Travelers should reconsider their outfit choices before boarding an aircraft, as flight crews warn that certain clothing items and accessories can raise the risk of injury or illness during a flight. Cabin staff advise against specific wardrobe pieces for reasons involving health, safety, and emergency situations.
Flip flops and heels
Flight attendants caution against wearing flip flops because they lack foot support and are hazardous during an emergency evacuation if people slip on loose footwear in the dark. High heels are similarly discouraged, with experts recommending practical and comfortable footwear instead.
Jewellery
Jewellery should be left out of airplane outfits because pieces can snag on objects or potentially puncture an emergency slide. Travelers are advised to pack valuables securely in luggage or leave them at home.
Anything constricting
Tight clothing restricts blood circulation, which increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis, a condition where a blood clot forms in the legs. Dr Rachel Ward stated, "The main blood vessels supplying and draining our legs pass together in the groin area." She added, "If you have tight underwear, when in a sitting position for a prolonged period, it will add extra pressure to these vessels and worsen leg swelling and leg numbness and tingling."
Leggings
Author Christine Negroni warned that artificial fibres found in leggings and yoga pants can burn and stick to the skin during an onboard fire. She advised wearing cotton or natural fibres instead.
Contact lenses
Cabin air humidity can drop as low as 20 percent, which quickly dries out skin and eyes. The London Vision Clinic website notes, "Combine this with the moisture-sapping effects of contact lenses, and you can have a real recipe for disaster on your hands." Wearing lenses in flight can cause itchy, irritated eyes and distorted vision.
Shorts or short skirts
TikTok user Tommy Cimato advised travelers to wear trousers instead of shorts or short skirts because airplane seats are not cleaned regularly. He stated, "Don't or try not to wear shorts when you're on a plane. You never know how clean it's gonna be, so if you have pants [trousers], you're going to have fewer germs."
