Those Were the Days
Back when air travel was more of a luxury than a common occurrence, Americans used to dress up to fly or even go to the airport. Want proof? Just check any old movie or real-life newspaper and magazine photos of airports and aircraft. But as society's fashion sense has evolved, airlines and flyers are often in conflict over what constitutes "appropriate" in-flight attire. Here's a look at some notorious examples of what not to wear—and what will always work when you're leaving on a jet plane.
—by Joe Brancatelli
Low Hanger
DeShon Marman, a 20-year-old football player at the University of New Mexico, ended up arrested and jailed after he refused to pull up his saggy pants that revealed too much of his underwear. His attire caused a "crisis" on a US Airways flight in June, and the pilot even threatened to make a citizen's arrest. The airline claimed he was dressed inappropriately. Marman's mother, Donna Doyle, was infuriated. "He was attacked for three reasons: his clothing, his skin, and his hair," she said.
Editor’s Note: The image to the left depicts Marman, as well as a photo of another man wearing his pants the same way Marman was described as dressing.
A Light Traveler
After DeShon Marman was ejected from a US Airways flight for flashing too much underwear with his saggy pants, this unnamed fellow came forward to show the world what the same airline permitted him to wear when he traveled. The 65-year-old Phoenix man claims to be an elite-level US Airways flyer and says that he often travels in the tight and revealing undergarments. No one at the airline has challenged his assertions, and that gave credence to Marman's claim that his incident was racially motivated.
Complaint First, Then Playboy
Back in September 2007, a 23-year-old college student and Hooters waitress named Kyla Ebbert was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight because one of the airline's employees said she was dressed too provocatively. Ebbert went on to model the offending outfit on the talk-show circuit, and several directors apparently agreed with the airline because they pixilated Ebbert's inadvertently revealed undergarments. All the publicity got her a photo spread in Playboy magazine.
Commandos Not Allowed
Malinda Knowles, a 27-year-old financial consultant, is suing JetBlue Airways. Her claim: A JetBlue supervisor put a walkie-talkie between her legs to find underwear. Knowles admits she was wearing short-shorts covered by a short, baggy T-shirt. She said the JetBlue employee feared she was going commando. After showing her shorts in a private area, she boarded a flight to Florida, but was removed when the same employee claimed the pilot wouldn't operate the jet with her aboard.
An Incentive to Dress Up
Is there a proper way to dress for a flight? No, but conservative threads always work. For men, "the uniform"—dark blazer, open-collar shirt, and slacks—is a winner. For women, office-appropriate attire such as pantsuits or simple separates wins the day. Natural fibers and comfortable shoes are also safest in the event of an in-flight emergency or fire, experts say. On the other hand, dressing up—sharp suits for men, heels for women—might increase your chance of an upgrade.
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