little in the way of legroom. As such, dressing ‘formally’ in a suit and tie, or tight clothes and heels is inadvisable, particularly if you are travelling economy so knowing what to wear whilst flying for comfort and health is essential.

Read NHS advice on how to prevent DVT whilst flying.

Five Tips on What To Wear Whilst Flying

To ensure you are comfortable whilst flying, here are 5 tips that will help:

1.    AVOID Tight Clothes

Ditch the fashion, pitch for comfort. Figure hugging clothes like skinny jeans are fashionable, but can restrict blood flow, particularly if you are squeezed into a seat with little leg room. It’s not worth the risk of deep vein thrombosis, so opt for loose-fitting natural fibre clothes to give your skin some breathing room.

2.    AVOID Tight Waistbands

Allow for expansion! One of the side effects of a long flight can be that of expansion.  More often than not, this is due to dehydration which is caused by a number of things, including air pressure, on a flight.  Abby Langer gives some good advice in her post to avoid that bloating feeling.

Ensure comfort, remove belts and wear elasticated waistbands to allow for that expansion. 

3.    AVOID High heels

It’s an aisle, not a catwalk! Shoes can make you feel like a million dollars, or can be a positive hazard!  Make sure you get them right for flying. Wearing the wrong shoes on a flight can be your Achilles Heel (excuse the pun…).

High heels are fashionable but are can also be restrictive; from when you are rushing through long terminals to catch your flight, to when you are on board. Dehydration can also make your feet swell – kick your heels off during the flight and you won’t get them back on until you have been on terra firma for a good few hours.   

Wearing ‘sensible’ shoes is advisable.  Consider slip-on shoes or ones that can be loosened easily during the flight.  They not only give good support for that dash to the departure lounge, but  free up space in your suitcase and will be useful when making your way through security.

4.    Avoid Whiffy Clothes

Think of your fellow travellers! Smells  intensify on planes and where passengers are in close proximity for hours on end, an odorous traveller can ruin a journey for the whole cabin as air is recycled.

Particularly if you are on a long haul flight, put a clean T-shirt and socks in your hand luggage and  freshen up half way through the journey.  Not only will you feel more comfortable, but your fellow passengers will thank you.  Hopefully, they will have done the same!

Don’t be tempted just to have a quick spray of perfume or cologne on the flight.  Firstly, it will only mask odour for a little while, and secondly you may be sitting close to someone who has asthma or an allergy to strong perfumes.

5.    Wear Layers

Imagine the scenario….

• It’s cold outside when you arrive at the airport (you’re cold).

• You check in, get to security and have to take off your coat and shoes (you’re now flustered and hot)

• You now have a dash through the heated terminal to ensure you get through security and down to the departure lounge – via the Duty Free shops (you’re now even hotter).

• You have to board a shuttle bus to get to the plane which is sitting on the tarmac somewhere (you’re cold again as the door has been left open for 20 minutes whilst other passengers get on the bus)

• You find your seat and sit down in the warm plane whilst all passengers board (you’re hot again in amongst all the jostling bodies)

• You’re in flight – and the air-conditioning switches up to arctic-like conditions (you’re cold again!)

The answer…  loose fitting, clean, easy to put on (and take off) lightweight layers of clothes and comfortable footwear, all easily accessible in a cabin bag.

If you would like more ideas, have a look at what some celebrities choose to wear whilst travelling.

Enjoy your flight!

Other Travel Tips from Global Incentives:

http://www.globalincentives.co.uk/17-travel-tips-business-trips-travelling/

http://www.globalincentives.co.uk/17-travel-tips-business-trips-planning/