Although a fashionable airport outfit is a priority for most holidaymakers, you also need that to ensure it’s practical, comfortable and suitable for a day of flying around and dragging your suitcase along with you.
But it turns out that wearing what may be the most popular component of a trendy travel ensemble – a classic loose-fitted t-shirt – is a cardinal sin, according to this flight attendant.
Andrea Fischbach, who is a member of American Airlines cabin crew, has seen all sorts of attire onboard an aircraft over the years, so she knows a thing or two about fashion faux pas on a flight.
Thankfully, she has been able to benefit from other people’s mistakes by making a note of all the worst things you could wear while travelling – like tight-fitted clothing, high heels, or excessive jewellery and accessories.
Andrea explained that these just end up being an inconvenience in the end and can often cause hold-ups at security, so it’s best to go for a minimal look while you’re making your way to another country.
However, she warned that you should never just chuck on a t-shirt for the sake of simplicity – as it could have some pretty gruesome consequences if things go awry while your flying through the air.
The flight attendant explained why short sleeves are a big no-no in her book (Getty Stock Photo)
The flight attendant told whowhatwear.com: “I travelled a lot growing up, and one rule my mother made me follow, that I continue to follow to this day, is to always have my body covered.
“Emergency slides are not fun to go down and hurt – a lot – and it’s not a smooth landing once you reach the end of the slide. The more you cover the surface of your skin, the more protection for your largest organ.”
Which is exactly why she opts to wear long sleeves and pants when she’s flying for pleasure.
Andrea explained that although it might sound silly, being covered in as much fabric as possible to protect your skin can really make a difference when you are evacuating an aircraft or in the midst of an emergency.
She also advised holidaymakers to leave items with a fringe or that may be made from flammable materials at home when your jetting off somewhere, as they are a fire hazard.
Andrea explained you want your skin covered in the majority of emergency scenarios (Getty Stock Photo)
She continued: “Going a bit extreme here, but there is always a risk with long fringe should the plane have a fire.
“While our uniforms have polyester in them, I always wonder and worry myself that they could be a hazard if they got too close to extreme heat and melt on us.”
As well as this, Andrea reckons you should pack any restrictive clothing in your suitcase rather than wearing it for your flight, as if you experience swelling during the journey, a tight-fitted outfit could slow your blood flow down.
“If you are tall, travel a lot, or are on a long flight, this is extremely important because you face the risk of developing DVT,” she added, referencing deep vein thrombosis.
DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in the body – usually in the legs – which can cause leg pain or swelling.
“It’s very important to be able to move around a bit in your seat – very difficult, I know – and keep your blood flowing,” she reminded passengers.