There was a time when air travel was a major event. Flying in the 1950s and 60s wasn’t merely about transportation; the airport was a place to see and be seen. Travelers arrived in suits, tailored dresses, polished shoes, and hats pinned neatly in place. Today, you’re more likely to see passengers in yoga pants than in a tie.
According to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, deregulation and mass affordability reshaped both the cost and culture of flying. Naturally, casual clothing followed as cabins grew tighter and travel became less of an occasion.
Today’s airport looks nothing like that early golden age. Sweatpants and slides have replaced suits, and the mood inside many cabins reflects the shift, which is why the U.S. transportation secretary has stepped forward with an unexpected plea. In a new civility campaign, he is urging travelers to rethink not only how they behave in the air, but how they dress.
A little background
Air travel has changed since the 1950’s
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Sean Duffy, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, just announced a new campaign asking travelers to treat flight crews and fellow passengers with respect. At its core, this is a good idea.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data shows a roughly 400 percent increase in in-flight outbursts since 2019. The Department of Transportation (DOT) says there have been 13,800 reported unruly passenger incidents since 2021. Alarmingly, according to cabin-crew surveys, one in five flight attendants experienced a physical incident in 2021. It’s clear that something needs to change. But the way the message is being delivered is raising eyebrows.
A confusing call to travelers
The transportation secretary’s message is unclear
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The new “The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You” video opens with Frank Sinatra’s voice crooning “Let’s Fly Away” as vintage images of passengers boarding airplanes in business suits and pillbox hats fill the screen.
A voiceover tells us that “flying was once a bastion of civility,” as clips of modern-day travelers fighting and exposing their bare feet make it clear that today, things are far less refined. The clips go on far too long, even after they’ve made their point.
Next, Sean Duffy appears on screen to remind us, “Manners don’t stop at the gate,” before launching, imploring passengers to ask themselves: Are you helping a pregnant woman or the elderly place their bag in the overhead bin? Are you dressing with respect? Are you keeping control of your children? Are you saying “please” and “thank you” to your flight attendants and pilots?
What does “dressing with respect” mean?
Are comfortable clothes disrespectful?
(Anastasiia Havrysh via Getty Images)
Secretary Duffy is wearing a suit and tie in the video. There are also archival images of people dressed in suits throughout. Is this a hint of the government’s definition of dressing with respect? We don’t know because he doesn’t say, and it’s sparking online backlash, with experts saying a dress code won’t fix passenger behavior.
It’s important to note that American culture is heading in an increasingly casual direction as more people work from home or in less public-facing positions. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Suits are expensive, they require dry cleaning, and many people find them uncomfortable. It’s unsurprising, then, that a 2024 YouGov survey found that 44% of respondents never wear a suit.
When you look around a plane, it’s clear that most passengers have dressed for comfort, favoring elastic waistbands, breathable fabrics, and clothes that won’t wrinkle on the aircraft. Athletic shoes are always well-represented to help travelers make mad dashes to their next gate.
Are these outfits disrespectful to other travelers? That depends on the eye of the beholder, but living in a free country gives us the option of wearing clothes that best suit our comfort, lifestyle, and budget. That’s respectful, too.